There is a great shot of the marquee from 1950 in Ken Bloom’s BROADWAY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA . Joel McCrea’s The Outriders featured. The Loew Building, Brook’s, Bulova Watches can be seen to the left of the theater. Jerry
There is a great example of the exotic programming, and a beautiful shot of the Rialto, in Ken Bloom’s BROADWAY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. Next to the theater entrance is Diamond Jim’s bar. The high windows, mentioned earlier, are visible as is the bottom of a large display for Samson and Delilah. The marquee reads:
Technicolor Hit Show
Wild Animal Thriller
SAVAGE SPLENDOR
Actual JUNGLE film
plus MIGHTY MANHATTAN (two reeler according to imdb)
It was programming like this that kept me around the corner on 42nd. BTW all of the films mentioned are from 1949. Jerry
Thanks for bringing back some awful childhood memories, BoxOfficeBill.
I had a HS schoolmate visiting from NJ during the holidays and he wanted to see Father Goose at RCMH. Being a young New Yorker, who never waited on line to see a film that would be elsewhere in 6-7 weeks, I tried to talk him out of it. But noooooo, we waited in the freezin' cold for, I guess, 4-5 hours (was that the normal wait time for a Christmas show????. It seemed like days). Worse yet, he wouldn’t let me leave him in our spot so that I could go find some hot chocolate or food….anything!
It was the first and last time that I fell asleep in a movie theater and, to this day, have never seen the complete Father Goose. (PS…The friendship didn’t last much longer.)
saps, I also wondered if the Lyric actually played those films. IMDB lists both as 1974 releases (I thought the titles and posters may have been made up for the film). An IMDB user comment on the second film makes mention of the Taxi Driver connection.
Looking at some newspaper ads from the 50s, the theater is listed as a Rugoff-Becker theater, along with the Gramercy, Art, Beekman & Austin. Some of the features: “Arsenic & old Lace” with “Inspector General”. Rene Clair’s “Gates of Paris” with “Virtous Scoundrel”; Sophia Loren “Miller’s Beautiful Wife” with “Love & Jealousy”; Fellini’s “White Shiek”; along with occasional mainstream single features like “To Catch A Thief”, “Prince & The Showgirl”.
March 25 – April 2,1967…. the theater hosted MURRAY the K’S MUSIC IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION with Mitch Ryder, Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, The Who, The Cream, Blues Project and the “K” girls. I had passes and saw 3 of the shows. Then it reverted back to feature films. Jerry the “K”
According to the 1956 Yearbook of Motion Pictures, The Marine was part of the Brandt Theater chain and officially sat 540. Anyone know where the Brandt booking archives are kept????
According to the 1956 Yearbook of Motion Pictures, The Terrace was part of the Brandt Theater chain and officially sat 597. Anyone know where the Brandt booking archives are kept????
Warren,
How was the artwork (heavy stock-cardboard?) that framed, horseshoe-shaped, the entrance to the Broadway & 42nd Street theaters (double features!)accomplished and at what cost? Jerry
found this on a google search…..It was New Jersey’s last drive-in. On closing night, the theater ran The Fly and The Girl Can’t Help It, the first two movies they played back in ‘57.
I have some ads showing the Loew’s Rte 35 Drive-In from the 1963.
Mentions CARTOON-A-RAMA every Sat & Sun. FREE Candy Cane Playground & Midget Railroad.
Some fun programming. Captain Sinbad, Nutty Professor, Donovan’s Reef, etc. Seemed to have two bills per week. Wed-Sat; Sun-Tues.
My New York Times ads from the 50s shows the theater listed separately in the Loew’s ad. OPEN ALL YEAR-FREE CAR HEATERS.
A member of the Atlantic Highlands Chamber of Commerce did confirm, via email, that this is the original single screen theater that I mentioned above, from the 60s.
I have some copies of ads from that time, with programming. If interested let me know. Jerry
I don’t know of any theaters anywhere, other than drive-ins, that are seasonal. I imagine that would be tough to do in this economy. Are there any in LI? I’m in Florida so even the drive-in is 52wks/year.
Jerry
A super librarian in NJ mailed a copy of an image of the theater from a book (not credited). It’s a grainy shot from 1939 when it was called Highlands Auditorium. It mentions that in 1940s & 1950s it was called the Marine and was managed in conjunction with the Atlantic in the next town. It does mention that “with a different facade, it exists as the Lusty Lobster at 88 Bay Avenue”.
She was also gracious to include a few copies of the theater listings from 1963. Fortunately, she hit on one of my memories.
It seems as if the theater may have been open on weekends only during the off season and changed programming on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sunday with weekend matinees.
