This time it appears the sale went through. Sounds like a good deal.
[quote]2006-01-05
The show will go on
New owners of Bethel Cinema plan to keep art house format
By Marietta Homayonpour
THE NEWS-TIMES
BETHEL â€" Movie buffs, fear not.
Bethel Cinema, the area’s premiere showcase for independent and foreign films, was sold this week and the new owners plan to continue the theater’s art house format.
“We’re going to stay true to the art house and keep the art-house films here,” said Pam Karpen, a Weston resident who bought the Cinema with Bethel business owner Ken Karlan.
Cinema patrons have been anxious about the fate of the Greenwood Avenue theater since longtime owner Paul Schuyler announced in early May it was for sale for $650,000.
A deal with a Redding resident fell through at the 11th hour in late September, and Schuyler began negotiating with other prospective buyers.
Schuyler declined to reveal the final selling price, except it wasn’t $650,000. Karpen also declined to say how much she and Karlan paid for the 8,000-square-foot building, which holds four theaters and seats 425 people.
In an interview Wednesday, Karpen, 39, was elated about the recent sale. “This is very exciting, fantastic. I love this theater.”
Karpen’s enchantment goes back to her first visit, about five years. “I loved it from the moment I walked in. The concession stand, the small-town feeling, the intimacy. And I’ve always been a fan of independent art films.”
That’s good news for Bethel Cinema patrons.
“I’m pleased to hear it will continue the way it is, absolutely,” said Newtown’s John Gallichotte, 76.
Gallichotte and his wife, Patt, are members of a Bethel Cinema movie club and see about 100 films a year there. “It’s an interest both of us share,” Gallichotte said.
Bethel Cinema is a different world from the big theaters, he said, where the sound is too loud and the pre-movie commercials too long.
In the bigger theaters, “A great number of the movies are action, shoot-‘em-up ones for the younger set,” he said. They don’t provide as “enjoyable an experience” as a night out at the Bethel Cinema.
Bethel Cinema is a haven for Bethel’s Mike Dobsevage, who is 29. He sees its movies about two or three times a month and, when called for an interview Wednesday, said he was just getting ready to head there.
Dobsevage, a video editor for a Brookfield advertising agency, was glad to hear about the new owners' intentions. “If they stick to what they promise, it’s a good thing.”
Dobsevage said his taste in films is eclectic, he said, ranging from history, to social issues, to conflict. He’s lived in New York City and Boston, where he was used to readily available foreign and independent films. “The Bethel Cinema brings those films here.”
For Schuyler, who founded the Bethel Cinema exactly 13 years ago â€" in January 1993 â€" the sale left mixed feelings. “I’m a little bit ambivalent. But change is good, too. I feel there’s other opportunities for me out there.”
When Schuyler first announced Bethel Cinema was up for sale, he planned to move to Sarasota, Fla., to build a 260-seat IMAX theater. Since then, the original site for the theater has been lost and Schuyler is looking for another.
“It’s 50-50,” he said about the possibility of the IMAX venture.
For a few weeks, Schuyler will stay at Bethel Cinema to help with the transition.
“At this point,” Karpen said, “we’re not planning changes. We’re just learning the business.”
Karpen, the married mother of three young children, has a master’s degree in marketing and plans to do marketing and publicity for the theater.
When Karpen learned last year the Cinema was for sale, she told Karlan, a personal friend who owns Star Struck, a sports-products business in Bethel’s Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park.
“He said, ‘If you’d like an investor or partner, think of me,'Ÿ” Karpen said.
Bethel Cinema does not own the building it occupies on Greenwood Avenue, but the sale includes a continuation of the lease. It also includes an unused, 1,000-square-foot space adjacent to the Cinema, but has held several restaurants over the years.
“The Cinema leases that space,” said Schuyler, “but it could be sublet or it could be used by the Cinema. It has a beer and wine permit.”
Karpen said she and Karlan have not yet decided how to use the space.
Karpen also needs to explore is the Bethel Film Festival, the first of which was held in late October. “I know very little about the film festival, so I can’t comment right now.”
The successful festival showed more than 50 American and foreign independent films. Bethel resident Tom Carruthers, one of the festival partners, hopes for a second year at the Cinema.
“I look forward to working with the new owner,” said Carruthers, who will now be able to work “on setting up a date” for the next festival.
