in recent years the Ziegfeld has had an occasional
exclusive engagement. for instance the two week
limited engagement of “The Princess and the Frog”
with an accompanying show at Roseland. but
discounting such special engagements what was the
last time this theater had a regular open ended
exclusive engagement of a new film?
Hello Again From NYC To My Fellow Posters In L.A..–
i thank my fellow posters in L.A. for
answering my many inquiries about the
Cinerama Dome. a new two part question-
*since the Dome was rather technologically
advanced for 1963 i assumed the period
from groundbreaking to the opening night
of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” was
at the least a year if not more. yet a
fellow poster replied that the period
of time from the ground breaking to the
opening night of IAMMMMW was only 18
weeks. is that true? it seems like an
awfully short period of time in which
to build a fairly large theater. the
reason i bring up how long it took to
build the theater is simple. i am
trying to determine if the decision to
abandon the 3-Strip Cinerama process
in favor of the single lens version was
made before the groundbreaking or after
construction of the theater had begun.
*now if my count is correct there were
10 single lens Cinerama films. “Its A
Mad Mad Mad Mad World” from Nov.‘63
being the 1st and “Krakatoa-East of Java”
from July'69 being the last. to which a
question- did all 10 single lens Cinerama
films play the Dome or did some play
whatever old time movie palace in the
Hollywood area that had been converted to
show the original 3-Strip process?
i thank my fellow movie buffs in L.A. for answering my questions about L.A. movie going. i have a new question that i’m betting has an interesting answer.
the Cinerama Dome opened Nov.‘63 with the
premiere of the 1st single lens Cinerama film
“Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World”. now considering
how technologically advanced the theater was
for Nov.'63 i’m guessing the groundbreaking for
the theater was at least 1 year maybe 2 years?
before the opening night. which is where my
question comes in. when the groundbreaking
took place the 1st narrative 3-Strip Cinerama
film “The Wonderful World of the Brothers
Grimm” hadn’t even opened yet. so does that
mean before “…..Grimm” and the 2nd narrative
3-Strip film “How The West Was Won” even opened
the powers that be knew in 1961 that the 3-Strip
process would go the way of the dodo bird and
built the Dome from the get go as a single lens
Cinerama house?
as i mentioned in previous posts in the late
50s Hollywood was still operating on the A movie
and B movie production level. now just because
a film is a A level picture doesn’t mean its
going to any good or receive critical acclaim
or be a hit at the box office. to which what
was the last A level picture to play the
Roxy that was both critically well received
and had a healthy run?
i hope i understood my fellow posters replies
correctly. to which that none of the grand old movie
theaters or palaces to use the popular term built
in Toronto specifically to be 1st run houses are
still in operation as such from the day they opened.
this puts Toronto in the same boat as NYC, Chicago
and San Francisco.
also to my fellow poster’s comment on the Castro
Theater in San Francisco. the Castro is most
certainly a movie palace and it deserves our admiration in that its in damn good shape and
has continued in operation since it opened in 1922.
but and there’s always a but. my original post
or inquiry was about grand old movie theaters/
palaces that were built from the get go specifically
as 1st run theaters. unfortunately the Castro
doesn’t qualify since its always been my
understanding that the theater was built from the
get go as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood theater.
i’m from NYC and have been posting a question
on pages for big cities of which Toronto is
certainly one. here goes- the big era of grand
old movie theater building or palaces to use the popular term in the U.S. was approx. 1913-1941.
now none of the grand old movie theaters/palaces
built in this period in NYC specifically as 1st
run theaters continue to do so if if they’re
still standing. now L.A. has Grauman’s Chinese
among a few and Washington,D.C. has the Uptown
but like NYC San Francisco has zippo. so i was
wondering if any of the grand old movie theaters/
palaces built in Toronto in the above mentioned
period have continued to operate as 1st run
venues in more or less their original condition
since the day they opened.
sorry about that. i thought anything to do
with motion picture exhibition was a legitimate
topic. oh, well. never said i was perfect. :–)
therefore since this website is apparently
only for the discussion of actual physical
theaters rather than motion picture exhibition
policy do you know where i could discuss the
topic of souvenir programs? thanks in advance.
as always i thank my fellow posters for their
replies. today i have an interesting two part
question. hear from you soon.
