Casino Theatre

Went their in 1979 when I was young and saw Jaws their and the air conditioner was broken, very hot hot

I vividly remember the Casino Movie Theatre. As a child, my father brought me and my brother Sal there to see the Elvis movie, “Love Me Tender.” We also saw Psycho, Homicidal, House on Haunted Hill, and 13 Ghosts, where they gave out 3-D glasses. Then, we saw A Hard Day’s Night and Help there, among many other movies through the years. It cost $1.00 and you saw 2 movies. Great movie theatre with great memories!

I used to work at the Casino theater in the 70’s, and even though it wasn’t the grandest of theaters it was still quite quaint and had a great neighborhood vibe. As for being sold-out only once" that is far from true. We were sold out on many occassions, I particularly rememember when “Staurday Night Fever” played and we were sold out for 2 weeks straight! It was a fun job for a youth growing up in the 70’s as so many of us kids from the neighborhood worked there. The front foyer had great acoustics and we would sing all the songs from SNF as well as Grease and it sounded so cool. (the manager wasn'y to happy though..LOL) Great memories!!

Here’s a street view of the old Casino Theater. Does anyone know if any of the interior features still exist?

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The Casino was one of my neighborhood theaters growing up in the 70s.
(Actually my neighborhood was Howard Beach, which never had any theaters, so Ozone Park and Richmond Hill were the closest.)
My aunt worked there as a matron. This was actually embarrassing for me, since my friends enjoyed pelting matrons with popcorn and Jujubes at other theaters, and I’d have to warn or beg them not to do it here.
I know I saw many kiddie matinees here, although I can’t for the life of me recall what any of the movies were. Later I saw “Tommy” here (on a double bill with “Aloha, Bobby and Rose,” I think), and sat through it twice, even though the sound was awful. (The passing “A” trains didn’t help.)It was not a very appealing theater, a step below the Crossbay, and only a choice when we couldn’t get someone to drive us to Forest Hills or Valley Stream, L.I.

Regarding the posting of 8/17/04 above….the Casino was NEVER a pornographic theater. I grew up in the neighborhood and know this for a fact. The closest porno theater was the Austin on Lefferts Blvd in the leafy neighborhood of Kew Gardens. It has since been mulitiplexed (I am told in a loving way) into The Kew Gardens Cinemas specializing in art house films.

Thanks for the details, Lost Memory.

My mom used to refer to the “deep discount retailers” and 99 cent stores springing up within Ridgewood three to four decades ago as “those little shit shops”.

Thanks for all the details, Warren.

BrooklynJim, I saw “Death Wish” in a Manhattan theater near 59th and 3rd (Baronet ? Coronet ? Also saw “Chinatown” there) with my dad in June or July of 1974, and, during and after the rape scene, my dad and I looked at each other, and agreed that it was a good thing my mom had not come with us, and seen this film.

Probably the most famous quote in “Serpico:

“Who can trust a cop that doesn’t take money?”

OTOH, the “Death Wish” rape scene was extremely brutal and graphic, and I’m glad many of my female relatives and friends decided to pass on this movie. I was with a gal I liked and cringed in my seat. That scene, though, certainly gave the character and plot its impetus.

Regarding police/politico corruption: Does life imitate art, or vice versa? (Subtle emphasis placed on the word “vice.”)

I’d seen “Serpico” at the Casino, a theater I didn’t frequent often simply because it was off my beaten path in those days. (Years later I’ve still enjoyed Al Pachino’s performance. FYI, Director Sidney Lumet filmed the storyboards from end to beginning, from Frank’s hippie “‘clothes” days, to the less-bearded cop timeframe, to the Academy rookie.)

A year later, my date and I viewed the first Bronson “Death Wish.” As a neighborhood at that time, East New York and surrounding areas, with their local gendarmes in blue, were experiencing an out-of-control crime rate, seemingly higher than many other areas of Brooklyn or Queens. So I was more than amused to have so many old duffers out on leave from “the home” in attendance that night as well. After seeing their jaws squared and with eyes boring burning intensity upon leaving the Casino, I remarked to my date that I would actually feel sorry for any stupid would-be mugger who attempted to rip ‘em off that evening. The word “vigilante” could now be associated with a flavorful connotation of geriatric power.

UA had a home office above the Squire until they moved it to East Meadow.

Lost Memory, how does the Marr & Colton theater organ compare with a Wurlitzer ?

LuisV, welcome to Cinema Treasures ! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it immensely !

I know what you mean about the wide release of “The Godfather”. For me it was August 1972 at the RKO Madison Theater in Ridgewood, theater # 4621 on this site. There was a lot of hoopla. The cement parts of the RKO Madison’s facade were painted dark blue, which caused my dad to remark it made the Madison look like “a black theater in Harlem.” There were signs for ticket holders' and ticket buyers' lines, but I don’t recall any big crowds, probably because I
went with family in the early afternoon on a weekday.

I can understand why Loew’s Valencia and Radio City are your favorite theaters. May you enjoy your trip to Loew’s Jersey !
It’s interesting that “The Godfather” was the only time you saw the Casino sold out and filled to capacity.