Of those 51 theatres in the Metro NY area, I wonder how many are still around today operating as motion picture theaters? I’m sure quite a few have been demolished, converted to retail or, are being used as houses of worship.
Thanks Warren!
Once again you continue to be the authoritative source on all things related to movie theatres! Please keep all those informative posts coming!
Movie Place NYC,
There is absolutely no difference in the Fortway photograph in the two editions of the book that I own. I was supprised the Fortway was not listed in the index as well Warren, but I’m glad the book at least has the photo.
Maybe someone out there knows what the “kilgen” in the caption refers to?
Movie Place NYC,
I went back and checked two editions of Ben Hall’s “The Best Remaining Seats” for the photo. In the original hardcover version, the actual photo is on page 191 with the caption on the page before. It reads as follows: George Mantalba at Fortway, Brooklyn, Kilgen (with pilots license?) in the softcover the same photo is on page 187.
You can clearly see the organ console on its lift above the orchestra, right below are chimes and a drum. In the backround is one of the Female figures mentioned in a previous post. You can also see a beautiful curtain with vines on it that must have been for the stage. The Fortway must have been quite a nice showplace in its heyday, glad it’s still showing movies.
I remember those stairwells, one of the only ways to tell this used to be a theatre. I hate to say this, but this building probably will never be used for motion picture exibition again. It would take an investor with a big dream and even deeper pockets to make this happen.
Thanks Movie Place NYC!
I do have a copy of this book as any theatrefan should, do you know which edition is it that has the photo? I have the original hardcover version. I believe there were three versions published.
I think the Loew’s booking office was better at getting product for their theatres during this era, I remember Loew’s almost always having the top blockbusters of the day in the 70’s and 80’s.
Vincent,
You might want to check out Artkraft’s website: www.artkraft.com, they do have a lot of famous historical photo’s in the gallery section, some even feature movie theatre advertising. You can see many theatres that are no longer with us like the Rivoli, Criterion, etc.
Hopefully one day someone will put together a book of famous marquees and billboards of Times Square, with all the changes to the Square and all the interest surrounding it I can’t see why it wouldn’t sell well.
Wasn’t Artkraft Strauss responsible for all those type of signs, if so maybe they have an archive at their headquaters in NYC. I for one would love to see a book of all the theatre advertising during the glorious heyday of Times Square.
I called Regal Entertaintment Group this morning to let them know someone ripped the boards off the front door got inside and turned on the the lights, apparently the marquee lights were on all night. The person I spoke with said they would alert the district supervisor to this problem, lets hope something gets done.
Loews Cineplex made millions off the sale of the property the theatre was sitting on. I remember the marble and neon in a lot of their theatres, Cineplex apparently thought that was real classy, as was selling you extra squirts of butter on your popcorn. I wonder though why towards the end of it’s exisitance the theatre changed from being a Cineplex theatre to just a plain Loews theatre, maybe a way to drum up some business. My friend used to call them Cinebucks Odeous.
This theatre was never a proper replacement for the former Famous Player Loews 5 across the street, that was a true movie palace! I suppose it’s better than having the former Simpson’s department store building standing empty and unused like a white elephant.
I can scan the photo, where would I post it to? Do they let you do that on this site? I hope something gets done with the Mayfair/Demille, its been empty for a very long time and its mostly intact inside.
I remember Eric’s Place, It’s now been converted to retail. UA bought out the Sam Eric chain in the late 80’s I think. I wonder if there are any former Sam Eric theatres still operating?
Yes, I went to see movies there when it was the Sam Eric Quad, gosh UA really ran that place into the ground. Believe me if this can happen in other cities like the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City and the Opera House in Boston it can happen in Philly. I believe that the Boyd is the only real surviving movie palace still left in Center City.