*i have a decent size collection of souvenir
programs. i think approx. 120? these are
actual souvenir programs that were sold in the
the theater lobbies and not the thin but colorful
leaflets or pamphlets theaters often gave out
during a film’s run. here’s part one- for all
of you with a sizable collection of actual
souvenir programs which are your favorites?
now this has nothing to do with the quality of
the film itself just how well designed you think
the program is. my top 3 are “The Greatest Story
Ever Told” which may be the most elaborate
souvenir program in my collection.“Don Juan”
starring John Barrymore. not only is the
program itself in mint condition but its a
complete program in that is still has the
separately printed colorized full length portrait
of Barrymore that was placed in the middle of
the program. then i would choose “The Ten
Commandments” from 1956 which rather than have
photos from the film had full color paintings
of the scenes. so for people with sizable
collections what are your favorites?
*part two. everyone who collects x,y or z
whether it be coins, stamps, 1st edition
books has a “Holy Grail” that one item they
have always wanted but never been able to
locate. for movie souvenir programs mine would
be the one for “The Birth of a Nation”. i
believe TBOAN was the 1st film to sell a
souvenir program in the lobby. i found a
copy in a movie memorabilia store in L.A. a
few years ago but it was in such frayed worn
condition there’s was no point in spending
the $35. i would be willing to spend a
reasonable amount for a near mint if not a
mint condition copy.
thanks for the info about the engagement of “The
Robe” at the Roxy. now the film had a souvenir
program of which i picked up a almost mint condition
copy of in a memorabilia store about ten years
ago. which leads to this question-if a film playing
at the Roxy had a souvenir program when the film
ended its run would the Roxy send all the unsold
copies back to the studio in question or did
they keep a few? i have always wondered about that.
the reason i ask is simple. in early 1966 i was at
my friend’s house after school and noticed a souvenir
program for “The Great Race” on the bookshelf. he
mentioned his parents had gotten it when the film
played its first run engagement at Radio City
Music Hall. when TGR had played my local theater
they didn’t sell the program. so i said “oh,well”.
the next week i had an idea. i wrote a letter to
RCMH and inquired as to whether they had any
copies left. now this was several months after
the film had left the theater. i included a $1
for the program and $1 for s&h. guess what? the
next week i received a package from RCMH which
contained not only a mint condition copy of the
souvenir program but the two $1 bills. :–)
the first Cinemascope film “The Robe” debuted
at the Roxy. but how long did it run on what
i assume was an exclusive engagement? the reason
i ask is simple. in the approx. 50+ years it
was a first run venue even the most successful
films ran just so long at Radio City Music Hall.
i always enjoy reading my fellow posters comments.
to which i myself do not consider this theater in
the-“Out Sight~Out of Mind” category. i mean Radio
City Music Hall is within spitting distance and
people don’t have trouble finding that theater.
so considering we humans have the ability to walk
and Manhattan has both great bus and subway
lines i don’t see how this theater is anymore “out
of the way” than any other movie theater in Manhattan.
there’s one statement in the doom and gloom
article from this past Sunday’s N Y Post that
seems made up simply to give the article
bite. it says patrons were shocked when they
arrived at the Ziegfeld the Memorial Day
weekend an the doors were looked. but why would
people have shown up at the theater that
weekend if it was temporarily closed and there-
fore couldn’t have had any advertised screening
times.
Hello-
the Roxy was torn down if i remember correctly June/July of 1960. which prompts this question-
at that point Hollywood was still operating on
the A level and B level movie system. so does
anyone know what the last successful long run
of an A level film was a the Roxy?
as always i thank my fellow posters for replying
to my posts but as the saying goes the plot
thickens.
in her book “"42 Street” Mary C. Henderson
chronicles the life as it were of the 12 theaters
that were built on 42 St. between 7th and 8th
Avenues. the 12 essays are chronological by the
date the theaters were built. the first essay is
for the American which opens with this statement
–“the American has the dubious distinction of
being the 1st theater built on the block and the
first one torn down.” now Henderson herself
acknowledges Hammerstein’s Victoria as one of
the 12 theaters.
now several weeks ago i mentioned that the
statement that opens the chapter on the American
didn’t make sense since the Victoria was torn
down at the end of 1915 to build the 1st Rialto
which opened in 1916. as a reply a fellow
poster said that Henderson didn’t consider the
1st Rialto of 1916 a completely new edifice/
structure implying it encompassed a part or parts
of the Victoria. yet in your reply you said the
Victoria was completely torn down to build the
1st Rialto. so since Henderson considers the
Victoria as one of the 12 theaters built on 42 St.
