They screened five or six of the quota quickies at this retro, but I skipped them. The WR also did a Powell retro back in ‘93 then Film Forum mounted one in '95. The Film Forum’s retro might have been solely Powell/Pressburger films.
I’d like to know why THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNAL is not screening.
I remembering suffering through CATS. How did that last so long?
What I remember about this block was the Hawai-themed restaurant next door, Hawai-Kai. It was there for years before closing sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I never went there, but I understand they had Hawains in native dress doing an act complete with fire. I remember the sign was still attached to the building long after the restaurant closed.
One other thing about the restaurant was that there was a midgit doorman named Pee Wee Marquette who was famous in an earlier age when he worked on “Swing Street” — 52nd Street between Fifth & Sixth Avenues. He also worked at the legendary jazz club “Birdland,” which was on Broadway in Times Square. He would double as an emcee and if musicians didn’t tip him, he would deliberately misprounance their names.
Like the Greenwich, a few blocks away on Main Street, thank the Showcase Cinemas for the demise of this theatre. I think the last film I caught here was FLASHDANCE. I also remember seeing THE PRINCE OF THE CITY here as well as during college, the summer of ‘70, to catch THE DEER HUNTER here.
I must have skipped the Italian series, probably because I’m not a big fan of the silents. Right now the WR is mounting a massive, if not quite complete retro, of Michael Powell’s films. I plan to head there tonight for ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and THE BATTLE OF THE GRAF SPREE, both of which I’ve seen on video only. One strange omission in the WR retro is THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNAL, which, for some reason is not screening.
CRACK IN THE WORLD may not be on DVD, but it does pop up on TV. I have it on tape, taped off TV. I probably taped it 10 years ago or more, but never got around to watching it.
You can thank the nearby Showcase Cinema for driving both the Kent Theater and the Greenwich out of business. I went to both these theatres as a kid often and was so sad when the Kent closed completely and the Greenwich stopped showing movies.
Last time I was there must have been the early 1980s. I can’t remember what the film was, but remembered bumping into my cousins there. Rhode Island is so small.
I remember going here many times as a kid. I remember those weekend kiddie matinees and in the late 1960’s/early 70’s seeing a double bill of the first PLANET OF THE APES sequel and I believe THE FLIM FLAM MAN with George C. Scott and Michael Sarazan here.
Last time I was there was the mid 1980s when I caught THE KARATE KID.
I was here at the opening. I remember that those who held Film Society of Lincoln Center memberships were entitled to a free screening. One of the films was a Woody Allen film, whatever one was new at the time. The film I opted to see was Erroll Morris' documentary, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME. There may have been another choice or two.
In any event, one thing that drives me nuts about the Walter Reade and some of the other repertory houses is the fact that when they run a retro that spans more than one calendar month the monthly calendar doesn’t list all the films in the program.
In June, the Walter Reade is mounting a mammoth Louis Malle retro, but it spans the end of June and runs well into July. However, the WR’s June program only lists the Malle films through the end of June.
I much prefer the way AMMI & the Film Forum do their calendars; they include all films in a series as opposed to the WR and MoMA, which print calendars each month.
Yeah, I remember going to AMC for the obscure NED KELLY back in ‘04. It was in one of the smaller theaters and when I got there I was flabbergasted that it sold out. I thought I would outsmart myself and buy a ticket to another movie and then just attend NED KELLY. Well I did that and as I approached the auditorium a flustered manager stormed out and grabbed one of the employees and said “you are going to have to start checking tickets; start in the front row.” People either did the same thing I did or snuck into the auditorium after seeing something else.
In any event, seeing all the kerfuffle, I opted to see the movie I bought the ticket for, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF A SPOTLESS MIND.
This theatre probably didn’t survive the ‘38 hurricane, from which I head Oakland Beach never really recovered. I remember those dough boys! Mrs. Gus was the proprietor of the stand when I went there in the 1970s. Her assistant was a guy was called “Tony the Grub.” He was a character out of one of the Farrelly Brothers movie.
Isn’t there a donut shop nearby in the shape of a milk can? I remember driving by about 10 years ago and I did a double-take when I saw it. It was right near the Rustic. Someone told me the donut shop is closed, but the building is some sort of landmark.
Are you sure that this drive-in was open as late as the early 1970s? We went to the drive-in literally every Friday night from ‘71, '72 & '73 and I don’t remember ever going here, which leads me to believe it was closed by 1971. I also remember when I was a kid driving with my parents in a rural part of Rhode Island and driving by an abandoned drive in. I bet it was this one!
How is this theatre doing business-wise? If I ever moved back to Rhode Island from New York City I suppose I would be living at this cinema.
With summer fast arriving, the big tent-pole films will be taking over the multi-plexes. I remember the Avon as changing its programs several times a week. A film may play for two or three days and then the program changes.
I’ve been here only a few times. Back in the 1980s I caught a Woody Allen double-bill; one of the films was INTERIORS and I forgot what the other one was. I also caught THE PIANO here back on its original release.