“It’s great that the Cinema sold, and it’s a great opportunity for the festival as long as they want to continue it.”[/quote]
I’m not sure if Queens Gazette or their associated papers accept e-mailed letters, or if you have to send them by snail mail — that’s not completely clear on their site — but I e-mailed them one anyway:
[quote]To The Editor:
Rarely have I read a bigger self-serving pile of dog droppings than the letter from Chuck Apelian of Community Board 7 praising Chairperson Meenakshi Srinivasan and the Board of Standards and Appeals for the “shining example” of the RKO Keith’s Theater fiasco.
The RKO Keith’s, a magnificent example of theater architecture and interior design, is being completely destroyed under this plan, save for a small lobby area that will be totally useless, “preserved” behind glass. Compare this with other genuine examples of theater preservation and restoration, such as the recent triumphant re-emergence of Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx, and it is difficult to understand how anyone can sing the praises of the Keith’s disaster. Why was no effort made to restore and utilize the auditorium and build above it?
In truth, far from being an example of “the enormous benefit a community receives when all parties work together for the common good,” this is an illustration of the worst that happens when politicians continue to divvy up the public good to the machinations of private developers. If it is to be the “cornerstone” of the community for generations to come, I hope they drive very deep pilings, for it seems destined to sink into the quagmire of political payoffs.
I was raised in Queens; my Intermediate School graduation was held at RKO Keith’s. I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it in all its splendor. It pains me to see what has become of both the theater and community leadership. I urge everyone who truly cares about the future to work at preserving the past. Visit View link and sign a petition to save the RKO Keith’s.[/quote]
Their e-mail address is
The Long Island Press also covered those areas — and later was combined with the Star-Journal — but not sure if it was published as early as 1938. Ditto on the collection in the main Queensboro Public Library noted by Warren.
RobertR, please don’t fall into the trap of blaming “the trouble” on “foreigners.” “The trouble” is, and always has been, the capitalist imperative to make a quick buck. The corrupt politicians and profiteers have been around forever, and they come in every language and culture. Unless you’re prepared to explain the destruction of all the other theaters documented on this site as because of “foreign business dollars” I’d watch the generalizations.
The question remains, what actually still exists of the auditorium? We had contradictory posts; on Oct. 11, Bway said:
The problem here is that the damage is already done. The theater is all but gone inside from what I've heard. The former owner destroyed it, and whatever he didn't was probably destroyed through the ravages of time over the following 20 years. It's over, whether we like it or not. Nothing can bring the theater back, as much of what was the theater is already gone.
But on Oct. 23, mike69 said:
I'm getting so sick of people here saying "the damage is already done" and "the former owner destroyed it". Thats all bull$#!% ! I've had the chance on numerous occasions to slip inside, the plywood wall out fron hasnt always been the most secure and there is no secuity. Yeah, the guy who owned it has done some damage to it but it HAS NOT been destroyed. Its dusty and has leaks but for the most part ITS WHOLE. ...Someone had psted why cant they build the new building above the old one so the auditorium can be saved ?? The theater is pretty much intact and no worse for wear than the little trylon theater they are all trying to save on queens blvd. I mean the keiths even has its original stage curtains still hanging and i guess thats all gonna get ripped down as long as we get our little lobby.
WHAT the heck is that? I haven’t seen an artist’s rendering that looked like that since around 1961. And, considering what’s actually happening to the place, I suppose it’s appropriate that it appears to be a mausoleum!
Today’s Danbury News-Times ran another “Do You Remember” from 25 years ago, that continues the saga begun above…it’s hard to know who to believe, or not to believe!
Theater’s sale to DaSilva upsets city’s plans for cultural center From The News-Times files
25 years ago
Mayor James E. Dyer says he is “crushed” that plans to convert the Palace Theater on Main Street in Danbury into a cultural center have been shattered because the property was sold Thursday (Dec. 11, 1980) to downtown landlord Joseph DaSilva.
A contract between DaSilva and the Coury Realty Corp., represented by Theodore Gemza and composed of Elie Coury, Doris Jean Gemza and two silent partners, was signed this week.
This week’s sale came after the Danbury Downtown Council had been working for several months with Dyer on a plan to buy the 51-year-old theater with state, federal and private aid and renovate it as an arts center.
EdSolero: I certainly do recall that pizzeria. It was called Pizza Pit, and was indeed in from the corner on Junction. I have quite a few photos of that corner. I will let you know when I can get them onto PhotoBucket — but in the meantime, check out the Photo Gallery at The Queens Board (http://queensboard.com/) — especially pages 3 and 4; I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. (However, I’m not familiar with any P.S. 16. I attended P.S. 13, which was between 55th and 56th Aves on 94th St., from 1963-66; it sounds like I was about 10 years ahead of you.)
