Eugene O'Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten, a sequel to Long Day’s Journey Into Night, had it world premiere at the Hartman Theater in 1947. Cyril Cusack, Franchot Tone, and Wendy Hiller starred. (Wikipedia)
A website devoted to Columbus gay bar history also notes that Grace Jones performed there as well. Sylvester also played a few gigs there in the early 1980s.
Yep. With Maurice Hines, Deneyce (I’m sure I spelled her name wrong) Graves, Harlem Gospel Choir and Bobby “Blue” Bland. I’m so pleased the city has saved this theater. Columbus has an uncanny knack for paving under its heritage, and knocking down its architectural marvels to build parking lots and concrete garages….
I lived in New York City from 1982 to 1999, and during my last few months there I walked down then-ghostly 42nd Street. All of the movie theaters had been closed by then, and I was kind of melancholy about the state of the street. I plucked a 9X24" cardboard sign out of a vitrine (I believe it was the Times Square, and that’s what a yellowed piece of masking tape has scrawled across the back of it) that says: “Always (in blue) 2 (in red) Action (in blue) Hits (in red).” The sign was hand-painted with a yellow background.
Today I have that cherished piece of piece of old Times Square hanging in my studio apartment ($450/month) in Columbus, Ohio. And since then I have been trying to scour any photographs and even films for my little darling’s appearance. If someone has old photos in which it might appear I’d be thrilled.
This theater, though long closed, is an infamous location in the history of New York underground film: Its roof served as the location for Jack Smith’s groundbreaking (and allegedly obscene)“Flaming Creatures!”
I’ll add more info when I can access my archives (currently in storage).
I notice the property value has jumped markedly from 2001-05. With the continuing upward spiral in NYC property values, I’d imagine the land is worth about $5 million-$6 million now. Here comes an ugly, blue-glassed hi-rise condo!
Nearby was (is?) a circular staircase entrance to the Columbus Circle subway. A cop was shot to death at the bottom of the staircase back in the 1970s….
Wow, I lived on the block (No. 46) in 1983-84, then at 246 E 4th St during 1984-85,and had no clue there used to be a lavish Loew’s up the street. Thanks, guys!
I used to work at PRNewswire, then located on 55th Street, I believe, and the nabe was my old stomping ground. Subway Lounge, still hanging on by a string, and Chimes Diner, which I loved and ate lunch in almost everyday. I think the Chimes was on the same block as the theater, perhaps the block directly south, same side of the street. Great food, and sweet waitresses who remembered you by name. Long gone as well.
I waded through a crowd of protesters outside the Sutton in order to see “The Last Temptation of Christ,” in 1985. And watched Whoopi Goldberg arrive for the premiere of “Serafina” some years later.
Cineplex Odious (and NYU!) both suck and I hold them in the highest contempt (a rank usually bestowed on the likes of Bush/Cheney) for the destruction they have wrought to NYC’s Cinema Treasures.
I loved Cinema Village and went there often during the 1980s. A friend of mine, Alan Shaw, and his boyfriend, Gabriel Garza (anyone know what’s become of them?), used to run the projectors, and Gabriel would often let me sneak into the projection booth and hang out. I loved the double-features, and the staff was always wonderful. I returned in 2003, where I saw the filmed version of “Reno: Rebel with a Cause,” Reno’s hilarious account of her 9/11 experiences. Great to see it’s still there, as so many of the theaters I frequented in the 1980s are gone.
Lou Reed’s “Rock n Roll Animal”/“Live” recorded at the Academy of Music in 1973 or 1974. One of the great live records.
I saw Divine perform at the Palladium in 1986; I catcalled him/her and she let go with a tongue-lashing the likes I’ve rarely had since! I believe I asked him whether he had a dick, and the reply went something like: “Motherfucka, why don’t you come up here and I’ll show you whether I have a dick!” All in good fun, though!
