I assume we’re looking at some construction reps for Boymelgreen plus the author of the article for which Lee took the photo. I’m with you, Dave… I’d love in to shoot some stuff.
Davebazooka… I don’t see anything wrong with posting the image as long as proper credit is given and no profit is made. Not to mention that the image was previously published in a newspaper with a daily circulation of over 1.1 million. Of course, I’m not a lawyer and will renounce any of these claims if called to testify in court! Ha ha!
Looks like Talbot may have started to program first run here towards the end of ‘86. At least for the “True Stories” and “Blue Velvet” engagements in October. Also interesting that I found only one of the screens advertised in the movie clock and Neighborhood Guide earlier in the year when the Metro was in revival mode.
Also occurs to me that the theater was listed and advertised as “Midtown 99th St” in its porn days, so perhaps this should be an AKA listed above.
Lincoln Plaza Cinemas along with the Cinema Studio and Metro twins were being operated by Talbot’s chain New York Cinemas at this time. The Metro was acquired (and twinned) by Talbot in 1982. In fact, it was Talbot that re-christened it Metro (having picked it up as the XXX Midtown Theater). I think Cinema Studio was the first theater Talbot acquired after giving up the New Yorker in the ‘70’s. After opening Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and running it concurrently with Cinema Studio and the Metro, he doubled the Lincoln Plaza’s screens from 3 to 6 and rid himself of the other two houses in the late '80’s. Cineplex Odeon picked up the Metro in '87. I’m not exactly when the Cinema Studio met its demise or if anyone operated the theater after Talbot and before it was demolished to make way for the multi-level Barnes and Noble store that now occupies the site.
Are we definite that William Fox built this theater, or could he have acquired it shortly after its opening? And did it really have 3000 seats or was this advertising hyperbole?
I don’t like to make a re-tread post, but here again is a 1963 ad for the upcoming reserved seat engagement of Otto Preminger’s “The Cardinal” at the Demille: Daily News 11/25/63
What I failed to note the first time I posted this ad is that “The Cardinal” represented a milestone in the history of theatrical presentation of motion pictures; it was the first 35mm production ever to have been presented in 70mm blow-up prints.
Thanks for the ad, Warren. With the recent closing of the Plaza, all 4 of these theaters are no more. At least the Woodside survives more or less intact both within and without and open to the public as St. Sebastian’s RC church. The Astoria is just a shell, having been completely gutted; the Plaza’s orchestra and most of the lobby converted to a chain drug store with the chopped up balcony vacantly awaiting its fate; and the Prospect long since pounded to dust.
Got it. I’m not from the area so I’m not that familiar with the neighborhood borderlines. Closest I got was working one day at the Mini-Mart on Fresh Pond Rd around the corner from the bus depot in the early ‘80’s. I worked regularly for the Mini-Mart stores on 108th in Forest Hills and on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint (the same owner) but I once had to deliver milk from Elmhurst Dairy to the Fresh Pond store in a van when there was a strike by the truck drivers. There was about 3 feet of snow on the ground, too.
Zum Stammtisch is a fantastic restaurant, by the way.
I’m impressed ‘Tonino! And I have no intention of engaging in any flame wars either. Every once in a while, I try to referee a point of consideration for both sides, but I think I might hang that up as well for now.
As mentioned above, the place was a cavernous barn, with some 3200 seats configured along two or three main aisles (as I recall) and without a true balcony. There was a raised area at the back of the orchestra raked like a balcony. I remember you would enter the auditorium through walkways under this section and would have to turn around to walk up the steps to sit in this area. I can’t really recall any ornamentation inside the theater… my memory is definitely fuzzy. I want to say the proscenium was a rather plain carved rectangular border around the stage opening, nothing too fancy. I keep thinking it was more of a streamlined sort of art moderne look, but I’m trying to convince myself that I’m not confusing the interior look with the smaller and more modern Calderone Music Hall in Hempstead.
What I recall of the exterior was pretty streamline as well in buff brick, but this may just reflect changes that had been made over the years to the facade. There was once a blade sign that jutted out from the facade above the marquee that spelled out Capitol, but I think that was removed at some point in the early ‘80’s. The marquee was pretty big with tight rows of lights under the canopy that extended back and into the outer vestibule that was recessed from the sidewalk, and there were display cases on the side walls of this recess. Capitol was spelled out in red neon on the front face of the marquee, with the sideboards used to spell out attractions. Scher’s lower case yellow and red Capitol logo ran at the top of the marquee along either side. I’ve seen that logo on images of the Capitol’s old programs you can find for sale on ebay every so often.
