Mr Alvarez is correct. There was a David on West 55th St—-which wasn’t the 55th St Playhouse. And later on there was a New David Cinema—-which was down the block from Studio 54. Both Davids were strictly porno
I live a few blocks away from this movie house. Kind of surprised that it is listed on this site. However NO CENSORSHIP- please. If you don’t like it go to another theater listing-OK.
Someone mentioned the Rendezvous Theater. It was located on West 54th St between 6th & 7th next to the Ziegfeld movie theater. It was torn down 30 odd years ago and became a parking lot.
The most interesting aspect of the 55th St structure is why it is still standing? The following sounds like an urban legend, but I vaguely recall reading an article in a NY paper stating that the hotel right behind this old art house theater wanted to tear it down and use that space for deliveries. However there were a few apts above the theater and the hotel had to buy off these tenants. One man refused to go unless he was compensated above what the hotel was willing to pay. So they left him alone upstairs and drilled a delivery driveway right thru the structure. If it wasn’t for that man holding out we wouldn’t be chatting about this infamous porn movie house now.
Also the 55th St Playhouse showed films instead of videos. Does anyone recall that Al Parker 3-D movie shown there? (Management would recycle the 3-D glasses!) Even with these glasses you still got a blurry double image in a few shots. (The 3-D effect did work in bits & pieces.) The lobby & upstairs lounges were tiny. Sometimes you would enter that theater after paying 5 bucks & see Al Parker or Joe Gage sitting there waiting to sign autographs. (Usually no one was interested.) Al Parker was a good conversationalist. After saying hi to me he asked me about the drinking water in NYC.(He said something like “I heard your drinking water in NYC is excellent because the reservoirs are upstate.†I knew who he was but couldn’t believe the topic we were discussing.)
Mr Alvarez is correct. There was a David on West 55th St—-which wasn’t the 55th St Playhouse. And later on there was a New David Cinema—-which was down the block from Studio 54. Both Davids were strictly porno
I live a few blocks away from this movie house. Kind of surprised that it is listed on this site. However NO CENSORSHIP- please. If you don’t like it go to another theater listing-OK.
Someone mentioned the Rendezvous Theater. It was located on West 54th St between 6th & 7th next to the Ziegfeld movie theater. It was torn down 30 odd years ago and became a parking lot.
The most interesting aspect of the 55th St structure is why it is still standing? The following sounds like an urban legend, but I vaguely recall reading an article in a NY paper stating that the hotel right behind this old art house theater wanted to tear it down and use that space for deliveries. However there were a few apts above the theater and the hotel had to buy off these tenants. One man refused to go unless he was compensated above what the hotel was willing to pay. So they left him alone upstairs and drilled a delivery driveway right thru the structure. If it wasn’t for that man holding out we wouldn’t be chatting about this infamous porn movie house now.
Also the 55th St Playhouse showed films instead of videos. Does anyone recall that Al Parker 3-D movie shown there? (Management would recycle the 3-D glasses!) Even with these glasses you still got a blurry double image in a few shots. (The 3-D effect did work in bits & pieces.) The lobby & upstairs lounges were tiny. Sometimes you would enter that theater after paying 5 bucks & see Al Parker or Joe Gage sitting there waiting to sign autographs. (Usually no one was interested.) Al Parker was a good conversationalist. After saying hi to me he asked me about the drinking water in NYC.(He said something like “I heard your drinking water in NYC is excellent because the reservoirs are upstate.†I knew who he was but couldn’t believe the topic we were discussing.)