A mix of single features (newer releases like Hud, Nutty Professor), with some creative double features (Journey to the Center of the Earth & Time Machine). I remember seeing The Blob paired with War of the Worlds.
I have other programming, on these 6-7 pages,for the area theaters, Atlantic, Route 35 DI, Eatontown DI, Carlton, Eatontown DI , if interested email me.
I received an email from a gentleman whose dad managed the ANCO. Here is a composite of our correspondence. The fact that he mentions the Cinema Circuit ownership backs up my recollection of the ANCO following the bookings of the larger New Amsterdam & Harris theaters which I believe were also owned by Cinema Circuit. I smiled reading about Chris the ice cream vendor. I do remember that the theater was too small for a refreshment stand and the ice cream hawker did a great business. Here goes:
“My Dad was the manager of the Anco theater during the mid to late 1950’s. There was a robbery there in 1959 during a showing of Shootout at the OK Corral! He also managed the Prospect theater in the Bronx before that for Cinema Circuit!
As far as I can remember, the ANCO played mostly action and adventure films with some Sci-fi mixed in. It didn’t have a candy stand, just vending machines. I think it was painted pink inside!? The usher Chris sold Ice Cream from a tray during the intermission.
I looked up the ANCO at the theater site online. They are making posts trying to guess what it is named after! It was owned by Cinema Circuit. The partners were Mark I Finklestein and Max Cohen. Cohen’s daughter was ANNA COHEN! So they named it AN—CO after his daughter!”
What was the drive-in that I visited in Totowa back in the late 50s-early 60? I don’t see mention of the Totowa D-I; did it have a different name? Jerry
My folks would take me from Manhattan to NJ to see a drive-in movie back in the late 50s- early 60s. I recall that the Rt. 3 was the first one we would encounter (entrances on both sides of Rt. 3), then we would head out to the Totawa DI & Parsippany DI before deciding which one to see. Poor dad.
Later, it was the spot to take a date. I remember The Love Bug (early 1969)in a snowstorm.
The Elmsford was the only area drive-in, and only one of 12 theaters selected by United Artists as part of the initial “Premiere Showcase” theaters in June 1962. Jerry
Don,
The ANCO would show a double feature that had “legs” and did well the earlier two weeks at the New Amsterdam & Harris. Sometimes it worked to their advantage when the word would spread about a double feature like “Night of the Living Dead – Dr. Who & The Daleks” and they would keep it indefinitely.
I have a 1967 ad showing Doctor Zhivago at the ANCO (hard to believe, eh?)with the banner HELD OVER which means it probably followed the New Amsterdam-Harris bookings.
When a film didn’t have legs, the ANCO would put some fun action double features together and these were not advertised since the ANCO did not pay to advertise, they were only listed when the film’s distributor listed them among the other NYC theaters.
Still searching for that booking info from the 50s-60s if anyone knows where to find it, please let me know.
There is a long shot of the ANCOs marquee in Marc Eliot’s book, Down 42nd Street. It features the marquees of The Harris, Liberty, Empire & Anco. From 1966. Nice shot of the “south side”
I will try to get a copy of the ad posted somewhere. The ad does mention that the show starts today at 8:00 AM – 6 complete deluxe stage shows – last complete show 12 MIDNIGHT. Hopefully Jackie & Co. go to do the 10am and midnight slot. Bad enough.
The film, Drum Beat, was 111 minutes. So, if my math is right, the stage show would be about an hour in order to get 6 shows in from 8am to 3am with some intermission time to get everybody to the snack bar.
The ad mentions the 32 June Taylor Dancers, Bobby Hackett and the “Music for Lovers Only” orchestra of 50 musicians with Sammy Spear. So the Honeymooners were probably on stage for less than 30 minutes. Probably 20 minutes, close to the length of an episode.
The “combos” went to at to least Nov. 1954. I have a copy of the NYT ad for the Jackie Gleason stage show (with Art Carney, Audrey Meadows & June Taylor Dancers)and Alan Ladd’s Drum Beat on the screen.
This is my only memory of seeing a Paramount stage show.
Ernie, the best way to document the bookings at the Paramount is to find a library with NYT on microfiche, it worked for me. Lots of fun and you can print out a copy of the ads.
I went through NY Times microfiche for months documenting the theaters that I lived in during the 50s-60s in NYC. I have a spreadsheet of the double features that I could verify. Missing my 42nd Street theaters that didn’t advertise. But found a neat movie clip today on gettyimages.com which I posted on the 42nd theater pages.
