At one time there was major confusion on CT about the listings for theatres in the Borough of Queens. Some showed the community name, some had the community and Queens, so just showed Queens. Queens is unique, along with Staten Island (Borough of Richmond), where there are distinct community identies rather than “sections”. At my request these Queens entries on CT were listed, uniformly, under their community, post office, identities. Accordingly, only the Queens and Community Theatres in Queens Village would be accessed by inputting “Queens”, excepting, of course, other locations in the world such as Queensland, Australia.
The physical structure appears to be in good shape; the financial is another story. They are trying to raise funds to keep the place open. I think they need something like a quarter million.
Seasonal is the word. Come Labor Day they’ll close. Then they’ll reopen in mid June. They don’t make any attempt to extend the season. For Pete’s sake the Montauk has a much longer season and a much smaller potential clientele. Even Sag Harbor is now open year ‘round. This is a boon for the folks on Shelter Island. All they have to do is drive to the ferry slip on their side and walk a couple of blocks to the theatre when they get into Greenport.
The article shows the Garden as being on Webster Av. The Garden referred to above shows Jamaica Av. I know a number of name changes occurred in Queens but I was not aware that Jamaica Av. was one of them. There was also a Garden in Springfield Gardens. But, I believe, there is a Webster Av. in the Bronx.
According to the Long Beach, NY Historical Society the Castle Theatre was specifically built as a performance venue for dance couple Vernon and Irene Castle. They say it was only used for live performances until it was converted into a bathhouse and later burnt down.
However, since the text of the trade report refers to a “picture” being shown, the name of which appears on the marquee in the photo, I tried, unsuccessfully to find a reference to a 1929-1930 film of that title. I contacted the Historical Society representative, referring him to the article and requesting that a further check be made.
Incidentally, many years ago I saw a reference to a theatre in Long Beach which was near the boardwalk (none
of the three currently on CT). No name was given. I wonder if it was the Castle. Don’t have a Long Beach map to check that out.
Did the gunman reenter thru the exit door? The way he was decked out he couldn’t have come back in thru the lobby (or could he). A number of NY metropolitan theatres have metal detectors. Sad commentary on the times in which we live. School and theatre shootings; people being trampled to death at the opening of a special sale. And all the hype about new products being introduced at midnight. Outrageous hours for special sales. What’s the big deal about being the first? In the day there was an age requirement for movies and other events. I’m sure the 3 month old would have really appreciated the movie and the 6 year old would have been terrified (and, parenthetically, the audience would have been pissed by screaming children). This movie was not rated G, was it? It’s also interesting that some people who escaped the Century went to see the movie at another multiplex in town the next day which appeared to be empty.
Lost Memory has a reference to the Central in 1923. The text accompanying the sketch referred to by Tinseltoes makes the 1962 theatre as new. For a half million it should have been.
From my Toronto trips I would say that anything that is still intact from “the day” is now used for concert or legit presentations. There are very few single screens in Toronto. If you want to do some research just enter Toronto and look at every theatre. If CT says single screen and open then look at the individual entries for details. And on that subject, the Beacon in NYC is a concert venue. There are a few Broadway Theatres which have films in their history, but I can’t recall if any of them were originally film or just showed films at some point. Also, on Staten Island, the St. George has been beautifully restored and sometimes shows films. Some fabulous pictures on the site. Also check out the Hudson in NYC. Great restoration. A lot of the biggies became churches. The Albemarle in Brooklyn is amazing.
In San Francisco, the cavernous Golden Gate is used for live theatre. I believe it started out with films
That was then. The restoration is superb. They even included mirrors in the lobby which were part of the original design but not installed at the time of consturction. As I commented above, this is a must see. Unfortunately the Winter Garden, under the restoration/landmark rule does not have a regular projection system. When they do have a film presentation, which they did when last I was there, they had to bring in “portable” equipment.
The drive in closed in the 1980s. The driving range about ten years ago. The owner has made no effort to sell the property. Target has expressed an interest in building on the site but recent legislation bars new box stores on 25A. The developer has once last opportunity to appeal the ban which coincided with the upgrade of the 18 acre parcel from retail to recreational, a ruling which the owner had previously tried to overturn. In the past the NYS Court of Appeals rarely grants such motions. And so the pylon stands rotting in the midst of weeds, an unproductive eyesore.
From the photo above it would seem that the screen must have been very small in the beginning. Since the proscenium was very small what did they do to accommodate CinemaScope and the like?
George, are you the George I know from Cabaret?
At one time there was major confusion on CT about the listings for theatres in the Borough of Queens. Some showed the community name, some had the community and Queens, so just showed Queens. Queens is unique, along with Staten Island (Borough of Richmond), where there are distinct community identies rather than “sections”. At my request these Queens entries on CT were listed, uniformly, under their community, post office, identities. Accordingly, only the Queens and Community Theatres in Queens Village would be accessed by inputting “Queens”, excepting, of course, other locations in the world such as Queensland, Australia.