and you said it was completely torn down to build
the 1st Rialto doesn’t that make her statement
that opens the chapter on the American incorrect?
if i am not mistaken the big building period
for grand old movie theaters or palaces to use
the popular term was 1913-1941? this is where
my question comes in.
none of the theaters built in Manhattan to be
exclusive first run engagement theaters survive
as such. for instance Radio City Music Hall is
now a multi-purpose venue and hasn’t been a
1st run theater since 1979. so i was wondering
if any of the grand old movie theaters/palaces
built in Chicago in the period mentioned above
have continued to operate in more or less their
original condition as exclusive 1st rum theaters
since the day they opened? Washington,D.C
has the Uptown and L.A. has Grauman’s Chinese
among a few but Manhattan comes up zippo as does
San Francisco.
you seem to be quite knowledgeable so i have a
good question for you and it pertains to the 1st
Rialto on 7th Ave. between 42/43 St. which opened
in 1916.
in Mary C. Henderson’s book “42 Street” she states
that the American of 1895? was the first theater
build on 42 St. between 7th & 8th Avenues and the
first to be torn down. but then i said to myself-
“wait a second wasn’t Hammerstein’s Victoria torn
down at the end of 1915 almost 16 years before the
American?”. one of my fellow posters replied that
the reason for Henderson’s comment about the
American is that she doesn’t consider the Rialto
of 1916 a completely new structure. this would imply
that the Victoria wasn’t completely razed and some part or parts of it lived on in the Rialto. so if this is true then how much of the Victoria did in
fact live on in the Rialto of 1916 that Henderson doesn’t consider it a new structure?
thanks for your reply. you of course make a
valid point about whether the projection/screening
set up at the Crescent was permanent in other
words constructed along with the rest of the
theater or perhaps hastily put up at the
last minute and then later made permanent. i guess
we will never know since anyone who went to or
worked at the theater is long gone.
also after reading your reply an interesting
thought occurred to me. if the theater this page
is for the Embassy 1,2,3 were still showing films
wouldn’t it be the oldest theater building in
Manhattan being used as a movie theater? after all
it opened in 1910 as the Columbia a burlesque
house.
as always i thank my fellow posters for their
thoughts/comments on my posts. its nice to have
a lively discussion.
now if you read my last two posts i never use the
term “movie only theater” just “movie theater”.
i admit the Cresent in terms of its size or
ornateness wasn’t in the same class as the Rialto
of 1916. but since it did have movies as part
of the bill on opening night that would imply
i’m sure you’ll agree that the intention of
screening movies as well as having vaudeville acts
must have been part of the design and construction
phase. i can’t imagine they chose to show films
on a whim the morning of the opening night. so what
are your thoughts on this as a more valid way of
describing the Cresent-“the oldest theater i could
find in my search that was built from the ground
if not as a movie only theater at least as a
combo movie/vaudeville house”. i admit that’s a bit
much but since is it the oldest purpose built
theater i could find that screened movies on its opening night and for some time after i think its
distinctive place in the history of movie exhibition
in Manhattan should be duly noted.
i live in NYC and enjoy reading this page to
see what’s going on in the movie going world
of L.A. so i have a question for fellow posters
in L.A.. does anyone know what the oldest
continually in operation movie theater is in
L.A.? my one qualification is that it has been
a commercial house the entire time. for instance
the Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd. doesn’t count
since its been a non-profit film society type
house for a number of years.
thank you for your quick reply. its always good
too read your thoughts on the subject.
as i said i have a rather liberal definition
of what constitutes a built from the ground up
or to use the proper term purpose built movie
theater. now no one can contest that the Cresent
was designed to be and was built from the ground
up as a theater and opened on the night of Dec.
