Hi. Lou Goldstein’s booking Chinese-language films into the Roosevelt (above) intrigues me. What happened to the actual prints? On a European “lost films” site, I posted nine Chinese-American movie titles, all involving ESTHER ENG (Ng Kam-ha – see www.estherengstory.com). Having long written about her, and with a future film on her in view, I have many of her papers and photos – including a program leaflet, date uncertain, for the same Roosevelt Theatre. She did distribute Chinese movies in the 1940s/50s – some maybe stored long ago in the Roosevelt’s vaults? Thanks for any interest.
from frankmondial re 1960s Chinese films in Park Row:
Hello. I am Australian-based and very interested especially in comments from jflundy on both the Silver Star and Venice theatres. If I understand you correctly, both theatres were on Park Row and at some time showed Chinese films. From research on the life of Esther Eng, whose “Esther Eng” restaurant was located firstly in upper Manhattan then in Pell Street, Chinatown, in the 1960s – she rented a theatre in “Park Row” (again in the 1960s I think) to show Chinese films. She herself had directed Chinese films in Hong Kong and the US during the 1930s and 1940s as well as, from around 1950, operating 5 restaurants in Manhattan until her death in 1970 – including Bo Bo on Mott Street from 1950. My information suggests she distributed and exhibited Chinese films in a Park Row theatre – perhaps the Silver Star or the Venice? I’d be glad to hear anything that either refutes or confirms the idea of either of those two theatres being the one she rented in the 1960s. Thank you very much.
Hi. Lou Goldstein’s booking Chinese-language films into the Roosevelt (above) intrigues me. What happened to the actual prints? On a European “lost films” site, I posted nine Chinese-American movie titles, all involving ESTHER ENG (Ng Kam-ha – see www.estherengstory.com). Having long written about her, and with a future film on her in view, I have many of her papers and photos – including a program leaflet, date uncertain, for the same Roosevelt Theatre. She did distribute Chinese movies in the 1940s/50s – some maybe stored long ago in the Roosevelt’s vaults? Thanks for any interest.
from frankmondial re 1960s Chinese films in Park Row: Hello. I am Australian-based and very interested especially in comments from jflundy on both the Silver Star and Venice theatres. If I understand you correctly, both theatres were on Park Row and at some time showed Chinese films. From research on the life of Esther Eng, whose “Esther Eng” restaurant was located firstly in upper Manhattan then in Pell Street, Chinatown, in the 1960s – she rented a theatre in “Park Row” (again in the 1960s I think) to show Chinese films. She herself had directed Chinese films in Hong Kong and the US during the 1930s and 1940s as well as, from around 1950, operating 5 restaurants in Manhattan until her death in 1970 – including Bo Bo on Mott Street from 1950. My information suggests she distributed and exhibited Chinese films in a Park Row theatre – perhaps the Silver Star or the Venice? I’d be glad to hear anything that either refutes or confirms the idea of either of those two theatres being the one she rented in the 1960s. Thank you very much.