Eugene O'Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten, a sequel to Long Day’s Journey Into Night, had it world premiere at the Hartman Theater in 1947. Cyril Cusack, Franchot Tone, and Wendy Hiller starred. (Wikipedia)
A website devoted to Columbus gay bar history also notes that Grace Jones performed there as well. Sylvester also played a few gigs there in the early 1980s.
Yep. With Maurice Hines, Deneyce (I’m sure I spelled her name wrong) Graves, Harlem Gospel Choir and Bobby “Blue” Bland. I’m so pleased the city has saved this theater. Columbus has an uncanny knack for paving under its heritage, and knocking down its architectural marvels to build parking lots and concrete garages….
I lived in New York City from 1982 to 1999, and during my last few months there I walked down then-ghostly 42nd Street. All of the movie theaters had been closed by then, and I was kind of melancholy about the state of the street. I plucked a 9X24" cardboard sign out of a vitrine (I believe it was the Times Square, and that’s what a yellowed piece of masking tape has scrawled across the back of it) that says: “Always (in blue) 2 (in red) Action (in blue) Hits (in red).” The sign was hand-painted with a yellow background.
Today I have that cherished piece of piece of old Times Square hanging in my studio apartment ($450/month) in Columbus, Ohio. And since then I have been trying to scour any photographs and even films for my little darling’s appearance. If someone has old photos in which it might appear I’d be thrilled.
I saw the B-52s there after the Academy had become the Palladium nightclub. Must have been around 87 or 88. Place was packed to the rafters.
This theater, though long closed, is an infamous location in the history of New York underground film: Its roof served as the location for Jack Smith’s groundbreaking (and allegedly obscene)“Flaming Creatures!”
I’ll add more info when I can access my archives (currently in storage).
I notice the property value has jumped markedly from 2001-05. With the continuing upward spiral in NYC property values, I’d imagine the land is worth about $5 million-$6 million now. Here comes an ugly, blue-glassed hi-rise condo!
Nearby was (is?) a circular staircase entrance to the Columbus Circle subway. A cop was shot to death at the bottom of the staircase back in the 1970s….
Wow, I lived on the block (No. 46) in 1983-84, then at 246 E 4th St during 1984-85,and had no clue there used to be a lavish Loew’s up the street. Thanks, guys!
Saw “Savage Streets” and “Avenging Angel” there on a snowy winter night in 1985….
I loved the B/C’s cheesy sign!
I used to work at PRNewswire, then located on 55th Street, I believe, and the nabe was my old stomping ground. Subway Lounge, still hanging on by a string, and Chimes Diner, which I loved and ate lunch in almost everyday. I think the Chimes was on the same block as the theater, perhaps the block directly south, same side of the street. Great food, and sweet waitresses who remembered you by name. Long gone as well.
I waded through a crowd of protesters outside the Sutton in order to see “The Last Temptation of Christ,” in 1985. And watched Whoopi Goldberg arrive for the premiere of “Serafina” some years later.
Cineplex Odious (and NYU!) both suck and I hold them in the highest contempt (a rank usually bestowed on the likes of Bush/Cheney) for the destruction they have wrought to NYC’s Cinema Treasures.
I loved Cinema Village and went there often during the 1980s. A friend of mine, Alan Shaw, and his boyfriend, Gabriel Garza (anyone know what’s become of them?), used to run the projectors, and Gabriel would often let me sneak into the projection booth and hang out. I loved the double-features, and the staff was always wonderful. I returned in 2003, where I saw the filmed version of “Reno: Rebel with a Cause,” Reno’s hilarious account of her 9/11 experiences. Great to see it’s still there, as so many of the theaters I frequented in the 1980s are gone.
Lou Reed’s “Rock n Roll Animal”/“Live” recorded at the Academy of Music in 1973 or 1974. One of the great live records.
I saw Divine perform at the Palladium in 1986; I catcalled him/her and she let go with a tongue-lashing the likes I’ve rarely had since! I believe I asked him whether he had a dick, and the reply went something like: “Motherfucka, why don’t you come up here and I’ll show you whether I have a dick!” All in good fun, though!