Playpen Theatre
693 8th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
693 8th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
10 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Consolidated Amusement Company
Firms: Eisendrath & Horwitz
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Ideal Theatre, Esquire Theatre, Squire Theatre, Cinecitta Theatre, New Cameo Theatre, Cameo Theatre, Adonis Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Sep 26, 2007 — Petition To Save NYC's Playpen Theater, Oldest Vaudeville House
- Sep 17, 2007 — Urgent appeal & proposal to save NYC's oldest extant vaudeville theatre
- Sep 12, 2007 — Manhattan loses Times Square icon
The Ideal Theatre was opened in 1915 and was operated by the New York based Consolidated Amusement Company. It had many owners and name changes over the years. In the 1960’s it was owned by Chelly Wilson, who owned a handful of similar theatres in the area. According to Sleazoid Express, this place was famous for the “Olga” movies.
The Playpen Theatre was demolished in December 2007.
Contributed by
Gena
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Recent comments (view all 126 comments)
Another picture of the interior, when new, is here:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=pCznAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA5
I went to the New Adonis (for research). I’m glad I got the chance to see the old theatre before it was closed. The balcony was still open.
That’s a pitiful opening description for a theater that lasted over 90 years…
New old photos for the Ideal and Squire theaters, both former names for the Playpen, posted in Gallery. The Squire photo is from 1917 and of excellent quality, from the New York Historical Society. The Ideal image is from the NYC Tax Photos, 1940.
Hello-
I believe the Ideal Theater opened in 1915.
Two photo/clippings added
For a research project I am working on, I would like to interview anyone who actually knew Chelly Wilson. If you knew Chelly Wilson, please reply to this comment.
Hello-
I am not aware of exactly when actual porn debuted. to which on pg.1 of the photo section ads for such films as Vapors, Erotic Salad and Post-Graduate. I’m guessing by the dates given for the ads that they were exploitation films and not actual porn.
As the Cinema Verdi, this theatre is occasionally confused with the Arena Cinema Verdi, both on 8th Avenue.
The Little Cine Met Cinema Verdi was at 104 west 39th street. The Arena was at 623 West 8th Avenue. When was this the Cinema Verdi?