I visited this theatre only once back in 1977 out of curiosity. It was crowded with men and many stood in the back to watch the show. There was a slide show of men both naked and in swim suits while the song ‘Fascination" played in the background. Then a film called “Adultery For Fun and Profit” came on which was rather hard core and included bisexual activities. Not pleased with the program I went to the box office and asked for my money back. The guy in the ticket booth loudly repsonded with a flat out “No!”
This theatre became a church in 1954. It is now run by Pastor Lewis. The building is in need of work and repairs. The church will gladly accept donations to help in this.
The Theatre Historical Society visited here on June 21st. Of all the theatres on our itinerary to me this was the most impressive. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. The famous organist from Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball organ for us and sounded magnificent. Those giant buddahs with colored eyes and the elephants about just awesome.
I,d like to repeat a question I asked about two years ago. Perhaps new visitors to this site might remember. Does anyone remember radio broadcasts coming from the lobby some afternoons in the mid 50’s? Thanks.
This was the most comfortable movie house I remember. The seats were so cozy and with ample leg room. No wonder Woody Allen loved to have his movies premiere here.
It is offcial. Today the former Riverdale Twin Cinema begins its new life as Noah’s Kosher Market. Not a trace remains to indicate the former cinema. Treasure your memories if there are any of the former movie house. Perhaps someday, mid-21st century 2050’s say, future planners will again create an entertainment venue like a Phoenix rising anew.
Some good news for old movie palace fans. I heard a report that there may be a come back of the movie palaces of old. To lure back audiences from their home set ups some theatre owners plan to revamp themselves into the old style decor including resteraunts, skating and bowling added to their theatres to make for a complete going out experience. Can you believe it?
Let us face reality, the community where the theatre stands has changed over the past thirty years from one being mostly Italian and Jewish to Black and Hispanic. So naturally the shows will reflect the likes of the community. You will get more Latin music extravaganzas, hip-hop/rap shows and yes Latina and Afro beauty shows. Hopefully, dramatic arts and dance groups of these ethnic groups will also present shows with film showings that would be of interest to the community as well.. Another Radio City Music Hall you will not get.
An article about Vicotria 5 was featured in this day’s, 9/23/05, Daily News.Plans are being considered to convert the theatre into some combination of hotel or condos with a cultural component. The Victoria was built by the Loews theatre chain as a classical beauty, with a domed ceiling, large murals and a deep balcony. Silent screen star Elsie Ferguson was the guest of honor on opening night in 1917. Irving Berlin and Fatty Arbuckle were also there that night.
The beauty of having a movie theatre in town was its convenience. We kids didn’t have to wait for our parents to “drive” us to movies. We were able to walk by ourselves or ride our bikes to the Lindenhurst. In those days you didn’t need a parent to occupany you to most movies anyway. There used to be a children’s section policy but that was given up and a kid could sit anywhere. You were allowed to sit through two or three showings. Smoking was allowed in the balcony and looking up at the cloud of smoke was awesome from below. I loved it when the gold curtain opened as the titles began and closed on the words The End at the percise moment. I will miss this theatre. Something could have been done to have at least The Studio Theatre find a home there, but no, it stays in that upper story clap trap with poor access for the handicapped and escape for patrons. Live and Learn.
To show photographic evidence of my last statement I will need to learn how to post such photos onto this site and I don’t know how. If someone can email me or message here how photos can be placed on Cinematreasures let me know. Thanks.
The Orpheum is said to be haunted. Pictures that I and others have taken in the auditorium on a recent visit can attest to the “orb” lights seen on the prints that they may be some enitities. Like everything else you either believe it or don’t.
My apology to those who read my comments and were puzzled by the facts. The actual film I was referring to was BATMAN BEGINS . Sorry, I must have been so flustered by my experience I had forgotten the name of the film I saw or in this case didn’t see since I left well before the ending. People with stinky feet and cell phones should be banned from any theatre. Were was security or ushers to keep an eye on such nonsence, especially a place like Grauman’s!
I attended a showing of Batman Returns at one of the multiplex screens not the original theatre which by the way is still glorious. The modern multiplex is like anyother multiplex in the USA rather boxlike and unimaginative but clean and comfortable. Yet my experience that evning was awful. A woman who sat behind me had the nerve to prop her shoeless feet on then top of the vacan seat next to me inches from my face. Talk about manners! I could have said something to her but was worried I would offend her race and gender. So to prevent another LA riot starting in the theatre I moved my seat. The next place I sat the person next me decides to take a cell phone call. I had it and left. The movie stank any way.
Maurice Sendak, the 78 year old author of classic children’s books relates in an article in today’s, 8/02/05 Daily News how poor he was living in a terrible neighborhood and the only fun he had was at the Kingsway Theatre where he would watch a double feature and a cartoon usually a Mickey Mouse. This inspired him to draw his own cartoons and later became the artist and illustrator of books like “Wher the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen”. Pity, the commercial speace there today leaves little to the imagination.
To Jeffbackdoc, I managed to go once to this theatre during it’s final porno phase and you didn’t miss much. The fare was typical 42nd street grind house “soft” porn with bad grainy scratchy prints.What I was intrigued with more was the ghostly images of the decor that indicated the former grandure of the house.
I met up with Orlando during this summer’s conclave in L.A. and he showed me heart breaking, gut wrenching photos of the destruction of this once proud theatre.
Doris Day may have attended this theatre as a young girl and her cinema dreams came true.
Doris Day grew up here. She may have attended this theatre as a child.
How quaint that the Angelika be located on Houstan Street a perfrect homage to the actress Angelika Houstan!
What a shame this theatre couldn’t have been saved and restored.
