Mintaka, thank you for sharing your memories of the Stillwell. In response to DJM78’s post, this United Skates also closed sometime in the early eighties as well, sometime shortly after the roller skating craze started to die out. I remember Genoveese Drug Store opened in the Fall of 1983, Consumers came in about 1 or 2 years later. The star logo was on the top of the theatre for many, many years after it was gone from the building, it probably was too expensive for the owner at that time to remove.
markp, yes I got to see it at the Imax in Lincoln Square, the picture was nothing short of amazing. Besides the Ziegfeld & Lincoln Square the only other theatre in the city that had it in 70mm was the Cinema 1,2,3 on Third Avenue. I hope the people at the Loew’s Jersey get the 70mm set up and running one day, but they have more pressing matters to attend to. In the meantime I continue to seek out the special films I want to see in a theatre again, whether it’s a Traditional Film, DCP, DVD or Blu-Ray as long as you have an enjoyable experience and well done presentation by staff that cares it makes for a great time at the movies for the guests.
markp, your welcome! I think the director Chris Nolan insisted that Interstellar be issued on film, even though Paramount had said “Wolf of Wall Street” would be an all digital format title. At least some theatres here in NYC have 35mm capability for repertory showings and places like BAM & Alamo Drafthouse let you know if it’s a 35mm or DCP. Not sure what the Chelsea uses, but I did see them wheeling a player with a DVD of the film they were showing, they must also use a video scaler or such, since a 480i image projected would look pretty bad on a movie theatre screen.
markp, we need more projectionists like you that are still around, dedicated to making sure the picture, sound and total presentation quality is as perfect as it can be for the guests attending film showings.
Was here last night for the classic movie “Dead Ringer” with Hedda Lettuce last night. As usual the ending of the movie was totally ruined by the automation system kicking in and causing the screen to go blank right before the movie ended and the Screenvision advertising to kick in,I swear this has happened the last 5 out of 6 times I have been here. It’s a real shame, because everything else about this theatre is usually top notch.
Guess you have to have the right connections to get to special studio vault prints. I guess it’s hit or miss with the condition of the prints that the Jersey will get. On a side note: Warner Brothers thru their acquisition of Turner Entertainment controls all Pre-May 1986 Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) releases for repertory theatres.
Do different studios have better looking or newer prints available? I did notice when I saw “Some Like It Hot” at the Jersey it must have been a fairly newly struck print at the start it featured the 2000 MGM lion logo even though it was originally a United Artists film, an old print would have never had that logo at the beginning. Therefore a new one must have been struck by the studio.
This was the only Cineplex Odeon Theatre in Brooklyn that still featured the RKO Century name one it’s marquee. It was never changed to Cineplex Odeon like the Fortway, Alpine & Kenmore were.
Thanks for that Al, They could make it blend in a little bit better with the existing architecture on Cornelia St. instead of making it look like every other modern building that’s built nowadays. Looks like they also wanted to shift the ticket booth over and have it flanked by a set of doors on either side at the front entrance.
mdvoskin, thanks for the explanation. The past couple of 35mm screenings that I have been to have all had pretty good prints, so I have been fortunate in that regard. I also seem to remember earlier this past year when I saw Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Jersey, that print was leaving the theatre before the entire audience had entirely left the building.
Thanks Ken Roe, you can see those bare brick walls in auditorium #1. I remember being at the Waverly many years ago, for some reason I remember it being more on the modern side of theatre design.
When they converted this place from the Waverly to the IFC, did they basically gut it to the bare walls? I was here for Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte last night in Auditorium #1 and all I could see was bare brick walls & exposed ceiling duct-work, talk about the lack of ambiance. Guess that unfinished style is in nowadays, the post industrial grungy half finished style.
Are there even any old time projectionists left who know how to do a proper changeover? Repertory films are usually not allowed to be run on a platter. Guess they better get the DCP version nowadays that’s all they know.
