I was just looking at a site for the Kings Park Historical Society and on their first photo page is a color photo of the RKO Twin hardtop and a photo of a vandalized Drive In pylon which distinctly says Commack DI Twin. So, presumably it was twinned at some point toward the end.
As a summer temp letter carrier I had the opportunity to see the theatre before it would open each day. In the late 50’s it seemed well maintained and a cozy if austere space.
I became aware of this thatre a number of years ago while attending an off Broadway show which I believe was called In Gay Company. There was a song in that show that one character sang that he met his one true love in the balcony of Loew’s Sheridan Square.
Why oh why are these listings so inconsistent. Sometimes it’s the original name, sometimes the current, sometimes something in between. It’s all very frustrating. I realize with the multitude of listings it would be impossible to cross reference everything. What happens when those of us in the know are gone. But then, again, when those of us in the know are gone whose going to care about things which have been our passion. I know of at least four Long Island theatres which don’t appear and am working on getting the full information before I post them. Other than making comments I don’t know if we are allowed to change the original headings.
And Lost Memory would you please tell me why I can only find the Old Post Office Cinema in East Hampton. What about the regular East Hampton theatre which, before it’s current subdividing had been a single screen “forever”.
When my parents were first married they would travel to the city from nearby Astoria, Queens virtually every week to see a show, movie or whatever. Somewhere in the back of my mind I recall my father saying the Rivoli had a wonderful orchestra. I presume there were movie – stage programs at this venue from that statement.
For more information about Manhattan theatres which had legitimate status at one time I recommend the book, Broadway’s Lost Theatres. It is soft cover black and white and has photos of every theatre contained therein. Most times it also lists seating capacities and the architect’s name and gives a very interest history. It is very sad because it’s so visual.
I. was only in the Paramount once with my parents as a child. At that time there was a movie and a stage show. On stage was Gene Krupa.
We climbed, and climbed up to our seats at the rear of the balconcy only to leave shortly thereafter when my mother had to leave because of the height factor which sometimes bothered her (Jones Beach Marine theatre and the Montauk Point lighthouse were the other times that I remember.)
Although it had a spotty history as a legitimate theatre it is ironic that the last show which played there, Urinetown, the Musical, was a hit. I remember walking thru the construction to attend the show. They had netting under the chandelier to prevent any crystals from being dislodged by the surrounding construction. Actually the run of the show was cut short by the need to demolish the auditorium for the new building.
Incidentally, a number of years previously, the theatre had been damaged by debris from a neighboring construction site which penetrated the roof.
After many years as a tv studio the Hudson was renovated and returned to the legitimate stage. I believe the first play after the reopening was Toys in the Attic. I know it was the first one I
saw there.
I’m happy to see it’s new life. When I was last in the area I saw the marquee for the Hudson but didn’t know it had been incorporated into the hotel. A shame it’s not open to the general public, it was just a gray space after it was returned to the legitimate theatre.
I’m confused. For many years I worked in the Gramercy Park area and there was a theatre on the west side of 23rd Street between Park Avenue South and Lexington called the Gramercy. Is this another situation where the theatre is listed under some identity other than the one I knew for more than 30 years? And if so is it a prior or latter? Or maybe it’s just not listed. I really don’t have the time or patience to go through all four hundred plus New York listings.
I visited this theatre twice: for the taping of a Steve Allen show and then, later as the Harkness for the Robber Bridegroom with Barry Bostwick of Rocky Horror (and now “the Voice)fame.
One of the features of the new public area is a rock climbing wall. On the handful of occasions I’ve been past there are actually people trying to climb the wall.
For many years into the seventies and eighties, the brass letter “Proctors” remainded imbedded in the sidewalk delineating the width of the original entrance.
Only the facade of the University remained for quite a few years. The first time I noticed it on a trip to Toronto I was surprised to look through the lobby doors and see daylight and rubble. This remained the case for several years until the retail store was built. At least the building facade and the marquee shape were retained in the transformation.
This is not to be confused with the “legitimate” theatre constructed by “Honest Ed” Mirisch specifically to accomodate the helicopter in Miss Saigon. Previously when Cats played at the Pantages (now bearing some corporate name) the scene where Grizabella is transported off to “cat heaven” had to be modified from the Broadway (and I presume London versions) because of limited space to “fly” scenery.