“I would never wish either Donald Manes or Helen Marshall an early death. Or any personal trauma.”
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that I wished anyone an early death. But considering that he’s already long dead, and was apparently largely responsible for allowing Thomas Huang to start destroying the theater, I thought it was an appropriate “memorial.”
The amazing thing is, when I was a kid of about 10 or 12, in the 60s, I used to know every nook and cranny of Lefrak City. My friends and I would chase each other around through the basements all the time. I could get from one end to the other—Junction Blvd. to 99th St.— completely underground, entirely through basements and parking garages. None of the connecting doors were locked. I imagine that came in pretty handy later in the 70s and 80s — though not for the tenants!
Dave, you’ve (unintentionally?) hit upon one of Lefrak’s other pretentious predilictions with your “LeKrak” reference. In addition to disdaining Corona, Samuel Lefrak and his wife were obsessed with their social status, and began spelling their name LeFrak—and constantly turning up that way in the society columns of the News and the Post. Of course, I never did find out what a “frak” is in French.
Hey, this is timely! Story in today’s Danbury News-Times all about the Crown Cine sign, quoting Roger Katz and making prominent mention of Cinema Treasures! http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=77567
That’s really interesting. Is it my imagination, or does there seem to be a real lack of competitive spirit in the theater biz? I mean, in most other businesses, I don’t think the initial reaction when a competitor comes to town is, “Okay, let’s give up!”
My remark about the multiplex was based on the comment at the top, “A plan to demolish the theater after the creation of an 18-screen megaplex nearby stalled,” and I wasn’t sure if what had stalled was the plan to demolish the theater, or the creation of the multiplex. However, after re-reading the subsequent posts, I see that the plan to build a multiplex—which had grown to 30 screens!—was abandoned.
The ground floor of the white building, around the ‘68 period, housed a Chemical Bank, a Chinese restaurant, and an “Anna Kalsø’s Earth Shoe” store. I think I remember the Sam Goody’s coming in a bit after those, although I’m pretty sure I bought a replacement phonograph cartridge in that Goody’s. (As I write these sentences, I’m wondering if anybody under 30 will understand a single reference other than “Chinese restaurant”!)
I lived on the 4th floor of the 6-story Rego Park Gardens building at 57-10 Junction Blvd., but my windows faced the Junction Blvd. side. I took these photos on what might have been the only occasion when I was in our next-door neighbor’s apartment, which faced the rear of the building. As best I can recall, when I saw the view out of their window, I raced back to get my camera. (Anticipating, of course, the development of the Internet and how useful the photos would become!)
Sorry about that…I don’t know why those links aren’t working. Let’s try that again.
First Photo: View link
Second Photo: View link
According to my preview, these should work.
In these two panoramic shots from December 1968, you can see the Elmwood, though not very well. In this one, View link it’s at the extreme right, in front of the then-ubiquitous Elmhurst gas tanks. EdSolero, if you look very closely at the exact center of that photo, you can just make out a slanted roof with orange trim — that’s Wetson’s. In the second photo, View link the Elmwood is just right of center. St. John’s Hospital is the large building in the middle. Both of these photos show the largely empty area on Queens Blvd. across from the Elmwood — then occupied by the big-boxy Food Parade supermarket, Fairyland Amusement Park, and some gas stations — that would become Queens Center Mall within a few years. The majority of the foreground is the large commuter parking lot on which I think the mall was later expanded. I’m not that familiar with what they did there; is that where the multiplex is now?
EdSolero, I also remember eating at Wetson’s, both in that location and others. I think they went out of business in the mid-to-late 70s…in fact, I seem to recall that whoever owned them turned many of the Wetson’s locations into Nathan’s franchises, but those didn’t really pan out either, and now Nathan’s locations are mostly in malls. I’m pretty sure the Queens Blvd. Wetson’s was indeed a little to the east, on an “island” between St. John’s Hospital and the Long Island Expressway service road. I’ll keep looking through my photos…it’s possible more Elmwoods or a Wetson’s might show up!
Warren, the 2002 photo looks like the marquee had been replaced; I’m assuming they changed it when the theater was divided. Was there really anything left of the one from 1946, other than the underlying steel?
Here’s an exterior shot of the Elmwood in early 1970, when it was still a single-screen theater and the feature was Woody Allen’s “Take the Money and Run.” What’s amazing is how little the facade has changed in 35 years! View link
This time it appears the sale went through. Sounds like a good deal.