Land values being what they are in Midtown Manhattan, there really was no way to save these theatres, also lets remember the preservation movement had yet to be started, they wanted to tear down Grand Central and replace it with an ugly office building as well. Other Cties have seemed to save at least one former palace and use it for preforming arts centers, I wish New York had been able to, well at least we have Radio City.
Hi Mikeoaklandpark,
Yes the original Loew’s Orpheum was knocked down to make way for an apartment bulding with modern cinemas uderneath. The 3rd Avenue entrance to the theatre is gone. Since this theatre has opened they have redone the lobby, because the ticket booth area used to be outside. The inside of this theatre is like the other Loews of this era ala the 84th St, Village 7, and 19th Street East. The one unique feature is the marquee is sort of a throwback to the old fashioned ones of yesterday, it had a curved hump in the front.
Unfortunately like all other theatres the land they were sitting on had much more value than the actual building.
There is a magazine called “Scene” being give out at Loews theatres to celebrate the chain’s centenial 1904-2004. As soon as you open the front cover there is a picture of the Astor Plaza hosting the premiere for Funny Lady from 1975. I got my issue at the Loews Orpheum yesterday, you might want to check for it at your local Loews theatre. It also contains an interesting article and photos that chronicle the last 100 years of the Loews Theatre Chain.
I remember it being to the right as you entered the lobby. The auditoriums here always seemed kind of small, when I used to compare the Benson to the Marboro and Oriental. I remember when the Benson had “Return of the Jedi” playing in 1983, the ticket line was all the way down 86th Street.
I remember rignt after it closed being shocked, I wonder if theatre chains also knew about the forthcoming Ewalk-Empire duo of 38 movie screens a few blocks away. The Criterion closed rignt after the Empire opened, pretty soon so will the State.
Of those 51 theatres in the Metro NY area, I wonder how many are still around today operating as motion picture theaters? I’m sure quite a few have been demolished, converted to retail or, are being used as houses of worship.
Thanks Warren!
Once again you continue to be the authoritative source on all things related to movie theatres! Please keep all those informative posts coming!
Movie Place NYC,
There is absolutely no difference in the Fortway photograph in the two editions of the book that I own. I was supprised the Fortway was not listed in the index as well Warren, but I’m glad the book at least has the photo.
Maybe someone out there knows what the “kilgen” in the caption refers to?
Movie Place NYC,
I went back and checked two editions of Ben Hall’s “The Best Remaining Seats” for the photo. In the original hardcover version, the actual photo is on page 191 with the caption on the page before. It reads as follows: George Mantalba at Fortway, Brooklyn, Kilgen (with pilots license?) in the softcover the same photo is on page 187.
You can clearly see the organ console on its lift above the orchestra, right below are chimes and a drum. In the backround is one of the Female figures mentioned in a previous post. You can also see a beautiful curtain with vines on it that must have been for the stage. The Fortway must have been quite a nice showplace in its heyday, glad it’s still showing movies.
Your welcome Bill,
It must have shown them at one point during its history and then been converted back to a legit theatre like the RKO Palace was.
I remember those stairwells, one of the only ways to tell this used to be a theatre. I hate to say this, but this building probably will never be used for motion picture exibition again. It would take an investor with a big dream and even deeper pockets to make this happen.
Thanks Movie Place NYC!
I do have a copy of this book as any theatrefan should, do you know which edition is it that has the photo? I have the original hardcover version. I believe there were three versions published.
Mikeoaklamdpark,
Try it this way: http://www.artkraft.com/
I think that should work!
I think the Loew’s booking office was better at getting product for their theatres during this era, I remember Loew’s almost always having the top blockbusters of the day in the 70’s and 80’s.
Vincent,
You might want to check out Artkraft’s website: www.artkraft.com, they do have a lot of famous historical photo’s in the gallery section, some even feature movie theatre advertising. You can see many theatres that are no longer with us like the Rivoli, Criterion, etc.
Hopefully one day someone will put together a book of famous marquees and billboards of Times Square, with all the changes to the Square and all the interest surrounding it I can’t see why it wouldn’t sell well.
