The address of the Electric Cinema is 47 Station Street. It opened on 27th December 1909, the architect was well known theatre architect Bertie Crewe. It was a conversion of premises that had been used as a hansom cab depot and at the time it was described as ‘attractive and cosy’. Red plush tip-up seats were provided for 376 patrons on a single sloping floor.
When Jacey Cinemas took control in 1936 they re-built the Station Street facade. The architect was Cecil E.M. Fillmore and the scheme included the installation of a balcony and the re-positioning of the projection box into the balcony level. It re-opened on 20th March 1937 as the Tatler News Theatre and had a seating capacity of 399. The style had been changed from Edwardian to Art Deco.
It was in 1980 when Classic Cinemas were operating the building that they gutted and split the auditorium, creating a twin cinema seating 242 and 105. Nothing remains inside of any of the decorative features of the building.
Robt;
Many thanks for your description and observations. This makes me even more determined to visit this theatre on my next visit to NYC. The manager sounds like he’s a helpful and friendly guy?. I will purchase my admission ticket, then chat to him and he may allow me access to the balcony area? I hope so, this really sounds like it’s my kinda theatre!
The Sausalito history link given above by MagicLantern gives an opening date of 1915 as the Princess Theatre with a street address of 668 Bridgeway Ave, Sausalito,CA. It was re-named the Gate Theatre in the 1930’s (in honour of the newly built Golden Gate Bridge).
It is still listed as the Gate in 1952, but in both the 1950 and 1952 Film Daily Yearbook’s there is a larger 604 seat Marin Theatre also listed. The address of the Marin is given as Pine and Caledonia Street’s
Film Daily Yearbook’s give a seating capacity for the Gate as 325.
The Harris Theatre opened in the late 1920’s. It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook 1941 with a seating capacity of 1,010 and the operator was Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. In the 1943 edition the listing shows 1,000 seats and by 1950 it has a seating capacity of 850 given, still under the Warner Bros. Theatre’s operation.
The Harris Theatre was demolished in the late 1970’s.
The 1930 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the Windsor Theatre, 823 Third Ave, with 455 seats.
F.D.Y.B. editions for 1941 and 1943 have the Beverly Theater listed at 523 Third Ave (obviously a misprint) as by the 1950 edition it is back up at # 823 Third Ave again.
According to a website on the history of Passaic, NJ http://www.tccweb.org/passiac.htm (article by City Historian; Mark S. Auerbach), the original Montauk (vaudeville) Theatre located on the corner of Madison St and Main Ave was replaced by the current Montauk Theatre which was built in 1924.
Thanks Dave, It will have to be the bus, being I don’t drive (no need for a car here in London).
When the Montauk was on vaudeville, did it belong to a major circuit? If it was it could have been designed by a major architect! Therefore it could be a candidate for historic listing?
I will be over in New York City in June and hope to go along to the Montauk Theatre. Not knowing the area, can anyone tell me please if it is far to travel to Passaic from NYC? and is it accessable by public transport by train or bus? I hope it is still open so I can get inside.
Anyone know who the architect was? It sounds like its a most interesting building.
lostmemory;
This is it. Paramount Pictures took over the 4 Astoria Theatre’s soon after they opened and they in turn were taken over by the Odeon Theatre chain in November 1939.
The Astoria Theatre, Streatham, London was one of four Astoria Theatre’s built in the inner London suburbs by exhibitor A. Segal. The other 3 Astoria Theatre’s were at Finsbury Park (Spanish atmospheric now a church), Brixton (Italian atmospheric now a rock concert venue) and Old Kent Road (Art Deco now demolished).
This is the only one to be still screening movies (albeit now mutilated as an 8-screen Odeon Cinema complex.
The New Ventura Theatre was built and operated by Principle Theaters and American Amusement Co. of Ventura. Construction began in December 1927 and it opened in August 1928. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2Manual/6Rank organ.
It remained an independently operated theatre most of it life closing in January 1965 by its then owner Gertrude Clark, due to lack of business.
