The 13th street Lyric is listed as the Bijou Cinema.
Many of the porno theatres listed here have rich histories in challenging censorship laws and documenting changing social mores, even if they were not born as brick and mortar palaces. They are time-capsule treasures of our film history.
Although designed to look like a movie palace, there appears to be no record of Studio 54 ever showing a single film for a single showing.
Although it also has had a history of insignificant movies, if you really want to define what a Cinema Treasure is, step into the Empire lobby and look up. It costs nothing.
The Ziegfeld has had at least two, maybe three major remodels since 1969. The original theatre’s burgundy wall coverings were called “New Orleans Whorehouse decor” when it first opened and then again when it was all redone to spec by Cineplex Odeon in the late eighties. It has since faded into a more acceptable color once again.
The original auditorium floor was fully carpeted, a fact that any theatre operator can tell you is not sustainable if you sell soft drinks. That sour smelling carpet was removed and cup holders added, probably by Clearview.
Some cinemas in Britain split the price by including snacks. (e.i.– 6 pounds for your ticket, 4 pounds for a glass of champagne.) This way film rental percentages were limited to the ticket price.
Thanks Warren! That one has had me baffled for while now.
Although it sounds trivial, years from now someone will claim the Empire WAS the Liberty based on the address. Once such revisionist history gets into publication it takes forever to straighten it out. Just look at all the young writers who already mix up the Roxy’s.
When you consider that “The Birth of a Nation” is considered by many to have jump started modern exhibition around the world and may have even created the Roadshow concept, the mothballed Liberty may be the most important historical (if not architectural) Cinema Treasure anywhere.
CT has the same address for both the Liberty and the Empire. Surely this could not have been the case when they co-existed. Does anyone know the original Empire address?
On the issue of booking it right, it is impossible to keep the gourmet food fresh and justify the staff support for the cluster of upscale popular films that open during one season. After you play “No Country For Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood”, the rest of the year ends up being covered by mainstream crap or empty seats.
It is impossible to justify the screen size, staff costs and spoiled food for that small “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” crowd that buys nothing.
Theatres chains in Britain have been running premium priced ‘premiere screens’ for years. They were first introduced by Virgin Cinemas with private bars, waiter service and deluxe seating. Very few worked and few are still operating.
There is no reference to screen size in my 1927 program but the main feature was “Ankles Preferred” starring Madge Bellamy accompanied by an organ concert, symphony orchestra, ballet, magazine, and a “Revue Picturesque'(whatever that is).
The 26 page program says it would have a guaranteed circulation of 100,000 weekly.
Thanks Miamiguy. I guess the yearbook may have not caught on to the name change.
Since the Hotel was still there in later years, there must have been another major remodel in the late thirties to the Paramount we knew in the seventies.
Sound came in around 1927 but I am not sure when it came to Miami. My 1934 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures does not list a Miami nor a Town Theatre.
The Roadshow houses in South Florida were mostly in Miami Beach. The Sheridan, Beach, Lincoln, Colony, Carib, and Roosevelt all ran consistent roadshows. The Florida downtown ran Cinerama for a limited time along with the Roosevelt and the Sheridan.
In later years the Bay Harbor, Coral, Sunny Isles Twin, Gateway, Sunrise Twin, Byron and Dadeland Twin all ran some roadshow films.
The Lincoln, Colony, Roosevelt, and Gateway survive in varying forms.
Kitty alluded to a third Miami theatre on Bird Road. That was a short lived converted space called the Miami Twin showing films with spanish subtitles.
The Wometco Miami opened in 1947 but I also was unaware of the Town having ever been the previous location of the old Miami. That map also shows NW 3rd street just east of the Town, which I do not recall.
I have a postcard of an old silent Miami Theatre on East Flagler and 2nd Avenue that I could not previously place. It looks like an older, taller building on the site. (I will post it when I get my photos back on line as my photos site shut down.)
I postcards of the State I have all appear to start at the marquee on the East so I cannot tell if it was on a corner, but Kress is indeed across the street.
The Hippodrome News was also a theatre which I had previously read was on the Olympia site. This map shows it co-existed next to the Rex instead. The Rex was a Publix (Sparks) Theatre on 205 East Flagler Street. It was there in 1933.
The believe the third avenue Bijou was between 12th and 13th and was last known as Cinema Village on 3rdA Avenue.
/theaters/8371/
The 13th street Lyric is listed as the Bijou Cinema.
Many of the porno theatres listed here have rich histories in challenging censorship laws and documenting changing social mores, even if they were not born as brick and mortar palaces. They are time-capsule treasures of our film history.
Although designed to look like a movie palace, there appears to be no record of Studio 54 ever showing a single film for a single showing.
Although it also has had a history of insignificant movies, if you really want to define what a Cinema Treasure is, step into the Empire lobby and look up. It costs nothing.