[quote]2006-01-05
The show will go on
New owners of Bethel Cinema plan to keep art house format
By Marietta Homayonpour
THE NEWS-TIMES
BETHEL â€" Movie buffs, fear not.
Bethel Cinema, the area’s premiere showcase for independent and foreign films, was sold this week and the new owners plan to continue the theater’s art house format.
“We’re going to stay true to the art house and keep the art-house films here,” said Pam Karpen, a Weston resident who bought the Cinema with Bethel business owner Ken Karlan.
Cinema patrons have been anxious about the fate of the Greenwood Avenue theater since longtime owner Paul Schuyler announced in early May it was for sale for $650,000.
A deal with a Redding resident fell through at the 11th hour in late September, and Schuyler began negotiating with other prospective buyers.
Schuyler declined to reveal the final selling price, except it wasn’t $650,000. Karpen also declined to say how much she and Karlan paid for the 8,000-square-foot building, which holds four theaters and seats 425 people.
In an interview Wednesday, Karpen, 39, was elated about the recent sale. “This is very exciting, fantastic. I love this theater.”
Karpen’s enchantment goes back to her first visit, about five years. “I loved it from the moment I walked in. The concession stand, the small-town feeling, the intimacy. And I’ve always been a fan of independent art films.”
That’s good news for Bethel Cinema patrons.
“I’m pleased to hear it will continue the way it is, absolutely,” said Newtown’s John Gallichotte, 76.
Gallichotte and his wife, Patt, are members of a Bethel Cinema movie club and see about 100 films a year there. “It’s an interest both of us share,” Gallichotte said.
Bethel Cinema is a different world from the big theaters, he said, where the sound is too loud and the pre-movie commercials too long.
In the bigger theaters, “A great number of the movies are action, shoot-‘em-up ones for the younger set,” he said. They don’t provide as “enjoyable an experience” as a night out at the Bethel Cinema.
Bethel Cinema is a haven for Bethel’s Mike Dobsevage, who is 29. He sees its movies about two or three times a month and, when called for an interview Wednesday, said he was just getting ready to head there.
Dobsevage, a video editor for a Brookfield advertising agency, was glad to hear about the new owners' intentions. “If they stick to what they promise, it’s a good thing.”
Dobsevage said his taste in films is eclectic, he said, ranging from history, to social issues, to conflict. He’s lived in New York City and Boston, where he was used to readily available foreign and independent films. “The Bethel Cinema brings those films here.”
For Schuyler, who founded the Bethel Cinema exactly 13 years ago â€" in January 1993 â€" the sale left mixed feelings. “I’m a little bit ambivalent. But change is good, too. I feel there’s other opportunities for me out there.”
When Schuyler first announced Bethel Cinema was up for sale, he planned to move to Sarasota, Fla., to build a 260-seat IMAX theater. Since then, the original site for the theater has been lost and Schuyler is looking for another.
“It’s 50-50,” he said about the possibility of the IMAX venture.
For a few weeks, Schuyler will stay at Bethel Cinema to help with the transition.
“At this point,” Karpen said, “we’re not planning changes. We’re just learning the business.”
Karpen, the married mother of three young children, has a master’s degree in marketing and plans to do marketing and publicity for the theater.
When Karpen learned last year the Cinema was for sale, she told Karlan, a personal friend who owns Star Struck, a sports-products business in Bethel’s Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park.
“He said, ‘If you’d like an investor or partner, think of me,'Ÿ” Karpen said.
Bethel Cinema does not own the building it occupies on Greenwood Avenue, but the sale includes a continuation of the lease. It also includes an unused, 1,000-square-foot space adjacent to the Cinema, but has held several restaurants over the years.
“The Cinema leases that space,” said Schuyler, “but it could be sublet or it could be used by the Cinema. It has a beer and wine permit.”
Karpen said she and Karlan have not yet decided how to use the space.
Karpen also needs to explore is the Bethel Film Festival, the first of which was held in late October. “I know very little about the film festival, so I can’t comment right now.”
The successful festival showed more than 50 American and foreign independent films. Bethel resident Tom Carruthers, one of the festival partners, hopes for a second year at the Cinema.
“I look forward to working with the new owner,” said Carruthers, who will now be able to work “on setting up a date” for the next festival.
“It’s great that the Cinema sold, and it’s a great opportunity for the festival as long as they want to continue it.”[/quote]
At first I thought you were disagreeing with Warren — but now you seem to have made his point!