Longislandmovies… when did RKO merge with Century’s exactly? And was it just coincidence that they both had that “penny per year” discount policy around the same time? Do you know who came up with that concept first?
You hear about all the greats who appeared live on the Keith’s stage. But I wonder how many of those were quick promotional appearances for films? I remember back around 15 years ago the Queens Historical Society had an exhibit of photos and artifacts from the three big borough palaces: RKO Keiths, Loew’s Triboro and Loew’s Valencia. It was there where I first started learning about some of the Keith’s history – which was presented as having been rather glorious. I recall seeing famous names that performed on stage, including Bob Hope. Did Hope ever truly perform on stage? Or are they simply referring to his early 1960’s appearance (one of many along the RKO circuit that day) to promote one of his films?
‘Tonino… I definitely see your point. But it’s an impossible thing to contain. I try to exercise a modicum of self control, but you can’t always rely on that. And I’m the first to admit that I am guilty of getting caught up in OT discussions from time to time. Unless CT management is going to administer some sort of editorial control – and I perceive that as being unlikely – I think we’re all going to have to accept OT threads as inevitability. The thing is, I think we may have now taken up just as much bandwidth arguing about OT ramblings as the OT threads have themselves!
I’ve turned off my notification on the Ridgewood page, opting to check in from time to time and see what’s going on 0- particularly since the theater’s CT number (4021) is now permanently imbedded in my memory.
Personally, I’d love to see a forum page here on CT where folks can take those threads that veer completely off course (i.e. the deep discussions of sci-fi flicks and movie quizzes and stuff like that), but some of the waxing nostalgic about movies seen at a particular theater or related neighborhood memories SHOULD be a part of the theater page. Such recollection can often provide social context and give folks from other parts of the country or world something human and emotional to which they may be able to relate on a personal level. That’s the stuff you miss when all you concern yourself with are dates and statistical figures. But I do agree, when it comes to “Hey, did you know so-and-so from Jr. High”, perhaps its time to take the conversation to email. Unfortunately, to have one, you have to have a tolerance for the other. If not, this becomes a dry scholarly site for research only and would read like a text book. And who the hell wants to read a text book? I think that was the whole point of Lost Memory’s tongue-in-cheek dissertation on plaster. Am I the only one who “got” that joke?
Signing off on the topic now… Your resident moderate.
Here’s a 1985 block ad for RKO theaters (which had acquired the Century’s chain a few years earlier) listing the Morton Village in its very last days: Newsday – 10/5/85
By December of 1980, Century’s was already operating this house under a “penny per year” discount policy (as mentioned above) identical to the one RKO featured at their Valley Stream, Hempstead and Mineola theaters. When RKO acquired the Century’s chain, the policy must have stuck for at least a while. Century’s also operated its Five Towns and Floral theater’s under the same discount policy and films usually day-and-dated at all of these houses on their last run. I can’t recall who started this policy, which I know started with the bicentennial in ‘76. By 1981/82 all these theaters were branded RKO Century’s in the newspaper movie clocks and ads.
When was this theater built? And was it always a Century’s house? I have block ads from Long Island papers for Century’s Theaters from September and November of 1963 and May of 1964 that do not list the Baldwin at all. Other papers I have from the early ‘80’s show this (and the rest of the chain) still listed as Century’s in the movie clocks as late as December of 1980, but by March of 1982, they were all listed under RKO Century. I assume that joint name lasted only during the early months of the acquisition since it eventually yielded entirely to the RKO brand. I wonder if the same will happen with the current AMC Loews merger.
Haven’t been on this page in a long while… Interesting to look back at a time when Warren and Lost Memory were more civil – dare I say amicable – with each other.
I assume we’re looking at some construction reps for Boymelgreen plus the author of the article for which Lee took the photo. I’m with you, Dave… I’d love in to shoot some stuff.
And thanks a bunch!
Davebazooka… I don’t see anything wrong with posting the image as long as proper credit is given and no profit is made. Not to mention that the image was previously published in a newspaper with a daily circulation of over 1.1 million. Of course, I’m not a lawyer and will renounce any of these claims if called to testify in court! Ha ha!
Some ads from the Midtown XXX years –
Sylvia – Daily News 1/25/78
Sweet Paradise – NY Post 12/11/80
Neighborhood Guide – NY Post 3/9/82 (near the end of its porn days)
Talbot/New York Cinemas –
Neighborhood Guide – NY Post 1/29/86
True Stories – NY Times 10/27/86
Block Ad – NY Times 10/27/86
Looks like Talbot may have started to program first run here towards the end of ‘86. At least for the “True Stories” and “Blue Velvet” engagements in October. Also interesting that I found only one of the screens advertised in the movie clock and Neighborhood Guide earlier in the year when the Metro was in revival mode.
