Nope. The Bar Harbour Theatre was always that name. The North Massapequa and Pequa Theatres were always those names, too. The North Massapequa Theatre was asecond run house in a shopping Center below a dance studio. The Bar Harbour was an art house, stand alone theatre in the Bar Harbour Shopping Center. The Pequa was a real nice first run stand alone on Sunrise Highway, opposite the Massapequa train station.
If this board lists theatres by their last known names, (ie: Embassy 5, better known as the Victoria) why isn’t this theatre listed as the Cinerama, Penthouse and Orleans? or even the Cinerama 1 & 2?
I bought Finian’s Rainbow and you’re right, the Penthouse premiere special is great. Plus, Francis Ford Coppola’s commentary is priceless.
Westgate was originally a drive-in. A twin theatre was built on the site, later 3 more screens were added. It took construction photos which hang at the Marcus offices. General Cinema owned the Regency Mall Cinema (about a mile away) before Marcus.
In many cases the 42nd Street theatres would play the same film as the Broadway houses at reduced prices. Case: In August of 1968, “Hang ‘Em High” plays at the Victoria (46th & B'way) and at the Lyric 42nd St. The “exclusive engagement” ad lists only the Victoria, Loew’s Orpheum and Loew’s Cine theatres.
This is just one case. Now, when the film hit wide or showcase release, sometimes the 42nd Street house would be listed, but never in the “exclusive engagement” listing.
“they played first-run films and charged a price a couple of dollars cheaper than other theatres in NYC. And they weren’t strict about allowing people to move to another theatre without buying a second admission”
This is why the Movieplex 42 was not allowed to advertise in the newspapers. In the 50s and early 60s, none of the 42nd St theatres were allowed to advertise. In the late 60s, restrictions were loosened up a bit and the theatres appeared in the showcase ads.
I saw Close Encounters here in 1977. The sound was so distorted. I asked the manager to fix it. He said the projectionist was out getting a haircut. Great experience.
I think this theatre was renamed the EMBASSY 49, across from the Circus Cinema. You can see a great shot of both marquees on the DVD for season one of the TV series TAXI.
The Anco was demolished, razed, destroyed to make room for the Empire move towards 8th Avenue.
The RKO Palace. No one else would open. Hearst scared everyone away.
Nope. The Bar Harbour Theatre was always that name. The North Massapequa and Pequa Theatres were always those names, too. The North Massapequa Theatre was asecond run house in a shopping Center below a dance studio. The Bar Harbour was an art house, stand alone theatre in the Bar Harbour Shopping Center. The Pequa was a real nice first run stand alone on Sunrise Highway, opposite the Massapequa train station.
No. That was the AmityVILLE Theatre called The Big “A” Amityville. The Amityville was huge with a balcony. The Amity was a tiny shoebox.
The Johnny All-Weather had ONE outdoor screen and ONE indoor screen, so it is considered a single screen drive-in.
Don’t forget about the Embassy 5, formerly The Victoria, at 46th & B'way.
Strange bookings…3 films from India and the animated film, Madagascar.
Both the Forum 47th Street (Movieland) and the Cinerama/Penthouse/Orleans were on Broadway within a block or two of each other.
You know, I never noticed that the donut shop took up half the DeMille front. Did they transform half the lobby into the donut shop?
X rated films did indeed play at the Cinerama Theatre. “Her, She & Him” (just before “Song of Norway” played there) and “Whirlpool”.
If this board lists theatres by their last known names, (ie: Embassy 5, better known as the Victoria) why isn’t this theatre listed as the Cinerama, Penthouse and Orleans? or even the Cinerama 1 & 2?
I bought Finian’s Rainbow and you’re right, the Penthouse premiere special is great. Plus, Francis Ford Coppola’s commentary is priceless.
Do the employees go on unemployment between “major first run engagements”?
After a fire in the DeMille, it was triplexed and renamed the Mark 1, 2, 3.
The marquee to the north of the Embassy 2,3,4 (DeMille) was the Westside Cinema. Before and after that it was a porn house.
Uh, oh! Moviefone.com is now listing only evening showings, no matinees. That can’t be good.
It’s hard to believe, but when this basement theatre closes, that’s it! No more movie theatres on 7th Ave and B'way in Times Square!
When I was a kid, there were (not counting porn hoses)…
Rivoli
Trans-Lux West
Cinerama
Penthouse
Orleans
Forum 47th St.
Victoria
Astor
Criterion
Loew’s State
New Embassy 46th St.
DeMille
All gone, now.
Westgate was originally a drive-in. A twin theatre was built on the site, later 3 more screens were added. It took construction photos which hang at the Marcus offices. General Cinema owned the Regency Mall Cinema (about a mile away) before Marcus.
In many cases the 42nd Street theatres would play the same film as the Broadway houses at reduced prices. Case: In August of 1968, “Hang ‘Em High” plays at the Victoria (46th & B'way) and at the Lyric 42nd St. The “exclusive engagement” ad lists only the Victoria, Loew’s Orpheum and Loew’s Cine theatres.
This is just one case. Now, when the film hit wide or showcase release, sometimes the 42nd Street house would be listed, but never in the “exclusive engagement” listing.
Looks like a dump! I know the Kameo was a Brandt Theatre. I would to see a photo from it’s heyday.
“they played first-run films and charged a price a couple of dollars cheaper than other theatres in NYC. And they weren’t strict about allowing people to move to another theatre without buying a second admission”
This is why the Movieplex 42 was not allowed to advertise in the newspapers. In the 50s and early 60s, none of the 42nd St theatres were allowed to advertise. In the late 60s, restrictions were loosened up a bit and the theatres appeared in the showcase ads.
In the ‘70s, a mom and pop ran this theatre. I’m told you could hear the firemen next door.
Is this the theatre located next to the firehouse?
I saw Close Encounters here in 1977. The sound was so distorted. I asked the manager to fix it. He said the projectionist was out getting a haircut. Great experience.
I have NY Times ads advertising the Wakefield on UA Premiere Showcase in the late 60s.
I think this theatre was renamed the EMBASSY 49, across from the Circus Cinema. You can see a great shot of both marquees on the DVD for season one of the TV series TAXI.
Any chance of hyperlinking the aerial shot of the UA Movies at Patchogue 13?