By 1970 it was open again, now operated by Metropolitan Theatres. I don’t know how long their tenure lasted.
Since April 1997, the current operators Backstreet have used the building as a concert venue, having spent about $1 million to reopen the theatre.
Here is list taken from the text of the Theatre Historical Sociaety of America 1989 Annual; ‘Glitz, Glamour & Sparkle’ The Deco Theatres of John Eberson by Jane Preedy
Status of each theatre as per Cinema Treasures, if listed.
Paramount Publix Theatre, Nashville, Tennessee (1929) Closed/Demolished
Warner’s Madison Theatre, Morgantown, West Virginia (1929) Open/Movies
Harris Theatre, Butler, Pennsylvania (1929)
Status Unknown (was shown as 600 seats-closed in 1941 F.D.Y.B.)
Madison Theatre, Mansfield, Ohio (1930)
Status Unknown (1,500 seats in the F.D.Y.B. 1941)
Beverly Theatre, Washington DC (1935)
Closed/Demolished
Penn Theatre, Washington DC (1935)
Closed/Housing
Dixie Theatre, Staunton, VA (1936)
Open/Movies (3 screens)
Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, Washington DC (1938)
Open/Movies
Boro Theatre (Bethesda), Bethesda, MD (1938)
Closed/Theatre Cafe ..National Register Listed
Lane Theatre, Staten Island, New York (1938)
Closed/Nightclub
Auburn Schine Theatre, Auburn, NY (1938)
Closed/Renovating
Newsreel Theatre (Guild), Rockerfeller Center, New York (1938) Closed/Retail
Earl Theatre (Eagle), Jackson Heights-Queens, New York (1938)
Open/Asian movies
Perry Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA (1938)
Status Unknown
Nostrand Theatre, Brooklyn, New York (1939?)
Closed/Gym
College Theatre, Brooklyn, New York (1939?)
Closed/Retail & Care Center
Schine’s Oswego Theatre, Oswego, NY (1940)
Open/Movies (7 screens)… National Register Listed
Astor Theatre, Philadelphia, PA (1940)
Closed/Demolished
The link to the United Artists Theatre pages on the Forgotten Detroit website is http://www.forgottendetroit.com/uat/index/html where there are many photos of the sad state this of this once magnificent theatre.
Thankfully, the very similar designed United Artists Theatre in downtown Los Angeles is kept in immaculate condition by the church which operates from it.
Gooper;
I would love to share pictures with you, or any one else who cares to contact me. My e-mail adddress is on my profile, mail me and I will send you some pic’s. I have 11 of them so hope you have enough space to accomodate them!
That’s a very interesting document lostmemory, thanks for posting it. There is a remarkably big jump in the market value in this past year. Is this due to a renaissance of the area?
Built in 1912 would make this a legit or vaudeville theatre to start with, it certainly looks like one. The Mike Rivest ‘Ultimate Movie Theatres and Drive-in’s List’ has it listed as operating from 1930-1940 which coincides with it not being listed in the Film Daily Yearbooks from 1941. What use befell it after 1940 until the current church took control I wonder?
On my recent visit to Los Angeles I went to the screening of the 1924 silent version of “The Thief of Bagdad” starring Douglas Fairbanks and Anna May Wong. The film (running time 150 minutes) was acompanied by Bob Salisbury brilliantly playing the score on the Wurlitzer 3Manual/14 Rank theatre pipe organ.
An audience of around 500 attended a memorable evening in this wonderfully restored vaudeville/movie palace.
CConnolly;
Thanks for that advise. Looks like I will be taking dave-bronx advise and take the #190 NJ Transit bus from Port Terminal
The address of the Electric Cinema is 47 Station Street. It opened on 27th December 1909, the architect was well known theatre architect Bertie Crewe. It was a conversion of premises that had been used as a hansom cab depot and at the time it was described as ‘attractive and cosy’. Red plush tip-up seats were provided for 376 patrons on a single sloping floor.