The Ziegfeld has had at least two, maybe three major remodels since 1969. The original theatre’s burgundy wall coverings were called “New Orleans Whorehouse decor” when it first opened and then again when it was all redone to spec by Cineplex Odeon in the late eighties. It has since faded into a more acceptable color once again.
The original auditorium floor was fully carpeted, a fact that any theatre operator can tell you is not sustainable if you sell soft drinks. That sour smelling carpet was removed and cup holders added, probably by Clearview.
The Ziegfeld has movie premieres as often as possible. It’s what keep it profitable.
What about the film distributor?
Some cinemas in Britain split the price by including snacks. (e.i.– 6 pounds for your ticket, 4 pounds for a glass of champagne.) This way film rental percentages were limited to the ticket price.
I think I know why Ziegfeld audiences laugh at the opening monologue. It sounds like one of J. Peterman’s catalog entries from Seinfeld.
In retrospect, actor John O'Hurley must have been imitating Heston all along.
Alcohol works great in British cinemas because it is a boozier culture than the U.S. The bar makes it easier for mom to get dad out of the house.
I think it is less effective in the U.S. as a draw.
Three plans to rescue the theatre:
View link
Thanks Warren! That one has had me baffled for while now.
Although it sounds trivial, years from now someone will claim the Empire WAS the Liberty based on the address. Once such revisionist history gets into publication it takes forever to straighten it out. Just look at all the young writers who already mix up the Roxy’s.
When you consider that “The Birth of a Nation” is considered by many to have jump started modern exhibition around the world and may have even created the Roadshow concept, the mothballed Liberty may be the most important historical (if not architectural) Cinema Treasure anywhere.
CT has the same address for both the Liberty and the Empire. Surely this could not have been the case when they co-existed. Does anyone know the original Empire address?
On the issue of booking it right, it is impossible to keep the gourmet food fresh and justify the staff support for the cluster of upscale popular films that open during one season. After you play “No Country For Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood”, the rest of the year ends up being covered by mainstream crap or empty seats.
It is impossible to justify the screen size, staff costs and spoiled food for that small “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” crowd that buys nothing.
Theatres chains in Britain have been running premium priced ‘premiere screens’ for years. They were first introduced by Virgin Cinemas with private bars, waiter service and deluxe seating. Very few worked and few are still operating.
The Park Lane/Gracie Square page mentions that it was designed to resemble the Gallo/Studio 54.
There is no reference to screen size in my 1927 program but the main feature was “Ankles Preferred” starring Madge Bellamy accompanied by an organ concert, symphony orchestra, ballet, magazine, and a “Revue Picturesque'(whatever that is).
The 26 page program says it would have a guaranteed circulation of 100,000 weekly.
I thought that wall on 41st street was the Empire when I went by. Is that really the old Liberty?
I can’t find that listing.
??
I bought a 1927 Roxy program on ebay.
The site has been quite inconsistent about this. Witness the Strand and the Nokia.
Thanks Miamiguy. I guess the yearbook may have not caught on to the name change.
Since the Hotel was still there in later years, there must have been another major remodel in the late thirties to the Paramount we knew in the seventies.
“The Fairfax was renamed the Paramount”
Miamiguy, I am having second thoughts about this comment since my 1924 Film Year Book list both.
Sound came in around 1927 but I am not sure when it came to Miami. My 1934 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures does not list a Miami nor a Town Theatre.
It does list the Rex with 1000 seats.
The Miami opening gala was on April 18, 1947 with the film “Carnival In Costa Rica”.
Interesting item in the photo above is the poster frame heading of “HOY” (or “TODAY”) in Spanish, predating the Cuban influx.
The Roadshow houses in South Florida were mostly in Miami Beach. The Sheridan, Beach, Lincoln, Colony, Carib, and Roosevelt all ran consistent roadshows. The Florida downtown ran Cinerama for a limited time along with the Roosevelt and the Sheridan.
In later years the Bay Harbor, Coral, Sunny Isles Twin, Gateway, Sunrise Twin, Byron and Dadeland Twin all ran some roadshow films.
The Lincoln, Colony, Roosevelt, and Gateway survive in varying forms.
Kitty alluded to a third Miami theatre on Bird Road. That was a short lived converted space called the Miami Twin showing films with spanish subtitles.
The Wometco Miami opened in 1947 but I also was unaware of the Town having ever been the previous location of the old Miami. That map also shows NW 3rd street just east of the Town, which I do not recall.
I have a postcard of an old silent Miami Theatre on East Flagler and 2nd Avenue that I could not previously place. It looks like an older, taller building on the site. (I will post it when I get my photos back on line as my photos site shut down.)
I postcards of the State I have all appear to start at the marquee on the East so I cannot tell if it was on a corner, but Kress is indeed across the street.
The Hippodrome News was also a theatre which I had previously read was on the Olympia site. This map shows it co-existed next to the Rex instead. The Rex was a Publix (Sparks) Theatre on 205 East Flagler Street. It was there in 1933.