I went here once back in the early eighties to see a flick called THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER on first run that starred Ann-Margret & Alan Bates. I remember the theatre as being kind of funky, but never did make it back there during my frequent trips back to Rhode Island.
So, this and the Movieland Cinema closed at roughly the same time/era. I must have seen STAR WARS here, though I must admit I cannot remember this cinema nor the nearby MOVIELAND. These two cinemas must have been right near each other — a block or two apart — if not next door.
It looks I’ll be making the trek under the Hudson both days. I’ve never seen CRACK IN THE WORLD at all, though I’ve seen BODY SNATCHERS and will bail out after the first movie.
I am not a big fan of STAR TREK; in fact, I hate STAR TREK, so I haven’t seen any of the ST films but I may make my way there for KAHN. I have seen TRON.
I remember reading that when AMC first opened they didn’t know that Loews was going to put up a ‘13 'plex right across the street. That is why they opted to put “art films” in the cinemas at the top of 'plex because there isn’t enought product for the two 'plexes.
Interesting that AMC got the new STAR WARS film and the Loews ‘plex across the street is going to make do without. I bet AMC will be an absolute zoo this weekend.
When did this theater close? Was it open into the 1980s? I caught a revival of the original STAR WARS in the summer of ‘83 at what I thought was the Movieland theatre, but someone on that thread said Star Wars was revived at this theatre. So, was the Strand open as late as '83?
I may actually make the trek down here this weekend. I am caught up on my first-run films so I may attempt to check out Star Wars. This is no doubt a good weekend to stay clear of the multi-plexes screening STAR WARS VI or whatever it is called. I’d like to see if this ‘plex can draw anyone for a tent-pole movie such as this.
I am surprised this was operated as a cinema as late as 1988 because I can’t really remember going here, though I think I saw STAR WARS here in the summer of ‘83. It is the only time I can remember going here.
They are set to open son. I am curious to see what they book here. Will it be stuff that doesn’t play elsewhere or will it be stuff duplicated in other theatres?
I was down at the Angelika yesterday to catch BROTHERS and are they sloppy at the Angelika. The projection was off with the top of the image slaying on the masking. Shots were cut in the middle of the actors' foreheads. You would think that if you pay $10.50 and you attend an “art” cinema they would take the time to project a film correctly.
They screened five or six of the quota quickies at this retro, but I skipped them. The WR also did a Powell retro back in ‘93 then Film Forum mounted one in '95. The Film Forum’s retro might have been solely Powell/Pressburger films.
I’d like to know why THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNAL is not screening.
I remembering suffering through CATS. How did that last so long?
What I remember about this block was the Hawai-themed restaurant next door, Hawai-Kai. It was there for years before closing sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I never went there, but I understand they had Hawains in native dress doing an act complete with fire. I remember the sign was still attached to the building long after the restaurant closed.
One other thing about the restaurant was that there was a midgit doorman named Pee Wee Marquette who was famous in an earlier age when he worked on “Swing Street” — 52nd Street between Fifth & Sixth Avenues. He also worked at the legendary jazz club “Birdland,” which was on Broadway in Times Square. He would double as an emcee and if musicians didn’t tip him, he would deliberately misprounance their names.
Like the Greenwich, a few blocks away on Main Street, thank the Showcase Cinemas for the demise of this theatre. I think the last film I caught here was FLASHDANCE. I also remember seeing THE PRINCE OF THE CITY here as well as during college, the summer of ‘70, to catch THE DEER HUNTER here.
I must have skipped the Italian series, probably because I’m not a big fan of the silents. Right now the WR is mounting a massive, if not quite complete retro, of Michael Powell’s films. I plan to head there tonight for ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and THE BATTLE OF THE GRAF SPREE, both of which I’ve seen on video only. One strange omission in the WR retro is THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNAL, which, for some reason is not screening.
CRACK IN THE WORLD may not be on DVD, but it does pop up on TV. I have it on tape, taped off TV. I probably taped it 10 years ago or more, but never got around to watching it.
You can thank the nearby Showcase Cinema for driving both the Kent Theater and the Greenwich out of business. I went to both these theatres as a kid often and was so sad when the Kent closed completely and the Greenwich stopped showing movies.
Last time I was there must have been the early 1980s. I can’t remember what the film was, but remembered bumping into my cousins there. Rhode Island is so small.
Another film I caught here in the 1970s was BILLY JACK, which has a very interesting release history.
I remember going here many times as a kid. I remember those weekend kiddie matinees and in the late 1960’s/early 70’s seeing a double bill of the first PLANET OF THE APES sequel and I believe THE FLIM FLAM MAN with George C. Scott and Michael Sarazan here.
Last time I was there was the mid 1980s when I caught THE KARATE KID.
I was here at the opening. I remember that those who held Film Society of Lincoln Center memberships were entitled to a free screening. One of the films was a Woody Allen film, whatever one was new at the time. The film I opted to see was Erroll Morris' documentary, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME. There may have been another choice or two.
