Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
32 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 573 comments
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-k15712arstar-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menacepremiere-at-loews-astor-42675495.html 20 years ago today Star Wars The Phantom Menace made its nationwide debut. Here is a photo of Donald and his then girlfriend Melania years before they got married and became the current president and first lady of the USA. The movie became a huge hit and it was the second to last Star Wars movie that was shown at this theater, with Attack of the Clones being the last.
Really, made its debut, not his…
40 years ago today Superman made his debut in 70mm six track dolby and made history.
35 years ago tomorrow return of the Jedi premiered at midnight and drew record crowds.
This and the Ziegfeld were my “go-to” thearers in the eary 80’s. Seeing RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK here was a religious experience.
40 years ago this thursday, Star Wars episode IV played here and became one of the top grossing movies at this theater. Episode V and VI also played here to packed houses in 70mm dolby stereo. 20 years after that premiere, the special editions of the trilogy played instead at the Ziegfeld theater, which played host to the prequels and the seventh star wars movie before closing down last year, making the Lafayette theater the only single screen theater in NYC area left to show another star wars movie, in that case, Rogue One.
1995-02-03 … IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (4) (DTS)
Who would’ve ever guessed then that John Carpenter would perform live music in the same venue and even perform that very score?
The original seat count of the Loew’s Astor, with the Griggs pushback seats, was 1528. After the remodeling around the end of the 20th century (I forget exactly when that happened) with the new Irwin rocking chair seats installed the count was 1440. The lease didn’t exactly prohibit dividing the auditorium, but required permission of the building owner for any alterations other than replacement of carpet, draperies, wall covering and counters/cabinetry of the concession stands. Three times times over the years Loew’s sought permission to divide the auditorium into 2, 3 and 4 cinemas, but the building owner shot them down each time. It’s one of the reasons it didn’t get its first (and only, by Loew’s) remodeling until it was about 25 years old, compared to 84th St. which had been remodeled twice by the time it was 12 years old.
A similar lease was held by RKO & Cineplex on the National across the street. When Cineplex remodeled in the late 80s they turned the two cinemas into three. When they were getting ready to re-open the landlord came around to look at the place. Apparently Cpx had not received permission to further divide the theatre, and the landlord ordered them to restore it back to two theatres, thereby delaying the re-opening by a few weeks.
Does anybody recall that Loews announced plans to triplex the Astor Plaza in the wake of the closing of the original Loews State in early 1987? I seem to remember that Loews' lease prohibited multiplexing the theatre, thankfully.
The NYTimes obituary states there were 1440 seats in this house…
The very first comment on this thread mentions there were 1500+ seats, not exactly an exact count…
Wow, that list is a master list of every major film of the first 25 years of my life and then some.
Question, though. Does anyone have the capacity of this place when it was a movie theatre? The 2100 figure is for the current concert venue for concerts with general admission, but the figure is 1166 for reserved seating. (They put out a lot of folding chairs. 568 according to their seating chart.) so I wonder what the capacity was when it was all fixed seats.
Great job with the list Coate!
That is an amazing list. I am astounded at how many movies I remember seeing at this house. Damn, what a loss…
I’m re-posting the list of films that played here since the website redesign a few years ago has caused the original formatting to go haywire, not to mention the original list is now buried among several pages of comments. So here’s a fresh version with improved layout and formatting.
ASTOR PLAZA, 1974-2004
Compiled by Michael Coate
Astor Plaza
1515 Broadway (44th & Broadway)
New York, NY 10036
OWNERSHIP TIMELINE
Loews: 1974-1994
Sony: 1994-1998
Loews Cineplex: 1998-2004
The duration of each engagement, measured in weeks, has been included in parenthesis following each title. The filmography excludes un-promoted and one-off events (i.e. trade screenings, test screenings, sneak previews, private screenings).
