techman, I too enjoyed “Mr. Chips. Hey, I was 13. And although not the best film, I did rather think it interesting the way the songs(not all of them ) were used, as if we were in their minds, thoughts if you will. I do have the say that the London is London number is one of my favorites.
Thank you for clarifying the "Ben -Hur” dates, I took and still have) a photo of the marquee then ,but there was no date.
Btw, I hate how the hotel has been built around the theatre , yes, it saved and retained the theatre, but we lost the facade and great marquee! Just waht they did to the Broadway as well.
Mr.Blank, Thank you very much for answering my question. I figured it was a business decision, which makes sense. Mr. Blank, I must tell you I enjoyed reading your columns and reviews when I lived in Pgh, and thanks to the internet, I have been able to read all the ones I missed. I moved from NY to Pgh in 1973 to attend Point Park. During that time I was also very fortunate to be under contract to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and to dance w/ CLO for many years.Needless to say ,I am familiar w/ Heinz Hall. My father, from Uniontown, knew it as The Loews Penn
I took advantage of the “bargain matinees” when ever I could and enjoyed my movie going in Pgh that way.
I moved back to NY in 1978 returning only to work 2 more seasons at CLO, and then in a tour that played the Syria Mosque. I then returned for a visit in 1999, and got quite depressed at how much Pgh had changed and lost-especially the movie theatres.
ok Judy Garland played the Palace, 1951, 1956? and 1967. She sold the joint out.
I have been in here only to see shows,a revival of OKLAHOMA! in the 70s,a couple of benefits,and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
I do know that in 1969 MGM premiered the musical version of GOODBYE MR. CHIPS starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark.And I believe somtime around 1968 a re-release of BEN-HUR played an engagement
The current legit tenent at the Palace is PRISCILLA,QUEEN OF THE DESERT,a musical play based on the film of the same title
Liberty Ave in the 70s was porn alley! Anything you wanted. Theatres, adult arcades,where you had to be 18 and you paid a quarter to enter the adult arcade section through a turnstile. And maybe because I was young,it never seemed all that dangerous. Ah youth!
A question, for anyone. I know that the Roadshow engagements of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, and FUNNY GIRL played downtown. But,can someone explain why the Roadshow engagements of STAR!, OLIVER!,THE LION IN WINTER and others played in Shadyside or Squirrel Hill?
In the building, street level on either side of the theatre entrance were stores,one being a jewlery shop if I remember correctly. And nest door,where the Rent-A-Center is now, was an Italian restaurant where the usher staff would go on break to grab a drink or something to eat
GAILY,GAILY,and THE REIVERS were two other early 1970s attractions, and an engagement of the film Z was also in the 70s. The dressing areas for employees were upstairs, for men,a room by the mens room,and for females,a room by the ladies room. The managers office was located on the lobby level,and from within that office you could walk into the box office. After the evening show began,and the box office was closed,the manager counted the evening receipts. When they were counted, a deposit was made up, and two of us walked to the bank across the street to put the money in the night depost box.
restrooms were located in the lodge/balcony area, and in addition to the candy counter on the main level,there were also vending machines from which you could buy candy as well
it was not the corner property,but it was on the left as you entered, way before where the Waldbaums is now.
I used to go as a kid , before it was twinned. I recall seeing THEY SHOOT HORSES, DONT THEY? there
I lived across the street from the theatre from 1985-1990. Would look out my window to see how long the line was before going out. Saw Aliens here, also Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Mystic Pizza, The Wizard of Oz and Fantasia. I loved being able to just walk across the street to the movies!
lived UWS in the 70s and 80s, loved this theatre.The revivals, the audience, all of it. Judy Garland,A Star is Born, Julie Andrews as the Star! and so many more
I seem to recall a big inaugural opening with The Poseidon Adventure. A few other big films after that , then the twinning and the real big decline of Times Square-no one in their right mind went to a movie theatre on Broadway.
Now ABC Studios and Sephora
As a young kid from LI,I had a chance to experience this theatre,a summer camp trip to see The Bible.Huge, huge theatre.
