Then the fact that the New York article refers to RKO Plaza as an “entertainment and residential complex” should cast further doubt as to whether the journalist is writing with any sort of authoritative knowledge about the scope of the project and the extent of the theater’s restoration. As far as I can recall, the project has always been classified as largely residential with a small mix of ground level retail, restaurants and some sort of senior center. Or, is this what now constitutes “entertainment” in the eyes of real estate developers?
Here’s a movie clock from the Post a little over a year later that shows the Valley Stream – now listed independently from the RKO Century Theaters – showing a double bill of “Arthur” and the Chevy Chase fiasco “Under the Rainbow”, both originally released in the summer of ‘81:
I don’t see either the Mineola or Hempstead (the other RKO discount houses listed in the 1980 ad I posted yesterday) anywhere in the movie clock. I assume RKO had closed them sometime in ‘81, while the Valley Stream fell into independent ownership.
Here’s a follow up to the ad from 1980 that I posted yesterday… The movie clock in the NY Post from just two days later (a Thursday, by the way) lists the Belair as being “closed for repairs”:
In several editions of the Post and Daily News I have from March of 1982, I can’t find the Belair listed at all in any of the ads or in the movie clocks. I’m positive it was still in operation, but perhaps it only ran ads in Newsday. The other B.S. Moss house in the ad I posted yesterday, the Central Triplex in Cedarhurst, is listed in the ‘82 papers and still showing first run films. Was the Belair a Moss house to the end? Or did it go independent and discount sometime in the early-to-mid '80’s?
You’re probably right, Warren. “Hall” as in “Foyer”. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the complex referred to as including an “entertainment” center. Or has it? Anyway, that would seem to imply preserving more of the theater than just the lobby for such use, wouldn’t it?
Arcadia Lake and Kandi Barbour were the sultry attractions in the following ad for the Lido East and its sister theater The Pussycat (formerly the Cine Lido) back on 12/11/80:
A year and change later, also in its 3rd smash week, this feature day and dated at the Lido East and Pussycat along with a live and informative seminar on the “art of love making”:
[url=http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Newspaper%20Ads%20and%20Clippings/IMG_1951.jpg]Never So Deep NY Post 3/10/82
I wonder if the print version of the article was less slipshod, Jeffrey, in its identification of the projects depicted. Still, your last point lands well. The author certainly stands in the minority with respect to her assessment of the Mets' new home, indicating her haste to work personal opinion into the piece rather than report objectively. I still think there is some manipulation of language being perpetrated by Boymelgreen and their pocket politicians when it comes to the project, designed to throw the casual preservationist off the scent. As far as I can decipher from all of this, only the landmarked portions of the Keith’s will be preserved. And those portions are limited to the grand foyer and mezzanine. Furthermore, a portion of that landmarked space will have to be destroyed in order to facilitate the undulating glass facade that is proposed to allow passers-by a peak inside from the sidewalk. It’s really quite a farce. If I’m wrong, then I’ll be very pleasantly surprised. I’ll be the first to sing Boymelgreen’s praises. But I don’t plan on clearing my throat any time soon.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been given the vague impression that the RKO Plaza project might include a full restoration of the theater. I think the politicians, beaurocrats and developers involved in the deal have purposely phrased any discussion of the project in such a way as to result precisely in this sort of confusion. We’ve been dissecting the semantics and political rhetoric in various articles, websites and Op-Ed letters for about a year – check back to a lot of the posts in October through January in particular and you’ll find the same questions as those posed by Warren just today.
Took my mother (a huge Diamond fan) to see this one sometime later at the Five Towns Theater in Woodmere, LI, for all of 81 cents per ticket when it finally made the discount theater rounds.
I love that distinctive font type for the Ziegfeld in that ad. I remember all of the Walter Reade Theaters at the time used that type face in print ads – you can see it for Reade’s New Yorker in the adjacent ad for “On Golden Pond”. Also note how all the Manhattan showcases used a distinctive type face to set them apart from each other. This was pretty common for the day.
Warren… I know you’re interested in getting theater names exactly right… Would you say that these two ads evidence that at least during this period of time the Ziegfeld Theater was actually properly known as “The Ziegfeld”? I wonder if that was a naming convention that Walter Reade applied to its entire chain at the time, as supported by “The New Yorker 2” reference in the “On Golden Pond” ad.
