I went here a few times. The auditorium was cool! The walls were shaped like bellows of an old camera and the curtain looked like the lens and shutter. As if we were inside the camera!
I don’t think the theatre was ever called the Sony Columbus Circle.
Much work has been done by AMC here. That cover photo of the chair should be replaced by one of the theatre itself! BTW, those red seats have all been replaced. I was actually there yesterday (hadn’t been in a while). Very pleasantly surprised. I’ll try to get updated photos next time I go.
Response to BearMount
Not sure what you’re talking about. Have you ever been there before? The front of the theatre is all glass, I assume it was covered up for safety reasons. There is zero graffiti.
The outside is not forlorn, it just seems that way because…the theatre is temporarily closed. All theatres look this way right now! It is not a depressed area. The restaurants and other stores are all open. I am quite certain that my Drafthouse will reopen as soon as it’s possible.
Nice place but avoid screen #6 for subtitled movies. Only 3 rows, large screen which means you have a choice: keep your head up and watch the movie or crank your head down and read subtitles. Impossible to do both. Could not enjoy the movie (Bye, Bye, Germany)
The theatre has been demolished but the facade and marquee remain as you can see in photo I added. You can see right through. Please replace picture on home page with one showing theatre in it’s glory.
I don’t get it. On Times Square Regal’s E-Walk and AMC’s Empire show many of the same films and they are literally across the street from each other. What is Regal afraid of?
Yeah it’s gone. My bedroom window faced the theatre when I was a kid and loved watching them change the marquee. This was prior to it becoming a porn house. I also worked there in the summer of 1969 when it was an art theatre. Only problem was the same movie was booked for the whole time I was there! Two months of The Loves of Isadora. Some of the films I saw there were: A Shot in the Dark and The Exorcist. Was so sad when it went porno. My synagogue was literally next door (to the right). I’m guessing that when it became a church the Ascot was forced to close. For a long time after that it was gated up and the marquee said COMING SOON JESUS CHRIST The theatre itself was not used as a church. All of the stores to the left were closed for many years so the auditorium was left unused. At least we still have The Paradise.
I was in the area yesterday and I was graciously allowed to go in. All my youth memories came back. What a beautiful restoration. And with lights on you can see all the glory of this beautiful house. No more stars but nonetheless everything else was perfect. I asked if I could take pictures but there was a small service going on but they said maybe another time.
As per my older posts, I grew up at the Paradise. But only went a few times after the initial twinning but only once after the quadding (I almost cried). A new projection booth was built in the rear of the orchestra for the downstairs screens. Obviously some back rows were lost but worse the projection angle made viewing headache inducing.
I actually saw Hard Days Night at the Surrey. It was doubled billed with the Elvis Presley film “Kid Gallahad”. I remember this because the crowd went crazy for the Beatles film but virtually everyone walked out of the Elvis film. Film fame is fleeting!
I went here for the first time yesterday. Very surprised at how nice it is. Does anyone know if this theatre is profitable? The area is kinda dingy and only a few people there.
When did it open? More information please’
Actually Westchester also has a nice Regal multiplex and we just got a new LOOK Dine-In Cinema (the site of the Ipic)
I went here a few times. The auditorium was cool! The walls were shaped like bellows of an old camera and the curtain looked like the lens and shutter. As if we were inside the camera! I don’t think the theatre was ever called the Sony Columbus Circle.
You could hear the trains in the auditorium
No pictures anywhere? Odd!
Much work has been done by AMC here. That cover photo of the chair should be replaced by one of the theatre itself! BTW, those red seats have all been replaced. I was actually there yesterday (hadn’t been in a while). Very pleasantly surprised. I’ll try to get updated photos next time I go.
Why no picture on the home page?
Two of the screen were considerably reduced in size to accommodate the kitchen
ridethectrain. There are six screens now. The area where the other screens were are now the kitchen and food prep areas
Why all the name changes?
Response to BearMount Not sure what you’re talking about. Have you ever been there before? The front of the theatre is all glass, I assume it was covered up for safety reasons. There is zero graffiti. The outside is not forlorn, it just seems that way because…the theatre is temporarily closed. All theatres look this way right now! It is not a depressed area. The restaurants and other stores are all open. I am quite certain that my Drafthouse will reopen as soon as it’s possible.
Nice place but avoid screen #6 for subtitled movies. Only 3 rows, large screen which means you have a choice: keep your head up and watch the movie or crank your head down and read subtitles. Impossible to do both. Could not enjoy the movie (Bye, Bye, Germany)
I’ve just downloaded 2 pictures of the new interior of one of the auditoriums
The theatre has been demolished but the facade and marquee remain as you can see in photo I added. You can see right through. Please replace picture on home page with one showing theatre in it’s glory.
I don’t get it. On Times Square Regal’s E-Walk and AMC’s Empire show many of the same films and they are literally across the street from each other. What is Regal afraid of?
Yeah it’s gone. My bedroom window faced the theatre when I was a kid and loved watching them change the marquee. This was prior to it becoming a porn house. I also worked there in the summer of 1969 when it was an art theatre. Only problem was the same movie was booked for the whole time I was there! Two months of The Loves of Isadora. Some of the films I saw there were: A Shot in the Dark and The Exorcist. Was so sad when it went porno. My synagogue was literally next door (to the right). I’m guessing that when it became a church the Ascot was forced to close. For a long time after that it was gated up and the marquee said COMING SOON JESUS CHRIST The theatre itself was not used as a church. All of the stores to the left were closed for many years so the auditorium was left unused. At least we still have The Paradise.
I was there opening day for Marooned. What a loss. Another institution priced out of New York!
I was in the area yesterday and I was graciously allowed to go in. All my youth memories came back. What a beautiful restoration. And with lights on you can see all the glory of this beautiful house. No more stars but nonetheless everything else was perfect. I asked if I could take pictures but there was a small service going on but they said maybe another time.
As per my older posts, I grew up at the Paradise. But only went a few times after the initial twinning but only once after the quadding (I almost cried). A new projection booth was built in the rear of the orchestra for the downstairs screens. Obviously some back rows were lost but worse the projection angle made viewing headache inducing.
We’ll see.
Time to change the old “Movieland” photo on homepage. I downloaded a new picture and more to come. I live this place
I added a picture of the entrance.
I actually saw Hard Days Night at the Surrey. It was doubled billed with the Elvis Presley film “Kid Gallahad”. I remember this because the crowd went crazy for the Beatles film but virtually everyone walked out of the Elvis film. Film fame is fleeting!
We now have a Drafthouse here in Yonkers NY. Can’t wait for this one so I can take my LA niece when I visit there.
I went here for the first time yesterday. Very surprised at how nice it is. Does anyone know if this theatre is profitable? The area is kinda dingy and only a few people there.