This little tidbit appeared in Sunday’s Danbury News-Times “Do You Remember? 50 Years Ago” — from 1956:
50 years ago
A “Rock-A-Rama” entertainment scheduled at the Palace Theater in Danbury Saturday (April 7, 1956) has been canceled through mutual agreement of the theater manager, city and police officials and the agency scheduled to present the show.
Police Chief F.ŸJ. Mazzia said theater officials were requested not to stage the event in view of boisterous occurrences at similar programs elsewhere in recent months and in view of an incident here March 23 (1956) when furniture and plumbing were damaged at the Elks auditorium during a rock ‘n’ roll review sponsored by the Hat Makers Drum Corps.
I told you I remembered it initially being advertised as a Skouras theater! I guess the ol' noggin isn’t quite out of gas.
And the Post report was correct, as the 99th Street shopping center did, indeed, have rooftop parking.
If the Polk really is to disappear, I wish there were some way to at the very least save that marquee — even uncover the original Polk Avenue sign, if it’s still hiding underneath — as it appears to be a true treasure of Art Deco design.
Nice photo, Warren, but … talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! Great promotional line on the marquee: “A RARE REWARDING SCREEN EXPERIENCE”! Why not just say “NOT THE CRAP WE NORMALLY SHOW”?
Two Greek brothers, running an Italian restaurant and a connected XXX/grind theater adjacent to a black church.
It doesn’t get much more New York than this!
Judging from your comments on this and the Fair Theater, Alto, you have sacrificed a considerable amount of time, money, and personal safety to investigate these dens of iniquity — presumably so we don’t have to. I applaud your initiative. (Next time, take pictures!)
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.
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?
I’ve just discovered that the WNBC report video is available on their website. Go to http://www.wnbc.com/index.html and scroll down to “Must See Video” at the bottom of the page. Look for the thumbnail of a theater marquee showing “Walk The Line” — if you scroll over it, it will say “The last single screen movie theater in Westchester County may be getting a makeover.” Not sure how long they keep these videos up.
I posted a summary of a story from The Journal News about Matt Dillon and the benefit for the Pelham Picture House under Theater News. The original article can be found here: View link
There was also a feature story about the theater and the benefit on WNBC-4 news yesterday.
I’ve finally solved the mystery of remembering the Fair being on Northern Blvd. It’s not the Fair I’m thinking of, AND it’s not Northern Blvd. It’s the Earle, now called the Eagle, on 37th Avenue, which runs parallel to Northern Blvd. The Earle didn’t turn up in my earlier search, probably because it hadn’t occurred to me it was now called the Eagle. The sign is very similar to the Fair’s art deco style.
Once again, I am mystified by a description of this project. Boymelgreen’s website says that the tower will feature “a dramatic glazed facade designed to evoke the image the old auditorium space.” I see nothing in the pictures that looks even vaguely like the old auditorium space — nor do I understand how a glazed facade COULD evoke an auditorium. Do these people just assume that we’re all too stupid to care?
Once again, I am mystified by a description of this project. Boymelgreen’s website says that the tower will feature “a dramatic glazed facade designed to evoke the image the old auditorium space.” I see nothing in the pictures that looks even vaguely like the old auditorium space — nor do I understand how a glazed facade COULD evoke an auditorium. Do these people just assume that we’re all too stupid to care?
Warren, I just went to that link and I get the whole page of unidentified photos, with the Elmwood as the fifth one down. Bway, I can’t get that to happen with my mouse. I suspect these differences are probably because I’m on a Mac and using the Safari browser.
There’s a good photo of the Elmwood exterior undergoing renovations at View link if you scroll down that page of theater photos. Unfortunately, what’s infuriating about Bridge and Tunnel Club is they post no captions or explanations whatsoever. Although they provide a link to Cinema Treasures, they have a whole page of great photos of ex-NYC movie palaces with no way to tell which theaters half of them are!