When Jacey Cinemas took control in 1936 they re-built the Station Street facade. The architect was Cecil E.M. Fillmore and the scheme included the installation of a balcony and the re-positioning of the projection box into the balcony level. It re-opened on 20th March 1937 as the Tatler News Theatre and had a seating capacity of 399. The style had been changed from Edwardian to Art Deco.
It was in 1980 when Classic Cinemas were operating the building that they gutted and split the auditorium, creating a twin cinema seating 242 and 105. Nothing remains inside of any of the decorative features of the building.
lostmemory;
It’s listed as X 1 & 2, Hollywood, CA.
/theaters/8436/
Robt;
Many thanks for your description and observations. This makes me even more determined to visit this theatre on my next visit to NYC. The manager sounds like he’s a helpful and friendly guy?. I will purchase my admission ticket, then chat to him and he may allow me access to the balcony area? I hope so, this really sounds like it’s my kinda theatre!
lostmemory;
Yet another one added to the list!
I have just added it, so it should be on-site soon. It is also listed with some pics here… http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=3009
The Sausalito history link given above by MagicLantern gives an opening date of 1915 as the Princess Theatre with a street address of 668 Bridgeway Ave, Sausalito,CA. It was re-named the Gate Theatre in the 1930’s (in honour of the newly built Golden Gate Bridge).
It is still listed as the Gate in 1952, but in both the 1950 and 1952 Film Daily Yearbook’s there is a larger 604 seat Marin Theatre also listed. The address of the Marin is given as Pine and Caledonia Street’s
Film Daily Yearbook’s give a seating capacity for the Gate as 325.
The Harris Theatre opened in the late 1920’s. It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook 1941 with a seating capacity of 1,010 and the operator was Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. In the 1943 edition the listing shows 1,000 seats and by 1950 it has a seating capacity of 850 given, still under the Warner Bros. Theatre’s operation.
The Harris Theatre was demolished in the late 1970’s.
The 1930 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the Windsor Theatre, 823 Third Ave, with 455 seats.
F.D.Y.B. editions for 1941 and 1943 have the Beverly Theater listed at 523 Third Ave (obviously a misprint) as by the 1950 edition it is back up at # 823 Third Ave again.
According to a website on the history of Passaic, NJ http://www.tccweb.org/passiac.htm (article by City Historian; Mark S. Auerbach), the original Montauk (vaudeville) Theatre located on the corner of Madison St and Main Ave was replaced by the current Montauk Theatre which was built in 1924.
Thanks Dave, It will have to be the bus, being I don’t drive (no need for a car here in London).
When the Montauk was on vaudeville, did it belong to a major circuit? If it was it could have been designed by a major architect! Therefore it could be a candidate for historic listing?
I will be over in New York City in June and hope to go along to the Montauk Theatre. Not knowing the area, can anyone tell me please if it is far to travel to Passaic from NYC? and is it accessable by public transport by train or bus? I hope it is still open so I can get inside.
Anyone know who the architect was? It sounds like its a most interesting building.
The 1930 edition of F.D.Y. still has it listed as the Tuxedo Theatre with 617 seats.
lostmemory;
This is it. Paramount Pictures took over the 4 Astoria Theatre’s soon after they opened and they in turn were taken over by the Odeon Theatre chain in November 1939.
Thanks for the update on the exact address.
The Astoria Theatre, Streatham, London was one of four Astoria Theatre’s built in the inner London suburbs by exhibitor A. Segal. The other 3 Astoria Theatre’s were at Finsbury Park (Spanish atmospheric now a church), Brixton (Italian atmospheric now a rock concert venue) and Old Kent Road (Art Deco now demolished).
This is the only one to be still screening movies (albeit now mutilated as an 8-screen Odeon Cinema complex.
View link
The New Ventura Theatre was built and operated by Principle Theaters and American Amusement Co. of Ventura. Construction began in December 1927 and it opened in August 1928. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2Manual/6Rank organ.
