Astor Theatre

Here is a November 1946 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/24bxsz

Here is an October 1955 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/3c94xj

Good grief! Thanks Ed.

For the record, I was just trying to narrow the scope for the date on the photo. My memory plays tricks on me all the time and I don’t think I am crazy either, but I can contribute by looking some stuff up easily at my end.

I wasn’t born yet when Leroy was a doorman at the Astor & Victoria and I would not think of belittling his valuable first-hand accounts in any way.

I never make mean spirited comments as I am just not wired that way.

Hey! Why don’t we write a play…maybe we can make a movie of this? I should have not re-acted the way I did. Let bygones be bygones! However memories get distorted it’s still a great experience to reminisce those days. During the 4 years I worked at the Astor and Victoria theaters (Friday 4-10, Saturday 9:45 to 5, Sunday 11:45 to 5, full-time summer months) they would show sneak previews shown especially at the Astor theater.

I remember vividly the previews (not premieres) of East of Eden, On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, The Star is Born, Meet Me In Las Vegas, Main Street to Broadway and many more. The big moguls of the Movie Companies, reviewers …etc, would attend. Customers would get the privilegeg of seeing two films for the price of one. The Criterion and Loew’s State would also do the same. It was always be shown on a Monday or Tuesday with the the attendees filling out the questionaires given when they entered.

There was a film with Willaim Holden made based on the novel “The Magnificent Bastards”, but the film had a different name. Many of Hollywood’s big names at that time came to see this film at preview. “The McConnell Story” starring Alan Ladd and June Allyson also had the same experience. That film also had a big studded premiere. Had an embarrassing experience working that World Premiere. I was the doorman opening the limo doors when they pulled up in front of the Astor. It was alway mayhem with the photographers and the press. Sometimes the limos would come in en masse making the shuffling of opening the doors difficult. One of the limos had Natalie Wood and her mother. When the limo arrived I let out Natalie Wood and her mother, not knowing that there was someone else in the limo ready to depart. To my chagrin I closed the door on Tab Hunter as he was ready to get out. He chuckled and was very amused…but I was more or less embarrassed. I was only seventeen and something like that seemed more tragic that what it really was. Years later I had the opportunity to meet him and told him the story and again he chuckled. He also confided that that period in Hollywood was all publicity. He eneded up doing some good work later in his career. There was a film he did with Sophia Loren that I thought was one of his best films.

My wife who is 10 years younger doesn’t seem to feel the importance of that era. She loves to hear the stories of my experiences. I have an older brother who worked the Copacabana when Jules Podell ran the club. I keep telling him he should write a book about the machinations that went on there. Sorry getting long-winded!

I’m sorry for the mistake…but that to was previewed prior to the opening. I am not crazy! Must be a more gentle way of communicating!

The film at the Victoria was “THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM”; Frank Sinantra, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker, Darren McGavin, Arnold Stang. It was previewed around Thanksgiving in 1955, and opened in January of 1956. I was working there during my High School years as a doorman for both theaters and was a senior at Boy’s High in Brooklyn. “MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS” was at the Astor Theater prior to “THE ROSE TATTOO”. Earlier on this site I gave a history of my experiences working there at the Astor & Victoria. They both were owned by the same company (Cty Entertaiment Corporation) and had a interlocking alley between both theaters. Great time!

Whe I was a doorman during High School years 1952-56 the early show was 85 cents and the after 5pm show was $1.10 – $1.25. I remember having a date and going to the Capitol Theater to see “From Here to Eternity” and the ticket was $1.80. I was completely wide-eyed when I saw that price. That time you could go the the “Gaety Deli” on 46th Street and get a humongous Corn Beef Sandwich for 75 cents. Or you could go to “Hectors Cafeteria” and get the Friday Fish Cakes and Spaghetti for 60 cents. I was only making 95 cent an hour though! If I remember correctly Stalag 17 was playing at the Astor.

What theater did “Singin in the Rain” premiere? Was it Radio City?

Warren,

I wasn’t in town for the whole summer of 1958. It’s funny how the streets look not as attractive if they are not wet. Something about
night shots,especially in B&W need the wet look. So many films do that when they are shooting at night.

I saw the “East of Eden” premiere from the two-disc set of East of Eden’s DVD. Things have improved so much since then directorily (meaning the TV coverage of the premiere). The segment of the premiere did not do justice for a world premiere that was televised and on radio at the same time. I always have the visual of “Singin in the Rain” as the ultimate premiere. I can be seen in the footage of disc number 2. I’m the one by the curb in the full shot waiting for the next car to arrive. Later they have a good shot of Ron Greenwald, Tommy Harris and Johnny O'Neil. In the Marilyn Monroe video of her life there is a short segment that is shown from the area where I was. I could be seen briefly but the other guys got a full picture. I worked the world premiere of “A Star is Born” and Monroe came to that also. She dropped her hankechief when coming out of the Limo. I had the honor of giving it to her people. If anyone know if there is any film coverage of that premiere I would be most grateful.

Looking at all this as a 16 year old going on seventeen seeing all the celebrities and never knowing that I would be working with a few of them in my career in theater. One that comes to mind is Carol Channing. I left the show “Coco” with Hepburn to spend nearly a year in London with Carol Channing. My guess at that time was who is Carol Channing? I wasn’t aware of her status when I worked that premiere. What does a kid from Brooklyn know! See ya!

Roy

Warren,

I feel the very same way. I was lucky to do my Broadway work in the 60’s and 70’s. The biggest problem then was the porno problem. The theaters were great without implanted microphones on the actors. It definitely was a different world. My wife and I just finished directing “Stalag 17” the play. Doing it was a blast, especially brining me back to the 50’s when I worked at the Astor when Stalag was playing.

Your image of Las Vegas is a true depiction of how Times Square is today. But when I think of the alternative of the trash that 42nd Street was for a long time…I would rather have it the way it is today. Thanks for the comments!
Roy

To Roy Barry — It was great to read your posting. I stil can’t seem to get an email to that address, so here’s the info in a nutshell. Although we must have worked together, the reason you can’t remember me is most likely because I didn’t work at the Astor that long — probably only a matter of weeks. However, I do have a pay envelope dated May 18, 1955 from City Entertainment Corporation and a handwritten note to a Mr. Helsinger(?)from “Gallagher” which reads: “This will introduce Mr. G—–. He starts tonight as usher."
I own 2 DVDs that feature the 1950s Astor pretty prominently : Kubrick’s "Killer’s Kiss”, and Kazan’s “East of Eden”. On the East of Eden premier section, there are some good closeups of the ushers and doormen. I wonder if you are in these pictures? Thanks again for your posting. I have great memories of those times.
Dodger

To Roy Barry — I cannot respond to the email address you posted. Do you have another?