Palladium Times Square

The first post in this thread includes a claim that the Astor Plaza was Manhattan’s first Dolby Stereo-equipped theatre. I believe both Radio City Music Hall and the Ziegfeld installed Dolby prior to the Astor Plaza, though the Astor Plaza was certainly among the first couple of dozen theatres anywhere to have it installed.

To help answer some of the questions posed in this thread, here’s a link to an article on “Star Wars” that includes details on the early years of Dolby Stereo and a reference to the Astor Plaza.

View link

“Independence Day” opened at the Ziegfeld. “Titanic” was at the Astor Plaza. The sound for “Titanic” was better at the Astor then any other theatre I saw it at.

In reference to Myron’s last post – wouldn’t a general forum be best for comments not related to particular theatres? I’ve often found it frustrating when I see comments posted completely unrelated to any particular theatre or not on the pages of those particular theatres. That, quite frankly, prompted me to discontinue the notification service for several pages on which I’ve posted comments; life’s too short…

This website is great but most of the comments here have little to do with the Astor Plaza Theatre. I had to scroll through over 100 comments having nothing to do with the closing of the theatre. Most of the discussion here seems to center on 70MM, theatres in New Jersey and California, which films deserved the Oscar, etc. What does this have to do with the Astor Plaza? If you guys want to read about various projection techniques, go to www.widescreenmuseum.com Here you will find much information about 70MM, Technirama, CinemaScope 55, Cinerama, VistaVision, etc. It is most enlightening. The description of how guests were treated at the last showing of “The Village” is disgraceful for customers to be treated like that. The staff was taking their troubles out on the theatre-lovers. That was a very interesting revelation. I simply wanted a list of films originally screened at the Astor Plaza. Incidentally, I saw “Alien” there. The Dolby-sound was so good that the whole audience jumped when the creature appeared from above. I never recalled hearing vibrations from the subway underneath and my hearing is superb! The loss of this palace is very sad!

Yes, it’s true, the marquee of the Loew’s Astor Plaza is gone. It will be called the “Nokia Theatre”. It’s a shame they don’t save the marquis but destroy them. Even in Las Vegas, they have been saving their old signs for an eventual Neon Museum. They already restored the “Aladdin” lamp and the “Howdy Pardner” cowboy and Las Vegas “Lil” sign. They even saved the “Treasure Island” pirate sign. The Siegfried & Roy sign I can’t get any information on. I also enjoyed “Star Wars” there; the Dolby Stereo was fantastic. I don’t recall vibrations from the IRT trains underneath; although they are nearby. I also saw “Alien” there and I believe the #1 film of all-time “Titanic”. What a loss to Broadway and to Times Square. They want to close the Ziegfeld too, but it’s the only theatre remaining in New York where ermieres can be held. They can’t use the RCMH due to the heavy bookings of shows well in advance.

I walked by last week and peeked up to the Nokia construction sign and could see right through the back of it to Broadway. I walked underneath and yup: the marquee is gone. I wonder how they spirited that thing away? Doubtful it’ll be reused elsewhere.

The Astor Plaza Theatre will be renamed the Nokia Theatre when it reopens again. The construction around the boarded up marquee states the new name.

Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,

After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com

To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:

View link

We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.

We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.

As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.

There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.

We encourage your feedback.

Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”

At the time of its closing, the Astor had 1427 seats.

I think they see $$$ signs, because with the Biltmore Theatre reopening and restored for Broadway. I really think they are waiting for some major name retail store to go into it. One problem I see is that building the theatre is located in is not a full building over the theatre. If you stand across the street near 48th Street and look over you can see the building is shaped like a backwards L and the theatre is in the rest of the missing part. So that building could be an easy building to be razed because of the theatre. So they could make a small tower type building on the site. The past operators of the theatre let the theatre go and its more like a old worn grind house than a former Roadshow house.
If our company had redid the theatre it was to feature a State of the Art projection booth. See that’s my part in this project with the company. I handle projection services for them and their clients.

The company that has the Mayfair/DeMille up for lease wants over a million dollars in rent a year for the theatre. Our company looked into leasing it about two years ago. So it could be turned into a motion picture screening theatre. Like the DGA, Motion Picture Academy, WGA type theatres. With the cost of the rent and the theatre is not in that great of shape right now. The past operators of the theatre let major problem go without repairing them in a timely fashion.

rhett,

I can scan the photo, where would I post it to? Do they let you do that on this site? I hope something gets done with the Mayfair/Demille, its been empty for a very long time and its mostly intact inside.

I remember Eric’s Place, It’s now been converted to retail. UA bought out the Sam Eric chain in the late 80’s I think. I wonder if there are any former Sam Eric theatres still operating?