Thank you for posting that video, Mike. The concession stand signage is exactly like the one at the Loew’s Paradise Quad. I can’t believe that even in the mid 90’s they were still using Cups for Popcorn, not bags like every other chain by that time.
I was here way back in September 2001 to see the fully restored Sony reissue of the roadshow version of Funny Girl, which was presented in 6 track digital sound and a Technicolor dye transfer print. It was a stunning print and the sound made the experience simply breathtaking. Plus to have it been shown in such a magnificent house. I will remember it for the rest of my life as one of those cinema going experiences that will never be matched. We even got a present from the Ziegfeld a film poster which I still have in pristine condition. Farewell sweet Ziegfeld, you were a class act up until the very end. You will live on in our collective memories forever.
Who else still has 70mm film capability to show “Hateful Eight” in NYC, the Cinema 1,2,3 & Village East? Did AMC keep the 70mm projector equipment in the Loews Auditorium at Lincoln Square?
Do they still have the original seats from Nov 94 in the rest of the auditoriums? I know the Loews Auditorium did get a seating upgrade in the mid 2000’s. I believe Irwin Seating Company was the main supplier they used in their 90’s projects. This place does need a refresh, but I hope they do not get rid of a lot of the Gensler Design details that went into the look of the lobbies and auditoriums, otherwise it will wind up looking just like any other modern AMC with no unique individuality whatsoever.
Looking at the photo’s on the archive site you can see all the design details that Rockwell Group had done for Loews Theatres that would be carried out in all new multiplex’s constructed from hence forth. I think the Loews 84th street redo was done just before this project to gauge his design concepts for the theatres & how patrons would respond. I also wonder why Gensler only got to do the Lincoln Square project for the chain and were never used again by Loews?
Was here today to see “Bridge Of Spies” in auditorium #9 today, the house lights were on during the entire movie, I did let the employees know at the start of the film, but it never got fixed. Also they were showing a scope film on a flat screen with absolutely no masking on the top and bottom. I did get a pass for my troubles, but it actually means I have to go back to another AMC Theatre, I wish they would give out Regal passes instead, LOL.
My friend Orlando was just at the Loew’s 46th Street. He spoke with the owner and the building is currently being gutted inside, the outside will be preserved and used for retail on the bottom parts and apartments on the top. Most of the items like the chairs that were inside are already thrown inside the dumpster and have been hauled off unfortunately. Well at least the exterior will be preserved in some sort of form.
When Interstellar played the 70mm was shown at the Ziegfeld, City Cinemas 1-2-3 and Lincoln Square IMAX, I don’t seem to ee Star Wars TFA as a 70mm release unfortunately. I will have to ask the manager who we know if they still have the 70mm projectors here.
Just saw the IMAX list for Star Wars TFA, the nearest 15/70 IMAX Theatres for us is Philadelphia & Washington D.C. otherwise it’s just the plain 2K IMAX Digital here as they won’t have the laser system installed until next year. I wonder if Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos at the Empire 25 will be better in the Prime auditorium for this film.
It’s a shame that Alamo Drafthouse could not make it work as a movie theatre. Well at least the exterior has landmark status, so that can’t change it, thankfully.
There has been talk in the local publications that the City Of NY should use the laws of eminent domain to take this theatre away from it’s current owner Jasmine Bullard, because the building if basically just an eyesore that is rotting away. I was here last night and the front of the theatre now is an encampment for the homeless who are seeking shelter under the scaffolding that’s in place around the front. I hope something will be done soon before it’s too late and it gets condemned.
Until the church took it over, that was a very nice intricate one that had to really stand our against the elevated train that used to run there. Isn’t the one on the 175th St. the original one, albeit with the Loew’s letters removed? It’s really a shame that most of the verticals, were removed because it was said they would unfortunately compromise the structural integrity of the buildings facade over time, they were really something special & you could see them from blocks away as their calling card to beckon it’s patrons. The Ewalk & Boston Commons attempted to sort of replicate the old style Loew’s verticals as sort of a homage to the originals.
robboehm, yes both the vertical and regular marquee were replaced by Loew’s in the late 30’s or early 40’s. The second vertical was made by Artkraft Strauss. I wish there were more pictures around of both types.
There is a photo with the film “Divorce American Style” listed on the marquee with the vertical in place which would put that in 1967. Meanwhile in the photo on top “Ice Station Zebra” is playing with the vertical gone, which would put us in 1968. So my guess would be sometime between 67-68 was when they scrapped it. The Shore theatre in Coney lsland had the exact same type and style vertical sign until Sandy ripped it apart in Oct 2012.
If the Loew’s Oriental opened in October 1927 the photo, must have been taken shortly after opening. The Buster Keaton Silent Film “College” opened on September 27th. Also notice the retail stores to the left and right of the theatre have not been rented out yet.
Yes the place is crumbling away, here is some info from the NYC Department Of Buildings Site:
1) FIRE STARTED TO HEAT PIPES CAUSED PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF INT WA LLS, NO APPROVED PLANS ON SITE. STOP ALL WORK, ENTIRE SITE
2)TIE BACK ON METAL LATH & PLASTER WALL ROTTED CAUSING WALL TO BECOME UNSTABLE W/ THE POTENTIAL OF COLLAPSE.
Unless the owner does something soon, the inside will rot and fall away to nothing, like what happened to the Loew’s Pitkin.
Thank you for posting that video, Mike. The concession stand signage is exactly like the one at the Loew’s Paradise Quad. I can’t believe that even in the mid 90’s they were still using Cups for Popcorn, not bags like every other chain by that time.
