The Community was originally a part of the Citizens Community House, or something like that. That would imply that it was a leased property. Also, when the Community was twinned was that still under the Century banner? Also, at one time the office space at the Community building was entitled Century Management Corporation. What was the nature of that, the actual operation of the theatres of the disposing of old properties? Subsequently Century had an office building on Verbena Avenue in Floral Park.
With respect to the restricted use clause, a number of the Century’s operated under the Springer name before they closed. These properties were leased by Century or built by Century without the clause?
I always thought all the companies owned their own theatres. Thanks to this site I’ve found out that there was a lot of leasing. The Prospect, for example, was built by Century and leased to Loews. Then they got it back. The Merrick was leased to Skouras. On the other hand, Century leased the Lynbrook. In reality, though, the property restriction didn’t mean much since most of the former Century, and everybody elses theatres are gone. A big problem for many, to be of any use in the current day, was the absence of parking. I lived around the corner from the Bellerose and I would think that the majority of the business was walk in. However, on occasion, 245th Street was packed with cars for some very popular film.
As one of the later, and smaller theatres, there was no doorman. You entered at the cashiers booth through a turnstile. The comedy/tragedy mask concept was used in a number of the smaller, later Century Theatres, the Whitman for example. Century was going to build another theatre in the Bellerose area on the north side of Hillside Avenue near Martin Van Buren High School before the movie business slid. Would you have any info on that tkm, being an insider?
I’m old enough to remember the campaign of the fifties to “Help Kill the Movie Ticket Tax”. In your various posting, tkm, you mentioned that your dad was at a number of Century houses of different sizes. Was the pay the same or depended upon the house?
Yes. CT shows the seating capacity as 800. I was in it and I can’t see that as being possible. Several hundred less I would think. Funny thing about the Park, it used to have a little dinky marquee, which was appropriate for a little dinky theatre. Then when they renovated the interior they affixed this humongous marquee which looked so out of place.
The theatre in Port Washington was originally known as the Beacon. It’s now been chopped up into little pieces, is called the Port Washington and is run by Clearview. There are a lot of old pictures when you look it up on CT.
Do you have any Century memoriabilia? They used to print a guide which was sent to your home. Who would have thought all these years later these items which I threw away would be treasures? Also, do you have any “in the day” pictures of the Glen Oaks or other theatres. There is only a current usage photo of the GO on CT.
Yes, Chris, this is unique. Sometime back when I was trying to find a theatre in Queens and looked for it by the community name I couldn’t find it. I then discovered many of the Queens theatres were listed as Queens and not by the town names. Some had the town and Queens which made the lookup difficult. I contacted the CT people and had all those corrected. The only one right now which is incorrect is the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria which was recently added including “Queens”. I notified CT but when last I checked they hadn’t done the update.
Staten Island also has community names. I guess I should check out CT references to Staten Island for correction.
When they were showing movies, the Laffmovie, that I,as a Long Islander, ever visited. I was in the Apollo when it was first reclaimed as legit using the 43rd Street entrance and saw On Golden Pond. Also was in the Ford Center (Lyric and Apollo), now Foxwoods, for Ragtime and recently American Airlines (Selwyn). Anxiously awaiting to see what happens with the Times Square, still empty and, virtually, hidden.
Even without the Bryant and Pix, which were between Bway and 6th, I think the 10 theatres between 7th and 8th would have probably still constituted the world’s largest movie street.
Tinseltoes – Checked and confirmed that there were presentations call “Dancing Waters” at both the 1939-40 and 1964-65 NY World’s Fairs. The first is long before the 1953 debut at RCMH. I’m actually old enough to remember it!
It would be interesting if you could include admission prices when you present your RCMH anniversary facts. Probably couldn’t even get a candy bar today for what admission prices were then.
robboehm
commented about
Avon 7on
Jan 16, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Thanks. I never would have found it in a million years.
Better notify the folks at CT to make the correction.
John, is there a typo in your posting? Operated from 1917 through 1917?
Queens was always unique among the boroughs, and also, Nassau and Suffolk Counties were originally a part of Queens.
The Community was originally a part of the Citizens Community House, or something like that. That would imply that it was a leased property. Also, when the Community was twinned was that still under the Century banner? Also, at one time the office space at the Community building was entitled Century Management Corporation. What was the nature of that, the actual operation of the theatres of the disposing of old properties? Subsequently Century had an office building on Verbena Avenue in Floral Park.