Years later I was here in either Loews State 1 or 2 for various screenings of Oliver!, Love Story, The Owl and the Pussycat, and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
This was a great neighborhood theatre. In the 70s and 80s when I lived on the UWS, I would attend films here. Among them were Fedora, and Please Remember My Name. That Barnes and Noble is now gone, replaced by a Century 21
Phone number for the theatre was CI 7-1699.There are glimpses of the Rivoli marquee at night in the opening credits of an ABC television show from 1967 called N.Y.P.D..A police car is crusing down Broadway at night-rather quickly- and the theatre appears on the left side of the screen,right after a shot of The Winter Garden,where Mame was playing at the time.
The theatre also shows up in an Al Pacino film, cant recall the title,but Al is walking down Broadway late at night,and walks under the marquee of the Rivoli, Star! was playing there at the time, so late 1968 to early 1969 is the time frame
I loved this theatre from the moment I saw it at age 13 in 1968, The film Star! was playing its Roadshow Engagement and the theatre was decked out!. That was always the good thing about the Rivoli,the marquee and outdoor displays for the roadshow engagements were great.
I was only in the theatre once, in 1969 to see Sweet Charity. If I recall correctly there was an orchestra level as well as a lodge and balcony. And ushers to seat you.
Over the years I took many pics of the theatre, of course for Star!, but also for Sweet Charity, Hello, Dolly! and a little something called Justine.
It really upset me when the theatre was twinned, and then torn down for that awful skyscraper w/ Carolines Comedy Club on street level.
went to a studio preview of Shirley Valentine here. Studio passed out comment cards to us as we entered to be returned as we left the theatre.
Although the theatre was modern and non-descript, the above ground entrance/marquee was interesting. Nice to enter before descending into the bowels of NYC
Summer 1969 I saw Krakatoa East Of Java at the Virginia. I have pics of the theatre then but am unable to upload.
Film was show in 70MM-Stereophonic sound.
Some other summer 1969 info, the Ice Capades were getting ready for their engagement at Convention Hall, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys were the Headliners at the Steel Pier
techman, I too enjoyed “Mr. Chips. Hey, I was 13. And although not the best film, I did rather think it interesting the way the songs(not all of them ) were used, as if we were in their minds, thoughts if you will. I do have the say that the London is London number is one of my favorites. Thank you for clarifying the "Ben -Hur” dates, I took and still have) a photo of the marquee then ,but there was no date.
Btw, I hate how the hotel has been built around the theatre , yes, it saved and retained the theatre, but we lost the facade and great marquee! Just waht they did to the Broadway as well.
Mr.Blank, Thank you very much for answering my question. I figured it was a business decision, which makes sense.
Mr. Blank, I must tell you I enjoyed reading your columns and reviews when I lived in Pgh, and thanks to the internet, I have been able to read all the ones I missed.
I moved from NY to Pgh in 1973 to attend Point Park. During that time I was also very fortunate to be under contract to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and to dance w/ CLO for many years.Needless to say ,I am familiar w/ Heinz Hall. My father, from Uniontown, knew it as The Loews Penn
I took advantage of the “bargain matinees” when ever I could and enjoyed my movie going in Pgh that way. I moved back to NY in 1978 returning only to work 2 more seasons at CLO, and then in a tour that played the Syria Mosque. I then returned for a visit in 1999, and got quite depressed at how much Pgh had changed and lost-especially the movie theatres.
Again Mr Blank, thank you for the info.
Thank you for posting the pic. I like the homage. BTW, you are cute, I was living in Pgh then and I wish I had come across you!
ok Judy Garland played the Palace, 1951, 1956? and 1967. She sold the joint out. I have been in here only to see shows,a revival of OKLAHOMA! in the 70s,a couple of benefits,and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
I do know that in 1969 MGM premiered the musical version of GOODBYE MR. CHIPS starring Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark.And I believe somtime around 1968 a re-release of BEN-HUR played an engagement
The current legit tenent at the Palace is PRISCILLA,QUEEN OF THE DESERT,a musical play based on the film of the same title
Liberty Ave in the 70s was porn alley! Anything you wanted. Theatres, adult arcades,where you had to be 18 and you paid a quarter to enter the adult arcade section through a turnstile. And maybe because I was young,it never seemed all that dangerous. Ah youth!
I admit it, in the 1970s as a college student I paid visits to both these theatres. The things that went on, all I can say is WOW!
of course JAWS. We used to stand in the upstairs rehearsal hall of Heinz Hall and see the long, long lines that had snaked around the block onto Penn
A question, for anyone. I know that the Roadshow engagements of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, and FUNNY GIRL played downtown. But,can someone explain why the Roadshow engagements of STAR!, OLIVER!,THE LION IN WINTER and others played in Shadyside or Squirrel Hill?