1974-06-26 … FOR PETE’S SAKE (4 weeks)
1974-07-24 … DEATH WISH (17)
1974-11-20 … THE KLANSMAN (4)
1974-12-18 … MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (6)
1975-01-29 … YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (6)
1975-03-12 … ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (6)
1975-04-23 … TEN LITTLE INDIANS (4)
1975-05-21 … BREAKOUT (4)
1975-06-18 … ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH (9)
1975-08-20 … RUSSIAN ROULETTE (3)
1975-09-10 … MITCHELL! (1)
1975-09-18 … PAPILLON (1)
1975-09-24 … 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR (12)
1975-12-16 … THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (9)
1976-02-18 … I WILL, I WILL…FOR NOW (2)
1976-03-05 … MAN FRIDAY (3)
1976-03-24 … GIVE ’EM HELL, HARRY! (1)
1976-04-02 … ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE / DELIVERANCE (1)
1976-04-07 … ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (11)
1976-06-23 … LOGAN’S RUN (7) (70mm)
1976-08-11 … THE SHOOTIST (5)
1976-09-17 … theater closed (4)
1976-10-13 … PART 2 SOUNDER (1)
1976-10-22 … MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH (1)
1976-10-29 … THE OUTER SPACE CONNECTION (2)
1976-11-12 … TWO-MINUTE WARNING (4)
1976-12-22 … VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED (7)
1977-02-09 … THE CASSANDRA CROSSING (3)
1977-03-04 … TAXI DRIVER / OBSESSION (2)
1977-03-18 … THE JAWS OF DEATH (1)
1977-03-25 … THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (3)
1977-04-13 … ISLANDS IN THE STREAM (2)
1977-04-29 … THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN / THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER (1)
1977-05-06 … theater closed (3)
1977-05-25 … STAR WARS (61) (70mm-Dolby)
1978-07-28 … ANIMAL HOUSE (10)
1978-10-06 … WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE? (3)
1978-10-26 … THE WIZ (7) (Dolby)
1978-12-15 … SUPERMAN (16) (70mm-Dolby)
1979-04-04 … THE CHAMP (10)
1979-06-15 … PROPHECY (4) (Dolby)
1979-07-13 … THE WANDERERS (4)
1979-08-10 … MEATBALLS (1)
1979-08-15 … STAR WARS (4) (70mm-Dolby)
1979-09-14 … CITY ON FIRE! (1)
1979-09-21 … A TOUCH OF CLASS / I WILL, I WILL…FOR NOW (1)
1979-09-28 … A MAN, A WOMAN AND A BANK (1)
1979-10-05 … TOURIST TRAP (1)
1979-10-12 … THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE (1) (stereo)
1979-10-19 … METEOR (3) (stereo)
1979-11-09 … FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (4) (Dolby)
1979-12-07 … AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (2)
1979-12-21 … THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN (7)
1980-02-08 … HERO AT LARGE (3)
1980-02-29 … AMERICAN GIGOLO (1) (Dolby)
1980-03-07 … THE BLACK MARBLE (3)
1980-03-28 … SERIAL (5)
1980-05-02 … DEATH SHIP (1)
1980-05-09 … FRIDAY THE 13TH (2)
1980-05-21 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (20) (70mm-Dolby)
1980-10-10 … ORDINARY PEOPLE (9)
1980-12-12 … THE SHINING (2)
1980-12-25 … ALTERED STATES (14) (70mm-Dolby & Megasound)
1981-04-03 … HOLY TERROR (2)
1981-04-17 … THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1)
1981-04-24 … HEAVEN’S GATE (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1981-05-08 … SQUEEZE PLAY (1)
1981-05-15 … LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT / HOUSE ON THE LAKE (1)
1981-05-22 … THE FOUR SEASONS (3)
1981-06-12 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (23) (70mm-Dolby)
1981-11-20 … TIME BANDITS (2) (Dolby)
1981-12-04 … REDS (14)
