When Golden had this theatre they quaded it. I can attest to how great it looked when Cineplex first opened it, it was done top notch as were all their theatres at the time. This was when Garth Dravinsky was spending money like it was water aquiring thatres and giving them the marble and neon treatment. Is it true whats written above that Clearview does not open and close the curtains in Thje Zeigfeld? I have not been there for awhile.
If I remember correctly though the lower level mens room in the Los Angeles theatre was huge, you could build a few multi-plex type cinemas in it. Each stall had it’s own sink right inside. In alot of the palaces it seems the balcony restrooms were usually the largest ones since the second floor not only had the balcony but also the huge lounge.
Actually in the days when I was in the theatre business I found that the studios were usually generous when you needed a print for a fund-raiser or for a charitable organization. Sometimes all they charged you for was a shipping charge, or at the most a flat $100.
Whats shocking is the top ticket price for the golden circle is over $100. The last movie Chjristmas show was still only $5 now inflation has note gone up that much since 1979.
I went to school at St Pancras and remember the Victorian House being a real popular place in the 60’s and 70’s. Besides regular catering events they once in awhile booked shows there, where you would get dinner, drinks and the show. I remember Frank Sinatra Jr. one time and Lou Monte another. The funniest thing was when Frank Jr played they had this huge banner New Years Eve Show with Frank Sinatra and then in tiny letters Jr.
The Trylon always used the scalloped Austrian drapes until they started showing those tacky intermission slides. Then they only closed it at the end of the final movie. The Trylon showed mostly upscale product but not really independant or art films. Those were usually run by The Cinemart. The Trylon did best with things like Indecent Proposal which played for months.
Erna Friedricks who had the Belevedere restored had an obituary in the Ridgewood Times headlined by her famous expression…..“If you have 99 cents you dont have a dollar”. Her original store was a few blocks from the theatre. I remember so well when they were renovating the theatre, it had been closed forever and you could smell that old theatre smell a block away. The place was totally intact inside even the curtains were still up. The renovations restored the theatre to the way it had been, only the floor was leveled. It is now a church and they have not only maintained the interior, but have renovated the extrerior of the whole block.
Bway your comments about the roller rink brought it all back for me. I remember skating there and thinking that really except for the floor being leveled that the theatre had not changed at all. They even used the marquee. I grew up going to this theatre, and it was ironic because UA had done some renovations shortly before closing it in 1976. I also remember them booking some bands into the place right after the movies stopped, but I think there were problems with unruly crowds. During the time it was closed I know of two people who inquired about buying the property and opening cinemas in the space, but the owner wanted a fortune, and theres really no parking except on the street. Glendale will be getting new cinemas soon when a small multi-plex opens at Atlas terminals which is being converted to a small mall.
Add The Meserole to the long and growing list of theatres UA ran into the ground and then closed. This would have made a great quad, there are no theatres near it.
Thanks Warren I will look into it, I know I have some wild 8mm footage from a blizzard in the late 60’s and on the marquee is a revival of “La Dolce Vita” and “8 ½”.
This picture should replace the one above, although I am trying to find a picture from before the twinning with the marquee before they altered the sides.
I saw the 25th anniversary release of “Sound of Music” here in 1990. The house was sold out and the 70mm print was projected superbly. When you think of what an upscale movie area the east side was and now even Cinema 1 and 2 run shlock the same day it opens all over the state.
I have attended this theatre all my life, and fortunately the place was well maintained to the end. I dont know how well it is now, hopefully better then the outside looks. In an affluent area like Forest Hills couldent we support a 600 seat combination live and film venue. Stratons used to get alot of live name acts that could be presented here. A full time revival theatre would never cut it, but occasional festivals or classic nights would have a fighting chance. Arnold feel free to contact me at I used to manage another Forest Hills theatre and have lived in the area my whole life.
Wasent that an urban myth about “Sensouround” causing structural damage? In NY it played in so many really old theatres and never heard of any where it happened?
Wow I never heard that before, I do know that one time I walked up to that very top balcony which I believe has not been used since La Cage Aux Folles was selling out. It was sooooooo high up and only offered a parrtial view. I am trying to recall if the booth was above or below that level.
Lets get Clearview to convert the Zeigfeld to what it was built for. I hate their flat screen. Let CINERAMA live in NY.
When Golden had this theatre they quaded it. I can attest to how great it looked when Cineplex first opened it, it was done top notch as were all their theatres at the time. This was when Garth Dravinsky was spending money like it was water aquiring thatres and giving them the marble and neon treatment. Is it true whats written above that Clearview does not open and close the curtains in Thje Zeigfeld? I have not been there for awhile.