AnthonyS1957… Try the dvddrive-in.com website. They don’t exactly have a searchable database, but the site specializes in remembering and reviewing DVD’s of the kind of schlocky horror and exploitation flicks that made the rounds on the drive-in theater and grind house circuit in the 1960’s, ‘70’s and '80’s. You have to join to be able to read all of the reviews, but there is plenty of free stuff on the site and perhaps you can email your question to the staff (clicking their “Contact” link will launch your email program with an addressed new message). The site also offers a great stroll down memory lane for anyone who – like me – has fond memories of shows like “Creature Features” “The 4:30 Movie” and “Chiller Theater” that used to broadcast horror flicks on local television here in NYC.
Anyway… good luck in your quest!
Meanwhile… did you see this tough chick when she blew through the Chopin back in December 1980?: Gloria Daily News 12/12/80
Or how about the snake-filled horror fest in March of ‘82?: Venon NY Post 3/8/82
A quick glance at the movie clock for that edition of the Post reveals that the Chopin (and other nabes) doubled your “V"iewing pleasure by featuring the Sylvester Stallone soccer film "Victory” in support of “Venom”. Not sure if there was a supporting feature for “Gloria”.
I found an old Newsday from 12/9/80 that I had saved due to the news of John Lennon’s murder. It seems the RKO and ALMI chains used to run block ads for their theaters in the paper (though not in the NY Post or Daily News judging from copies I have of those publications from the time). In addition to a block covering all of RKO’s first run theaters (an image of which I posted on the Lawrence, Rockville Centre and Keith’s Flushing pages here), there was also the following ad for their discount houses:
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Sorry for the blurriness of the image. I saw every one of the movies playing here except for “The Competition”. The phone # listed in the ad still works.
Well… I’d like to document as much of the interior as possible… just to document what if any is left of the old cinema. If there isn’t much at all left, then I’ll probably just take a couple of general wide shots of the sanctuary and perhaps a shot or two of the former lobby space. And if anything remains by way of the balcony, perhaps another shot or two up there. The more suspected detail that I see remaining, the more shots I’ll probably want to take. But, I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome if any of this makes your pastor or the congregation uncomfortable. As for when, I would come whenever it is convenient for the church (my own business hours allowing, of course). I wouldn’t want to intrude on an actual service, obviously. I really appreciate your finding out if this would be OK. Thank you so much.
Check out the prices for the RCMH Christmas Spectacular from Dec. 1980. This was just a little over a year after the “Showplace of the Nation” had been retired as a movie palace and switched over to “entertainment center” hosting concerts and other special events.
How times have changed! $11.50 top dollar ticket! That was only 3 or 4 times the average movie ticket at the time and less than half of what one would expect to pay for a Broadway play! Today, prices for the Christmas show go as high as $200.00 which is DOUBLE most Broadway productions.
Was the Christmas show the only programming to survive the Hall’s transition? I know it is no longer offered, but I can’t recall if they attempted to keep the Glory of Easter stage show (which accompanied DeMille’s seafaring opus in Warren’s 1942 ad) alive for any length of time after the 1979 season.
I believe Warren had posted the following image here some time ago… It seems Tarzan had a previous history at the Globe some 8 years earlier and in the person of actor Herman Brix (“World’s Greatest Athlete” in 1935):
Sorry for the misidentification, Robert R. Thank YOU for that ad! By the way… what is the Stanley on 7th near 42nd? I presume the Manhattan Theater listed above it at 51st and B'way is the old Warner that was next door to the original Roseland Ballroom?
Warren… that matches up exactly with the address Lost Memory posted on May 7th for the Eckerd drugstore that now occupies the site.
Then the fact that the New York article refers to RKO Plaza as an “entertainment and residential complex” should cast further doubt as to whether the journalist is writing with any sort of authoritative knowledge about the scope of the project and the extent of the theater’s restoration. As far as I can recall, the project has always been classified as largely residential with a small mix of ground level retail, restaurants and some sort of senior center. Or, is this what now constitutes “entertainment” in the eyes of real estate developers?
Here’s a movie clock from the Post a little over a year later that shows the Valley Stream – now listed independently from the RKO Century Theaters – showing a double bill of “Arthur” and the Chevy Chase fiasco “Under the Rainbow”, both originally released in the summer of ‘81:
NY Post 3/8/82
I don’t see either the Mineola or Hempstead (the other RKO discount houses listed in the 1980 ad I posted yesterday) anywhere in the movie clock. I assume RKO had closed them sometime in ‘81, while the Valley Stream fell into independent ownership.