I’m not sure if Queens Gazette or their associated papers accept e-mailed letters, or if you have to send them by snail mail — that’s not completely clear on their site — but I e-mailed them one anyway:
[quote]To The Editor:
Rarely have I read a bigger self-serving pile of dog droppings than the letter from Chuck Apelian of Community Board 7 praising Chairperson Meenakshi Srinivasan and the Board of Standards and Appeals for the “shining example” of the RKO Keith’s Theater fiasco.
The RKO Keith’s, a magnificent example of theater architecture and interior design, is being completely destroyed under this plan, save for a small lobby area that will be totally useless, “preserved” behind glass. Compare this with other genuine examples of theater preservation and restoration, such as the recent triumphant re-emergence of Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx, and it is difficult to understand how anyone can sing the praises of the Keith’s disaster. Why was no effort made to restore and utilize the auditorium and build above it?
In truth, far from being an example of “the enormous benefit a community receives when all parties work together for the common good,” this is an illustration of the worst that happens when politicians continue to divvy up the public good to the machinations of private developers. If it is to be the “cornerstone” of the community for generations to come, I hope they drive very deep pilings, for it seems destined to sink into the quagmire of political payoffs.
I was raised in Queens; my Intermediate School graduation was held at RKO Keith’s. I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it in all its splendor. It pains me to see what has become of both the theater and community leadership. I urge everyone who truly cares about the future to work at preserving the past. Visit View link and sign a petition to save the RKO Keith’s.[/quote]
Their e-mail address is
The Long Island Press also covered those areas — and later was combined with the Star-Journal — but not sure if it was published as early as 1938. Ditto on the collection in the main Queensboro Public Library noted by Warren.
RobertR, please don’t fall into the trap of blaming “the trouble” on “foreigners.” “The trouble” is, and always has been, the capitalist imperative to make a quick buck. The corrupt politicians and profiteers have been around forever, and they come in every language and culture. Unless you’re prepared to explain the destruction of all the other theaters documented on this site as because of “foreign business dollars” I’d watch the generalizations.
The question remains, what actually still exists of the auditorium? We had contradictory posts; on Oct. 11, Bway said:
But on Oct. 23, mike69 said:
So which is it?
Hey ShoeShoe, that’s pretty interesting — and it leads to the question, Where Is The Piano Now?
WHAT the heck is that? I haven’t seen an artist’s rendering that looked like that since around 1961. And, considering what’s actually happening to the place, I suppose it’s appropriate that it appears to be a mausoleum!
“I kind of decribe being in one of the 5 theaters in Mount Kisco as watching a movie in a 737 airplane."
Agreed — but hopefully with less turbulance.
Don’t sweat it. It’s dumb and inappropriateness were not at all diminished by the misspelling! ;–)
A Google search turned up:
Rock Community Church
(718) 651-2950
5702 Hoffman Dr
Flushing, NY 11373
Today’s Danbury News-Times ran another “Do You Remember” from 25 years ago, that continues the saga begun above…it’s hard to know who to believe, or not to believe!
Theater’s sale to DaSilva upsets city’s plans for cultural center
From The News-Times files
25 years ago
Mayor James E. Dyer says he is “crushed” that plans to convert the Palace Theater on Main Street in Danbury into a cultural center have been shattered because the property was sold Thursday (Dec. 11, 1980) to downtown landlord Joseph DaSilva.
A contract between DaSilva and the Coury Realty Corp., represented by Theodore Gemza and composed of Elie Coury, Doris Jean Gemza and two silent partners, was signed this week.
This week’s sale came after the Danbury Downtown Council had been working for several months with Dyer on a plan to buy the 51-year-old theater with state, federal and private aid and renovate it as an arts center.
EdSolero: I certainly do recall that pizzeria. It was called Pizza Pit, and was indeed in from the corner on Junction. I have quite a few photos of that corner. I will let you know when I can get them onto PhotoBucket — but in the meantime, check out the Photo Gallery at The Queens Board (http://queensboard.com/) — especially pages 3 and 4; I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. (However, I’m not familiar with any P.S. 16. I attended P.S. 13, which was between 55th and 56th Aves on 94th St., from 1963-66; it sounds like I was about 10 years ahead of you.)
“I would never wish either Donald Manes or Helen Marshall an early death. Or any personal trauma.”
I certainly didn’t mean to imply that I wished anyone an early death. But considering that he’s already long dead, and was apparently largely responsible for allowing Thomas Huang to start destroying the theater, I thought it was an appropriate “memorial.”