16, 1909. now i don’t know this to be fact but
i’m guessing the technical know how and equipment
needed to show movies or photoplays as i believe
they were called in the early years was a bit
more complicated by 1909 from when they made
they debut at Koster and Bial’s Music Hall in
April of 1896. my point being since movies were
a part of the bill on the opening night of
Dec. 16, 1909 the thought to exhibit movies as
well as vaudeville must have been a part of the
whole design and construction phase. that’s why
i am classifying the Cresent as the oldest purpose
built “movie theater” i could find in my search.
whether is was a large theater in terms of seating
capacity or whether is was ornate in its exterior
or interior design or whether is was considered a
major theater in terms of the product or performers
it got isn’t important. the important fact is that
on the opening night movies were part of the bill.
as always i enjoy reading my fellow poster
replies. to which your comments of May 4.
i guess i have a rather liberal definition
of what classifies as a built from the ground
up or to use the more proper term purpose
built movie theater. my search used the
nifty list this site complied of all movie
theaters that ever existed in New York State.
i of course just looked up the theaters
listed under New York, New York which was the
list’s notation for Manhattan.
the oldest purpose built “movie theater” i could
find was the Cresent at 36 W. 135 St.. it opened
on the night of Dec. 16, 1909. true the opening
night program as you can imagine was a double bill
of movies and vaudeville but the important fact
to remember is this- the fact movies were shown
as part of the opening night program would seem
to be proof that during the design and construction
phase it was the intent to exhibit movies as well
as vaudeville. to which this fits my definition of
a purpose built “movie theater”.
i thank my fellow posters for their replies
to all of my questions. its been most helpful.
as you know for the past several weeks i have
been browsing a neat list this site complied of
all the movie theaters that ever existed in New
York State. the purpose being to find the oldest
built from the ground up or to use the more
proper term purpose built built movie theater
in Manhattan. to which on the list i just looked
up the theaters listed under New York,New York.
now for some time the furthest back i could go
using my criteria was the Regent and the Bunny
both of 1913. then i found out the late Apollo
of 42 St. was built in 1910 to exhibit both movies
and vaudeville. well i found an even older theater
that was built to exhibit both films and
vaudeville. the Cresent later known as the Gem
was built at 36 West 135 St. it opened on Dec. 16,
1909 with a program of both movies and vaudeville.
now whether in the design and construction stages
the builder intended to show films well who knows.
it may only have been a thought after the
construction was finished. but the important fact
remains that on the opening night the program
consisted of movies as well vaudeville. the theater
ceased operation in 1937 and for many years the
building was used by a community organization. the
building is now demolished.
in the last say year and a half of the Roxy’s
life i was under the assumption that in the
movie industry at the time it was quite clear what
was considered an A film or a B film. for instance both the Loew’s Capitol and the Paramount went out
playing A films. so it would have been nice if the
Roxy’s final film had been a big A film.
Hello-
in recent years the Ziegfeld has had an occasional exclusive engagement. for instance the two week limited engagement of “The Princess and the Frog” with an accompanying show at Roseland. but discounting such special engagements what was the last time this theater had a regular open ended exclusive engagement of a new film?
Hello Again From NYC To My Fellow Posters
In L.A..–
i thank my fellow posters in L.A. for answering my many inquiries about the Cinerama Dome. a new two part question-
*since the Dome was rather technologically advanced for 1963 i assumed the period from groundbreaking to the opening night of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” was at the least a year if not more. yet a fellow poster replied that the period of time from the ground breaking to the opening night of IAMMMMW was only 18 weeks. is that true? it seems like an awfully short period of time in which to build a fairly large theater. the reason i bring up how long it took to build the theater is simple. i am trying to determine if the decision to abandon the 3-Strip Cinerama process in favor of the single lens version was made before the groundbreaking or after construction of the theater had begun.
*now if my count is correct there were 10 single lens Cinerama films. “Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” from Nov.‘63 being the 1st and “Krakatoa-East of Java” from July'69 being the last. to which a question- did all 10 single lens Cinerama films play the Dome or did some play whatever old time movie palace in the Hollywood area that had been converted to show the original 3-Strip process?
Hello From NYC-
i thank my fellow movie buffs in L.A. for
answering my questions about L.A. movie going.
i have a new question that i’m betting has
an interesting answer.
the Cinerama Dome opened Nov.‘63 with the premiere of the 1st single lens Cinerama film “Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World”. now considering how technologically advanced the theater was for Nov.'63 i’m guessing the groundbreaking for the theater was at least 1 year maybe 2 years? before the opening night. which is where my question comes in. when the groundbreaking took place the 1st narrative 3-Strip Cinerama film “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” hadn’t even opened yet. so does that mean before “…..Grimm” and the 2nd narrative 3-Strip film “How The West Was Won” even opened the powers that be knew in 1961 that the 3-Strip process would go the way of the dodo bird and built the Dome from the get go as a single lens Cinerama house?
