Fair Theatre
90-18 Astoria Boulevard,
East Elmhurst,
NY
11369
90-18 Astoria Boulevard,
East Elmhurst,
NY
11369
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 301 - 325 of 358 comments
For what it’s worth, just watched THE KLANSMAN at home on a cheap DVD bought for like a buck at the discount store. There seems to be a lot of them floating around. While THE KLANSMAN is, I hate to admit, outstanding exploitation sleeze and Lee Marvin is the man, the version making the DVD rounds is heavily, heavily edited. The only version of this film in tact is the Paramount VHS version released in 1990. So, even if our curiosity prompted us to go to the FAIR when and if THE KLANSMAN finally played, they would might show the EDITED dvd version on their video projection.
Another Voice Ad that says “New Policy: 2 New Action Films at All Times”
This week: Accident & Fish of Fear, Touch of Death
Champions & Bruce Lee Back From the Grave
Working the Grind houses was very interesting job.
Absolutely, Jeffrey!
Finally — an appropriate use for Smell-o-Vision!
It would be more appropriate to go with Plan 9, Jeffrey… (har har). But that is actually an excellent idea. I’d watch a movie like that. Maybe an IFC or TMC special like the excellent “Baadasssss Cinema” (about the so-called blaxploitation flicks of the ‘70’s), except the newer film would have to deal with the experiences of sitting in those faded downtown or 3rd run nabe’s as much as with the actual movies themselves. A healthy dose of film excerpts from some of the wackier fare would be in order, however.
Gosh, such romantic memories you guys have. Perhaps somebody could put together a feature-length retrospective of clips: “That’s Grindertainment!” Time to call Jack Haley, Jr. Oh, wait — he’s dead. Okay, time to go with Plan B.
Which movies did that last display advertise, hardbop? More grind-house fodder? If only there were a theater like the Fair in NYC playing these kinds of lurid entertainments in 35mm prints. Some of the titles I remember from the 42nd Street days include: “Invasion of the Blood Farmers”, “Killer Driller”, “Tool-Box Murders”, “Count Dracula and His Vampire Brides”, “The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula”, “The Five Deadly Venoms”, “Magnificent Ruffians”, “Fists of the White Lotus”, “Motel Hell”, “Humanoids from the Deep”, “Up From the Depths”, “Deathstalker”, “Without Warning”, “Along in the Dark”, “The Dark”… Oh the list goes on forever. Those were the days. I love bad grind-house movies, but they just aren’t the same at home on DVD. You need the smell of stale popcorn, the sticky floors and the slap reverb of a nearly empty crumbling 42nd Street movie house to truly enjoy it!
“The Klansman” is available from a very cheap label on DVD as of last fall along with other like films from that era. The theatre might of found a poster in their files and put it up. Alot of theatres that ran second and third run features had alot of posters in their files left over from years ago. The Cameo Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles had file cabinets full of posters and lobbies from over the years. The theatre ran Grind and played 4 features a day from 9am to 5am.
The display ad appeared in the Voice last week for the second consecutive week so it was no mistake. This week’s Voice comes out tomorrow so we’ll see if there is another ad in there.
The thing I’m wondering is… Did “The Klansman” ever arrive at the Fair?!? Or did the owner just tack this in there for “atmosphere”? This particular display case is usually found behind the heavy iron gate that is seen in that first photo securing the outer vestibule during off hours. I like to imagine that this was the last legit feature to be advertised before the place went XXX and that no one had the inclination to rip it out. There are similarly ancient posters in the sidewalk display cases of the XXX Polk Theater as well, but those actually advertise vintage 1970’s porno flicks and have been bleached from decades of exposure to the sun. If “The Klansman” has survived without as much tell-tale bleaching, perhaps that can be attributed to its shady little spot within the Fair’s vestibule.
I’m guessing that we’ll never know for sure.
I doubt that ad could have run in error, considering it not only lists the days of the week, but the actual February dates. More likely, they are prohibited from advertising their main business, and this constitutes a kind of “code” for those in the know. (Not being one of those in the know, I don’t really know.)
So Richard Burton was drinking a quart and a half of vodka a day — but what excuse did Lee Marvin, Cameron Mitchell, Lola Falana, Luciana Paluzzi, David Huddleston, Linda Evans, and — OMG! “O.J. Simpson as Garth” have?
Here’s an image of the Village Voice add that started this most recent thread:
View link
I wonder if they’ll continue advertising each week in the Voice, or if this was a one shot deal. Warren suggested this might have gone to print in error, but perhaps there is some Giuliani-era regulation that requires such establishments to advertise their “straight” fare once a year (or at some other prescribed interval).
