RKO Proctor's Theatre
6 Gramatan Avenue,
Mount Vernon,
NY
10550
6 Gramatan Avenue,
Mount Vernon,
NY
10550
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Proctor's, RKO
Architects: Arland W. Johnson
Functions: Office Space
Styles: Adam
Previous Names: Proctor's Theatre, Park West Weekend Cinema
Nearby Theaters
Proctor’s Theatre first opened on November 24th, 1913, with two-a-day vaudeville. Architect Arland Johnson also designed Proctor’s New Theatre in Troy, NY, which opened the following year. Proctor’s Mount Vernon was part of a five-story office building which also had stores on the street level.
By the 1920’s, Proctor’s Theatre had added movies to the programs. Vaudeville was dropped when all of the Proctor’s theatres became part of the RKO circuit at the start of the “talkies” era. For many years, RKO Proctor’s Mount Vernon was one of the chain’s four theatres in Westchester County, along with those in New Rochelle, Yonkers, and White Plains.
The RKO Proctor’s Theatre was closed in 1968. In late-1969 it reopened as Park West Weekend Cinema. It soon became a bingo hall which operated into at least the mid-1970’s. Around 1995 it was gutted and converted into offices.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
I just visited this area (my hometown) the other day. RKO Proctor’s is now completely an office building and you cannot tell it was once a theater. But they never actually tore it down.
Loew’s became “The World,” a place for music and dancing. Groups such as Country Joe and the Fish and Vanilla Fudge appeared there, as well as various oldies groups. They had 3 big screens for light shows. The theatre seats were removed and the dance floor was slighly slanted. No alcohol was served there. I was going there at age 14. This took place around'67, ‘68.
In early 1946, when I was in the 7th grade, I remember walking from Woodlawn (where I lived) to Yonkers Avenue, and then adventuring a 5¢ ride on the old Number 7 trolley to the wilds of Mount Vernon, which I had never dared before. Because I was playing hookey, I figured a movie house would be a smart hideout, for a couple of hours. I chose the first one I could see — which, in those days, must have been Proctor’s, on Gramatan Avenue. (Anyway, I could navigate back from Proctor’s; Loew’s Mount Vernon would require me to turn a corner or two). I have no clue what the movies were, that day. But I survived the trek, and somehow returned to civilization alive! It was a great day.
Warren; regarding your post above on May 21, 2008. The Proctor’s Bijou Dream Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915. The address given for that theatre is S. 4th Street, Mount Vernon.
On Friday January 26, 1962, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly-Joe DeRita) embarked on a three day promotional tour for their latest feature film, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. They were accompanied by “The Herculean Giant” (almost 8 foot tall Dave Ballard) and popular DJ Clay Cole, who was one of the stars of the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK.
On Saturday January 27, they appeared at the RKO Mount Vernon at 12:25 PM.
The December, 1914, issue of the magazine Architecture and Building featured four photos of Proctor’s Theatre in Mount Vernon:
The exterior and the auditorium
Two interior views, one of which appears to be the ladies lounge, and the other depicting a foyer and one of the ramps leading to the theater’s upper levels.
The five-story commercial building that once accommodated the entrance and foyer of Proctor’s Theater still stands on the west side of Gramatan Avenue (North 4th), several blocks northeast of the Google Map photo currently heading this CT page. The picture should be re-directed there.
On Monday 26 February 1951, Bela “Dracula” Lugosi presented his in person Horror and Magic Stage show at Proctor’s. Currently I am conducting research on all things Lugosi; if anyone out there actually saw this show and/or has memorabilia (poster, handbill, photos) related to this show, please contact Bill at I already have copies of the ads that were published in the local newspaper. Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Just outside the theater was Proctor Pharmacy where you could get the greatest malted milks for 35 cents in the mid to late 1950s. In 1921 during off-season, Babe Ruth appeared in a vaudeville show at Proctors Theater Nov. 3rd – 5th. Mr. F.F. Proctor issued a card with Ruth’s photo on it, which is now very rare and very expensive.
This reopened as Park West Weekend Cinema late in late 1969. Ad in photo section.