If I remember correctly though the lower level mens room in the Los Angeles theatre was huge, you could build a few multi-plex type cinemas in it. Each stall had it’s own sink right inside. In alot of the palaces it seems the balcony restrooms were usually the largest ones since the second floor not only had the balcony but also the huge lounge.
Actually in the days when I was in the theatre business I found that the studios were usually generous when you needed a print for a fund-raiser or for a charitable organization. Sometimes all they charged you for was a shipping charge, or at the most a flat $100.
Normally with classics its a sliding scale around 35-40% but theres usually a guarantee.
Is it me or is a demolition ceromony weird?
Not only is the production the same every year, they are paying no film rental out to a film company.
Whats shocking is the top ticket price for the golden circle is over $100. The last movie Chjristmas show was still only $5 now inflation has note gone up that much since 1979.
I went to school at St Pancras and remember the Victorian House being a real popular place in the 60’s and 70’s. Besides regular catering events they once in awhile booked shows there, where you would get dinner, drinks and the show. I remember Frank Sinatra Jr. one time and Lou Monte another. The funniest thing was when Frank Jr played they had this huge banner New Years Eve Show with Frank Sinatra and then in tiny letters Jr.
The Trylon always used the scalloped Austrian drapes until they started showing those tacky intermission slides. Then they only closed it at the end of the final movie. The Trylon showed mostly upscale product but not really independant or art films. Those were usually run by The Cinemart. The Trylon did best with things like Indecent Proposal which played for months.
Erna Friedricks who had the Belevedere restored had an obituary in the Ridgewood Times headlined by her famous expression…..“If you have 99 cents you dont have a dollar”. Her original store was a few blocks from the theatre. I remember so well when they were renovating the theatre, it had been closed forever and you could smell that old theatre smell a block away. The place was totally intact inside even the curtains were still up. The renovations restored the theatre to the way it had been, only the floor was leveled. It is now a church and they have not only maintained the interior, but have renovated the extrerior of the whole block.
Its 3 blocks from St Pancras a far walk from the Glenwood. Bdwy do you know anything about the ACME, when it closed or what it ran?
Bway your comments about the roller rink brought it all back for me. I remember skating there and thinking that really except for the floor being leveled that the theatre had not changed at all. They even used the marquee. I grew up going to this theatre, and it was ironic because UA had done some renovations shortly before closing it in 1976. I also remember them booking some bands into the place right after the movies stopped, but I think there were problems with unruly crowds. During the time it was closed I know of two people who inquired about buying the property and opening cinemas in the space, but the owner wanted a fortune, and theres really no parking except on the street. Glendale will be getting new cinemas soon when a small multi-plex opens at Atlas terminals which is being converted to a small mall.
Add The Meserole to the long and growing list of theatres UA ran into the ground and then closed. This would have made a great quad, there are no theatres near it.
Thanks Warren I will look into it, I know I have some wild 8mm footage from a blizzard in the late 60’s and on the marquee is a revival of “La Dolce Vita” and “8 ½”.
View link
This picture should replace the one above, although I am trying to find a picture from before the twinning with the marquee before they altered the sides.
I saw the 25th anniversary release of “Sound of Music” here in 1990. The house was sold out and the 70mm print was projected superbly. When you think of what an upscale movie area the east side was and now even Cinema 1 and 2 run shlock the same day it opens all over the state.
Was the Warner a first run theatre with vaudeville? When did it close?
I have attended this theatre all my life, and fortunately the place was well maintained to the end. I dont know how well it is now, hopefully better then the outside looks. In an affluent area like Forest Hills couldent we support a 600 seat combination live and film venue. Stratons used to get alot of live name acts that could be presented here. A full time revival theatre would never cut it, but occasional festivals or classic nights would have a fighting chance. Arnold feel free to contact me at I used to manage another Forest Hills theatre and have lived in the area my whole life.
Wasent that an urban myth about “Sensouround” causing structural damage? In NY it played in so many really old theatres and never heard of any where it happened?
Although at the end they did play a few double features I think I read.
Wow Monogram and Republic seem like low end product for the Roxy
What a shame it lasted all that time and then gets torn down for a grocery store !!!!!
Wow I never heard that before, I do know that one time I walked up to that very top balcony which I believe has not been used since La Cage Aux Folles was selling out. It was sooooooo high up and only offered a parrtial view. I am trying to recall if the booth was above or below that level.
In Forest Hills we have 7 of them within 8 blocks, including the Duane Reade that destroyed the landmark Forest Hills theatre.