4/1/59 the Paradise along with the other Loews were presenting the last 7 days of “The Ten Commandments”. The ads proclaimed “First time anywhere at popular prices”. Children 40 cents at all times, afternoons except Sundays 75 cents and all eve’s and all days Sun 99 cents. “See the complete intact, uncut picture exactly as it was presented on Broadway for more then 70 weeks”.
In my above post I forgot to add that all of the RKO theatres playing “Santa” had a Christmas magic show and santa live at each theatre on stage for Sat & Sun matinees.
December 15, 1964 that all time classic baddie “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” opened. Young Pia Zadora starred in this Joseph E. Levine production advertised as being filmed in “space blazing color”. The 2nd feature was the full length animated feature “The Snow Queen”. This feature would become a kiddie matinee staple for most of the Christmas' of the 60’s. It opened on Broadway at the RKO Palace and also at RKO 86th St. In Brooklyn at the RKO Albee, RKO Dyker, RKO Kenmore and Town & Countrys Seaview. In the Bronx RKO Fordham. In Queens RKO Keiths, RKO Columbia, RKO Alden and Skouras Forest Hills. Staten Island at the Paramount. In Long Island Skouras Glen Cove, Skouras Playhouse Great Neck, Skouras Calderone, Town & Country Hicksville North & South, Centurys York and Skouras Lynbrook.
May 25,1979 when Fox opened “Alien” it was only at 70mm houses. The Criterion played it around the clock 24 hours the first 2 days. It also opened at Loews Orpheum and Loews New York Twin. In Long Island it played UA Syosset and in New Jeresy RKO Paramus Quad and the General Cinema Menlo Park Cinema.
Property type Theatre, Art Type Less Than 400 Seats (J1)
Sold by 693 Associates F/k/a Bresnick, Brussel And Isenber
Bought by Forty Fourth Street Development Llc
Date sale recorded Jul 18, 2003
Sale Price $6,090,000
A Google address search shows:
Big Apple Gift Shop
693 8TH Ave
New York, NY 10036-7107
(212) 957-0050
Gerald
That’s a great picture, thanks for posting it. It seems 1948 and 1949 were big years for foreign films. I wonder if it had to do with the war having ended a few years before? I saw so many theatres even outside Manhattan showing international cinema.
Christmas of 1974 Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes From a Marriage” opened in select area theatres outside of Manhattan. It was presented in one of those horrible dubbed versions that were popular at the time when they would wide release foreign films. However the always classy Cinema Manhasset advertised that it was showing it in its original foreign language version with English subtitles.
When “Joan of Ark” was playing continuous performances at the Victoria, it was also playing roadshow at a theatre called the Fulton. The address given is 46th St. West of Broadway. Was this a legit house converted for this showing?
4/1/59 the Paradise along with the other Loews were presenting the last 7 days of “The Ten Commandments”. The ads proclaimed “First time anywhere at popular prices”. Children 40 cents at all times, afternoons except Sundays 75 cents and all eve’s and all days Sun 99 cents. “See the complete intact, uncut picture exactly as it was presented on Broadway for more then 70 weeks”.
I finally found an ad that shows the Parthenon. April 1, 1959 they were playing a neighborhood run of “Some Came Running” and “Wild Heritage”.
In 1964 when the Belair was playing “The Disorderly Orderly” on Premiere Showcase it was advertised as a B.S. Moss house.
What are the owners trying to do now? Do they want to sell or lease the space?
Christmas of 1964 the Festival had a revival of “West Side Story” and urged filmgoers to “See it again for the holidays”.
In my above post I forgot to add that all of the RKO theatres playing “Santa” had a Christmas magic show and santa live at each theatre on stage for Sat & Sun matinees.
If the area is going to improve that much I am sure they could support a live type theatre as a use for the Commodore?
December 15, 1964 that all time classic baddie “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” opened. Young Pia Zadora starred in this Joseph E. Levine production advertised as being filmed in “space blazing color”. The 2nd feature was the full length animated feature “The Snow Queen”. This feature would become a kiddie matinee staple for most of the Christmas' of the 60’s. It opened on Broadway at the RKO Palace and also at RKO 86th St. In Brooklyn at the RKO Albee, RKO Dyker, RKO Kenmore and Town & Countrys Seaview. In the Bronx RKO Fordham. In Queens RKO Keiths, RKO Columbia, RKO Alden and Skouras Forest Hills. Staten Island at the Paramount. In Long Island Skouras Glen Cove, Skouras Playhouse Great Neck, Skouras Calderone, Town & Country Hicksville North & South, Centurys York and Skouras Lynbrook.
In 1939 when the Wizard of Oz left the Capitol it moved here.
Even stranger
I now found an ad dated 4/1/59 with Alan Freed hosting a show at the Fox.
May 25,1979 when Fox opened “Alien” it was only at 70mm houses. The Criterion played it around the clock 24 hours the first 2 days. It also opened at Loews Orpheum and Loews New York Twin. In Long Island it played UA Syosset and in New Jeresy RKO Paramus Quad and the General Cinema Menlo Park Cinema.
I played Shock Treatment on Long Island by advertising it as Rocky Horror 2. Most people who came liked it.
He played at a drive-in? Did drive-in theatres often do shows?
Eros 2 is listed as 8th Ave near 45th St. I wonder if it was the Venus? Eros 2 was running straight porn.
Sure I have it at work and will send it out to you in the morning. No need to apologize thats what this site is all about sharing info.
Rob
In 1971 it was listed as a National General Theatre.
“Nuremburg” opened roadshow at the Palace.
That picture of the beatles fans lines up all day makes you wonder why someone did not think to add matinee shows.
This building was sold in 2003:
693 8th Avenue, Hells Kitchen, New York 10036
Property type Theatre, Art Type Less Than 400 Seats (J1)
Sold by 693 Associates F/k/a Bresnick, Brussel And Isenber
Bought by Forty Fourth Street Development Llc
Date sale recorded Jul 18, 2003
Sale Price $6,090,000
A Google address search shows:
Big Apple Gift Shop
693 8TH Ave
New York, NY 10036-7107
(212) 957-0050
posted by lostmemory on Jun 13, 2005 at 8:20pm
Gerald
That’s a great picture, thanks for posting it. It seems 1948 and 1949 were big years for foreign films. I wonder if it had to do with the war having ended a few years before? I saw so many theatres even outside Manhattan showing international cinema.
myrtleave
Hi, I have the ad from the NY Times 12/29/60 it’s billed as Clay Cole & Murray the K’s Holiday Show. I can send it to you if you would like to see it.
Thanks Saps
Christmas of 1974 Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes From a Marriage” opened in select area theatres outside of Manhattan. It was presented in one of those horrible dubbed versions that were popular at the time when they would wide release foreign films. However the always classy Cinema Manhasset advertised that it was showing it in its original foreign language version with English subtitles.
I forgot until I saw an ad that this was a Walter Reade Theatre in the late 60’s early 70’s along with the Continental in Forest Hills.
When “Joan of Ark” was playing continuous performances at the Victoria, it was also playing roadshow at a theatre called the Fulton. The address given is 46th St. West of Broadway. Was this a legit house converted for this showing?