1982-03-12 … RICHARD PRYOR: LIVE ON THE SUNSET STRIP (7)
1982-04-30 … WRONG IS RIGHT (3)
1982-05-21 … ANNIE (10) (70mm-Dolby)
1982-07-28 … AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (20)
1982-12-17 … THE DARK CRYSTAL (8) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-02-11 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER (6) (70mm)
1983-03-25 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-04-15 … FLASHDANCE (6) (Dolby)
1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI (21) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-10-21 … UNDER FIRE (5) (Dolby)
1983-11-23 … TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (15)
1984-03-09 … THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE (4) (Dolby)
1984-04-06 … MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (6) (Dolby)
1984-05-18 … theater closed (1)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (19) (70mm-Dolby)
1984-10-05 … TEACHERS (2) (Dolby)
1984-10-19 … CRIMES OF PASSION (4)
1984-11-16 … JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (1)
1984-11-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (2) (Dolby)
1984-12-07 … 2010 (9) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-02-08 … WITNESS (15) (Dolby)
1985-05-24 … A VIEW TO A KILL (7) (Dolby)
1985-07-12 … EXPLORERS (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-08-02 … WEIRD SCIENCE (2) (Dolby)
1985-08-16 … YEAR OF THE DRAGON (6) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-09-27 … THE STUFF (3)
1985-10-18 … CEASE FIRE (2)
1985-11-01 … TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (5) (Dolby)
1985-12-04 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (8) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-01-31 … YOUNGBLOOD (2) (Dolby)
1986-02-14 … OUT OF AFRICA (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-02-28 … PRETTY IN PINK (4) (Dolby)
1986-03-26 … THE MONEY PIT (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-04-18 … LEGEND (4) (Dolby)
1986-05-16 … TOP GUN (7) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-07-02 … PSYCHO III (4) (Dolby)
1986-08-01 … HOWARD THE DUCK (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-08-22 … NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (5) (Dolby)
1986-09-26 … ‘CROCODILE’ DUNDEE (8) (Dolby)
1986-11-21 … AN AMERICAN TAIL (4) (Dolby)
1986-12-19 … PLATOON (18) (Dolby)
1987-04-24 … EXTREME PREJUDICE (4) (Dolby)
1987-05-20 … BEVERLY HILLS COP II (10) (Dolby)
1987-07-31 … THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (4) (Dolby)
1987-08-28 … HAMBURGER HILL (4) (Dolby)
1987-09-25 … BEST SELLER (5)
1987-10-30 … FATAL BEAUTY (4) (Dolby)
1987-11-25 … PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES (7) (Dolby)
1988-01-15 … THE COUCH TRIP (3)
1988-02-05 … COP (3)
1988-02-26 … APPRENTICE TO MURDER (2)
1988-03-11 … VICE VERSA (3) (Dolby)
1988-04-01 … BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (2) (Dolby)
1988-04-15 … COLORS (4) (Dolby SR)
1988-05-13 … FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (2) (Ultra Stereo)
1988-05-25 … ‘CROCODILE’ DUNDEE II (5) (Dolby)
1988-06-29 … COMING TO AMERICA (7) (Dolby)
1988-08-19 … A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER (4) (Dolby)
1988-09-16 … TOUGHER THAN LEATHER (2)
1988-09-30 … ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK (5) (Dolby)
1988-11-04 … U2: RATTLE AND HUM (3) (Dolby SR)
1988-11-23 … SCROOGED (7) (Dolby SR)