Also occurs to me that the theater was listed and advertised as “Midtown 99th St” in its porn days, so perhaps this should be an AKA listed above.
Hardbop… here’s an ad from a 1986 Times clipping I have:
New York Cinemas – Times 10/27/86
Lincoln Plaza Cinemas along with the Cinema Studio and Metro twins were being operated by Talbot’s chain New York Cinemas at this time. The Metro was acquired (and twinned) by Talbot in 1982. In fact, it was Talbot that re-christened it Metro (having picked it up as the XXX Midtown Theater). I think Cinema Studio was the first theater Talbot acquired after giving up the New Yorker in the ‘70’s. After opening Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and running it concurrently with Cinema Studio and the Metro, he doubled the Lincoln Plaza’s screens from 3 to 6 and rid himself of the other two houses in the late '80’s. Cineplex Odeon picked up the Metro in '87. I’m not exactly when the Cinema Studio met its demise or if anyone operated the theater after Talbot and before it was demolished to make way for the multi-level Barnes and Noble store that now occupies the site.
Are we definite that William Fox built this theater, or could he have acquired it shortly after its opening? And did it really have 3000 seats or was this advertising hyperbole?
Here’s an early ad for the Tower East in a Loew’s block ad:
Fantasia – Daily News – 11/25/63
I don’t like to make a re-tread post, but here again is a 1963 ad for the upcoming reserved seat engagement of Otto Preminger’s “The Cardinal” at the Demille:
Daily News 11/25/63
What I failed to note the first time I posted this ad is that “The Cardinal” represented a milestone in the history of theatrical presentation of motion pictures; it was the first 35mm production ever to have been presented in 70mm blow-up prints.
Here’s a page on the wonderful Widescreen Museum site featuring a contemporary article heralding the new process.
Per release info on IMDB.COM that ad of Warren’s would date to 1928.
Thanks for the ad, Warren. With the recent closing of the Plaza, all 4 of these theaters are no more. At least the Woodside survives more or less intact both within and without and open to the public as St. Sebastian’s RC church. The Astoria is just a shell, having been completely gutted; the Plaza’s orchestra and most of the lobby converted to a chain drug store with the chopped up balcony vacantly awaiting its fate; and the Prospect long since pounded to dust.
Got it. I’m not from the area so I’m not that familiar with the neighborhood borderlines. Closest I got was working one day at the Mini-Mart on Fresh Pond Rd around the corner from the bus depot in the early ‘80’s. I worked regularly for the Mini-Mart stores on 108th in Forest Hills and on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint (the same owner) but I once had to deliver milk from Elmhurst Dairy to the Fresh Pond store in a van when there was a strike by the truck drivers. There was about 3 feet of snow on the ground, too.
Zum Stammtisch is a fantastic restaurant, by the way.
What, Zum Stammtisch is no longer open?
I’m impressed ‘Tonino! And I have no intention of engaging in any flame wars either. Every once in a while, I try to referee a point of consideration for both sides, but I think I might hang that up as well for now.
For some reason, the link above (and other links from this section of CT) has stopped working. Here’s one that should be ok:
www.urbanphotos.com
As mentioned above, the place was a cavernous barn, with some 3200 seats configured along two or three main aisles (as I recall) and without a true balcony. There was a raised area at the back of the orchestra raked like a balcony. I remember you would enter the auditorium through walkways under this section and would have to turn around to walk up the steps to sit in this area. I can’t really recall any ornamentation inside the theater… my memory is definitely fuzzy. I want to say the proscenium was a rather plain carved rectangular border around the stage opening, nothing too fancy. I keep thinking it was more of a streamlined sort of art moderne look, but I’m trying to convince myself that I’m not confusing the interior look with the smaller and more modern Calderone Music Hall in Hempstead.
What I recall of the exterior was pretty streamline as well in buff brick, but this may just reflect changes that had been made over the years to the facade. There was once a blade sign that jutted out from the facade above the marquee that spelled out Capitol, but I think that was removed at some point in the early ‘80’s. The marquee was pretty big with tight rows of lights under the canopy that extended back and into the outer vestibule that was recessed from the sidewalk, and there were display cases on the side walls of this recess. Capitol was spelled out in red neon on the front face of the marquee, with the sideboards used to spell out attractions. Scher’s lower case yellow and red Capitol logo ran at the top of the marquee along either side. I’ve seen that logo on images of the Capitol’s old programs you can find for sale on ebay every so often.