In any event, one thing that drives me nuts about the Walter Reade and some of the other repertory houses is the fact that when they run a retro that spans more than one calendar month the monthly calendar doesn’t list all the films in the program.
In June, the Walter Reade is mounting a mammoth Louis Malle retro, but it spans the end of June and runs well into July. However, the WR’s June program only lists the Malle films through the end of June.
I much prefer the way AMMI & the Film Forum do their calendars; they include all films in a series as opposed to the WR and MoMA, which print calendars each month.
Yeah, I remember going to AMC for the obscure NED KELLY back in ‘04. It was in one of the smaller theaters and when I got there I was flabbergasted that it sold out. I thought I would outsmart myself and buy a ticket to another movie and then just attend NED KELLY. Well I did that and as I approached the auditorium a flustered manager stormed out and grabbed one of the employees and said “you are going to have to start checking tickets; start in the front row.” People either did the same thing I did or snuck into the auditorium after seeing something else.
In any event, seeing all the kerfuffle, I opted to see the movie I bought the ticket for, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF A SPOTLESS MIND.
This theatre probably didn’t survive the ‘38 hurricane, from which I head Oakland Beach never really recovered. I remember those dough boys! Mrs. Gus was the proprietor of the stand when I went there in the 1970s. Her assistant was a guy was called “Tony the Grub.” He was a character out of one of the Farrelly Brothers movie.
Isn’t there a donut shop nearby in the shape of a milk can? I remember driving by about 10 years ago and I did a double-take when I saw it. It was right near the Rustic. Someone told me the donut shop is closed, but the building is some sort of landmark.
Are you sure that this drive-in was open as late as the early 1970s? We went to the drive-in literally every Friday night from ‘71, '72 & '73 and I don’t remember ever going here, which leads me to believe it was closed by 1971. I also remember when I was a kid driving with my parents in a rural part of Rhode Island and driving by an abandoned drive in. I bet it was this one!
How is this theatre doing business-wise? If I ever moved back to Rhode Island from New York City I suppose I would be living at this cinema.
With summer fast arriving, the big tent-pole films will be taking over the multi-plexes. I remember the Avon as changing its programs several times a week. A film may play for two or three days and then the program changes.
I’ve been here only a few times. Back in the 1980s I caught a Woody Allen double-bill; one of the films was INTERIORS and I forgot what the other one was. I also caught THE PIANO here back on its original release.
I remember talking with my mother about that part of Providence. It must have gone downhill real quickly.
I went here once back in the early eighties to see a flick called THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER on first run that starred Ann-Margret & Alan Bates. I remember the theatre as being kind of funky, but never did make it back there during my frequent trips back to Rhode Island.
So, this and the Movieland Cinema closed at roughly the same time/era. I must have seen STAR WARS here, though I must admit I cannot remember this cinema nor the nearby MOVIELAND. These two cinemas must have been right near each other — a block or two apart — if not next door.
It looks I’ll be making the trek under the Hudson both days. I’ve never seen CRACK IN THE WORLD at all, though I’ve seen BODY SNATCHERS and will bail out after the first movie.
I am not a big fan of STAR TREK; in fact, I hate STAR TREK, so I haven’t seen any of the ST films but I may make my way there for KAHN. I have seen TRON.
I remember reading that when AMC first opened they didn’t know that Loews was going to put up a ‘13 'plex right across the street. That is why they opted to put “art films” in the cinemas at the top of 'plex because there isn’t enought product for the two 'plexes.
Interesting that AMC got the new STAR WARS film and the Loews ‘plex across the street is going to make do without. I bet AMC will be an absolute zoo this weekend.
When did this theater close? Was it open into the 1980s? I caught a revival of the original STAR WARS in the summer of ‘83 at what I thought was the Movieland theatre, but someone on that thread said Star Wars was revived at this theatre. So, was the Strand open as late as '83?
I may actually make the trek down here this weekend. I am caught up on my first-run films so I may attempt to check out Star Wars. This is no doubt a good weekend to stay clear of the multi-plexes screening STAR WARS VI or whatever it is called. I’d like to see if this ‘plex can draw anyone for a tent-pole movie such as this.
Irv,
More about the history of Cinema Village’s Third Avenue outpoust here:
/theaters/8371/
I am surprised this was operated as a cinema as late as 1988 because I can’t really remember going here, though I think I saw STAR WARS here in the summer of ‘83. It is the only time I can remember going here.
They are set to open son. I am curious to see what they book here. Will it be stuff that doesn’t play elsewhere or will it be stuff duplicated in other theatres?
I was down at the Angelika yesterday to catch BROTHERS and are they sloppy at the Angelika. The projection was off with the top of the image slaying on the masking. Shots were cut in the middle of the actors' foreheads. You would think that if you pay $10.50 and you attend an “art” cinema they would take the time to project a film correctly.