1989-01-13 … I’M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA (5) (Ultra Stereo)
1989-02-17 … THE MIGHTY QUINN (2) (Dolby)
1989-03-03 … FAREWELL TO THE KING (2) (Dolby SR)
1989-03-17 … LEVIATHAN (3) (Dolby SR)
1989-04-07 … MAJOR LEAGUE (2) (Dolby)
1989-04-21 … PET SEMATARY (5) (Dolby)
1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (7) (70mm-Dolby SR)
1989-07-14 … LICENCE TO KILL (4) (Dolby SR)
1989-08-11 … A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5: THE DREAM CHILD (3) (Dolby)
1989-08-30 … RELENTLESS (3) (Dolby)
1989-09-22 … BLACK RAIN (6) (70mm-Dolby)
1989-11-03 … STEPFATHER 2 (2) (Dolby)
1989-11-17 … HARLEM NIGHTS (8) (Dolby SR)
1990-01-12 … INTERNAL AFFAIRS (3) (Dolby)
1990-02-02 … HEART CONDITION (4) (Dolby)
1990-03-02 … THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (9) (70mm-Dolby)
1990-05-04 … TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE (5) (Dolby)
1990-06-08 … ANOTHER 48 HRS. (9) (Dolby SR)
1990-08-10 … THE TWO JAKES (3) (Dolby)
1990-08-31 … THE LEMON SISTERS (2) (Dolby)
1990-09-14 … DEATH WARRANT (2) (Dolby)
1990-09-28 … KING OF NEW YORK (4) (Dolby SR)
1990-10-26 … GRAVEYARD SHIFT (3) (Dolby SR)
1990-11-16 … ROCKY V (6) (Dolby SR)
1990-12-25 … THE GODFATHER PART III (7) (70mm-Dolby SR)
1991-02-14 … THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (5) (Dolby SR)
1991-03-22 … TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II (6) (Dolby)
1991-05-03 … A RAGE IN HARLEM (5) (Dolby)
1991-06-07 … CITY SLICKERS (5) (Dolby SR)
1991-07-12 … BOYZ N THE HOOD (6) (Dolby SR)
1991-08-23 … DEAD AGAIN (5) (Dolby)
1991-09-27 … NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (2) (Dolby)
1991-10-11 … FRANKIE & JOHNNY (6) (Dolby)
1991-11-22 … THE ADDAMS FAMILY (8) (Dolby SR)
1992-01-17 … JUICE (4) (Dolby)
1992-02-14 … WAYNE’S WORLD (6) (Dolby SR)
1992-03-27 … LADYBUGS (2) (Dolby)
1992-04-10 … SLEEPWALKERS (8) (Dolby)
1992-06-05 … PATRIOT GAMES (5) (70mm-Dolby)
1992-07-10 … COOL WORLD (2) (Dolby SR)
1992-07-24 … MO’ MONEY (5) (Dolby SR)
1992-08-28 … PET SEMATARY TWO (6) (Dolby)
1992-10-09 … 1492: CONQUEST OF PARADISE (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1992-10-30 … RAMPAGE (2) (Dolby)
1992-11-13 … BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (5) (Dolby Digital)
1992-12-18 … LEAP OF FAITH (4) (Dolby SR)
1993-01-15 … NOWHERE TO RUN (4) (Dolby SR)
1993-02-12 … THE TEMP (4) (Dolby)
1993-03-12 … FIRE IN THE SKY (4) (Dolby SR)
1993-04-07 … INDECENT PROPOSAL (6) (Dolby)
1993-05-21 … SLIVER (6) (Dolby SR)
1993-06-30 … THE FIRM (8) (Dolby SR)
1993-08-27 … NEEDFUL THINGS (3) (Dolby SR)
1993-09-17 … STRIKING DISTANCE (7) (Dolby SR)
1993-11-05 … FLESH AND BONE (2) (DTS)
1993-11-19 … ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (9) (Dolby Digital)
1994-01-21 … INTERSECTION (4) (Dolby SR)
1994-02-18 … BLUE CHIPS (4) (DTS)
1994-03-18 … NAKED GUN 33 1/3: THE FINAL INSULT (5) (Dolby SR)
1994-04-22 … BRAINSCAN (5) (Dolby)
1994-05-25 … BEVERLY HILLS COP III (6) (DTS)
1994-07-06 … FORREST GUMP (4) (DTS)
1994-08-03 … CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (8) (DTS)
1994-09-28 … JASON’S LYRIC (4) (Dolby)
1994-10-28 … DROP SQUAD (3) (Dolby Digital)
1994-11-18 … THE PROFESSIONAL (3) (Dolby SR)
1994-12-09 … DROP ZONE (8) (DTS)
1995-02-03 … IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (4) (DTS)
1995-03-03 … THE MANGLER (2) (Dolby SR)
1995-03-17 … CANDYMAN: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH (2) (Dolby SR)
