The place was probably doomed from the time it started with the art house policy in 1958. It was a bit out-of-the way and could not attract much of the neighborhood audience since those folks were not interested in those kinds of films. I do believe the Ingmar Bergman series shown in the early 1960s, at the time of the director’s great popularity, attracted some sizeable audiences. I remember a guy in the audience saying out loud during “The Seventh Seal,” “Is this supposed to be symbolic?” and then going to sleep. Russ Meyer’s “Lorna” may have done well during the cinema’s soft-core period. When they first started the art house policy, I believe they served free espresso in the little lobby. FREE espresso, like some of the Manhattan art houses of the time where it was a trend. Can you imagine any movie theatres serving you free espresso today? Yeah, right.
A case can be made for listing Symphony Hall as a “cinema treasure” since, especially during the silent era, a goodly number of movies had showings here, with live orchestral accompaniment. There is a display panel in the first floor rear hallway on this topic, complete with memorabilia, programs, titles of the films. I believe “Salome'” was one of then, Eisenstein’s “Ten Days that Shook the World” another (but I’m operating on faulty memory here.) More recently Seiji Ozawa played the Prokofiev score to Eisenstein’s sound-era “Alexander Nevsky” with the movie being shown. It all becomes an interesting, perhaps academic, question. In New York would you list Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall as “cinema treasures?” They are the home of the annual New York Film Festival, after all. The rest of the time, of course, they are purely concert halls.
This 1973 photo shows the Royal in the distance as well as a view of the Texaco station that featured prominently in the film “The Last Picture Show." View link
This postcard, probably from the 1930s, shows Tremont Street with the Tremont (Astor) Theatre and, beyond, B.F. Keith’s Tremont Street entrance. View link
This was taken a couple of years ago. I’m not sure that the theatre is still an antique store. When it was, though, actor Anthony Quinn, who live in nearby Bristol during his last years, used to visit to browse and make purchases. View link
Brian Michela,
Here is one of those films you refer to that got a “C-Condemned” rating by the Catholic Legion of Decency. It was shown at the Art in June, 1962 as part of a double bill. View link
Yes, I remember. I also remember all the unique films I MISSED that were shown there because I was away at college, some of which I have never been able to see since, like “From a Roman Balcony.” Here are photos of a two-page flyer announcing a special series of films they ran in the fall of 1958.
Nice, but to be listed on Cinema Treasures, it has to have shown movies at some point in its history. Still a link could be placed to any info or pics.
I saw a 70mm revival of “Lawrence of Arabia” here in 2002 on that huge screen and was never as overwhelmed by that great movie as I was at that showing. That theatre and that film constituted a marriage made in heaven.
Great early photos! In later decades the ticket booth was located to the right of the entrance, near the sidewalk. You then walked up a slightly inclined external foyer to get to the doors which brought you to the lobby. I believe there was a fireplace at one end of the lobby. It was not a huge lobby but very cozy and pleasant. You then turned right to get to the doors to the auditorium. The building was L-shaped. In later years the theatre was acquired by a local impresario (B.F. Dario?) and various shows and acts were brought in. I remember seeing Joan Collins here. A group of ROTC cadets from Providence College stormed out from that show because of some anti-Vietnam war songs.
BoxOfficeBill,
“Juliet of the Spirits” had simultaneous runs at three N.Y.C. theatres beginning in November 1965: the New Embassy (Broadway at 46th Street), RKO 23rd Street Cinema, and the RKO 58th St. November 3rd, one day before the run at the other two theatres began, was the gala premiere at the RKO 58th. I saw it at the New Embassy. From your description of the RKO 58th Street, I wish I had gone there to see it instead. For the record, “Juliet” was not Fellini’s first film in color. That was “The Temptation(s) of Dr. Antonio,” a one-hour episode in the 1962 “Boccaccio ‘70.” It was, however, his first FEATURE in color.
The place was probably doomed from the time it started with the art house policy in 1958. It was a bit out-of-the way and could not attract much of the neighborhood audience since those folks were not interested in those kinds of films. I do believe the Ingmar Bergman series shown in the early 1960s, at the time of the director’s great popularity, attracted some sizeable audiences. I remember a guy in the audience saying out loud during “The Seventh Seal,” “Is this supposed to be symbolic?” and then going to sleep. Russ Meyer’s “Lorna” may have done well during the cinema’s soft-core period. When they first started the art house policy, I believe they served free espresso in the little lobby. FREE espresso, like some of the Manhattan art houses of the time where it was a trend. Can you imagine any movie theatres serving you free espresso today? Yeah, right.
