Movieland
1567 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1567 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 140 comments
Yes! I love those letters. I first saw them on the RKO Kenmore in Brooklyn when I was 10 while waiting outside a bank for my grandmother to complete her business. (Reflections in a Golden Eye was playing…I finally saw it years later, and oh, boy, would that have changed my life if I’d seen it at that tender age!!) It was love at first sight for those block letters. I think the Kenmore used them all the way to its closing, but I’m not sure.
Oh, I see what you’re talking about. But, those older type letters are actually flat and have no dimention. I like the old RKO type letters, which were all black and just allowed the light to shine through the raised letters in the solid black square.
Regarding the post of June 24, 2012, showing the old marquee and the new marquee, I never liked the new “modern silhouette letters” — they seem so bland and take the creativity out of showmanship.
Saps, the marquee on the Forum (Gotham) was never changed (that I’m aware of). In looking at the Boxoffice Magazine post by Tinseltoes on July 1, confirms it.
The only difference is that they were using a transparency for Tarzan. Are you referring to something different? I know they ruined the marquee on the Palace when they used the air-space for that high rise.
Tinseltoes, Seeing the story about the Forum Theatre, back when they were running “The Sky Above, The Mud Below”, brings back memories of a better time, for both the industry and the country. However, thinking about how it is today is personally very depressing to me. But I still appreciate all your posts.
I just found an old program from central theatre in an old book. It is Carl Laemmle’s photo-dramatization of “the man who laughs” starring Conrad Veidt. I think it is probably from 1928 or 1929 ( no date on it) does anyone know if there are collectors of old theatre programs?
That sucks! There won’t be ANY theatres left in NY. Did you hear that AMC Theatres was sold to a Chinese company? I wonder what they’re going to do?
Hello- while the body of the theater(the auditorium)had been converted to the U.S.A. disco and subsequently demolished to build the swanky W hotel the lobby area stills stands as is still operates as the Roxie deli.
You could be right about “Dinner” opening at the Victoria. The Astor, Victoria and the Forum all meld together in my mind since they were all DUMPS as far as I’m concerned. When they closed the Astor & Victoria I didn’t shed a tear. Despite their location, unlike the other Broadway theatres that had 2 projectionists on a shift, those dumps only had one man. Although if you go back before 1950, they ALL had two men (except the Music Hall, which had 3 and at one point 4 men).
“Dinner” premiered at the Victoria and Beekman.
That December “DOLITTLE was at the State, "GONE WITH THE WIND” was at the Rivoli, “FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD” at the Capitol, “THE AMBUSHERS” at the De Mille and “CAMELOT” at the Warner.
The Forum was showing “THE PRESIDENT"S ANALYST”.
Now I think I have lost it. I could have sworn I read a comment on this theatre listing about “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” hving it’s premiere at this theatre. Darn if I can find it now!!!!
In December 1967 I made one of my weekend trips to NYC. I saw “Doctor Dolittle” the night before and went Saturday afternoon to see “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” at the Victoria Theatre. I know it was the Victoria as it was the first and only time I patronized that theatre. Most of my trips to NYC I saw the roadshow attractions at the Criterion, Rivoli, DeMille, Warner, Loew’s State and Capitol. Those were the days. Can anyone else confirm that my memory is not playing tricks on me???
“Tomorrow (3/19) will mark the 52nd anniversary of the opening of the NYC premiere engagement of Walt Disney’s "The Shaggy Dog,”
posted by Tinseltoes on Mar 18, 2011 at 10:38am"
Although I’ve become senile and somtimes I can’t remember what I did yesterday, I remember the opening of “The Shaggy Dog” as though it was just yesterday. It’s strange what I can remember over 50 years ago and yet current things draw a blank.
An ad for the December 1957 re-opening as the Odeon.
View link
Thanks for the search tip Ken, I appreciate it.
techman; The former Demille Theatre is listed on this site as the Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre. To search correctly, you need to search under ‘name’, then if that name doesn’t come up, untick that box and tick ‘previous names’ box and click the search button again.
Theatres are normally listed on Cinema Treasures under their last operating name, with aka’s available to search under previous name (if known). The aka’s are also above the theatre name on each page (in rather feint typeface).
The “Forum 47th STREET”, as it was known when I worked there was operated by Ellson Theatres, a father and son team. However, it was the son, Peter Ellson that appeared to run everything. They also had the 46 ST Newsreel Theatre, aka, The Embassy Theatre and the Guild 50th, on the side of Radio City.
As a projectionist (now retired)I worked a minimuim of 100 different theatres over the years, some only a few shifts and a few long term jobs (5 years or more) over the years. I worked at the Forum in 1967 for the premiere of “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” where I met Stanley Kramer at that time.
The database here is very strange, I almost didn’t find this theatre. Shortly after working at the Forum, I worked across the street at the “DeMille Theatre” however, I can’t find it listed in the database. I realize that the theatre originally opened in 1905 as the Columbia Burlesque and in later years was taken over by Loews and renamed the “Mayfair Theatre” before it was finally named “The DeMille Theatre” by Walter Reed in 1959 for the premiere of Spartacus, yet, I can’t find it on any of those names.
I worked at the Demille until the fire in 1973. It was operated by an independent operator for a short time until it was taken over by Ellson. It was turned into a Triplex and was incorporated into the “Embassy” theatre name along with the 46th Street Newsreel Theatre. I believe they were called Embassy 2, 3, 4, the Embassy 46 being Embassy 1.
Here’s the 8/5/60 NY Daily News full-page ad and 8/6/60 review for “13 Ghosts”:
View link
View link
That photo is actually from March 1972 and the porn revolution was still in its infancy. “THE GODFATHER” was the State, “NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA” on roadshow at the Criterion, “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” on roadshow at the Rivoli, “DIRTY HARRY” at the Embassy and “CABARET” at the Ziegfeld.
Good name Movieland.
A correction on the introduction:
“In 1965, the Odeon became the Forum, and a decade later, the Forum 47th Street.”
The Odeon became the Forum in mid-1959.
I remember when this theater was the Forum. My friend and I took the subway into Manhattan to see “Dr. Strangelove” at this theater. We were both 14. When we got there they were charging one price of $2.50 to see this film. I remember how outraged we were after usually spending .50 childrens-price at our local theaters in East New York, Brooklyn (LOL) I kind of remember we also saw Elvis in “Roustabout” at this theater. The only thing I really remember about this theater was that it didn’t seem that large in comparision to other Manhattan theaters. But I will always remember our shock at that $2.50 admission price.
On page 89 of Lou Stoumen’s book, “Times Square: 45 Years of Photography,” there is a picture looking down Broadway. The Forum is playing “Looking for Mr. Goodbar,” apparently in 1977.
The last two engagements at the theatre were actually True Believer (first-run) and a moveover of The Fly II (from the National Twin). So that would likely estimate the closing date as March 23rd, 1989.
It looks like “Porgy and Bess” is playing at the Warner, which would date this photo 1959.
I miss the Automat …