The physical structure appears to be in good shape; the financial is another story. They are trying to raise funds to keep the place open. I think they need something like a quarter million.
Mr. Paul Muni. That wasn’t too common.
Seasonal is the word. Come Labor Day they’ll close. Then they’ll reopen in mid June. They don’t make any attempt to extend the season. For Pete’s sake the Montauk has a much longer season and a much smaller potential clientele. Even Sag Harbor is now open year ‘round. This is a boon for the folks on Shelter Island. All they have to do is drive to the ferry slip on their side and walk a couple of blocks to the theatre when they get into Greenport.
The old legit Empire was never air conditioned. I remember during the run of Wish You Were Here, they brought in dry ice to put in front of the fans.
The folks at Cinema Arts are helping the fledgling Plaza Media and Arts Centre in Patchogue getting established.
The article shows the Garden as being on Webster Av. The Garden referred to above shows Jamaica Av. I know a number of name changes occurred in Queens but I was not aware that Jamaica Av. was one of them. There was also a Garden in Springfield Gardens. But, I believe, there is a Webster Av. in the Bronx.
According to the Long Beach, NY Historical Society the Castle Theatre was specifically built as a performance venue for dance couple Vernon and Irene Castle. They say it was only used for live performances until it was converted into a bathhouse and later burnt down.
However, since the text of the trade report refers to a “picture” being shown, the name of which appears on the marquee in the photo, I tried, unsuccessfully to find a reference to a 1929-1930 film of that title. I contacted the Historical Society representative, referring him to the article and requesting that a further check be made.
Incidentally, many years ago I saw a reference to a theatre in Long Beach which was near the boardwalk (none of the three currently on CT). No name was given. I wonder if it was the Castle. Don’t have a Long Beach map to check that out.
A case of worth more dead than alive. It was not a particularly impressive drive in.
How about the Plaza? That was around before either of the others.
Did the gunman reenter thru the exit door? The way he was decked out he couldn’t have come back in thru the lobby (or could he). A number of NY metropolitan theatres have metal detectors. Sad commentary on the times in which we live. School and theatre shootings; people being trampled to death at the opening of a special sale. And all the hype about new products being introduced at midnight. Outrageous hours for special sales. What’s the big deal about being the first? In the day there was an age requirement for movies and other events. I’m sure the 3 month old would have really appreciated the movie and the 6 year old would have been terrified (and, parenthetically, the audience would have been pissed by screaming children). This movie was not rated G, was it? It’s also interesting that some people who escaped the Century went to see the movie at another multiplex in town the next day which appeared to be empty.
Lost Memory has a reference to the Central in 1923. The text accompanying the sketch referred to by Tinseltoes makes the 1962 theatre as new. For a half million it should have been.
Ads always referred to it as Twin Lawrence
From my Toronto trips I would say that anything that is still intact from “the day” is now used for concert or legit presentations. There are very few single screens in Toronto. If you want to do some research just enter Toronto and look at every theatre. If CT says single screen and open then look at the individual entries for details. And on that subject, the Beacon in NYC is a concert venue. There are a few Broadway Theatres which have films in their history, but I can’t recall if any of them were originally film or just showed films at some point. Also, on Staten Island, the St. George has been beautifully restored and sometimes shows films. Some fabulous pictures on the site. Also check out the Hudson in NYC. Great restoration. A lot of the biggies became churches. The Albemarle in Brooklyn is amazing.
In San Francisco, the cavernous Golden Gate is used for live theatre. I believe it started out with films
That was then. The restoration is superb. They even included mirrors in the lobby which were part of the original design but not installed at the time of consturction. As I commented above, this is a must see. Unfortunately the Winter Garden, under the restoration/landmark rule does not have a regular projection system. When they do have a film presentation, which they did when last I was there, they had to bring in “portable” equipment.
A lot of the modernity described was also incorporated in Prudential’s Mid Island Theatre in Bethpage albeit with a more box like facade.
Trying to read the marquee. Can’t. Do they light the vertical?
But still no pylon
Another restaurant on the site.
The drive in closed in the 1980s. The driving range about ten years ago. The owner has made no effort to sell the property. Target has expressed an interest in building on the site but recent legislation bars new box stores on 25A. The developer has once last opportunity to appeal the ban which coincided with the upgrade of the 18 acre parcel from retail to recreational, a ruling which the owner had previously tried to overturn. In the past the NYS Court of Appeals rarely grants such motions. And so the pylon stands rotting in the midst of weeds, an unproductive eyesore.
I would doubt it. By 1951 that type of lettering was no longer used. The background was white opaque glass and the raised letters affixed on tracks.
That would be good since no pix of the theatre seem to be around.
From the photo above it would seem that the screen must have been very small in the beginning. Since the proscenium was very small what did they do to accommodate CinemaScope and the like?
PapaCat you should post your comments on the 43rd Street on the 43 Street site.