It remained an independently operated theatre most of it life closing in January 1965 by its then owner Gertrude Clark, due to lack of business.
By 1970 it was open again, now operated by Metropolitan Theatres. I don’t know how long their tenure lasted.
Since April 1997, the current operators Backstreet have used the building as a concert venue, having spent about $1 million to reopen the theatre.
cjdv;
The Adelphi is back in the F.D.Y.B. 1930 edition listings – 520 seats given (with the correct address).
Here is list taken from the text of the Theatre Historical Sociaety of America 1989 Annual; ‘Glitz, Glamour & Sparkle’ The Deco Theatres of John Eberson by Jane Preedy
Status of each theatre as per Cinema Treasures, if listed.
Paramount Publix Theatre, Nashville, Tennessee (1929) Closed/Demolished
Warner’s Madison Theatre, Morgantown, West Virginia (1929) Open/Movies
Harris Theatre, Butler, Pennsylvania (1929)
Status Unknown (was shown as 600 seats-closed in 1941 F.D.Y.B.)
Madison Theatre, Mansfield, Ohio (1930)
Status Unknown (1,500 seats in the F.D.Y.B. 1941)
Beverly Theatre, Washington DC (1935)
Closed/Demolished
Penn Theatre, Washington DC (1935)
Closed/Housing
Dixie Theatre, Staunton, VA (1936)
Open/Movies (3 screens)
Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, Washington DC (1938)
Open/Movies
Boro Theatre (Bethesda), Bethesda, MD (1938)
Closed/Theatre Cafe ..National Register Listed
Lane Theatre, Staten Island, New York (1938)
Closed/Nightclub
Auburn Schine Theatre, Auburn, NY (1938)
Closed/Renovating
Newsreel Theatre (Guild), Rockerfeller Center, New York (1938) Closed/Retail
Earl Theatre (Eagle), Jackson Heights-Queens, New York (1938)
Open/Asian movies
Perry Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA (1938)
Status Unknown
Nostrand Theatre, Brooklyn, New York (1939?)
Closed/Gym
College Theatre, Brooklyn, New York (1939?)
Closed/Retail & Care Center
Schine’s Oswego Theatre, Oswego, NY (1940)
Open/Movies (7 screens)… National Register Listed
Astor Theatre, Philadelphia, PA (1940)
Closed/Demolished
The link to the United Artists Theatre pages on the Forgotten Detroit website is http://www.forgottendetroit.com/uat/index/html where there are many photos of the sad state this of this once magnificent theatre.
Thankfully, the very similar designed United Artists Theatre in downtown Los Angeles is kept in immaculate condition by the church which operates from it.
Thanks for clarifying the opening date lostmemory. I took the 1930 date from the Mike Rivest Ultimate Movie Theatre and Drive-in Guide.
The Gem Theatre opened in 1930. The Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 & 1943 list the seating capacity as 600. The 1950 edition lists 589 seats.
Gooper;
I would love to share pictures with you, or any one else who cares to contact me. My e-mail adddress is on my profile, mail me and I will send you some pic’s. I have 11 of them so hope you have enough space to accomodate them!
That’s a very interesting document lostmemory, thanks for posting it. There is a remarkably big jump in the market value in this past year. Is this due to a renaissance of the area?
Built in 1912 would make this a legit or vaudeville theatre to start with, it certainly looks like one. The Mike Rivest ‘Ultimate Movie Theatres and Drive-in’s List’ has it listed as operating from 1930-1940 which coincides with it not being listed in the Film Daily Yearbooks from 1941. What use befell it after 1940 until the current church took control I wonder?
On my recent visit to Los Angeles I went to the screening of the 1924 silent version of “The Thief of Bagdad” starring Douglas Fairbanks and Anna May Wong. The film (running time 150 minutes) was acompanied by Bob Salisbury brilliantly playing the score on the Wurlitzer 3Manual/14 Rank theatre pipe organ.
An audience of around 500 attended a memorable evening in this wonderfully restored vaudeville/movie palace.