Here’s a follow up to the ad from 1980 that I posted yesterday… The movie clock in the NY Post from just two days later (a Thursday, by the way) lists the Belair as being “closed for repairs”:
NY Post 12/11/80
In several editions of the Post and Daily News I have from March of 1982, I can’t find the Belair listed at all in any of the ads or in the movie clocks. I’m positive it was still in operation, but perhaps it only ran ads in Newsday. The other B.S. Moss house in the ad I posted yesterday, the Central Triplex in Cedarhurst, is listed in the ‘82 papers and still showing first run films. Was the Belair a Moss house to the end? Or did it go independent and discount sometime in the early-to-mid '80’s?
You’re probably right, Warren. “Hall” as in “Foyer”. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the complex referred to as including an “entertainment” center. Or has it? Anyway, that would seem to imply preserving more of the theater than just the lobby for such use, wouldn’t it?
The Belair Twin advertised its fare in Newsday on 12/9/80 alongside its sister theater the Central Triplex in Cedarhurst.
$1.50 First Show Sat & Sun
Both theaters still appear to be first run at the time.
Oh brother. I’m batting a thousand. OK. Third time’s the charm:
Never So Deep NY Post 3/10/82
Maybe I should get acquainted with the “Preview” button. My apologies.
Sorry about that last link… Here it is:
Never So Deep NY Post 3/10/82
Arcadia Lake and Kandi Barbour were the sultry attractions in the following ad for the Lido East and its sister theater The Pussycat (formerly the Cine Lido) back on 12/11/80:
Young Wild and Wonderful (NY Post)
A year and change later, also in its 3rd smash week, this feature day and dated at the Lido East and Pussycat along with a live and informative seminar on the “art of love making”:
[url=http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Newspaper%20Ads%20and%20Clippings/IMG_1951.jpg]Never So Deep NY Post 3/10/82
I wonder if the print version of the article was less slipshod, Jeffrey, in its identification of the projects depicted. Still, your last point lands well. The author certainly stands in the minority with respect to her assessment of the Mets' new home, indicating her haste to work personal opinion into the piece rather than report objectively. I still think there is some manipulation of language being perpetrated by Boymelgreen and their pocket politicians when it comes to the project, designed to throw the casual preservationist off the scent. As far as I can decipher from all of this, only the landmarked portions of the Keith’s will be preserved. And those portions are limited to the grand foyer and mezzanine. Furthermore, a portion of that landmarked space will have to be destroyed in order to facilitate the undulating glass facade that is proposed to allow passers-by a peak inside from the sidewalk. It’s really quite a farce. If I’m wrong, then I’ll be very pleasantly surprised. I’ll be the first to sing Boymelgreen’s praises. But I don’t plan on clearing my throat any time soon.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been given the vague impression that the RKO Plaza project might include a full restoration of the theater. I think the politicians, beaurocrats and developers involved in the deal have purposely phrased any discussion of the project in such a way as to result precisely in this sort of confusion. We’ve been dissecting the semantics and political rhetoric in various articles, websites and Op-Ed letters for about a year – check back to a lot of the posts in October through January in particular and you’ll find the same questions as those posed by Warren just today.
It seems that vanity-driven big budget Hollywood remakes were a part of the scene even 26 years ago:
The Jazz Singer – Daily News 12/14/80
Took my mother (a huge Diamond fan) to see this one sometime later at the Five Towns Theater in Woodmere, LI, for all of 81 cents per ticket when it finally made the discount theater rounds.
Below is an ad from the NY Post on March 6, 1982 – a time when 70mm and Dolby Stereo seemed to be a pretty big angle to play up in advertising:
Quest for Fire
I love that distinctive font type for the Ziegfeld in that ad. I remember all of the Walter Reade Theaters at the time used that type face in print ads – you can see it for Reade’s New Yorker in the adjacent ad for “On Golden Pond”. Also note how all the Manhattan showcases used a distinctive type face to set them apart from each other. This was pretty common for the day.
Warren… I know you’re interested in getting theater names exactly right… Would you say that these two ads evidence that at least during this period of time the Ziegfeld Theater was actually properly known as “The Ziegfeld”? I wonder if that was a naming convention that Walter Reade applied to its entire chain at the time, as supported by “The New Yorker 2” reference in the “On Golden Pond” ad.