Longislandmovies… when did RKO merge with Century’s exactly? And was it just coincidence that they both had that “penny per year” discount policy around the same time? Do you know who came up with that concept first?
You hear about all the greats who appeared live on the Keith’s stage. But I wonder how many of those were quick promotional appearances for films? I remember back around 15 years ago the Queens Historical Society had an exhibit of photos and artifacts from the three big borough palaces: RKO Keiths, Loew’s Triboro and Loew’s Valencia. It was there where I first started learning about some of the Keith’s history – which was presented as having been rather glorious. I recall seeing famous names that performed on stage, including Bob Hope. Did Hope ever truly perform on stage? Or are they simply referring to his early 1960’s appearance (one of many along the RKO circuit that day) to promote one of his films?
Yes… in that 10/5/85 ad, the feature playing was “Compromising Positions”, which was about 5 or 6 weeks into its run at the time.
‘Tonino… I definitely see your point. But it’s an impossible thing to contain. I try to exercise a modicum of self control, but you can’t always rely on that. And I’m the first to admit that I am guilty of getting caught up in OT discussions from time to time. Unless CT management is going to administer some sort of editorial control – and I perceive that as being unlikely – I think we’re all going to have to accept OT threads as inevitability. The thing is, I think we may have now taken up just as much bandwidth arguing about OT ramblings as the OT threads have themselves!
I’ve turned off my notification on the Ridgewood page, opting to check in from time to time and see what’s going on 0- particularly since the theater’s CT number (4021) is now permanently imbedded in my memory.
Personally, I’d love to see a forum page here on CT where folks can take those threads that veer completely off course (i.e. the deep discussions of sci-fi flicks and movie quizzes and stuff like that), but some of the waxing nostalgic about movies seen at a particular theater or related neighborhood memories SHOULD be a part of the theater page. Such recollection can often provide social context and give folks from other parts of the country or world something human and emotional to which they may be able to relate on a personal level. That’s the stuff you miss when all you concern yourself with are dates and statistical figures. But I do agree, when it comes to “Hey, did you know so-and-so from Jr. High”, perhaps its time to take the conversation to email. Unfortunately, to have one, you have to have a tolerance for the other. If not, this becomes a dry scholarly site for research only and would read like a text book. And who the hell wants to read a text book? I think that was the whole point of Lost Memory’s tongue-in-cheek dissertation on plaster. Am I the only one who “got” that joke?
Signing off on the topic now… Your resident moderate.
Well… It’s certainly nice to see that the venerable Loews name will continue on for the foreseeable future. Thanks for the info, Vito.
Let’s hope they didn’t sell 3500 tickets for each of those two New Year’s Eve shows advertised, Warren.
Here’s a 1985 block ad for RKO theaters (which had acquired the Century’s chain a few years earlier) listing the Morton Village in its very last days:
Newsday – 10/5/85
By December of 1980, Century’s was already operating this house under a “penny per year” discount policy (as mentioned above) identical to the one RKO featured at their Valley Stream, Hempstead and Mineola theaters. When RKO acquired the Century’s chain, the policy must have stuck for at least a while. Century’s also operated its Five Towns and Floral theater’s under the same discount policy and films usually day-and-dated at all of these houses on their last run. I can’t recall who started this policy, which I know started with the bicentennial in ‘76. By 1981/82 all these theaters were branded RKO Century’s in the newspaper movie clocks and ads.
As part of the RKO chain right near the very end:
Newsday – 10/5/85
When was this theater built? And was it always a Century’s house? I have block ads from Long Island papers for Century’s Theaters from September and November of 1963 and May of 1964 that do not list the Baldwin at all. Other papers I have from the early ‘80’s show this (and the rest of the chain) still listed as Century’s in the movie clocks as late as December of 1980, but by March of 1982, they were all listed under RKO Century. I assume that joint name lasted only during the early months of the acquisition since it eventually yielded entirely to the RKO brand. I wonder if the same will happen with the current AMC Loews merger.
Here’s a mid ‘80’s block ad for the GG chain…
Newsday – 10/5/85
Are the Grand Ave and Old Country Twins still open in some form?
Here are the photos I had posted back in September of last year (the old links no longer work):
Facade – 8/2005
Facade long shot – 8/2005
Haven’t been on this page in a long while… Interesting to look back at a time when Warren and Lost Memory were more civil – dare I say amicable – with each other.