In the building, street level on either side of the theatre entrance were stores,one being a jewlery shop if I remember correctly. And nest door,where the Rent-A-Center is now, was an Italian restaurant where the usher staff would go on break to grab a drink or something to eat
GAILY,GAILY,and THE REIVERS were two other early 1970s attractions, and an engagement of the film Z was also in the 70s. The dressing areas for employees were upstairs, for men,a room by the mens room,and for females,a room by the ladies room. The managers office was located on the lobby level,and from within that office you could walk into the box office. After the evening show began,and the box office was closed,the manager counted the evening receipts. When they were counted, a deposit was made up, and two of us walked to the bank across the street to put the money in the night depost box.
restrooms were located in the lodge/balcony area, and in addition to the candy counter on the main level,there were also vending machines from which you could buy candy as well
around 1969, 1970 I recall seeing GONE WITH THE WIND,and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE here
it was not the corner property,but it was on the left as you entered, way before where the Waldbaums is now. I used to go as a kid , before it was twinned. I recall seeing THEY SHOOT HORSES, DONT THEY? there
September 11, 1978, as per The Village Voice, 2001: A Space Odyssey was playing at the UA Rivoli Theatre in 70 MM-6 Track Stereo
I lived across the street from the theatre from 1985-1990. Would look out my window to see how long the line was before going out.
Saw Aliens here, also Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Mystic Pizza, The Wizard of Oz and Fantasia. I loved being able to just walk across the street to the movies!
lived UWS in the 70s and 80s, loved this theatre.The revivals, the audience, all of it. Judy Garland,A Star is Born, Julie Andrews as the Star! and so many more
I seem to recall a big inaugural opening with The Poseidon Adventure. A few other big films after that , then the twinning and the real big decline of Times Square-no one in their right mind went to a movie theatre on Broadway. Now ABC Studios and Sephora
As a young kid from LI,I had a chance to experience this theatre,a summer camp trip to see The Bible.Huge, huge theatre. Years later I was here in either Loews State 1 or 2 for various screenings of Oliver!, Love Story, The Owl and the Pussycat, and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
This was a great neighborhood theatre. In the 70s and 80s when I lived on the UWS, I would attend films here. Among them were Fedora, and Please Remember My Name. That Barnes and Noble is now gone, replaced by a Century 21
A re-issue of Gone With The Wind was the attraction before the Gala Premiere of Star! which was on October 22, 1968
Phone number for the theatre was CI 7-1699.There are glimpses of the Rivoli marquee at night in the opening credits of an ABC television show from 1967 called N.Y.P.D..A police car is crusing down Broadway at night-rather quickly- and the theatre appears on the left side of the screen,right after a shot of The Winter Garden,where Mame was playing at the time. The theatre also shows up in an Al Pacino film, cant recall the title,but Al is walking down Broadway late at night,and walks under the marquee of the Rivoli, Star! was playing there at the time, so late 1968 to early 1969 is the time frame
I loved this theatre from the moment I saw it at age 13 in 1968, The film Star! was playing its Roadshow Engagement and the theatre was decked out!. That was always the good thing about the Rivoli,the marquee and outdoor displays for the roadshow engagements were great.
I was only in the theatre once, in 1969 to see Sweet
Charity. If I recall correctly there was an orchestra level as well as a lodge and balcony. And ushers to seat you.
Over the years I took many pics of the theatre, of course for Star!, but also for Sweet Charity, Hello, Dolly! and a little something called Justine. It really upset me when the theatre was twinned, and then torn down for that awful skyscraper w/ Carolines Comedy Club on street level.
went to a studio preview of Shirley Valentine here. Studio passed out comment cards to us as we entered to be returned as we left the theatre. Although the theatre was modern and non-descript, the above ground entrance/marquee was interesting. Nice to enter before descending into the bowels of NYC
Summer 1969 I saw Krakatoa East Of Java at the Virginia. I have pics of the theatre then but am unable to upload. Film was show in 70MM-Stereophonic sound.
Some other summer 1969 info, the Ice Capades were getting ready for their engagement at Convention Hall, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys were the Headliners at the Steel Pier
Summer 1969 Funny Girl was playing at the Center.I have pics but am unable to upload