Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
32 people
favorited this theater
Showing 201 - 225 of 573 comments
In reference to Myron’s last post – wouldn’t a general forum be best for comments not related to particular theatres? I’ve often found it frustrating when I see comments posted completely unrelated to any particular theatre or not on the pages of those particular theatres. That, quite frankly, prompted me to discontinue the notification service for several pages on which I’ve posted comments; life’s too short…
Mryon wrote: Incidentally, I saw “Alien” there. The Dolby-sound was so good that the whole audience jumped when the creature appeared from above.
This is where “Alien” played during its original engagement in 70mm in Manhattan:
Manhattan: [b.S. Moss] Criterion
Manhattan: [Loews] New York 2
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum
“Aliens” in 1986:
Manhattan: [Loews] 84th Street Six
Manhattan: [Trans-Lux] Gotham
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum I
Manhattan: [RKO Century] RKO Warner Twin
“Alien 3” in 1992:
Manhattan: [uA] Criterion Center
Here’s a very good article on where “Alien” opened in 1979. Do you recall seeing it at the Astor Plaza later in the year? Perhaps, if it played there later on in 1979, was it in 35mm & Dolby Stereo?
View link
This link will provide readers (if they haven’t had a chance to look at the site) with every year 70mm played at the Astor Plaza. The theatre indeed played a lot, including the “biggies” like the original Star Wars Trilogy and Indiana Jones Trilogy.
View link
Thanks.
This website is great but most of the comments here have little to do with the Astor Plaza Theatre. I had to scroll through over 100 comments having nothing to do with the closing of the theatre. Most of the discussion here seems to center on 70MM, theatres in New Jersey and California, which films deserved the Oscar, etc. What does this have to do with the Astor Plaza? If you guys want to read about various projection techniques, go to www.widescreenmuseum.com Here you will find much information about 70MM, Technirama, CinemaScope 55, Cinerama, VistaVision, etc. It is most enlightening. The description of how guests were treated at the last showing of “The Village” is disgraceful for customers to be treated like that. The staff was taking their troubles out on the theatre-lovers. That was a very interesting revelation. I simply wanted a list of films originally screened at the Astor Plaza. Incidentally, I saw “Alien” there. The Dolby-sound was so good that the whole audience jumped when the creature appeared from above. I never recalled hearing vibrations from the subway underneath and my hearing is superb! The loss of this palace is very sad!
>>They can’t use the RCMH due to the heavy bookings of shows well in advance.
It seems this house (RCMH) is dark most of the time.
Yes, it’s true, the marquee of the Loew’s Astor Plaza is gone. It will be called the “Nokia Theatre”. It’s a shame they don’t save the marquis but destroy them. Even in Las Vegas, they have been saving their old signs for an eventual Neon Museum. They already restored the “Aladdin” lamp and the “Howdy Pardner” cowboy and Las Vegas “Lil” sign. They even saved the “Treasure Island” pirate sign. The Siegfried & Roy sign I can’t get any information on. I also enjoyed “Star Wars” there; the Dolby Stereo was fantastic. I don’t recall vibrations from the IRT trains underneath; although they are nearby. I also saw “Alien” there and I believe the #1 film of all-time “Titanic”. What a loss to Broadway and to Times Square. They want to close the Ziegfeld too, but it’s the only theatre remaining in New York where ermieres can be held. They can’t use the RCMH due to the heavy bookings of shows well in advance.
What would have been the big deal keeping the marquee. They are going to need one anyway. The Palace Theater on broadway had a great marquee until they remodeled in the 80’s. The one they have now is terrible.
I walked by last week and peeked up to the Nokia construction sign and could see right through the back of it to Broadway. I walked underneath and yup: the marquee is gone. I wonder how they spirited that thing away? Doubtful it’ll be reused elsewhere.
I take it they won’t ask people to turn off cell phones before shows?
The Astor Plaza Theatre will be renamed the Nokia Theatre when it reopens again. The construction around the boarded up marquee states the new name.
When the Astor Plaza reopens as a concert venue, its seating capacity will be expanded to approximately 2200.
Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,
After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com
To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:
View link
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
A shame — I liked it much better than the Ziegfeld — bigger screen, better sight lines.
I saw Star Wars there, the Matrix on openning night, and many, many other films, especially during the early ‘80s. Last film? LOTR:ROTK for sure and after that???
Sad, sad, sad… The best theater now in NY: The Walter Reade — if they evr close that, I’m moving.
Ted
At the time of its closing, the Astor had 1427 seats.
I saw Return of The Jedi at the 86th st. before it was demolished. Was this theatre similer to the 83rd st. Loews that was replaced by the 84th st. one?
I think they see $$$ signs, because with the Biltmore Theatre reopening and restored for Broadway. I really think they are waiting for some major name retail store to go into it. One problem I see is that building the theatre is located in is not a full building over the theatre. If you stand across the street near 48th Street and look over you can see the building is shaped like a backwards L and the theatre is in the rest of the missing part. So that building could be an easy building to be razed because of the theatre. So they could make a small tower type building on the site. The past operators of the theatre let the theatre go and its more like a old worn grind house than a former Roadshow house.
If our company had redid the theatre it was to feature a State of the Art projection booth. See that’s my part in this project with the company. I handle projection services for them and their clients.
William
You would think that they would come down in the rent considering the building has been vacant for many years. Obviously these building owners in NYC have nothing but greed on their minds.
The company that has the Mayfair/DeMille up for lease wants over a million dollars in rent a year for the theatre. Our company looked into leasing it about two years ago. So it could be turned into a motion picture screening theatre. Like the DGA, Motion Picture Academy, WGA type theatres. With the cost of the rent and the theatre is not in that great of shape right now. The past operators of the theatre let major problem go without repairing them in a timely fashion.
Theaterfan
There are still a few theaters of the old Sameric chain that are still operating. United Artists did close most of them.
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 was to the Astor the other day…took pics with The Village marquee, as well as exterior and shots of the corridor on the side with the Astor signs.I will post pics when the site upgrades it’s “add photo” link…does anyone know how to do it from the comment section? I can post that way…
RE: the “Scene” mag. I’d love to see pics from the Astor hosting Funny Lady. Can you scan and post? BTW…I also took pics of the Embassy formerly Mayfair/DeMille on 7th and 47th. The marquee is there (nothing on it) and you can still see the exterior of what the theater was in it’s heyday…must’ve beeen something.
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?
When I was in Phila in June of 2000, there was another theater closed by UA, Eric’s Place that was for sale or lease. It was originally a Trans Lux theater. The Midtown thetaer was closed by AMC, but is now a legit theater caleed the Prince Arts.
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.
I am originally from Phila and there is a fight now to save the only theater left in center city the Sameric/Boyd. UA closed it a few years ago and Clear Channel is supposed to turn it into a legit theater if enough funds can be raised. The same thing happened to the theaters in Atlantic City. When the casino’s, came down went the theates. Most were torn down and parking lots were made. The last year that most were in operation were 1973.
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.