I went here tonight to see Meet The Faukers and sadly this place is now in the dump status. On a Saturday night they had two people running a concession stand that has 6 stations. I was horrified when I entered the suditorium. The red curtains were gone only a valance on top, and you see all the masking now going all the way to the walls. The masking was so ugly, I don’t know why they removed the curtains even if they did not close them. The projection was bad the picture was too far to the right leaving empty screen on the left side. The lights were also kept on trailer level through the whole feature. The theatres and restroom were clean, but the place is tired and not being kept up. For $9.00 I expected more. One last comment in the huge outer lobby there are two huge banners for the Aviator which is still playing there. They are so crooked that it was a joke. Now since those were advance teaser banners they had to be hanging there since at least October. It’s appalling to think in all that time no employee thought to correct it, where are the district managers that used to always come in and look theatres over? Sadly this business is so over.
It mentions in the opening summary that the theatre was often mistaken for the Hollywood Playhouse where the Hollywood Palace TV show took place. Didn’t it come from the El Capitan for it’s whole run?
Many times networks leased spaced to other entities. Merv Griffin used to tape at the Ed Sullivan Theatre when he taped his show in NY in the 70’s. This was another CBS studio, and his show was syndicated.
This theatre I think would be called American Airlines Theatre becauce most New Yorkers (except theatre buffs) have no idea anymore which theatre was which from the movie days.
We all call it the Winter Garden. This is one of the great historic Broadway Houses, best known as the theatre Al Jolson became a legend in. I thought this page used to have alot more information on it about the Winter Gardens history?
There were stories in the papers again about the shortage of legit houses. I wish someone would convert this, but I can imagaine the rent must be huge. I wounder how long a lease the church has on the Mark Hellinger?
I always thought the Bluebird was such a sad and morbid film. It was sad that this was the only Technicolor film she made. This seems so unusual for the Roxy to play a moveover in those days, but then again they were pretty much the premiere Fox house.
No the Belvedere had no balcony, it was wide all on one level. Someone wrote on the Belvedere page that the church just added a balcony because they have an increasing population.
Anything going on here?
This would be an incredible film to restore and re-release for it’s 50th anniversary. Imagine it on the Music Halls screen.
Gigi opened in the Broadway Royal, a legit house.
As much as I loved the old Cinema 1 & 2, this place has gone down and might as well close. The sad this is there is nothing being built to replace it.
This reminds me of the classic Summer Place when Sandra Dee asks Troy Donahue if he’s ever been “bad” with girls. Kinder, simpler times.
Are you sure this is a bargain house?
Wow when did this go bargain? The combined screen count is only 14 less then many new multi-plexes, I wonder why business fell off.
It seems odd for a neighborhood house playing “To Have and Have Not” to be running it as a single feature.
I think the restrooms were on that level. I don’t remember if the ground floor had any at all?
It’s unusual how high the theatres marquee is mounted above the entrance doors.
I went here tonight to see Meet The Faukers and sadly this place is now in the dump status. On a Saturday night they had two people running a concession stand that has 6 stations. I was horrified when I entered the suditorium. The red curtains were gone only a valance on top, and you see all the masking now going all the way to the walls. The masking was so ugly, I don’t know why they removed the curtains even if they did not close them. The projection was bad the picture was too far to the right leaving empty screen on the left side. The lights were also kept on trailer level through the whole feature. The theatres and restroom were clean, but the place is tired and not being kept up. For $9.00 I expected more. One last comment in the huge outer lobby there are two huge banners for the Aviator which is still playing there. They are so crooked that it was a joke. Now since those were advance teaser banners they had to be hanging there since at least October. It’s appalling to think in all that time no employee thought to correct it, where are the district managers that used to always come in and look theatres over? Sadly this business is so over.
Did anyone ever encounter a matron that was not a miserable shrew?
What an awesome marquee, this place would look so awesome all lit up at night.
It mentions in the opening summary that the theatre was often mistaken for the Hollywood Playhouse where the Hollywood Palace TV show took place. Didn’t it come from the El Capitan for it’s whole run?
Do any drive-ins use the same letters anymore?
Many times networks leased spaced to other entities. Merv Griffin used to tape at the Ed Sullivan Theatre when he taped his show in NY in the 70’s. This was another CBS studio, and his show was syndicated.
What a depressing description how do they stay open?
This theatre I think would be called American Airlines Theatre becauce most New Yorkers (except theatre buffs) have no idea anymore which theatre was which from the movie days.
We all call it the Winter Garden. This is one of the great historic Broadway Houses, best known as the theatre Al Jolson became a legend in. I thought this page used to have alot more information on it about the Winter Gardens history?
Someone should reopen the Strand and bring back the former Castro programmer and move all the festivals there.
Ziggy
I agree for adults it’s ok, just too morbid for kids to see about her dead grandparents and all.
There were stories in the papers again about the shortage of legit houses. I wish someone would convert this, but I can imagaine the rent must be huge. I wounder how long a lease the church has on the Mark Hellinger?
I always thought the Bluebird was such a sad and morbid film. It was sad that this was the only Technicolor film she made. This seems so unusual for the Roxy to play a moveover in those days, but then again they were pretty much the premiere Fox house.
This is another theatre could be built over and incorporated into the new structure.
No the Belvedere had no balcony, it was wide all on one level. Someone wrote on the Belvedere page that the church just added a balcony because they have an increasing population.