American Theater
1450 East Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10462
1450 East Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10462
10 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 75 comments
I remember taking my younger brother there in the 70s to see the Disney movies all summer long. They had two different Disney movies there each week.
Hello fellow movie theater lovers,
I’m doing a project for my photojournalism class at NYU about closed down independent movie theaters in New York. I hope to gain information about people’s past experiences at these movie theaters, recollections of favorite memories or not so great experiences, perhaps economical insight, contacts with owners/managers, etc. On a larger level, I hope my project is able to show the significance of the role that these establishments play in our city and the importance of keeping them afloat.
If anyone would be willing to answer a few questions via email about your personal memories at the theater, please let me know! It could be as simple as recounting a favorite movie you remember seeing back when it was open. I would greatly appreciate your insight.
You can contact me at:
Thanks,
Gabi
Trust me guys , This vintage historic Loews American theater in Parkchester
Was still an historic vintage old Loews Theater in the Bronx , always be remembered and never be forgotten
But Wait there more, my older sister saw New Jack City at this movie theater , in 25 years ago , she told me that this theater wasn’t an 7 plex until Stewart Epstein, who turned the dilapidated movie house into a 1,400-seat multiplex in 1995,
luckily it’s wasn’t an modernized AMC Theatres like the AMC 84th Street 6 plex ,Manhattan and AMC Bay Plaza 13 and fresh meadows Queens N.Y. and it was the original 1939 vintage old loews theaters, was still original old movie theater place still had
the original vintage old 1939 ,loews movie theater exit signs, restrooms , walls, balcony, mirrors, box office and finally the doors. but it was operating by Bow Tie Cinemas and they used the 35mm Film projection system
this place didn’t have , IMAX, reclining seats , Prime ,ETX, dine in, Freestyle style soda machine and kiosk tickets machinery and it wasn’t operated by AMC . My older said
This theater was still original old 1939 Loews movie theater. It’s quite interesting that have a experience at this theater since she was a kid in 42 years ago then she snuck in into an R rated movie but my mom she not into bymovies but a least she experienced at this movie theater But unfortunately it was closed down and converting into an Marshall store .
In late 1950/early 1951 when I was nine years old I saw in the papers that the Loew’s American was showing All About Eve, so I decided to go, hopping on the Westchester Ave. bus from Morrison Ave. to Parkchester, expecting to see all about Eve from the Garden of Eden. Boy was I disappointed! The one scene from the movie that I remembered in later years was Bette Davis standing at the top of the staircase, uttering her classic line as she descended, “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
I went to see a lot of movie in this movie theater back in 2013 the staff were friendly then in mid September the place was shut down and converted into a Marshall store they could kept that movie theater open much longer than closing the movie theater down in parkchester
I got to go see The Butler here during the final weeks of operation in August 2013. The theatre was still in very good condition with many of the original architectural details preserved in the lobby. The staff were extremely friendly and courteous. It’s a shame this had to become a Marshall’s just like the Loew’s Oriental did. I am sure there was a great need in the community for yet another clothing store to buy designer discount duds, instead of a movie theatre, yeah right!!!
1940 and current day photo as Marshall’s added, courtesy of Al Ponte’s Time Machine – New York Facebook page.
Nice art deco box office. Great selection of films on the marquee. Especially Haunting In Conn. Very great film.
Nicholas thanks for the great pictures. But how did you get into the projection room and ‘backstage’ areas? Really great. Thanks
Dear amcbayplaza13,
We all dearly miss the American Theater and I am very saddened by its destruction. I am glad you like my photos taken during its last day of operation. However, the fact that you copied them off my flickr account and uploaded them here without asking my permission or giving any credit to the photographer I find rather disrespectful.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50992596@N00/sets/72157635654806913
Bowtie took great care in maintenance and renovations so the theater maintain its classic appearance.
Please Sign and pass around to Concerned Organizations and or individuals
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/save-parkchester-american/
I was at the theater this past weekend the day it closed. I learned that the lease with Bow Tie Cinemas was terminated so that a TJ Max can take over the space.
Here is a link to photos I took during my visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992596@N00/sets/72157635654806913/
In the photos you can see so many of the original architectural details are still intact. I suspect much of this will be lost if plans go forward to alter the space to accommodate a large retail store.
This was the last theater in NYC that still maintained its glory even after renovations. I can imanaging that my folks or my grandparents walking through its doors.
For the record, it opened on December 26th, 1940.
Yes, bigjoe59, the Bay Plaza is the only theater left in the Bronx, of the 118 listed on Cinema Treasures in that boro. To DARCYCDT, not all of the Clearview properties were assumed by BowTie. I would have thought they wouldn’t have acquired any they were likely to drop. Leases are a funny thing. I know the Port Washington property is leased. A big problem there is parking. Clearview owned some properties, the Roslyn in particular. Don’t know if BowTie actually purchased Clearview owned properties or leased them from them.
I wonder if Bow Tie will close any of the other theaters they acquired from Clearview. Their Herricks theater in New Hyde Park doesn’t have any recent openers either. Their Main Street theater in Port Washington seems to be losing a lot of new movies to the recently reopened and renovated Soundview theater also.
There’s a 10 plex at 161st and Grand Concourse.
Hello-
i was saddened to hear of the theater’s closing.
i believe that leaves the Bay Plaza as the only
movie theater in the Bronx.
but i don’t understand as a Bow Tie spokesperson said in the News 12 video that he lease can’t be renewed? it not like the building was something else previously and the owner wanted to return it to its original use. it was built as a movie theater. so i assume we’re dealing with a typical greedy NY landlord.
73 years there, they were closed a bit from 94 to 95 till Stuart Epstein bought it and reopened it. Used to live in that area and we also had the Circle and the Palace both long closed.
Just saw a News 12 the Bronx report that said they’re closing this weekend because Bow Tie’s lease is up. So sad…that leaves 2 theaters in the Bronx.
What’s going on here, no new films this weekend (I would have thought “Insidious: Chapter 2” would be a natural) and no performances listed after Sunday. This is from the Bow Tie site where the other theaters in the area that they own have schedules through next Thursday.
I posted the grand opening ad in the photo section for this theatre.
Thanks for this link also Tinseltoes.