A 2002 photo of the Castle:
View link
A case can be made for listing Symphony Hall as a “cinema treasure” since, especially during the silent era, a goodly number of movies had showings here, with live orchestral accompaniment. There is a display panel in the first floor rear hallway on this topic, complete with memorabilia, programs, titles of the films. I believe “Salome'” was one of then, Eisenstein’s “Ten Days that Shook the World” another (but I’m operating on faulty memory here.) More recently Seiji Ozawa played the Prokofiev score to Eisenstein’s sound-era “Alexander Nevsky” with the movie being shown. It all becomes an interesting, perhaps academic, question. In New York would you list Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall as “cinema treasures?” They are the home of the annual New York Film Festival, after all. The rest of the time, of course, they are purely concert halls.
Michael, I agree that this is a place well worth a trip. Here is a photo I took when I went a while back.
View link
Another photo of the former Eastwood Theatre, with a view of the business block:
View link
Here is a photo of the Union Theatre.
View link
A photo from early 2004:
View link
A couple of photos from October, 2002:
View link
View link
A photo from January, 2004:
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This 1973 photo shows the Royal in the distance as well as a view of the Texaco station that featured prominently in the film “The Last Picture Show."
View link
Marialivia, the Lafayette is listed under the name Holiday Cinema.
Hardbop, that was the Murray Hill Cinema. (q.v.)
A photo of the King from 2003:
View link
Here is a photo of the former Island Theatre:
View link
This postcard, probably from the 1930s, shows Tremont Street with the Tremont (Astor) Theatre and, beyond, B.F. Keith’s Tremont Street entrance.
View link
This was taken a couple of years ago. I’m not sure that the theatre is still an antique store. When it was, though, actor Anthony Quinn, who live in nearby Bristol during his last years, used to visit to browse and make purchases.
View link
Brian Michela,
Here is one of those films you refer to that got a “C-Condemned” rating by the Catholic Legion of Decency. It was shown at the Art in June, 1962 as part of a double bill.
View link
And a photo I took a couple of years ago.
View link
Yes, I remember. I also remember all the unique films I MISSED that were shown there because I was away at college, some of which I have never been able to see since, like “From a Roman Balcony.” Here are photos of a two-page flyer announcing a special series of films they ran in the fall of 1958.
View link
View link
Nice, but to be listed on Cinema Treasures, it has to have shown movies at some point in its history. Still a link could be placed to any info or pics.
I saw a 70mm revival of “Lawrence of Arabia” here in 2002 on that huge screen and was never as overwhelmed by that great movie as I was at that showing. That theatre and that film constituted a marriage made in heaven.
Great early photos! In later decades the ticket booth was located to the right of the entrance, near the sidewalk. You then walked up a slightly inclined external foyer to get to the doors which brought you to the lobby. I believe there was a fireplace at one end of the lobby. It was not a huge lobby but very cozy and pleasant. You then turned right to get to the doors to the auditorium. The building was L-shaped. In later years the theatre was acquired by a local impresario (B.F. Dario?) and various shows and acts were brought in. I remember seeing Joan Collins here. A group of ROTC cadets from Providence College stormed out from that show because of some anti-Vietnam war songs.
Interesting photo. And I was not aware of the Imperial. I don’t believe there is a listing for it. Please add one.
BoxOfficeBill,
“Juliet of the Spirits” had simultaneous runs at three N.Y.C. theatres beginning in November 1965: the New Embassy (Broadway at 46th Street), RKO 23rd Street Cinema, and the RKO 58th St. November 3rd, one day before the run at the other two theatres began, was the gala premiere at the RKO 58th. I saw it at the New Embassy. From your description of the RKO 58th Street, I wish I had gone there to see it instead. For the record, “Juliet” was not Fellini’s first film in color. That was “The Temptation(s) of Dr. Antonio,” a one-hour episode in the 1962 “Boccaccio ‘70.” It was, however, his first FEATURE in color.
A photo of the exterior of the Zeiterion:
View link