Hello Again-
as i mentioned in previous posts in the late 50s Hollywood was still operating on the A movie and B movie production level. now just because a film is a A level picture doesn’t mean its going to any good or receive critical acclaim or be a hit at the box office. to which what was the last A level picture to play the Roxy that was both critically well received and had a healthy run?
Hello Again-
i hope i understood my fellow posters replies correctly. to which that none of the grand old movie theaters or palaces to use the popular term built in Toronto specifically to be 1st run houses are still in operation as such from the day they opened. this puts Toronto in the same boat as NYC, Chicago and San Francisco.
also to my fellow poster’s comment on the Castro Theater in San Francisco. the Castro is most certainly a movie palace and it deserves our admiration in that its in damn good shape and has continued in operation since it opened in 1922. but and there’s always a but. my original post or inquiry was about grand old movie theaters/ palaces that were built from the get go specifically as 1st run theaters. unfortunately the Castro doesn’t qualify since its always been my understanding that the theater was built from the get go as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood theater.
Hello Again-
i admit i’m not the world’s best typist. so in my post it should read “even if they’re still standing”.
Hello To Canadian Neighbors-
i’m from NYC and have been posting a question on pages for big cities of which Toronto is certainly one. here goes- the big era of grand old movie theater building or palaces to use the popular term in the U.S. was approx. 1913-1941. now none of the grand old movie theaters/palaces built in this period in NYC specifically as 1st run theaters continue to do so if if they’re still standing. now L.A. has Grauman’s Chinese among a few and Washington,D.C. has the Uptown but like NYC San Francisco has zippo. so i was wondering if any of the grand old movie theaters/ palaces built in Toronto in the above mentioned period have continued to operate as 1st run venues in more or less their original condition since the day they opened.
Hello-
sorry about that. i thought anything to do with motion picture exhibition was a legitimate topic. oh, well. never said i was perfect. :–)
therefore since this website is apparently only for the discussion of actual physical theaters rather than motion picture exhibition policy do you know where i could discuss the topic of souvenir programs? thanks in advance.
Hello-
as always i thank my fellow posters for their replies. today i have an interesting two part question. hear from you soon.
*i have a decent size collection of souvenir programs. i think approx. 120? these are actual souvenir programs that were sold in the the theater lobbies and not the thin but colorful leaflets or pamphlets theaters often gave out
during a film’s run. here’s part one- for all of you with a sizable collection of actual souvenir programs which are your favorites? now this has nothing to do with the quality of the film itself just how well designed you think the program is. my top 3 are “The Greatest Story Ever Told” which may be the most elaborate souvenir program in my collection.“Don Juan” starring John Barrymore. not only is the program itself in mint condition but its a complete program in that is still has the separately printed colorized full length portrait of Barrymore that was placed in the middle of the program. then i would choose “The Ten Commandments” from 1956 which rather than have photos from the film had full color paintings of the scenes. so for people with sizable collections what are your favorites?
*part two. everyone who collects x,y or z whether it be coins, stamps, 1st edition books has a “Holy Grail” that one item they have always wanted but never been able to locate. for movie souvenir programs mine would be the one for “The Birth of a Nation”. i believe TBOAN was the 1st film to sell a souvenir program in the lobby. i found a copy in a movie memorabilia store in L.A. a few years ago but it was in such frayed worn condition there’s was no point in spending the $35. i would be willing to spend a reasonable amount for a near mint if not a mint condition copy.
Hello to Simon S.
thanks for the info about the engagement of “The Robe” at the Roxy. now the film had a souvenir program of which i picked up a almost mint condition copy of in a memorabilia store about ten years ago. which leads to this question-if a film playing at the Roxy had a souvenir program when the film ended its run would the Roxy send all the unsold copies back to the studio in question or did they keep a few? i have always wondered about that.
the reason i ask is simple. in early 1966 i was at my friend’s house after school and noticed a souvenir program for “The Great Race” on the bookshelf. he mentioned his parents had gotten it when the film played its first run engagement at Radio City Music Hall. when TGR had played my local theater they didn’t sell the program. so i said “oh,well”. the next week i had an idea. i wrote a letter to RCMH and inquired as to whether they had any copies left. now this was several months after the film had left the theater. i included a $1 for the program and $1 for s&h. guess what? the next week i received a package from RCMH which contained not only a mint condition copy of the souvenir program but the two $1 bills. :–)
Hello-
the first Cinemascope film “The Robe” debuted at the Roxy. but how long did it run on what i assume was an exclusive engagement? the reason i ask is simple. in the approx. 50+ years it was a first run venue even the most successful films ran just so long at Radio City Music Hall.