1995-03-31 … TOMMY BOY (3) (Dolby)
1995-04-19 … NEW JERSEY DRIVE (2) (DTS)
1995-05-03 … PANTHER (3) (Dolby SR)
1995-05-26 … PANTHER / BAD BOYS (2) (Dolby SR)
1995-06-09 … CONGO (4) (DTS)
1995-07-07 … SPECIES (4) (DTS)
1995-08-04 … VIRTUOSITY (4) (DTS)
1995-09-01 … THE PROPHECY (6) (Ultra Stereo)
1995-10-13 … JADE (6) (Dolby Digital)
1995-11-22 … NICK OF TIME (3) (Dolby Digital)
1995-12-15 … SABRINA (4) (Dolby Digital)
1996-01-12 … EYE FOR AN EYE (3) (Dolby Digital)
1996-02-02 … BLACK SHEEP (3) (Dolby Digital)
1996-02-23 … BLACK SHEEP / BRAVEHEART (1) (Dolby Digital)
1996-03-01 … BRAVEHEART (1) (Dolby Digital)
1996-03-08 … HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE (4) (Dolby Digital)
1996-04-03 … PRIMAL FEAR (6) (Dolby Digital)
1996-05-17 … HEAVEN’S PRISONERS (2) (SDDS)
1996-05-31 … THE ARRIVAL (1) (SDDS)
1996-06-07 … THE PHANTOM (2) (DTS)
1996-06-21 … MISSION: IMPOSIBLE (5) (Dolby Digital)
1996-07-26 … KINGPIN (2) (DTS)
1996-08-09 … ESCAPE FROM L.A. (2) (Dolby Digital)
1996-08-23 … THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (3) (SDDS)
1996-09-13 … theater closed (2)
1996-09-27 … 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (2) (DTS)
1996-10-11 … THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS (6) (DTS)
1996-11-22 … STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (4) (DTS)
1996-12-20 … SCREAM (6) (Dolby Digital)
1997-01-29 … GRIDLOCK’D (3) (Dolby Digital)
1997-02-21 … BLOOD & WINE (2) (Dolby)
1997-03-07 … PRIVATE PARTS (2) (Dolby Digital)
1997-03-21 … THE GODFATHER (3) (DTS)
1997-04-11 … ANACONDA (3) (SDDS)
1997-05-02 … BREAKDOWN (7) (Dolby Digital)
1997-06-20 … BATMAN & ROBIN (3) (SDDS)
1997-07-11 … CONTACT (3) (SDDS)
1997-08-01 … SPAWN (2) (SDDS)
1997-08-15 … EVENT HORIZON (2) (DTS)
1997-08-27 … HOODLUM (2) (DTS)
1997-09-12 … THE GAME (3) (DTS)
1997-10-03 … KISS THE GIRLS (2) (Dolby Digital)
1997-10-17 … THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (5) (SDDS)
1997-11-21 … MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION (3) (SDDS)
1997-12-12 … THE RAINMAKER (1) (Dolby Digital)
1997-12-19 … TITANIC (15) (70mm-DTS)
1998-04-03 … LOST IN SPACE (3) (SDDS)
1998-04-24 … THE BIG HIT (2) (SDDS)
1998-05-08 … DEEP IMPACT (4) (SDDS)
1998-06-05 … THE TRUMAN SHOW (5) (DTS)
1998-07-10 … LETHAL WEAPON 4 (4) (SDDS)
1998-08-05 … HALLOWEEN: H20 (1) (Dolby Digital)
1998-08-14 … HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK (2) (DTS)
1998-08-28 … 54 (3) (Dolby Digital)
1998-09-18 … RUSH HOUR (4) (SDDS)
1998-10-16 … PRACTICAL MAGIC (3) (SDDS)
1998-11-06 … THE WIZARD OF OZ (2) (SDDS)
1998-11-20 … CELEBRITY (3) (Dolby SR)
1998-12-11 … STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (2) (DTS)
1998-12-25 … THE FACULTY (3) (Dolby Digital)
1999-01-15 … VIRUS (3) (SDDS)
1999-02-05 … PAYBACK (5) (DTS)
1999-03-12 … THE CORRUPTOR (3) (SDDS)
1999-03-31 … THE MATRIX (5) (SDDS)
1999-05-07 … THE MUMMY (6) (SDDS)
1999-06-18 … THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER (2) (DTS)
1999-06-30 … WILD WILD WEST (2) (SDDS)
1999-07-16 … EYES WIDE SHUT (2) (SDDS)
1999-07-30 … RUNAWAY BRIDE (3) (DTS)
1999-08-20 … MICKEY BLUE EYES (3) (SDDS)
1999-09-10 … STIGMATA (2) (DTS)
1999-09-24 … DOUBLE JEOPARDY (4) (Dolby Digital)
1999-10-22 … BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (4) (Dolby Digital)
1999-11-19 … THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (3) (DTS)
1999-12-10 … THE GREEN MILE (5) (SDDS)
2000-01-12 … NEXT FRIDAY (7) (SDDS)