I was here way back in September 2001 to see the fully restored Sony reissue of the roadshow version of Funny Girl, which was presented in 6 track digital sound and a Technicolor dye transfer print. It was a stunning print and the sound made the experience simply breathtaking. Plus to have it been shown in such a magnificent house. I will remember it for the rest of my life as one of those cinema going experiences that will never be matched. We even got a present from the Ziegfeld a film poster which I still have in pristine condition. Farewell sweet Ziegfeld, you were a class act up until the very end. You will live on in our collective memories forever.
Who else still has 70mm film capability to show “Hateful Eight” in NYC, the Cinema 1,2,3 & Village East? Did AMC keep the 70mm projector equipment in the Loews Auditorium at Lincoln Square?
Do they still have the original seats from Nov 94 in the rest of the auditoriums? I know the Loews Auditorium did get a seating upgrade in the mid 2000’s. I believe Irwin Seating Company was the main supplier they used in their 90’s projects. This place does need a refresh, but I hope they do not get rid of a lot of the Gensler Design details that went into the look of the lobbies and auditoriums, otherwise it will wind up looking just like any other modern AMC with no unique individuality whatsoever.
Looking at the photo’s on the archive site you can see all the design details that Rockwell Group had done for Loews Theatres that would be carried out in all new multiplex’s constructed from hence forth. I think the Loews 84th street redo was done just before this project to gauge his design concepts for the theatres & how patrons would respond. I also wonder why Gensler only got to do the Lincoln Square project for the chain and were never used again by Loews?
Was here today to see “Bridge Of Spies” in auditorium #9 today, the house lights were on during the entire movie, I did let the employees know at the start of the film, but it never got fixed. Also they were showing a scope film on a flat screen with absolutely no masking on the top and bottom. I did get a pass for my troubles, but it actually means I have to go back to another AMC Theatre, I wish they would give out Regal passes instead, LOL.
If it’s the Bowtie over there it must have been a DCP. Was this supposed to be the restored version?
My friend Orlando was just at the Loew’s 46th Street. He spoke with the owner and the building is currently being gutted inside, the outside will be preserved and used for retail on the bottom parts and apartments on the top. Most of the items like the chairs that were inside are already thrown inside the dumpster and have been hauled off unfortunately. Well at least the exterior will be preserved in some sort of form.
When Interstellar played the 70mm was shown at the Ziegfeld, City Cinemas 1-2-3 and Lincoln Square IMAX, I don’t seem to ee Star Wars TFA as a 70mm release unfortunately. I will have to ask the manager who we know if they still have the 70mm projectors here.
Thanks Brianhs, they are also doing the Bay Terrace renovations at the same time. I wonder if the Orpheum will get a redo as well?
Just saw the IMAX list for Star Wars TFA, the nearest 15/70 IMAX Theatres for us is Philadelphia & Washington D.C. otherwise it’s just the plain 2K IMAX Digital here as they won’t have the laser system installed until next year. I wonder if Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos at the Empire 25 will be better in the Prime auditorium for this film.
Plus, isn’t the native resolution of motion picture film something like in the 6K range?
It’s a shame that Alamo Drafthouse could not make it work as a movie theatre. Well at least the exterior has landmark status, so that can’t change it, thankfully.
Does the original exist under the church one? I hope so.
Yes unfortunately, and it has been for many, many years.
There has been talk in the local publications that the City Of NY should use the laws of eminent domain to take this theatre away from it’s current owner Jasmine Bullard, because the building if basically just an eyesore that is rotting away. I was here last night and the front of the theatre now is an encampment for the homeless who are seeking shelter under the scaffolding that’s in place around the front. I hope something will be done soon before it’s too late and it gets condemned.
Until the church took it over, that was a very nice intricate one that had to really stand our against the elevated train that used to run there. Isn’t the one on the 175th St. the original one, albeit with the Loew’s letters removed? It’s really a shame that most of the verticals, were removed because it was said they would unfortunately compromise the structural integrity of the buildings facade over time, they were really something special & you could see them from blocks away as their calling card to beckon it’s patrons. The Ewalk & Boston Commons attempted to sort of replicate the old style Loew’s verticals as sort of a homage to the originals.
robboehm, yes both the vertical and regular marquee were replaced by Loew’s in the late 30’s or early 40’s. The second vertical was made by Artkraft Strauss. I wish there were more pictures around of both types.
There is a photo with the film “Divorce American Style” listed on the marquee with the vertical in place which would put that in 1967. Meanwhile in the photo on top “Ice Station Zebra” is playing with the vertical gone, which would put us in 1968. So my guess would be sometime between 67-68 was when they scrapped it. The Shore theatre in Coney lsland had the exact same type and style vertical sign until Sandy ripped it apart in Oct 2012.
David, yes that’s what it looked like to me as well, thank you for posting the photo.
If the Loew’s Oriental opened in October 1927 the photo, must have been taken shortly after opening. The Buster Keaton Silent Film “College” opened on September 27th. Also notice the retail stores to the left and right of the theatre have not been rented out yet.
In the 1969 photo, does anybody know what the bundles were that were in front of the box office could have been?
And it was never twined, triplexed or quaded by RKO Stanley Warner.
Yes the place is crumbling away, here is some info from the NYC Department Of Buildings Site:
1) FIRE STARTED TO HEAT PIPES CAUSED PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF INT WA LLS, NO APPROVED PLANS ON SITE. STOP ALL WORK, ENTIRE SITE 2)TIE BACK ON METAL LATH & PLASTER WALL ROTTED CAUSING WALL TO BECOME UNSTABLE W/ THE POTENTIAL OF COLLAPSE.
Unless the owner does something soon, the inside will rot and fall away to nothing, like what happened to the Loew’s Pitkin.
So, basically United Artists Theatres closed the State Quad approx four Years after Loews Theatres closed the Jersey Triplex back in August of 1986.