I visited this theatre only once back in 1977 out of curiosity. It was crowded with men and many stood in the back to watch the show. There was a slide show of men both naked and in swim suits while the song ‘Fascination" played in the background. Then a film called “Adultery For Fun and Profit” came on which was rather hard core and included bisexual activities. Not pleased with the program I went to the box office and asked for my money back. The guy in the ticket booth loudly repsonded with a flat out “No!”
This theatre became a church in 1954. It is now run by Pastor Lewis. The building is in need of work and repairs. The church will gladly accept donations to help in this.
The Theatre Historical Society visited here on June 21st. Of all the theatres on our itinerary to me this was the most impressive. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. The famous organist from Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball organ for us and sounded magnificent. Those giant buddahs with colored eyes and the elephants about just awesome.
I,d like to repeat a question I asked about two years ago. Perhaps new visitors to this site might remember. Does anyone remember radio broadcasts coming from the lobby some afternoons in the mid 50’s? Thanks.
Could anyone give a brief history of the Park Hill? I assume that by the looks of the exterior it was built in the early 30’s.
Next summer the Theatre Historical Society may be visiting this theatre.
Orlando is doing fine and working hard at the Loews Paradise in the Bronx.
This was the most comfortable movie house I remember. The seats were so cozy and with ample leg room. No wonder Woody Allen loved to have his movies premiere here.
It is offcial. Today the former Riverdale Twin Cinema begins its new life as Noah’s Kosher Market. Not a trace remains to indicate the former cinema. Treasure your memories if there are any of the former movie house. Perhaps someday, mid-21st century 2050’s say, future planners will again create an entertainment venue like a Phoenix rising anew.
Some good news for old movie palace fans. I heard a report that there may be a come back of the movie palaces of old. To lure back audiences from their home set ups some theatre owners plan to revamp themselves into the old style decor including resteraunts, skating and bowling added to their theatres to make for a complete going out experience. Can you believe it?
Let us face reality, the community where the theatre stands has changed over the past thirty years from one being mostly Italian and Jewish to Black and Hispanic. So naturally the shows will reflect the likes of the community. You will get more Latin music extravaganzas, hip-hop/rap shows and yes Latina and Afro beauty shows. Hopefully, dramatic arts and dance groups of these ethnic groups will also present shows with film showings that would be of interest to the community as well.. Another Radio City Music Hall you will not get.
An article about Vicotria 5 was featured in this day’s, 9/23/05, Daily News.Plans are being considered to convert the theatre into some combination of hotel or condos with a cultural component. The Victoria was built by the Loews theatre chain as a classical beauty, with a domed ceiling, large murals and a deep balcony. Silent screen star Elsie Ferguson was the guest of honor on opening night in 1917. Irving Berlin and Fatty Arbuckle were also there that night.
The beauty of having a movie theatre in town was its convenience. We kids didn’t have to wait for our parents to “drive” us to movies. We were able to walk by ourselves or ride our bikes to the Lindenhurst. In those days you didn’t need a parent to occupany you to most movies anyway. There used to be a children’s section policy but that was given up and a kid could sit anywhere. You were allowed to sit through two or three showings. Smoking was allowed in the balcony and looking up at the cloud of smoke was awesome from below. I loved it when the gold curtain opened as the titles began and closed on the words The End at the percise moment. I will miss this theatre. Something could have been done to have at least The Studio Theatre find a home there, but no, it stays in that upper story clap trap with poor access for the handicapped and escape for patrons. Live and Learn.
To show photographic evidence of my last statement I will need to learn how to post such photos onto this site and I don’t know how. If someone can email me or message here how photos can be placed on Cinematreasures let me know. Thanks.
The Orpheum is said to be haunted. Pictures that I and others have taken in the auditorium on a recent visit can attest to the “orb” lights seen on the prints that they may be some enitities. Like everything else you either believe it or don’t.
My apology to those who read my comments and were puzzled by the facts. The actual film I was referring to was BATMAN BEGINS . Sorry, I must have been so flustered by my experience I had forgotten the name of the film I saw or in this case didn’t see since I left well before the ending. People with stinky feet and cell phones should be banned from any theatre. Were was security or ushers to keep an eye on such nonsence, especially a place like Grauman’s!
I attended a showing of Batman Returns at one of the multiplex screens not the original theatre which by the way is still glorious. The modern multiplex is like anyother multiplex in the USA rather boxlike and unimaginative but clean and comfortable. Yet my experience that evning was awful. A woman who sat behind me had the nerve to prop her shoeless feet on then top of the vacan seat next to me inches from my face. Talk about manners! I could have said something to her but was worried I would offend her race and gender. So to prevent another LA riot starting in the theatre I moved my seat. The next place I sat the person next me decides to take a cell phone call. I had it and left. The movie stank any way.
Maurice Sendak, the 78 year old author of classic children’s books relates in an article in today’s, 8/02/05 Daily News how poor he was living in a terrible neighborhood and the only fun he had was at the Kingsway Theatre where he would watch a double feature and a cartoon usually a Mickey Mouse. This inspired him to draw his own cartoons and later became the artist and illustrator of books like “Wher the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen”. Pity, the commercial speace there today leaves little to the imagination.
Maybe the Gaiety should move to the theatre showing Naked Boys Singing. They can alternate their shows when Naked Boys is dark.
To Jeffbackdoc, I managed to go once to this theatre during it’s final porno phase and you didn’t miss much. The fare was typical 42nd street grind house “soft” porn with bad grainy scratchy prints.What I was intrigued with more was the ghostly images of the decor that indicated the former grandure of the house.
I met up with Orlando during this summer’s conclave in L.A. and he showed me heart breaking, gut wrenching photos of the destruction of this once proud theatre.