The lower theatre was originally Loew’s Younge Street; the upper theatre then and now the Winter Garden. Since the Winter Garden was never a movie theatre, when the building achieved a landmark status it could not be equipped for traditional movie showing. When I was last up there they were having some sort of presentation which involved a glorified power point presentation.
Rumor also has it that when the lower, movie theatre, was no longer under the Loew’s umbrella, they used illuminated letters which were still available to rename the theatre – hence, Elgin. It supposedly is not named for a person, e.g. Lord Elgin. But that makes absolutely no sense since there is no “I” in Loew’s Yonge Street.
Attn: Warren G. Harris – Interestingly, I was speaking with a friend of mine today and I mentioned this site. Then she began reminising about the theatres she had attended. She singled out the Valencia in Jamaica, Queens with the twinkling stars in the ceiling and the pond with a waterfall and fish. I guess the latter feature became a common denominator in the Loew’s movie palaces re our exchange about Loew’s State.
The Center Theatre was the second, smaller theatre in the Rockefeller Center complex. Center. It was subsequently used for ice shows and then television. It was then torn down very publically. Whatever TV show was housed there had a whole big production number “The Center Theatre’s coming down.”
Warren G Harris are you out there? In a much earlier posting you said Century orginially traded the Prospect for the Avalon and Manor in Brooklyn. The name Avalon was retained. What did the Manor become since none is listed as such?
It’s odd that an earlier posting should say this theatre was identical the the Baldwin. The Baldwin was just a simple rectangle. The Franklin had a multisurfaced facade with the auditorium jutting out from the side, like the Alan.
At one point in time the corporate offices of Century Theatres was also housed in the Community Theatre building. This having been moved from the Farragut Theatre building in Brooklyn. Subsequently, Century moved its operations to its own building on Verbena Av, just off Tulip, near the Floral Park Long Island Rail Road station.
I was just looking at a site for the Kings Park Historical Society and on their first photo page is a color photo of the RKO Twin hardtop and a photo of a vandalized Drive In pylon which distinctly says Commack DI Twin. So, presumably it was twinned at some point toward the end.
As a summer temp letter carrier I had the opportunity to see the theatre before it would open each day. In the late 50’s it seemed well maintained and a cozy if austere space.
I became aware of this thatre a number of years ago while attending an off Broadway show which I believe was called In Gay Company. There was a song in that show that one character sang that he met his one true love in the balcony of Loew’s Sheridan Square.
Well, my father was a smoker so that explains why we took the high road.
Why oh why are these listings so inconsistent. Sometimes it’s the original name, sometimes the current, sometimes something in between. It’s all very frustrating. I realize with the multitude of listings it would be impossible to cross reference everything. What happens when those of us in the know are gone. But then, again, when those of us in the know are gone whose going to care about things which have been our passion. I know of at least four Long Island theatres which don’t appear and am working on getting the full information before I post them. Other than making comments I don’t know if we are allowed to change the original headings.
And Lost Memory would you please tell me why I can only find the Old Post Office Cinema in East Hampton. What about the regular East Hampton theatre which, before it’s current subdividing had been a single screen “forever”.
When my parents were first married they would travel to the city from nearby Astoria, Queens virtually every week to see a show, movie or whatever. Somewhere in the back of my mind I recall my father saying the Rivoli had a wonderful orchestra. I presume there were movie – stage programs at this venue from that statement.
For more information about Manhattan theatres which had legitimate status at one time I recommend the book, Broadway’s Lost Theatres. It is soft cover black and white and has photos of every theatre contained therein. Most times it also lists seating capacities and the architect’s name and gives a very interest history. It is very sad because it’s so visual.
I. was only in the Paramount once with my parents as a child. At that time there was a movie and a stage show. On stage was Gene Krupa.
We climbed, and climbed up to our seats at the rear of the balconcy only to leave shortly thereafter when my mother had to leave because of the height factor which sometimes bothered her (Jones Beach Marine theatre and the Montauk Point lighthouse were the other times that I remember.)
Although it had a spotty history as a legitimate theatre it is ironic that the last show which played there, Urinetown, the Musical, was a hit. I remember walking thru the construction to attend the show. They had netting under the chandelier to prevent any crystals from being dislodged by the surrounding construction. Actually the run of the show was cut short by the need to demolish the auditorium for the new building.