Hello Again-
i always enjoy reading my fellow posters comments. to which i myself do not consider this theater in the-“Out Sight~Out of Mind” category. i mean Radio City Music Hall is within spitting distance and people don’t have trouble finding that theater. so considering we humans have the ability to walk and Manhattan has both great bus and subway lines i don’t see how this theater is anymore “out of the way” than any other movie theater in Manhattan.
Hello To My Fellow Posters-
there’s one statement in the doom and gloom article from this past Sunday’s N Y Post that seems made up simply to give the article bite. it says patrons were shocked when they arrived at the Ziegfeld the Memorial Day weekend an the doors were looked. but why would people have shown up at the theater that weekend if it was temporarily closed and there- fore couldn’t have had any advertised screening times.
Hello- the Roxy was torn down if i remember correctly June/July of 1960. which prompts this question-
at that point Hollywood was still operating on the A level and B level movie system. so does anyone know what the last successful long run of an A level film was a the Roxy?
Hello To techman707-
as always i thank my fellow posters for replying to my posts but as the saying goes the plot thickens.
in her book “"42 Street” Mary C. Henderson chronicles the life as it were of the 12 theaters that were built on 42 St. between 7th and 8th Avenues. the 12 essays are chronological by the date the theaters were built. the first essay is
for the American which opens with this statement –“the American has the dubious distinction of
being the 1st theater built on the block and the first one torn down.” now Henderson herself acknowledges Hammerstein’s Victoria as one of the 12 theaters.
now several weeks ago i mentioned that the statement that opens the chapter on the American didn’t make sense since the Victoria was torn down at the end of 1915 to build the 1st Rialto which opened in 1916. as a reply a fellow poster said that Henderson didn’t consider the 1st Rialto of 1916 a completely new edifice/ structure implying it encompassed a part or parts of the Victoria. yet in your reply you said the Victoria was completely torn down to build the 1st Rialto. so since Henderson considers the Victoria as one of the 12 theaters built on 42 St. and you said it was completely torn down to build the 1st Rialto doesn’t that make her statement that opens the chapter on the American incorrect?
Hello From NYC-
if i am not mistaken the big building period for grand old movie theaters or palaces to use the popular term was 1913-1941? this is where my question comes in.
none of the theaters built in Manhattan to be exclusive first run engagement theaters survive as such. for instance Radio City Music Hall is now a multi-purpose venue and hasn’t been a 1st run theater since 1979. so i was wondering if any of the grand old movie theaters/palaces built in Chicago in the period mentioned above have continued to operate in more or less their original condition as exclusive 1st rum theaters since the day they opened? Washington,D.C has the Uptown and L.A. has Grauman’s Chinese
among a few but Manhattan comes up zippo as does San Francisco.
Hello To Al A.–
you seem to be quite knowledgeable so i have a good question for you and it pertains to the 1st Rialto on 7th Ave. between 42/43 St. which opened in 1916.
in Mary C. Henderson’s book “42 Street” she states that the American of 1895? was the first theater build on 42 St. between 7th & 8th Avenues and the first to be torn down. but then i said to myself- “wait a second wasn’t Hammerstein’s Victoria torn down at the end of 1915 almost 16 years before the American?”. one of my fellow posters replied that the reason for Henderson’s comment about the American is that she doesn’t consider the Rialto of 1916 a completely new structure. this would imply that the Victoria wasn’t completely razed and some part or parts of it lived on in the Rialto. so if this is true then how much of the Victoria did in fact live on in the Rialto of 1916 that Henderson doesn’t consider it a new structure?
Hello to Ed S. –
thanks for your reply. you of course make a valid point about whether the projection/screening set up at the Crescent was permanent in other words constructed along with the rest of the theater or perhaps hastily put up at the last minute and then later made permanent. i guess we will never know since anyone who went to or worked at the theater is long gone.
also after reading your reply an interesting thought occurred to me. if the theater this page is for the Embassy 1,2,3 were still showing films wouldn’t it be the oldest theater building in Manhattan being used as a movie theater? after all it opened in 1910 as the Columbia a burlesque house.