AnthonyS1957… Try the dvddrive-in.com website. They don’t exactly have a searchable database, but the site specializes in remembering and reviewing DVD’s of the kind of schlocky horror and exploitation flicks that made the rounds on the drive-in theater and grind house circuit in the 1960’s, ‘70’s and '80’s. You have to join to be able to read all of the reviews, but there is plenty of free stuff on the site and perhaps you can email your question to the staff (clicking their “Contact” link will launch your email program with an addressed new message). The site also offers a great stroll down memory lane for anyone who – like me – has fond memories of shows like “Creature Features” “The 4:30 Movie” and “Chiller Theater” that used to broadcast horror flicks on local television here in NYC.
Anyway… good luck in your quest!
Meanwhile… did you see this tough chick when she blew through the Chopin back in December 1980?:
Gloria Daily News 12/12/80
Or how about the snake-filled horror fest in March of ‘82?:
Venon NY Post 3/8/82
A quick glance at the movie clock for that edition of the Post reveals that the Chopin (and other nabes) doubled your “V"iewing pleasure by featuring the Sylvester Stallone soccer film "Victory” in support of “Venom”. Not sure if there was a supporting feature for “Gloria”.
The Hempstead is listed in this small block ad for RKO’s discount houses that ran in Newsday on 12/9/80:
80 cents at all times
RKO bought Century’s around this time and the brand was “RKO Century” for a few years.
As a discount house, it seems this theater was in the RKO chain, as indicated by the following block ad RKO ran in Newsday back on 12/9/80:
80 cents at all times
I found an old Newsday from 12/9/80 that I had saved due to the news of John Lennon’s murder. It seems the RKO and ALMI chains used to run block ads for their theaters in the paper (though not in the NY Post or Daily News judging from copies I have of those publications from the time). In addition to a block covering all of RKO’s first run theaters (an image of which I posted on the Lawrence, Rockville Centre and Keith’s Flushing pages here), there was also the following ad for their discount houses:
RKO Discount and ALMI Theaters
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
RKO block ad
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
RKO block ad
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Came across an old copy of Newsday I saved from the time just after John Lennon’s murder. I also have copies of the NY Post and Daily News from this time and it seems that only in Newsday did theater chains like RKO run these sort of throwback block ads:
RKO block ad
Elsewhere in the paper, RKO also had a smaller block for its bargain-priced third run cinemas (at the time priced at “80 cents at all times”) such as the Mineola, Valley Stream and Hempstead Theaters.
Here’s a standalone ad for the Sunrise Cinemas that ran in Newsday on 12/9/80:
Sixplex Ad
Sorry for the blurriness of the image. I saw every one of the movies playing here except for “The Competition”. The phone # listed in the ad still works.
Well… I’d like to document as much of the interior as possible… just to document what if any is left of the old cinema. If there isn’t much at all left, then I’ll probably just take a couple of general wide shots of the sanctuary and perhaps a shot or two of the former lobby space. And if anything remains by way of the balcony, perhaps another shot or two up there. The more suspected detail that I see remaining, the more shots I’ll probably want to take. But, I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome if any of this makes your pastor or the congregation uncomfortable. As for when, I would come whenever it is convenient for the church (my own business hours allowing, of course). I wouldn’t want to intrude on an actual service, obviously. I really appreciate your finding out if this would be OK. Thank you so much.
Check out the prices for the RCMH Christmas Spectacular from Dec. 1980. This was just a little over a year after the “Showplace of the Nation” had been retired as a movie palace and switched over to “entertainment center” hosting concerts and other special events.
Daily News 12/12/80
How times have changed! $11.50 top dollar ticket! That was only 3 or 4 times the average movie ticket at the time and less than half of what one would expect to pay for a Broadway play! Today, prices for the Christmas show go as high as $200.00 which is DOUBLE most Broadway productions.
Was the Christmas show the only programming to survive the Hall’s transition? I know it is no longer offered, but I can’t recall if they attempted to keep the Glory of Easter stage show (which accompanied DeMille’s seafaring opus in Warren’s 1942 ad) alive for any length of time after the 1979 season.
I believe Warren had posted the following image here some time ago… It seems Tarzan had a previous history at the Globe some 8 years earlier and in the person of actor Herman Brix (“World’s Greatest Athlete” in 1935):
New Adventures of Tarzan
Sorry for the misidentification, Robert R. Thank YOU for that ad! By the way… what is the Stanley on 7th near 42nd? I presume the Manhattan Theater listed above it at 51st and B'way is the old Warner that was next door to the original Roseland Ballroom?