With respect to the restricted use clause, a number of the Century’s operated under the Springer name before they closed. These properties were leased by Century or built by Century without the clause?
I always thought all the companies owned their own theatres. Thanks to this site I’ve found out that there was a lot of leasing. The Prospect, for example, was built by Century and leased to Loews. Then they got it back. The Merrick was leased to Skouras. On the other hand, Century leased the Lynbrook. In reality, though, the property restriction didn’t mean much since most of the former Century, and everybody elses theatres are gone. A big problem for many, to be of any use in the current day, was the absence of parking. I lived around the corner from the Bellerose and I would think that the majority of the business was walk in. However, on occasion, 245th Street was packed with cars for some very popular film.
tkm, the site doesn’t have a seating capacity for this theatre. As a manager’s daughter would you know that?
As one of the later, and smaller theatres, there was no doorman. You entered at the cashiers booth through a turnstile. The comedy/tragedy mask concept was used in a number of the smaller, later Century Theatres, the Whitman for example. Century was going to build another theatre in the Bellerose area on the north side of Hillside Avenue near Martin Van Buren High School before the movie business slid. Would you have any info on that tkm, being an insider?
I’m old enough to remember the campaign of the fifties to “Help Kill the Movie Ticket Tax”. In your various posting, tkm, you mentioned that your dad was at a number of Century houses of different sizes. Was the pay the same or depended upon the house?
Appliance store was Eldee
I asked about the Park at it’s there. Enter New Hyde Park as the city and four theatres come up : Alan, Herricks, Park East and Park.
Yes. CT shows the seating capacity as 800. I was in it and I can’t see that as being possible. Several hundred less I would think. Funny thing about the Park, it used to have a little dinky marquee, which was appropriate for a little dinky theatre. Then when they renovated the interior they affixed this humongous marquee which looked so out of place.
Speaking of the Park Theatre I think the seating capacity on CT is way out of line. Would tkm have any knowledge of that?
The theatre in Port Washington was originally known as the Beacon. It’s now been chopped up into little pieces, is called the Port Washington and is run by Clearview. There are a lot of old pictures when you look it up on CT.
Do you have any Century memoriabilia? They used to print a guide which was sent to your home. Who would have thought all these years later these items which I threw away would be treasures? Also, do you have any “in the day” pictures of the Glen Oaks or other theatres. There is only a current usage photo of the GO on CT.
Yes, Chris, this is unique. Sometime back when I was trying to find a theatre in Queens and looked for it by the community name I couldn’t find it. I then discovered many of the Queens theatres were listed as Queens and not by the town names. Some had the town and Queens which made the lookup difficult. I contacted the CT people and had all those corrected. The only one right now which is incorrect is the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria which was recently added including “Queens”. I notified CT but when last I checked they hadn’t done the update.
Staten Island also has community names. I guess I should check out CT references to Staten Island for correction.
If you’re ever in Toronto, make sure you take the free tour.
When they were showing movies, the Laffmovie, that I,as a Long Islander, ever visited. I was in the Apollo when it was first reclaimed as legit using the 43rd Street entrance and saw On Golden Pond. Also was in the Ford Center (Lyric and Apollo), now Foxwoods, for Ragtime and recently American Airlines (Selwyn). Anxiously awaiting to see what happens with the Times Square, still empty and, virtually, hidden.
Even without the Bryant and Pix, which were between Bway and 6th, I think the 10 theatres between 7th and 8th would have probably still constituted the world’s largest movie street.
The theatre is shown in a national pharmaceutical commercial set in Vernon, TX along with other parts of town.
I see the theatre is listed as the Vernon Plaza despite the fact that the marquee just says Plaza.
Not I, being a Nassau County person, but did do a number of weddings at Antuns.
How Biblical, all the people in the fiery furnace (aka former theatre) a la Shadrack, Mishak and Abendigo.
Tinseltoes – Checked and confirmed that there were presentations call “Dancing Waters” at both the 1939-40 and 1964-65 NY World’s Fairs. The first is long before the 1953 debut at RCMH. I’m actually old enough to remember it!
It would be interesting if you could include admission prices when you present your RCMH anniversary facts. Probably couldn’t even get a candy bar today for what admission prices were then.
Thanks. I never would have found it in a million years.