That’s very interesting. Note that the site lists these “Facts”:
[quote]Facts
– The developers describe the highrise as a “world-class building” that would be the “gateway to Flushing”.
– The tower would stand on the site of an old theater, however the landmarked lobby would not be demolished but rather restored and open for pedestrians' viewing through a large curtain glass wall.
– In 2004 Community Board 7 turned down a larger building; however, during the hearing on March 10, 2005, the current version passed by a vote of 32-2.
– Besides senior housing there would be 200 condominiums: 21 one-bedroom, 168 two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom units.
– The project includes 233 proposed parking spaces.
– The restored theater would be accessible to the public.
– Project completion is projected to occur 2 years after approval.[/quote]
Can these guys at least keep their own story straight? Somebody explain to me how you can simultaneously say “The tower would stand on the site of an old theater” and “The restored theater would be accessible to the public.” Besides the fact that there IS NO “restored theater,” they JUST SAID that the restored lobby would be open for “viewing” through a “large curtain glass wall.” How is that the same as being “accessible”? (To say nothing of the fact that describing this as on the site of “an old theater” is akin to describing Madison Square Garden as “on the site of an old train depot”!)
I’m trying to visualize where this former Alexander’s/Caldor is, and I can’t figure it out. I remember the Alexander’s that became a Caldor at Queens & Junction Blvds. in Rego Park (which is, of course, about midway between the Trylon and Elmwood theaters), but for the life of me I can’t recall an Alexander’s on Main St. in Flushing. Maybe it’s the old selective amnesia again…
It’s a shame. Does Ms. Srinivajan understand that the Keith’s could have become a haven for Bollywood? (Or even live dancing, following the Loew’s Paradise model.) I think it’s another example of someone who needs to be educated.
This little tidbit appeared in Sunday’s Danbury News-Times “Do You Remember? 50 Years Ago” — from 1956:
50 years ago
A “Rock-A-Rama” entertainment scheduled at the Palace Theater in Danbury Saturday (April 7, 1956) has been canceled through mutual agreement of the theater manager, city and police officials and the agency scheduled to present the show.
Police Chief F.ŸJ. Mazzia said theater officials were requested not to stage the event in view of boisterous occurrences at similar programs elsewhere in recent months and in view of an incident here March 23 (1956) when furniture and plumbing were damaged at the Elks auditorium during a rock ‘n’ roll review sponsored by the Hat Makers Drum Corps.
I think somebody finally stole the hat.
I told you I remembered it initially being advertised as a Skouras theater! I guess the ol' noggin isn’t quite out of gas.
And the Post report was correct, as the 99th Street shopping center did, indeed, have rooftop parking.
The second post from the top — posted by Warren on Feb 18, 2004 at 11:05am — has all these details and more.
If the Polk really is to disappear, I wish there were some way to at the very least save that marquee — even uncover the original Polk Avenue sign, if it’s still hiding underneath — as it appears to be a true treasure of Art Deco design.
Nice photo, Warren, but … talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! Great promotional line on the marquee: “A RARE REWARDING SCREEN EXPERIENCE”! Why not just say “NOT THE CRAP WE NORMALLY SHOW”?
Two Greek brothers, running an Italian restaurant and a connected XXX/grind theater adjacent to a black church.
It doesn’t get much more New York than this!
My interest is purely historical, so the theater, definitely. Unless the iniquity is of historic proportions. !–))
Judging from your comments on this and the Fair Theater, Alto, you have sacrificed a considerable amount of time, money, and personal safety to investigate these dens of iniquity — presumably so we don’t have to. I applaud your initiative. (Next time, take pictures!)
Hey, Christopher — I grew up on Junction Blvd in the 60s-70s, went to P.S. 13, I.S. 61 and Newtown HS. What ice cream parlor are you talking about?
Finally — an appropriate use for Smell-o-Vision!
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.
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?
