I should also note that even the most pedestrian Steven Seagal or Jean-Claude Van Damme film would gross more on opening weekend at the National than any BACK THE FUTURE sequel in its entire run. And does anyone remember HIP HOP, SALSA and LAMBADA movies.
I don’t think any of these theatres avoided exploitation films. Their distributor alliances dictated the product. They all eventually played some low budget horror, Kung Fu, sexploitation or blaxploitation films.
It became a twin in 1982. The Jessica Lange “KING KONG” was a 1976 release. The food carts down the aisle were a Cineplex Odeon project that started in the early nineties. Are you talking about the original “KING KONG” as a revival?
Bailey Theatres, which operated the Sunrise Drive-In also owned several other locations in the south. The other locations appear to all be “negro theatres”, as they were then known. I suspect that may be the reason for the lack of mainstream advertising for the Sunrise. The change to Thunderbird may have been a change in policy or owner.
There seems to be some confusion between the Belmont and the West Forty-Eighth Street theatre, which apparently was across the street at 124 West 48th Street. It had previously been Uncle Sam’s Music Hall, which Robert Benchley reviewed in the January 27, 1940 New Yorker. He found their show offensive, “not one a father could take his children to”. He did admit his protest was somewhat “vitiated by the fact that the child in question was at the moment towering over me from a height of six foot two and was accompanied by his wife”.
Apparently undaunted, Uncle Sam’s continued on, and in the March 16th, 1940 Cue Magazine, advertised “She Gave Him All She Had”, and
suggested audiences “hiss the villain”. Nevertheless, on May 12,1940 Uncle Sam’s became the 48th Street Music Hall, and initiated a run of silent movies. Many stars attended the festivities on the opening night, Walter Huston, Madge Evans, Gertrude Lawrence, etc. The silents continued until May 26, 1941. At times the theatre had free admission, the bucks apparently being brought in by beer, liquor and food.
Richard O'Brien
The Broadway League announced today that they do not expect to be back on stage before January. If so, and RADIO CITY follows that, sadly, there will be no Xmas show this year, for the first time.
I doubt it. There will always be a need for the shared communal experience. Cinemas will always exist in some form, as will pubs. I was often asked why I was going into a dying industry when I started as a cinema manager in 1974.
That seventies 3D process did not require any equipment. It used a silver screen and blue and red tinted glasses that cleared the overlapped images that were blurry when viewed without them.
I found this book link that refers to a 3D gay-porn film called “HEAVY EQUIPMENT” playing at the Eros.
https://books.google.com/books?id=VKhqh3HFH8AC&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=3d+gay+film+heavy+equipment&source=bl&ots=h8c4jeLlNJ&sig=ACfU3U1ECbQDbcTFKv0hWgy1mX-HxLR1TA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjqxe2gpZXpAhX-mHIEHZVHD9wQ6AEwB3oECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=3d%20gay%20film%20heavy%20equipment&f=false
Cinerama seating was 1552 and by Thanksgiving that year “WEST” was probably no longer selling out.
Don’t forget that seating was significantly reduced for Cinerama and people were probably still being seated during the Overture.
Do you know when he sold the Hi-way?
Thanks, Bigjoe. I had an office here for a few years during my Cineplex Odeon days.
It was a power station.
I should also note that even the most pedestrian Steven Seagal or Jean-Claude Van Damme film would gross more on opening weekend at the National than any BACK THE FUTURE sequel in its entire run. And does anyone remember HIP HOP, SALSA and LAMBADA movies.
I don’t think any of these theatres avoided exploitation films. Their distributor alliances dictated the product. They all eventually played some low budget horror, Kung Fu, sexploitation or blaxploitation films.
This became a Walter Reade location in October 1966.
It became a twin in 1982. The Jessica Lange “KING KONG” was a 1976 release. The food carts down the aisle were a Cineplex Odeon project that started in the early nineties. Are you talking about the original “KING KONG” as a revival?
Cinemark said they can profitably operate at 30-35% capacity. Which begs the question, why do all chains charge so much?
Bailey Theatres, which operated the Sunrise Drive-In also owned several other locations in the south. The other locations appear to all be “negro theatres”, as they were then known. I suspect that may be the reason for the lack of mainstream advertising for the Sunrise. The change to Thunderbird may have been a change in policy or owner.
Not here in tourist town. Not with Covid hospitalization cases at an all time high in Texas.
I am pretty sure also that this was the Sunrise, but I haven’t found solid proof.
Richardobrien seems to know.
Steven, that photo is from a theatre across the street (124 west 48th street) that showed movies in 1940. I don’t think it is listed here. Yet.
richardobrien on July 26, 2007 at 4:43 pm
There seems to be some confusion between the Belmont and the West Forty-Eighth Street theatre, which apparently was across the street at 124 West 48th Street. It had previously been Uncle Sam’s Music Hall, which Robert Benchley reviewed in the January 27, 1940 New Yorker. He found their show offensive, “not one a father could take his children to”. He did admit his protest was somewhat “vitiated by the fact that the child in question was at the moment towering over me from a height of six foot two and was accompanied by his wife”. Apparently undaunted, Uncle Sam’s continued on, and in the March 16th, 1940 Cue Magazine, advertised “She Gave Him All She Had”, and suggested audiences “hiss the villain”. Nevertheless, on May 12,1940 Uncle Sam’s became the 48th Street Music Hall, and initiated a run of silent movies. Many stars attended the festivities on the opening night, Walter Huston, Madge Evans, Gertrude Lawrence, etc. The silents continued until May 26, 1941. At times the theatre had free admission, the bucks apparently being brought in by beer, liquor and food. Richard O'Brien
Nice find! They sure look like the same building.
Steven, the windows above the 47th Street Cinema marquee you posted and the one over the Miami marquee sure do look similar.
Steven, why don’t you post them here? I don’t see an entry for that cinema yet and it may have been this location.
The Broadway League announced today that they do not expect to be back on stage before January. If so, and RADIO CITY follows that, sadly, there will be no Xmas show this year, for the first time.
aeterna, it was twinned in 1980.
I doubt it. There will always be a need for the shared communal experience. Cinemas will always exist in some form, as will pubs. I was often asked why I was going into a dying industry when I started as a cinema manager in 1974.
That seventies 3D process did not require any equipment. It used a silver screen and blue and red tinted glasses that cleared the overlapped images that were blurry when viewed without them.
I found this book link that refers to a 3D gay-porn film called “HEAVY EQUIPMENT” playing at the Eros. https://books.google.com/books?id=VKhqh3HFH8AC&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=3d+gay+film+heavy+equipment&source=bl&ots=h8c4jeLlNJ&sig=ACfU3U1ECbQDbcTFKv0hWgy1mX-HxLR1TA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjqxe2gpZXpAhX-mHIEHZVHD9wQ6AEwB3oECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=3d%20gay%20film%20heavy%20equipment&f=false
The Queens location is the Surfside Twin. I tried to link the CT page here for it but I got a SPAM alert.
As Teatro Cuba it only presented live shows according to El Nuevo Herald.