There is a great shot of the marquee from 1950 in Ken Bloom’s BROADWAY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA . Joel McCrea’s The Outriders featured. The Loew Building, Brook’s, Bulova Watches can be seen to the left of the theater. Jerry
There is a great example of the exotic programming, and a beautiful shot of the Rialto, in Ken Bloom’s BROADWAY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. Next to the theater entrance is Diamond Jim’s bar. The high windows, mentioned earlier, are visible as is the bottom of a large display for Samson and Delilah. The marquee reads:
Technicolor Hit Show
Wild Animal Thriller
SAVAGE SPLENDOR
Actual JUNGLE film
plus MIGHTY MANHATTAN (two reeler according to imdb)
It was programming like this that kept me around the corner on 42nd. BTW all of the films mentioned are from 1949. Jerry
Thanks for bringing back some awful childhood memories, BoxOfficeBill.
I had a HS schoolmate visiting from NJ during the holidays and he wanted to see Father Goose at RCMH. Being a young New Yorker, who never waited on line to see a film that would be elsewhere in 6-7 weeks, I tried to talk him out of it. But noooooo, we waited in the freezin' cold for, I guess, 4-5 hours (was that the normal wait time for a Christmas show????. It seemed like days). Worse yet, he wouldn’t let me leave him in our spot so that I could go find some hot chocolate or food….anything!
It was the first and last time that I fell asleep in a movie theater and, to this day, have never seen the complete Father Goose. (PS…The friendship didn’t last much longer.)
saps, I also wondered if the Lyric actually played those films. IMDB lists both as 1974 releases (I thought the titles and posters may have been made up for the film). An IMDB user comment on the second film makes mention of the Taxi Driver connection.
Great tip,lostmemory. Enjoyed the site.
Looking at some newspaper ads from the 50s, the theater is listed as a Rugoff-Becker theater, along with the Gramercy, Art, Beekman & Austin. Some of the features: “Arsenic & old Lace” with “Inspector General”. Rene Clair’s “Gates of Paris” with “Virtous Scoundrel”; Sophia Loren “Miller’s Beautiful Wife” with “Love & Jealousy”; Fellini’s “White Shiek”; along with occasional mainstream single features like “To Catch A Thief”, “Prince & The Showgirl”.
March 25 – April 2,1967…. the theater hosted MURRAY the K’S MUSIC IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION with Mitch Ryder, Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, The Who, The Cream, Blues Project and the “K” girls. I had passes and saw 3 of the shows. Then it reverted back to feature films. Jerry the “K”
Thanks, Warren. Will do.
According to the 1956 Yearbook of Motion Pictures, The Marine was part of the Brandt Theater chain and officially sat 540. Anyone know where the Brandt booking archives are kept????
According to the 1956 Yearbook of Motion Pictures, The Terrace was part of the Brandt Theater chain and officially sat 597. Anyone know where the Brandt booking archives are kept????
Warren,
How was the artwork (heavy stock-cardboard?) that framed, horseshoe-shaped, the entrance to the Broadway & 42nd Street theaters (double features!)accomplished and at what cost? Jerry
found this on a google search…..It was New Jersey’s last drive-in. On closing night, the theater ran The Fly and The Girl Can’t Help It, the first two movies they played back in ‘57.
I have some ads showing the Loew’s Rte 35 Drive-In from the 1963.
Mentions CARTOON-A-RAMA every Sat & Sun. FREE Candy Cane Playground & Midget Railroad.
Some fun programming. Captain Sinbad, Nutty Professor, Donovan’s Reef, etc. Seemed to have two bills per week. Wed-Sat; Sun-Tues.
My New York Times ads from the 50s shows the theater listed separately in the Loew’s ad. OPEN ALL YEAR-FREE CAR HEATERS.
Jerry
A member of the Atlantic Highlands Chamber of Commerce did confirm, via email, that this is the original single screen theater that I mentioned above, from the 60s.
I have some copies of ads from that time, with programming. If interested let me know. Jerry
I wonder, Ron, if they are not-for-profit and subsidized some way. Or popcorn goes for $15. Jerry
I don’t know of any theaters anywhere, other than drive-ins, that are seasonal. I imagine that would be tough to do in this economy. Are there any in LI? I’m in Florida so even the drive-in is 52wks/year.
Jerry
Was this originally the ATLANTIC back in the 60s? I have ads that listed the ATLANTIC with its companion theater the MARINE in the Highlands.
Jerry
A super librarian in NJ mailed a copy of an image of the theater from a book (not credited). It’s a grainy shot from 1939 when it was called Highlands Auditorium. It mentions that in 1940s & 1950s it was called the Marine and was managed in conjunction with the Atlantic in the next town. It does mention that “with a different facade, it exists as the Lusty Lobster at 88 Bay Avenue”.
She was also gracious to include a few copies of the theater listings from 1963. Fortunately, she hit on one of my memories.
It seems as if the theater may have been open on weekends only during the off season and changed programming on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sunday with weekend matinees.