I’ve just discovered that the WNBC report video is available on their website. Go to http://www.wnbc.com/index.html and scroll down to “Must See Video” at the bottom of the page. Look for the thumbnail of a theater marquee showing “Walk The Line” — if you scroll over it, it will say “The last single screen movie theater in Westchester County may be getting a makeover.” Not sure how long they keep these videos up.
I posted a summary of a story from The Journal News about Matt Dillon and the benefit for the Pelham Picture House under Theater News. The original article can be found here: View link
There was also a feature story about the theater and the benefit on WNBC-4 news yesterday.
I’ve finally solved the mystery of remembering the Fair being on Northern Blvd. It’s not the Fair I’m thinking of, AND it’s not Northern Blvd. It’s the Earle, now called the Eagle, on 37th Avenue, which runs parallel to Northern Blvd. The Earle didn’t turn up in my earlier search, probably because it hadn’t occurred to me it was now called the Eagle. The sign is very similar to the Fair’s art deco style.
Ah, now I can sleep.
Once again, I am mystified by a description of this project. Boymelgreen’s website says that the tower will feature “a dramatic glazed facade designed to evoke the image the old auditorium space.” I see nothing in the pictures that looks even vaguely like the old auditorium space — nor do I understand how a glazed facade COULD evoke an auditorium. Do these people just assume that we’re all too stupid to care?
Once again, I am mystified by a description of this project. Boymelgreen’s website says that the tower will feature “a dramatic glazed facade designed to evoke the image the old auditorium space.” I see nothing in the pictures that looks even vaguely like the old auditorium space — nor do I understand how a glazed facade COULD evoke an auditorium. Do these people just assume that we’re all too stupid to care?
Yes! Nice job, Warren.
Warren, I just went to that link and I get the whole page of unidentified photos, with the Elmwood as the fifth one down. Bway, I can’t get that to happen with my mouse. I suspect these differences are probably because I’m on a Mac and using the Safari browser.
There’s a good photo of the Elmwood exterior undergoing renovations at View link if you scroll down that page of theater photos. Unfortunately, what’s infuriating about Bridge and Tunnel Club is they post no captions or explanations whatsoever. Although they provide a link to Cinema Treasures, they have a whole page of great photos of ex-NYC movie palaces with no way to tell which theaters half of them are!
That’s very interesting. Note that the site lists these “Facts”:
[quote]Facts
– The developers describe the highrise as a “world-class building” that would be the “gateway to Flushing”.
– The tower would stand on the site of an old theater, however the landmarked lobby would not be demolished but rather restored and open for pedestrians' viewing through a large curtain glass wall.
– In 2004 Community Board 7 turned down a larger building; however, during the hearing on March 10, 2005, the current version passed by a vote of 32-2.
– Besides senior housing there would be 200 condominiums: 21 one-bedroom, 168 two-bedroom and 11 three-bedroom units.
– The project includes 233 proposed parking spaces.
– The restored theater would be accessible to the public.
– Project completion is projected to occur 2 years after approval.[/quote]
Can these guys at least keep their own story straight? Somebody explain to me how you can simultaneously say “The tower would stand on the site of an old theater” and “The restored theater would be accessible to the public.” Besides the fact that there IS NO “restored theater,” they JUST SAID that the restored lobby would be open for “viewing” through a “large curtain glass wall.” How is that the same as being “accessible”? (To say nothing of the fact that describing this as on the site of “an old theater” is akin to describing Madison Square Garden as “on the site of an old train depot”!)
I’m trying to visualize where this former Alexander’s/Caldor is, and I can’t figure it out. I remember the Alexander’s that became a Caldor at Queens & Junction Blvds. in Rego Park (which is, of course, about midway between the Trylon and Elmwood theaters), but for the life of me I can’t recall an Alexander’s on Main St. in Flushing. Maybe it’s the old selective amnesia again…
It’s a shame. Does Ms. Srinivajan understand that the Keith’s could have become a haven for Bollywood? (Or even live dancing, following the Loew’s Paradise model.) I think it’s another example of someone who needs to be educated.
ShoeShoe, you met Pam Karpen’s wife??