Looking at the Marquee photo’s, how lazy is AMC to not have the rest of it marquee filled in with black squares like Loew’s had always done in the past? Oh that’s right right I forgot in everyone of their renovations they completely ditch movie titles on a marquee for just their stupid logo, great way to do film exhibition AMC Entertainment!
Went here earlier in the year to see a film, upon arrival all of our bags were checked before entry for contraband smuggled concession items, needless to say I had none on me, but I will never return here.
Although I couldn’t make it this weekend, I did get to see Where Eagles Dare at BAM on Thursday and they also messed up the changeover as well and they charge 14 dollars not 8 like the Jersey. I am glad to hear that Navarone was at least shown in Dolby Stereo.
Looking at the schedule of events here, they seem to have a great deal of gaps between certain shows. Wouldn’t it be great if they got some donated projection equipment and a screen and do some sort of classic film programming here? Perhaps they could even entice TCM as a corporate sponsor and have Robert Osborne host this series as a companion to the regular cable channel. I think it would be better than just having this magnificent theatre sit dark, unoccupied and empty in the long stretches in between the regular live programming. Plus people would be exposed to seeing some of the greatest films ever made by Hollywood, in a grand movie palace that was designed to showcase them. If the Jersey & 175th can do it, why can’t the Kings?
I got to go see The Butler here during the final weeks of operation in August 2013. The theatre was still in very good condition with many of the original architectural details preserved in the lobby. The staff were extremely friendly and courteous. It’s a shame this had to become a Marshall’s just like the Loew’s Oriental did. I am sure there was a great need in the community for yet another clothing store to buy designer discount duds, instead of a movie theatre, yeah right!!!
I had the pleasure of attending a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture show here about 14 years ago. It was a great show and also a wonderful auditorium.
Mintaka, thank you for sharing your memories of the Stillwell. In response to DJM78’s post, this United Skates also closed sometime in the early eighties as well, sometime shortly after the roller skating craze started to die out. I remember Genoveese Drug Store opened in the Fall of 1983, Consumers came in about 1 or 2 years later. The star logo was on the top of the theatre for many, many years after it was gone from the building, it probably was too expensive for the owner at that time to remove.
markp, yes I got to see it at the Imax in Lincoln Square, the picture was nothing short of amazing. Besides the Ziegfeld & Lincoln Square the only other theatre in the city that had it in 70mm was the Cinema 1,2,3 on Third Avenue. I hope the people at the Loew’s Jersey get the 70mm set up and running one day, but they have more pressing matters to attend to. In the meantime I continue to seek out the special films I want to see in a theatre again, whether it’s a Traditional Film, DCP, DVD or Blu-Ray as long as you have an enjoyable experience and well done presentation by staff that cares it makes for a great time at the movies for the guests.
markp, your welcome! I think the director Chris Nolan insisted that Interstellar be issued on film, even though Paramount had said “Wolf of Wall Street” would be an all digital format title. At least some theatres here in NYC have 35mm capability for repertory showings and places like BAM & Alamo Drafthouse let you know if it’s a 35mm or DCP. Not sure what the Chelsea uses, but I did see them wheeling a player with a DVD of the film they were showing, they must also use a video scaler or such, since a 480i image projected would look pretty bad on a movie theatre screen.
markp, we need more projectionists like you that are still around, dedicated to making sure the picture, sound and total presentation quality is as perfect as it can be for the guests attending film showings.
Was here last night for the classic movie “Dead Ringer” with Hedda Lettuce last night. As usual the ending of the movie was totally ruined by the automation system kicking in and causing the screen to go blank right before the movie ended and the Screenvision advertising to kick in,I swear this has happened the last 5 out of 6 times I have been here. It’s a real shame, because everything else about this theatre is usually top notch.
Guess you have to have the right connections to get to special studio vault prints. I guess it’s hit or miss with the condition of the prints that the Jersey will get. On a side note: Warner Brothers thru their acquisition of Turner Entertainment controls all Pre-May 1986 Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) releases for repertory theatres.
