RKO Proctor's Theatre
6 Gramatan Avenue,
Mount Vernon,
NY
10550
6 Gramatan Avenue,
Mount Vernon,
NY
10550
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This reopened as Park West Weekend Cinema late in late 1969. Ad in photo section.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
RKO Proctor’s in Mount Vernon did indeed last until 1968 – not during the 50’s. The bingo hall info is also correct. It was a grand theatre, and it was strange going back into it as a bingo hall!
It had a beautiful marquee, with an elaborate (for the time) chase light system on both the marquee and the vertical “Proctor’s” sign above it.
To promote his new film “The Ladies Man,” Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 12, 1961.
I have notes that the RKO Proctors closed in 1968 and ran as a bingo hall into at least the mid 1970’s.
Loews wonderful venue became a municipal parking ramp in late 60’s.They maintained a peculiar screen arrangement until well into the 1940s. The stage was high, wide and deep but the screen was small, old fashioned round corners and set stage deep in a setting of stage right high windows and stage left “sofas”. When wide screen came in though their auto screen mask changes made very impressive effects. Frank Cunning.
The Proctor’s in Mt. Vernon was gutted around 1995 and ‘filled in’ with offices. It still looks very much like a theatre, however. Next door, in a separate building, Proctor’s Drug, and old fashioned pharmacy, still operates.
I am not sure what became of the Loew’s, but I believe it’s been torn down.