A mix of single features (newer releases like Hud, Nutty Professor), with some creative double features (Journey to the Center of the Earth & Time Machine). I remember seeing The Blob paired with War of the Worlds.
I have other programming, on these 6-7 pages,for the area theaters, Atlantic, Route 35 DI, Eatontown DI, Carlton, Eatontown DI , if interested email me.
Jerry
I received an email from a gentleman whose dad managed the ANCO. Here is a composite of our correspondence. The fact that he mentions the Cinema Circuit ownership backs up my recollection of the ANCO following the bookings of the larger New Amsterdam & Harris theaters which I believe were also owned by Cinema Circuit. I smiled reading about Chris the ice cream vendor. I do remember that the theater was too small for a refreshment stand and the ice cream hawker did a great business. Here goes:
“My Dad was the manager of the Anco theater during the mid to late 1950’s. There was a robbery there in 1959 during a showing of Shootout at the OK Corral! He also managed the Prospect theater in the Bronx before that for Cinema Circuit!
As far as I can remember, the ANCO played mostly action and adventure films with some Sci-fi mixed in. It didn’t have a candy stand, just vending machines. I think it was painted pink inside!? The usher Chris sold Ice Cream from a tray during the intermission.
I looked up the ANCO at the theater site online. They are making posts trying to guess what it is named after! It was owned by Cinema Circuit. The partners were Mark I Finklestein and Max Cohen. Cohen’s daughter was ANNA COHEN! So they named it AN—CO after his daughter!”
Jerry
What was the drive-in that I visited in Totowa back in the late 50s-early 60? I don’t see mention of the Totowa D-I; did it have a different name? Jerry
My folks would take me from Manhattan to NJ to see a drive-in movie back in the late 50s- early 60s. I recall that the Rt. 3 was the first one we would encounter (entrances on both sides of Rt. 3), then we would head out to the Totawa DI & Parsippany DI before deciding which one to see. Poor dad.
Later, it was the spot to take a date. I remember The Love Bug (early 1969)in a snowstorm.
Jerry
The Elmsford was the only area drive-in, and only one of 12 theaters selected by United Artists as part of the initial “Premiere Showcase” theaters in June 1962. Jerry
Don,
The ANCO would show a double feature that had “legs” and did well the earlier two weeks at the New Amsterdam & Harris. Sometimes it worked to their advantage when the word would spread about a double feature like “Night of the Living Dead – Dr. Who & The Daleks” and they would keep it indefinitely.
I have a 1967 ad showing Doctor Zhivago at the ANCO (hard to believe, eh?)with the banner HELD OVER which means it probably followed the New Amsterdam-Harris bookings.
When a film didn’t have legs, the ANCO would put some fun action double features together and these were not advertised since the ANCO did not pay to advertise, they were only listed when the film’s distributor listed them among the other NYC theaters.
Still searching for that booking info from the 50s-60s if anyone knows where to find it, please let me know.
There is a long shot of the ANCOs marquee in Marc Eliot’s book, Down 42nd Street. It features the marquees of The Harris, Liberty, Empire & Anco. From 1966. Nice shot of the “south side”
Jerry
I will try to get a copy of the ad posted somewhere. The ad does mention that the show starts today at 8:00 AM – 6 complete deluxe stage shows – last complete show 12 MIDNIGHT. Hopefully Jackie & Co. go to do the 10am and midnight slot. Bad enough.
The film, Drum Beat, was 111 minutes. So, if my math is right, the stage show would be about an hour in order to get 6 shows in from 8am to 3am with some intermission time to get everybody to the snack bar.
The ad mentions the 32 June Taylor Dancers, Bobby Hackett and the “Music for Lovers Only” orchestra of 50 musicians with Sammy Spear. So the Honeymooners were probably on stage for less than 30 minutes. Probably 20 minutes, close to the length of an episode.
Man,they were troopers!
One of my earlier memories.
Jerry
The “combos” went to at to least Nov. 1954. I have a copy of the NYT ad for the Jackie Gleason stage show (with Art Carney, Audrey Meadows & June Taylor Dancers)and Alan Ladd’s Drum Beat on the screen.
This is my only memory of seeing a Paramount stage show.
Ernie, the best way to document the bookings at the Paramount is to find a library with NYT on microfiche, it worked for me. Lots of fun and you can print out a copy of the ads.
Jerry
I went through NY Times microfiche for months documenting the theaters that I lived in during the 50s-60s in NYC. I have a spreadsheet of the double features that I could verify. Missing my 42nd Street theaters that didn’t advertise. But found a neat movie clip today on gettyimages.com which I posted on the 42nd theater pages.
I’ll check out your archives. Jerry