Hello Again To My Fellow Posters-
as always i thank my fellow posters for their thoughts/comments on my posts. its nice to have a lively discussion.
now if you read my last two posts i never use the term “movie only theater” just “movie theater”. i admit the Cresent in terms of its size or
ornateness wasn’t in the same class as the Rialto of 1916. but since it did have movies as part of the bill on opening night that would imply i’m sure you’ll agree that the intention of screening movies as well as having vaudeville acts must have been part of the design and construction phase. i can’t imagine they chose to show films on a whim the morning of the opening night. so what are your thoughts on this as a more valid way of describing the Cresent-“the oldest theater i could find in my search that was built from the ground if not as a movie only theater at least as a combo movie/vaudeville house”. i admit that’s a bit much but since is it the oldest purpose built theater i could find that screened movies on its opening night and for some time after i think its distinctive place in the history of movie exhibition in Manhattan should be duly noted.
Hello To My Fellow Posters In L.A.–
i live in NYC and enjoy reading this page to see what’s going on in the movie going world of L.A. so i have a question for fellow posters in L.A.. does anyone know what the oldest continually in operation movie theater is in L.A.? my one qualification is that it has been a commercial house the entire time. for instance the Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd. doesn’t count since its been a non-profit film society type house for a number of years.
Hello Again to AL A.–
thank you for your quick reply. its always good too read your thoughts on the subject.
as i said i have a rather liberal definition of what constitutes a built from the ground up or to use the proper term purpose built movie theater. now no one can contest that the Cresent was designed to be and was built from the ground up as a theater and opened on the night of Dec. 16, 1909. now i don’t know this to be fact but i’m guessing the technical know how and equipment needed to show movies or photoplays as i believe they were called in the early years was a bit more complicated by 1909 from when they made they debut at Koster and Bial’s Music Hall in April of 1896. my point being since movies were a part of the bill on the opening night of Dec. 16, 1909 the thought to exhibit movies as well as vaudeville must have been a part of the whole design and construction phase. that’s why i am classifying the Cresent as the oldest purpose
built “movie theater” i could find in my search.
whether is was a large theater in terms of seating capacity or whether is was ornate in its exterior or interior design or whether is was considered a major theater in terms of the product or performers it got isn’t important. the important fact is that on the opening night movies were part of the bill.
Hello To Al A. & techman707-
as always i enjoy reading my fellow poster replies. to which your comments of May 4.
i guess i have a rather liberal definition of what classifies as a built from the ground up or to use the more proper term purpose built movie theater. my search used the nifty list this site complied of all movie theaters that ever existed in New York State. i of course just looked up the theaters listed under New York, New York which was the list’s notation for Manhattan.
the oldest purpose built “movie theater” i could find was the Cresent at 36 W. 135 St.. it opened on the night of Dec. 16, 1909. true the opening night program as you can imagine was a double bill of movies and vaudeville but the important fact to remember is this- the fact movies were shown as part of the opening night program would seem to be proof that during the design and construction phase it was the intent to exhibit movies as well as vaudeville. to which this fits my definition of a purpose built “movie theater”.
Hello-
i thank my fellow posters for their replies to all of my questions. its been most helpful.
as you know for the past several weeks i have been browsing a neat list this site complied of all the movie theaters that ever existed in New York State. the purpose being to find the oldest built from the ground up or to use the more proper term purpose built built movie theater in Manhattan. to which on the list i just looked up the theaters listed under New York,New York. now for some time the furthest back i could go
using my criteria was the Regent and the Bunny both of 1913. then i found out the late Apollo of 42 St. was built in 1910 to exhibit both movies and vaudeville. well i found an even older theater that was built to exhibit both films and vaudeville. the Cresent later known as the Gem was built at 36 West 135 St. it opened on Dec. 16, 1909 with a program of both movies and vaudeville. now whether in the design and construction stages the builder intended to show films well who knows. it may only have been a thought after the construction was finished. but the important fact remains that on the opening night the program consisted of movies as well vaudeville. the theater ceased operation in 1937 and for many years the building was used by a community organization. the building is now demolished.
Hello-
does anyone know if the Sutton had any
exclusive roadshow engagements other than
“The Blue Max”?
Hello Again-
in the last say year and a half of the Roxy’s life i was under the assumption that in the movie industry at the time it was quite clear what was considered an A film or a B film. for instance both the Loew’s Capitol and the Paramount went out playing A films. so it would have been nice if the Roxy’s final film had been a big A film.