2000-03-01 … 3 STRIKES (2) (Dolby SR)
2000-03-17 … FINAL DESTINATION (7) (SDDS)
2000-05-05 … GLADIATOR (8) (SDDS)
2000-06-28 … THE PATRIOT (3) (SDDS-8)
2000-07-21 … WHAT LIES BENEATH (9) (SDDS)
2000-09-22 … THE EXORCIST “The Version You’ve Never Seen” (5) (SDDS)
2000-10-27 … BOOK OF SHADOWS: BLAIR WITCH 2 (2) (Dolby Digital)
2000-11-10 … RED PLANET (5) (SDDS)
2000-12-15 … GLADIATOR (1) (SDDS)
2000-12-22 … CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (7) (Dolby Digital)
2001-02-09 … HANNIBAL (6) (SDDS)
2001-03-23 … TRAFFIC (4) (Dolby Digital)
2001-04-20 … CROCODILE DUNDEE IN LOS ANGELES (2) (Dolby Digital)
2001-05-04 … MEMENTO (5) (Dolby Digital)
2001-06-08 … EVOLUTION (3) (SDDS)
2001-06-29 … BABY BOY (5) (SDDS)
2001-08-03 … APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX (10) (Dolby Digital)
2001-10-12 … IRON MONKEY (3) (Dolby Digital)
2001-11-02 … BANDITS (3) (SDDS)
2001-11-23 … TITANIC (1) (format ?)
2001-11-30 … DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE (2) (Dolby Digital)
2001-12-14 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (4) (70mm-Dolby SR)
2002-01-11 … APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-01-25 … THE OTHERS (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-02-08 … COLLATERAL DAMAGE (6) (Dolby Digital)
2002-03-22 … BLADE II (4) (SDDS)
2002-04-19 … THE SCORPION KING (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-05-03 … SPIDER-MAN (4) (SDDS-8)
2002-05-31 … THE SUM OF ALL FEARS (4) (Dolby Digital)
2002-06-28 … MR. DEEDS (2) (SDDS)
2002-07-12 … HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (1) (Dolby Digital)
2002-07-19 … K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-08-02 … SIGNS (3) (SDDS)
2002-08-23 … UNDISPUTED (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-09-06 … CITY BY THE SEA (2) (SDDS)
2002-09-20 … BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (4) (SDDS)
2002-10-18 … BLOODY SUNDAY (1) (Dolby Digital)
2002-10-25 … JACKASS: THE MOVIE (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-11-08 … 8 MILE (2) (Dolby Digital)
2002-11-22 … DIE ANOTHER DAY (4) (SDDS)
2002-12-18 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (4) (SDDS)
2003-01-17 … NATIONAL SECURITY (2) (SDDS)
2003-01-31 … BIKER BOYZ (3) (SDDS)
2003-02-21 … DARK BLUE (2) (Dolby Digital)
2003-03-07 … GANGS OF NEW YORK (3) (Dolby Digital)
2003-03-28 … THE CORE (2) (Dolby Digital)
2003-04-11 … ANGER MANAGEMENT (4) (SDDS)
2003-05-09 … IDENTITY (2) (SDDS)
2003-05-23 … BRUCE ALMIGHTY (6) (Dolby Digital)
2003-07-02 … TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2) (SDDS)
2003-07-18 … BAD BOYS II (3) (SDDS-8)
2003-08-08 … S.W.A.T. (5) (SDDS-8)
2003-09-12 … ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (2) (SDDS)
2003-09-26 … THE RUNDOWN (2) (Dolby Digital)
2003-10-10 … KILL BILL VOL. 1 (4) (SDDS)
2003-11-05 … THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (2) (SDDS)
2003-11-21 … GOTHIKA (4) (SDDS)
2003-12-17 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (6) (SDDS)
2004-01-30 … YOU GOT SERVED (3) (SDDS)
2004-02-20 … AGAINST THE ROPES (2) (Dolby Digital)
2004-03-05 … STARSKY & HUTCH (2) (SDDS)
2004-03-19 … TAKING LIVES (2) (SDDS)
2004-04-02 … HELLBOY (2) (SDDS)
2004-04-16 … THE PUNISHER (3) (SDDS)
2004-05-07 … VAN HELSING (2) (Dolby Digital)
2004-05-19 … SHREK 2 (2) (Dolby Digital)
2004-06-04 … HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (4) (SDDS)
2004-06-30 … SPIDER-MAN 2 (4) (SDDS-8)