Do different studios have better looking or newer prints available? I did notice when I saw “Some Like It Hot” at the Jersey it must have been a fairly newly struck print at the start it featured the 2000 MGM lion logo even though it was originally a United Artists film, an old print would have never had that logo at the beginning. Therefore a new one must have been struck by the studio.
This was the only Cineplex Odeon Theatre in Brooklyn that still featured the RKO Century name one it’s marquee. It was never changed to Cineplex Odeon like the Fortway, Alpine & Kenmore were.
Thanks for that Al, They could make it blend in a little bit better with the existing architecture on Cornelia St. instead of making it look like every other modern building that’s built nowadays. Looks like they also wanted to shift the ticket booth over and have it flanked by a set of doors on either side at the front entrance.
mdvoskin, thanks for the explanation. The past couple of 35mm screenings that I have been to have all had pretty good prints, so I have been fortunate in that regard. I also seem to remember earlier this past year when I saw Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Jersey, that print was leaving the theatre before the entire audience had entirely left the building.
Thanks Ken Roe, you can see those bare brick walls in auditorium #1. I remember being at the Waverly many years ago, for some reason I remember it being more on the modern side of theatre design.
When they converted this place from the Waverly to the IFC, did they basically gut it to the bare walls? I was here for Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte last night in Auditorium #1 and all I could see was bare brick walls & exposed ceiling duct-work, talk about the lack of ambiance. Guess that unfinished style is in nowadays, the post industrial grungy half finished style.
Are there even any old time projectionists left who know how to do a proper changeover? Repertory films are usually not allowed to be run on a platter. Guess they better get the DCP version nowadays that’s all they know.
Does BAM have the capability to show 70mm films?
Isn’t the Jersey’s original Wonder Morton now at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara California?
Looking at the Marquee photo’s, how lazy is AMC to not have the rest of it marquee filled in with black squares like Loew’s had always done in the past? Oh that’s right right I forgot in everyone of their renovations they completely ditch movie titles on a marquee for just their stupid logo, great way to do film exhibition AMC Entertainment!
Went here earlier in the year to see a film, upon arrival all of our bags were checked before entry for contraband smuggled concession items, needless to say I had none on me, but I will never return here.
Although I couldn’t make it this weekend, I did get to see Where Eagles Dare at BAM on Thursday and they also messed up the changeover as well and they charge 14 dollars not 8 like the Jersey. I am glad to hear that Navarone was at least shown in Dolby Stereo.
If anyone attended the Navarone screening last night, was it actually in magnetic stereo sound? Thanks.
Shame it won’t be like what they have at the Loew’s Jersey, thanks to the invaluable contribution of the GSTOS folks.
IMIN or LIEMAX, take your pick. Typical AMC Bait & Switch deceptive advertising.
Looking at the schedule of events here, they seem to have a great deal of gaps between certain shows. Wouldn’t it be great if they got some donated projection equipment and a screen and do some sort of classic film programming here? Perhaps they could even entice TCM as a corporate sponsor and have Robert Osborne host this series as a companion to the regular cable channel. I think it would be better than just having this magnificent theatre sit dark, unoccupied and empty in the long stretches in between the regular live programming. Plus people would be exposed to seeing some of the greatest films ever made by Hollywood, in a grand movie palace that was designed to showcase them. If the Jersey & 175th can do it, why can’t the Kings?
I got to go see The Butler here during the final weeks of operation in August 2013. The theatre was still in very good condition with many of the original architectural details preserved in the lobby. The staff were extremely friendly and courteous. It’s a shame this had to become a Marshall’s just like the Loew’s Oriental did. I am sure there was a great need in the community for yet another clothing store to buy designer discount duds, instead of a movie theatre, yeah right!!!
I had the pleasure of attending a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture show here about 14 years ago. It was a great show and also a wonderful auditorium.
Thank You DavidZornig & NittyRanks, it’s a great photo of a long gone era!