Incidentally, a number of years previously, the theatre had been damaged by debris from a neighboring construction site which penetrated the roof.
After many years as a tv studio the Hudson was renovated and returned to the legitimate stage. I believe the first play after the reopening was Toys in the Attic. I know it was the first one I
saw there.
I’m happy to see it’s new life. When I was last in the area I saw the marquee for the Hudson but didn’t know it had been incorporated into the hotel. A shame it’s not open to the general public, it was just a gray space after it was returned to the legitimate theatre.
I’m confused. For many years I worked in the Gramercy Park area and there was a theatre on the west side of 23rd Street between Park Avenue South and Lexington called the Gramercy. Is this another situation where the theatre is listed under some identity other than the one I knew for more than 30 years? And if so is it a prior or latter? Or maybe it’s just not listed. I really don’t have the time or patience to go through all four hundred plus New York listings.
I visited this theatre twice: for the taping of a Steve Allen show and then, later as the Harkness for the Robber Bridegroom with Barry Bostwick of Rocky Horror (and now “the Voice)fame.
One of the features of the new public area is a rock climbing wall. On the handful of occasions I’ve been past there are actually people trying to climb the wall.
For many years into the seventies and eighties, the brass letter “Proctors” remainded imbedded in the sidewalk delineating the width of the original entrance.
Couldn’t remember exactly what Ed’s name was. After I posted this I replayed my theatre experience. Phantom was at the Pantages, Cats at the Elgin.
On second thought I think Cats played the Elgin, Phantom was at the Pantages.
Only the facade of the University remained for quite a few years. The first time I noticed it on a trip to Toronto I was surprised to look through the lobby doors and see daylight and rubble. This remained the case for several years until the retail store was built. At least the building facade and the marquee shape were retained in the transformation.
This is not to be confused with the “legitimate” theatre constructed by “Honest Ed” Mirisch specifically to accomodate the helicopter in Miss Saigon. Previously when Cats played at the Pantages (now bearing some corporate name) the scene where Grizabella is transported off to “cat heaven” had to be modified from the Broadway (and I presume London versions) because of limited space to “fly” scenery.
The lower theatre was originally Loew’s Younge Street; the upper theatre then and now the Winter Garden. Since the Winter Garden was never a movie theatre, when the building achieved a landmark status it could not be equipped for traditional movie showing. When I was last up there they were having some sort of presentation which involved a glorified power point presentation.
Rumor also has it that when the lower, movie theatre, was no longer under the Loew’s umbrella, they used illuminated letters which were still available to rename the theatre – hence, Elgin. It supposedly is not named for a person, e.g. Lord Elgin. But that makes absolutely no sense since there is no “I” in Loew’s Yonge Street.
Attn: Warren G. Harris – Interestingly, I was speaking with a friend of mine today and I mentioned this site. Then she began reminising about the theatres she had attended. She singled out the Valencia in Jamaica, Queens with the twinkling stars in the ceiling and the pond with a waterfall and fish. I guess the latter feature became a common denominator in the Loew’s movie palaces re our exchange about Loew’s State.
The Center Theatre was the second, smaller theatre in the Rockefeller Center complex. Center. It was subsequently used for ice shows and then television. It was then torn down very publically. Whatever TV show was housed there had a whole big production number “The Center Theatre’s coming down.”
Warren G Harris are you out there? In a much earlier posting you said Century orginially traded the Prospect for the Avalon and Manor in Brooklyn. The name Avalon was retained. What did the Manor become since none is listed as such?
And then Loews tried to buy out the Century chain. The theatre chains are like banks with the buys, sells and name changes.
It’s odd that an earlier posting should say this theatre was identical the the Baldwin. The Baldwin was just a simple rectangle. The Franklin had a multisurfaced facade with the auditorium jutting out from the side, like the Alan.
At one point in time the corporate offices of Century Theatres was also housed in the Community Theatre building. This having been moved from the Farragut Theatre building in Brooklyn. Subsequently, Century moved its operations to its own building on Verbena Av, just off Tulip, near the Floral Park Long Island Rail Road station.
Prices then were amazing. I recall the first show at the Music Hall being 90cents.