2004-07-30 … THE VILLAGE (3 days) (SDDS)
2004-08-02 … theater closed
The information contained in this article was referenced from microfilm of The New York Times, Variety and Village Voice.
With a name like Playstation Theater, what’s next, Xbox Theater or Nintendo theater? Not too far from Playstation theater there are Microsoft stores as well as Nintendo NYC (f/k/a Nintendo World at Rockefeller Center). Yankee Stadium also has Playstation kiosks in the museum not to mention the Sony advertising sign at the field. When it ran as a movie house, around the time I was born, The Dark Crystal had its world premiere there, during which Jim Henson and company brought puppets from the film to the premiere. That movie soon became a cult classic and a worldwide hit.
My favorite NYC movie theatre. I enjoyed so many classic movies at this theatre. STAR WARS (the first time I was there), ANIMAL HOUSE, SUPERMAN, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, ALTERED STATES, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, RETURN OF THE JEDI, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, 2010, WITNESS, YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES, PLATOON, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, SCROOGED, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, FOREST GUMP, KINGPIN, TITANIC, THE EXORCIST 2000 VERSION, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX, THE 2001 re-release of 2001, and the three LORD OF THE RINGS movies. Even saw a few duds like LICENCE TO KILL, ANOTHER 48 HOURS, COOL WORLD, BATMAN AND ROBIN, WILD WILD WEST and that last MATRIX movie. The last movie I saw here was THE RETURN OF THE KING. I really miss trekking into NYC to see a movie at Loews Astor Plaza.
Thank you Movieholic, Robert R and Al Alvarez. I had the same comment on Nov 17.
I take that back. Snapple is a far worse name.
There is a Snapple Theater down the block
I totally agree with you on the name RobertR. I can’t think of a more stupid name that reeks of greedy corporate synergy.
This name just sounds so moronic to me, just my opinion
The Selwyn Theatre was restored and renovated by the Roundabout Theatre company and re-opened on July 27, 2000 with a production of “The Man Who Came To Dinner” starring Nathan Lane. It was renamed for its generous benefactor, American Airlines.
Thanks Joe Vogel. The American Airlines Theater aka Selwyn has kept its name since becoming a legit theater.
It’s money, Mikeoaklandpark, and the value of publicity. AEG in particular doesn’t like to leave so much as a penny on the table. They cash in on selling naming rights to companies that know every event advertisement, every review, every social media post that mentions the venue with their name on it is an advertisement for them and their products. Companies will bid each other up, and the one willing to pay the most gets its name on the venue.
Old time showmen like Marcus Lowe and William Fox built famous brands out of their own names, but modern promoters have realized they can make even more money by charging other companies for five-year piggyback rides. I believe five years is the most common term of a naming rights contract, so the names are apt to change that often unless the current contact holder is willing to pay for another five years, usually at a higher price. If some other company is willing to pay more, then it’s goodbye Best Buy Theatre and hello PlayStation Theatre.