I think they should call it the Donald Manes Memorial Monstrosity.
The amazing thing is, when I was a kid of about 10 or 12, in the 60s, I used to know every nook and cranny of Lefrak City. My friends and I would chase each other around through the basements all the time. I could get from one end to the other—Junction Blvd. to 99th St.— completely underground, entirely through basements and parking garages. None of the connecting doors were locked. I imagine that came in pretty handy later in the 70s and 80s — though not for the tenants!
Dave, you’ve (unintentionally?) hit upon one of Lefrak’s other pretentious predilictions with your “LeKrak” reference. In addition to disdaining Corona, Samuel Lefrak and his wife were obsessed with their social status, and began spelling their name LeFrak—and constantly turning up that way in the society columns of the News and the Post. Of course, I never did find out what a “frak” is in French.
Ow! I’m hoping the rain on the lens makes it look even more pathetic than it actually is.
Hey, this is timely! Story in today’s Danbury News-Times all about the Crown Cine sign, quoting Roger Katz and making prominent mention of Cinema Treasures!
http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=77567
I see on the last shot, it’s the “Po” theater. Would it be inappropriate to wonder if a lot of “ho’s” frequent the “Po”?
That’s really interesting. Is it my imagination, or does there seem to be a real lack of competitive spirit in the theater biz? I mean, in most other businesses, I don’t think the initial reaction when a competitor comes to town is, “Okay, let’s give up!”
My remark about the multiplex was based on the comment at the top, “A plan to demolish the theater after the creation of an 18-screen megaplex nearby stalled,” and I wasn’t sure if what had stalled was the plan to demolish the theater, or the creation of the multiplex. However, after re-reading the subsequent posts, I see that the plan to build a multiplex—which had grown to 30 screens!—was abandoned.
The ground floor of the white building, around the ‘68 period, housed a Chemical Bank, a Chinese restaurant, and an “Anna Kalsø’s Earth Shoe” store. I think I remember the Sam Goody’s coming in a bit after those, although I’m pretty sure I bought a replacement phonograph cartridge in that Goody’s. (As I write these sentences, I’m wondering if anybody under 30 will understand a single reference other than “Chinese restaurant”!)
I lived on the 4th floor of the 6-story Rego Park Gardens building at 57-10 Junction Blvd., but my windows faced the Junction Blvd. side. I took these photos on what might have been the only occasion when I was in our next-door neighbor’s apartment, which faced the rear of the building. As best I can recall, when I saw the view out of their window, I raced back to get my camera. (Anticipating, of course, the development of the Internet and how useful the photos would become!)
Sorry about that…I don’t know why those links aren’t working. Let’s try that again.
First Photo:
View link
Second Photo:
View link
According to my preview, these should work.
In these two panoramic shots from December 1968, you can see the Elmwood, though not very well. In this one, View link it’s at the extreme right, in front of the then-ubiquitous Elmhurst gas tanks. EdSolero, if you look very closely at the exact center of that photo, you can just make out a slanted roof with orange trim — that’s Wetson’s. In the second photo, View link the Elmwood is just right of center. St. John’s Hospital is the large building in the middle. Both of these photos show the largely empty area on Queens Blvd. across from the Elmwood — then occupied by the big-boxy Food Parade supermarket, Fairyland Amusement Park, and some gas stations — that would become Queens Center Mall within a few years. The majority of the foreground is the large commuter parking lot on which I think the mall was later expanded. I’m not that familiar with what they did there; is that where the multiplex is now?
EdSolero, I also remember eating at Wetson’s, both in that location and others. I think they went out of business in the mid-to-late 70s…in fact, I seem to recall that whoever owned them turned many of the Wetson’s locations into Nathan’s franchises, but those didn’t really pan out either, and now Nathan’s locations are mostly in malls. I’m pretty sure the Queens Blvd. Wetson’s was indeed a little to the east, on an “island” between St. John’s Hospital and the Long Island Expressway service road. I’ll keep looking through my photos…it’s possible more Elmwoods or a Wetson’s might show up!
Warren, the 2002 photo looks like the marquee had been replaced; I’m assuming they changed it when the theater was divided. Was there really anything left of the one from 1946, other than the underlying steel?
Here’s an exterior shot of the Elmwood in early 1970, when it was still a single-screen theater and the feature was Woody Allen’s “Take the Money and Run.” What’s amazing is how little the facade has changed in 35 years!
View link