The Klansman is the film Richard Burton admitted to having no memory what so ever of making. He was drinking a quart and a half of vodka a day and there was only a 3 hour window a day where he was able to be photographed closeup, too early his shakes were too bad and too late his intoxication was too noticeable. The Fair is doing the same thing as the Cinema Kings Highway, CKH shortened the orchestra, they run regular features on the big screen and in the rest of the orchestra constructed private sex booths. The balcony theatre shows porn on it’s large video screen.
I stopped by the theater with camera in tow the other morning and snapped these photos of the entrance and display cases. I had to poke my arm through security gates to snap the cases in the outer vestibule, but this is preferable to being chased off the premises by the manager and his security guard (see my post of September 6th). Anyway, looks like business as usual at the Fair:
Canopy and entrance
Canopy detail
Outer display case
Vestibule display
Coming Soon: 1974!
Curious that they would run such an ad by mistake. It’s not a listing but a small little block ad that lists each movie titles in its own font and style (“Pay or Die”, for instance, with each letter in an alternately angled square – like the old Cinerama logo). I drove past the theater Monday night and didn’t notice any alteration in the advertising on the marquee or display cases. It looks the same as in the photos I posted back on December 12th.
Why all of a sudden did they run a display ad in the “Voice.”?
Guys you’re right. It is a video format. Just called the Manager, and he confirmed VIDEO.
That staff must really enjoy getting all the calls from us.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY OTHER QUESTIONS: WHY THE F—K did they close THE DOUBLE FEATURED, 2 THEATRE PLAZA!!!!!!!!!!
Funny thing, grew up in Bayside, took the 7 train practically everyday into Manhattan from Flushing—all throughout the 70’s. One day I decided to stand, and that was in Christmas 1983, and first noticed the marquee. At the time PLAZA was showing 1990: Bronx Warrior. The other theatre had Spanish film. Also, when Die Hard 2 opened, they had it on a double bill with Die Hard 1. Thought you would like to know.
Nuts I was all set to go on Sunday to see the classic KILLER FORCE. ARE YOU SURE THEIR PROJECTED ON VIDEO?
I’D EVEN SEE A RED PRINT OF THIS JUST TO SEE IT ON THE BIG SCREEN.
I figured as much, hardbop. If you read back to the top of this page, it seems they’ve been running straight movies on the main screen (probably by projection of video tape) for some time, while running porn in video booths elsewhere in the theater. So much for a “new policy!”
I called the theatre to get the starting times of the “movies” and they turn out to be projecting video. No prints, which means no interest from me.
I know the rules regarding porn have changed and only a certain percentage of a building can be porn-related and I suspect this new policy reflects the cinema trying to comply with the law. I think one of the porn emporiums on Eighth Avenue adopted a similar policy for a short while right after Giuliano instituted the new porn policy.
Incidentally, “Street Crime” is listed in the IMDB. If you enter “SC” it comes up as a movie with another name. It was a programmer with a black cast I think from the early 1940s. It has a B movie running time of a little over an hour.
IMDB.COM lists a “Pay or Die” from 1979 that appears to be an American made Kung-fu actioner featuring a herione named Cleopatra Wong(!) who had appeared in at least 2 previous ‘70’s low budget pics. Also found a “Killer Force” from 1976 directed by Val Guest and featuring Telly Savalas, Christopher Lee, OJ Simpson, Peter Fonda, Hugh O'Brian and Maud Adams! Sounds like the kind of fare I’d see on 42nd Street back in the day – a fact which brings a smile to my face. Could find no details on “Street Crime” or “Fist Full of Yen” but I imagine they could be of similar vintage – perhaps U.S. titles of foreign titles? They’d have to be pretty obscure not to be found on IMDB.
Very interesting. I wonder if pressure from the church on the corner has resulted in a new policy? There may still be porn in those private booths (wherever they are located within the theater) with the legit films showing on the old screen. Isn’t “Fist Full of Yen” the name of the faux kung-fu feature in “The Kentucky Fried Movie” that spoofs Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon”? I’ll try to pass by there in the next few days, unless someone else gets to it before I can.
This is kind of weird but there is a display ad in this week’s “Village Voice” for the “Fair Theatre” @ 90th Street & Astoria Blvd. in Jackson Heights. The ad announceds a “new policy” of “2 new actions films at all times.”
Thursday through Saturday they are screening a film called “Street Crime” and it is paired with a film called “Pay or Die.” Sunday through Wednesday they are screening “Killer Force” and “Fist Full of Yen.”
I don’t know anything about these films. There is film called “Pay or Die” from 1960 or so.
Anyone have any info on these films? Are they new or are they repertory films?
Hope you had a great sleep, Jeffrey. Actually, the Earle/Eagle is not on 37th Avenue but the parallel 37th Road (or Drive?) which runs into Roosevelt Ave near the the IRT’s station at 74th and Broadway. You can clearly see the theater from Roosevelt, where there is only a small triangular block that sits between it and the theater.