Wasn’t Artkraft Strauss responsible for all those type of signs, if so maybe they have an archive at their headquaters in NYC. I for one would love to see a book of all the theatre advertising during the glorious heyday of Times Square.
Wasn’t most of this theatre totaly destroyed in the creation of that horrible Toys R Us store? Is there anything that remains inside?
I once read that most of this buildings revenue source comes from those huge billboards on top of the building.
I called Regal Entertaintment Group this morning to let them know someone ripped the boards off the front door got inside and turned on the the lights, apparently the marquee lights were on all night. The person I spoke with said they would alert the district supervisor to this problem, lets hope something gets done.
Loews Cineplex made millions off the sale of the property the theatre was sitting on. I remember the marble and neon in a lot of their theatres, Cineplex apparently thought that was real classy, as was selling you extra squirts of butter on your popcorn. I wonder though why towards the end of it’s exisitance the theatre changed from being a Cineplex theatre to just a plain Loews theatre, maybe a way to drum up some business. My friend used to call them Cinebucks Odeous.
This theatre was never a proper replacement for the former Famous Player Loews 5 across the street, that was a true movie palace! I suppose it’s better than having the former Simpson’s department store building standing empty and unused like a white elephant.
rhett,
I can scan the photo, where would I post it to? Do they let you do that on this site? I hope something gets done with the Mayfair/Demille, its been empty for a very long time and its mostly intact inside.
I remember Eric’s Place, It’s now been converted to retail. UA bought out the Sam Eric chain in the late 80’s I think. I wonder if there are any former Sam Eric theatres still operating?
Yes, I went to see movies there when it was the Sam Eric Quad, gosh UA really ran that place into the ground. Believe me if this can happen in other cities like the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City and the Opera House in Boston it can happen in Philly. I believe that the Boyd is the only real surviving movie palace still left in Center City.
Land values being what they are in Midtown Manhattan, there really was no way to save these theatres, also lets remember the preservation movement had yet to be started, they wanted to tear down Grand Central and replace it with an ugly office building as well. Other Cties have seemed to save at least one former palace and use it for preforming arts centers, I wish New York had been able to, well at least we have Radio City.
Hi Mikeoaklandpark,
Yes the original Loew’s Orpheum was knocked down to make way for an apartment bulding with modern cinemas uderneath. The 3rd Avenue entrance to the theatre is gone. Since this theatre has opened they have redone the lobby, because the ticket booth area used to be outside. The inside of this theatre is like the other Loews of this era ala the 84th St, Village 7, and 19th Street East. The one unique feature is the marquee is sort of a throwback to the old fashioned ones of yesterday, it had a curved hump in the front.
Unfortunately like all other theatres the land they were sitting on had much more value than the actual building.
There is a magazine called “Scene” being give out at Loews theatres to celebrate the chain’s centenial 1904-2004. As soon as you open the front cover there is a picture of the Astor Plaza hosting the premiere for Funny Lady from 1975. I got my issue at the Loews Orpheum yesterday, you might want to check for it at your local Loews theatre. It also contains an interesting article and photos that chronicle the last 100 years of the Loews Theatre Chain.
Whatever Regal is going to do i hope they do it soon, this place is about to collapse in on itself at any given moment.
Yes you’re right,
I remember it being to the right as you entered the lobby. The auditoriums here always seemed kind of small, when I used to compare the Benson to the Marboro and Oriental. I remember when the Benson had “Return of the Jedi” playing in 1983, the ticket line was all the way down 86th Street.
Does anyone here remember the Benson with the ticket booth outside the lobby?
Thanks dave-bronx,
I remember rignt after it closed being shocked, I wonder if theatre chains also knew about the forthcoming Ewalk-Empire duo of 38 movie screens a few blocks away. The Criterion closed rignt after the Empire opened, pretty soon so will the State.