WHY …WHY …WHY DO SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE DESTRUCTION IS SUPERIOR TO CONSTRUCTION??? IRAQ INVASION COMES TO AMERICA!
HOWEVER THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE MARCHED FOR A MAJOR IDEAL.
The Biltmore Theatre in Harrison was owned by Mr. Tommasino in the l940’s-1960’s (during the week day he would show Italian language films)…gosh I would love to have some of the weekly programs at this point!….I started attending the theatre at age 7 in 1947…golden age….The owners son Al (Mr Tommasino had two sons) was in my class at Harrison High School) and I serentipiously ran into Al during my first sojourn to Rome in 1963 when I was crossing a plaza to American Express when I heard someone call my name….it was Al who had relocated to Rome to work with his father (I believe the theatre had been sold at this point) and said one of the properties his father owned was the Saudi ambassidors residence…and since he had just recently died….why didn’t I stay there and we could spend some time viewing the city’s landmarks and hideaways….thank you Biltmore Theatre for introducing Al to me!
Thank you Lost Memory for posting that terrific photo of the late and beloved Pilgrim Theatre. I have printed it out and I will cherish it.
Richard Harrison
Tom..Thanks very much for your film going background. I really enjoyed the info. These movie theatres were such an important part of my young years (still are!!) I went to PS 71 for second grade and the Pilgrim was my local. The Square was a 15 minute walk on 8 year old legs and when I got to 10 I would take the IRT at Middletown Road to the Parkchester area for the Castle Hill RKO…I remember especially seeing ‘Them’ with those giant ants and Edmund Gwenn.
I get most of my info on the ‘40ies and '50 films from the periodical room at the New York Public Library – Fifth Avenue branch. I have made copies of the New York Times, NY Daily News and Bronx Home News film pages from the mid-40ies to mid-50ies. It helps the memory as to what were the double bills, coming attractions and especially the movie ads graphics. I did realize that there was no Albee theatre in the Bronx. (I believe Suzanne Plechette’s father was the manager(?) of the Brooklyn Albee theatre.) I just mentioned the Albee because the ad for it was always under RKO’s ad. I also looked up Spryos Skouros’s biography on Google and it is quite interesting. He and his two brothers were certainly power figures and they began life in a
small Greek village with a father who was a sheepherder.. Spyrous died in Mamaroneck NY not too far from my parents home. Such coincidences. I don’t know if the Post took over the Home News but it certainly could have happened.
Tom, I included RKO and the Albee because they were also part of the Skouras (“Cool Skouras Theatres”)chain. The Bronx Home News always listed the local Skouras theaters directly under the ad for the RKO theatres.
The local Skouras theatres were the Park Plaza – Univ. & Tremont, the Crotona – E. Tremont Ave., the Valentine – Fordham Rd, the Ogden, the Tuxedo, the Square at Westchester Square (which you mentioned, and was a second favorite theatre of mine), the Interboro on E. Tremont (which was my mother’s favorite during the 1930’s), the Ward and my beloved Pilgrim Theatre.
The Pilgrim Theatre in the Bronx was not part of the Sack Theatre chain of Boston…but the Skouros chain of New York….RKO, Albee Westchester Square, etc.
You are correct Warren, the Pilgrim Theatre was located at 2925 Westchester Avenue, right across the street from the elevated subway station at Buhre Avenue. Richard Harrison
WHO BOOKS THESE FILMS? DO THEY DO IT WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED!
WOW! YOU COULD BE AN USHER AT RCMH AT 16! WHY WAS I WORKING
AT RYE BEACH? SUPER FILM AND ONE THAT COULD BE WATCHED MANY,
MANY TIMES.
WHY …WHY …WHY DO SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE DESTRUCTION IS SUPERIOR TO CONSTRUCTION??? IRAQ INVASION COMES TO AMERICA! HOWEVER THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE MARCHED FOR A MAJOR IDEAL.
THERE SHOULD BE A BOLD BLACK BANNER AROUND THE WHOLE ADVERT!
WHO ARE THESE STARS AND WHO WAS JOHN HENRY JACKSON?
The Biltmore Theatre in Harrison was owned by Mr. Tommasino in the l940’s-1960’s (during the week day he would show Italian language films)…gosh I would love to have some of the weekly programs at this point!….I started attending the theatre at age 7 in 1947…golden age….The owners son Al (Mr Tommasino had two sons) was in my class at Harrison High School) and I serentipiously ran into Al during my first sojourn to Rome in 1963 when I was crossing a plaza to American Express when I heard someone call my name….it was Al who had relocated to Rome to work with his father (I believe the theatre had been sold at this point) and said one of the properties his father owned was the Saudi ambassidors residence…and since he had just recently died….why didn’t I stay there and we could spend some time viewing the city’s landmarks and hideaways….thank you Biltmore Theatre for introducing Al to me!
Rich Harrison
Thank you Lost Memory for posting that terrific photo of the late and beloved Pilgrim Theatre. I have printed it out and I will cherish it.
Richard Harrison
Tom..Thanks very much for your film going background. I really enjoyed the info. These movie theatres were such an important part of my young years (still are!!) I went to PS 71 for second grade and the Pilgrim was my local. The Square was a 15 minute walk on 8 year old legs and when I got to 10 I would take the IRT at Middletown Road to the Parkchester area for the Castle Hill RKO…I remember especially seeing ‘Them’ with those giant ants and Edmund Gwenn.
I get most of my info on the ‘40ies and '50 films from the periodical room at the New York Public Library – Fifth Avenue branch. I have made copies of the New York Times, NY Daily News and Bronx Home News film pages from the mid-40ies to mid-50ies. It helps the memory as to what were the double bills, coming attractions and especially the movie ads graphics. I did realize that there was no Albee theatre in the Bronx. (I believe Suzanne Plechette’s father was the manager(?) of the Brooklyn Albee theatre.) I just mentioned the Albee because the ad for it was always under RKO’s ad. I also looked up Spryos Skouros’s biography on Google and it is quite interesting. He and his two brothers were certainly power figures and they began life in a
small Greek village with a father who was a sheepherder.. Spyrous died in Mamaroneck NY not too far from my parents home. Such coincidences. I don’t know if the Post took over the Home News but it certainly could have happened.
Tom, I included RKO and the Albee because they were also part of the Skouras (“Cool Skouras Theatres”)chain. The Bronx Home News always listed the local Skouras theaters directly under the ad for the RKO theatres.
The local Skouras theatres were the Park Plaza – Univ. & Tremont, the Crotona – E. Tremont Ave., the Valentine – Fordham Rd, the Ogden, the Tuxedo, the Square at Westchester Square (which you mentioned, and was a second favorite theatre of mine), the Interboro on E. Tremont (which was my mother’s favorite during the 1930’s), the Ward and my beloved Pilgrim Theatre.
The Pilgrim Theatre in the Bronx was not part of the Sack Theatre chain of Boston…but the Skouros chain of New York….RKO, Albee Westchester Square, etc.
You are correct Warren, the Pilgrim Theatre was located at 2925 Westchester Avenue, right across the street from the elevated subway station at Buhre Avenue. Richard Harrison
What a super descriptive piece of writing!! I feel that I went to that theatre….Thanks so much for such evocative images.