Embassy 1 Theatre
1560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
13 people
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There was a 70mm 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR Sneak Preview of “The Rocketeer” and a “Rocketeer Party” at the Guild Embassy 1 on Monday June 17, 1991 before the film began it’s regular run beginning on Friday June 21, 1991 (the film’s nationwide release date).
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_1991.htm
The most impressive thing about this theater was the entrance. I was surprised at the tiny and low ceilings auditorium. Once would hope the long entrance will be preserved in whatever the iteration of the building takes.
There are absolutely no stage facilities whatever, Mikeoaklandpark. And there’s barely any lobby space at all. I’ve uploaded a photo from last week. Alas, while Ken’s initial revision to the introduction above was a bit premature in saying the place had been boarded up, this is, in fact, what has since happened. A fresh barrier of plywood is now in place, covering the entire entrance right along the sidewalk.
Maybe the Nederlander Organization will purchase it and make a small theater.
This part of the block has been under scaffolding for some time (including the Palace Theatre entrance and the Doubletree Suites Hotel entrance on the corner of 47th), so it is difficult to get a good, representative photograph; but I will try to snap a shot in the next day or two, to update the gallery.
One correction… The building is not boarded up. It is cordoned off, at the sidewalk, but you can still see into the outer and inner vestibules. One of the doors is always open, as this is a staging area for workers of the Times Square Alliance, who keep the area sidewalks clean and empty out the trash bins. There is also a sign that says the entrance is still open for access to offices at 1560 Broadway.
This is terrible news, but earlier today, I asked Ken Roe if he’d expand the Introduction above & include the landmarking (which includes the interior). Ken did expand it. I will guess it will become a retail store.
Maybe it has been landmarked…?
“I wonder what will now become of this restored little gem?”
Probably the same thing that happen to ALL THE OTHER “Movie Theatre” landmarks….they get DEMOLISHED!
A little behind on posting this, but I walked by this theater (as I do every week day) about a week ago, and noticed signs outside stating that the Times Square Museum and Visitor Center is now “permanently closed.” The signs refer folks to a website for the Times Square Alliance, but there is no informatin there about the closure (except an echo of the message already on display in the outer vestibule).
Here’s a link to the Museum and Visitor Center page on that website.
I wonder what will now become of this restored little gem?
I’ve never heard that term used to describe ANY movie theatre before. By that description, you could have called Loew’s State, Loew’s Capitol. Criterion, etc., “legit houses”.
Oh well, I guess all the movie theatres today could be described as “illegitimate theatres”.-LOL
It’s interesting that the Embassy is referred to as “Broadway’s newest ‘legitimate’ theatre”.
I don’t know why they’re referring to it as a “legitimate theatre”. Does anyone know the answer?
That was one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on this site. Thanks so much for posting it. (I sure miss the old days even though I wasn’t even born then.)
bigjoe59, You could have missed it being called the Mark I, II and III because it was only open with that name for a short period of time. After that when Peter Elson took it over it was renamed the Embassy 2, 3 and 4.
Al, “Once Is Not Enough” could have run in September, but I wouldn’t call it a “move over” from the Astor Plaza since it played along with 25 other theatres listed in a film company ad.-LOL
As for the “Walking Tall”, the only thing I’m certain of is that it ran at the DeMille before the fire, while the theatre was still being operated by Walter Reade. After the fire, the theatre was closed for nearly a year and re-opened with “Once Is Not Enough”. Clark only had the theatre for a few months as I recall. Under a deal with the union he wasn’t supposed to use the balcony, but from day one there were more people sitting in the balcony then in the orchestra and was a constant battle. It was after the theatre closed under Clark that I left. At one point, Hank Rosenberg, the owner of the twin theatres (I can’t remember the name of the theatres) a few doors down to the left of the DeMille was also looking to buy the building and multiplex the theatre.
to either see a new film at one of the large movie theaters or a Broadway show i have been a frequent visitor to the Times Square area most of my adult life. to which my question- i don’t remember the former Mayfair/DeMille ever having The Mark as its name on the marquee. so i’m guessing it was a proposed name change that never made it to the marquee.
I found the ads for “ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH”. It played at the DeMille subrun in September on move-over from the Astor Plaza.
Al, that’s definitely not correct. As I said, BEFORE it ever became the Embassy 2,3,4 (or whatever numbers they called them), it was reopened after the fire by Leonard Clark as a SINGLE theatre. As I said, he opened with “Once Is Not Enough”. The picture played along with a bunch of other theatres in a company ad. After Clark screwed the two owners, Koppel & Levine, the theatre closed again (which is when I left) and THEN was reopened as a (poorly designed) triplex. I am certain up until Clark was thrown out because after that, friends of mine had a deal to purchase the building from Koppel & Levine and were negotiating with Krim & Benjamin from UA to open the theatre and run UA product exclusively, but the deal fell through after a meeting with James Velde a UA V.P.
techman, “Once Is Not Enough” opened at the Astor Plaza in June 1975. “Walking Tall” was not released in New York until 1974.
The DeMille re-opened as the Mark 1-2-3 in 1976.
Al, while I’m not sure of the exact date, I’m absolutely certain I ran the original “Walking Tall” at the DeMille and I believe it would have to be earlier than 1974. The reason I believe it had to be before 1974 is because in late 1973 or early 1974 is the year of the fire and the theatre didn’t open again until somewhere around June 1974 under the management of a guy named Leonard Clark who also ran one theatre on 42nd Street. When the DeMille reopened after the fire, the first picture was “Once Is Not Enough”, of that I am positive.
“Walking Tall” opened here in February 1974. the New York premiere was almost a year after the rest of the country.
Garth, I know that I ran the original “Walking Tall” with Jo Don Baker at the DeMille theatre around 1972 or 1973.
I’m sure I saw the original Walking Tall here in the early “70s. I intend to check out the visitor’s center / theatre.
Saps – That’s a very interesting interpretation from Guys & Dolls. Do you also talk to yourself?
The People’s Court commentary is taped on the Third Street Promenade @ Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, California now.
Techman, I hope this helps:
What’s playing at the Roxy?
I’ll tell you what’s playing at the Roxy.
A picture about a Minnesota man falls in love with a Mississippi girl
That he sacrifices everything and moves all the way to Biloxi.
That’s what’s playing at the Roxy.
What’s in the Daily News?
I’ll tell you what’s in the Daily News.
Story about a man bought his wife a small ruby
With what otherwise would have been his union dues.
That’s what’s in the Daily News.
What’s happening all over?
I’ll tell you what’s happening all over.
Guy sitting home by a television set
That used to be something of a rover.
That’s what’s happening all over.
(Or so sayeth Frank Loesser!)