Lucky for me I was able to get a picture of the Deluxe before this conversion began, with the marquee still up. This theatre was empty and vacant for almost 10 years before anything was done with it.
I also wonder if it will be run under the United Artists Theatres banner or under Regal Cinemas. I do hope they keep the name Marboro as the actual theatre name.
Is this theatre still capable of showing movies like the 175th Street? or did Loew’s take out all the projection equipment when they donated it to the Tabernacle of Prayer in the late 70’s?
I wonder if anything is still left of the Kilgen Organ in the main auditorium of the Fortway. I often see employees going down into the orchestra area duirng the movies here. Perhaps something is still intact. Guess I will have to check it out the next time I see a movie in theatre one.
Yes the Alpine is a Loews Cineplex theatre, albeit with that upside down Cineplex Odeon logo on the Marquee, didn’t any one notice when that sign was installed it was wrong! I miss the old sunburst style Loew’s marquee the Alpine originally had, I wonder if its underneath the new one?
Of those 51 theatres in the Metro NY area, I wonder how many are still around today operating as motion picture theaters? I’m sure quite a few have been demolished, converted to retail or, are being used as houses of worship.
Thanks Warren!
Once again you continue to be the authoritative source on all things related to movie theatres! Please keep all those informative posts coming!
Movie Place NYC,
There is absolutely no difference in the Fortway photograph in the two editions of the book that I own. I was supprised the Fortway was not listed in the index as well Warren, but I’m glad the book at least has the photo.
Maybe someone out there knows what the “kilgen” in the caption refers to?
Movie Place NYC,
I went back and checked two editions of Ben Hall’s “The Best Remaining Seats” for the photo. In the original hardcover version, the actual photo is on page 191 with the caption on the page before. It reads as follows: George Mantalba at Fortway, Brooklyn, Kilgen (with pilots license?) in the softcover the same photo is on page 187.
You can clearly see the organ console on its lift above the orchestra, right below are chimes and a drum. In the backround is one of the Female figures mentioned in a previous post. You can also see a beautiful curtain with vines on it that must have been for the stage. The Fortway must have been quite a nice showplace in its heyday, glad it’s still showing movies.
I remember those stairwells, one of the only ways to tell this used to be a theatre. I hate to say this, but this building probably will never be used for motion picture exibition again. It would take an investor with a big dream and even deeper pockets to make this happen.
Thanks Movie Place NYC!
I do have a copy of this book as any theatrefan should, do you know which edition is it that has the photo? I have the original hardcover version. I believe there were three versions published.
I think the Loew’s booking office was better at getting product for their theatres during this era, I remember Loew’s almost always having the top blockbusters of the day in the 70’s and 80’s.
Vincent,
You might want to check out Artkraft’s website: www.artkraft.com, they do have a lot of famous historical photo’s in the gallery section, some even feature movie theatre advertising. You can see many theatres that are no longer with us like the Rivoli, Criterion, etc.
Hopefully one day someone will put together a book of famous marquees and billboards of Times Square, with all the changes to the Square and all the interest surrounding it I can’t see why it wouldn’t sell well.
Wasn’t Artkraft Strauss responsible for all those type of signs, if so maybe they have an archive at their headquaters in NYC. I for one would love to see a book of all the theatre advertising during the glorious heyday of Times Square.
I called Regal Entertaintment Group this morning to let them know someone ripped the boards off the front door got inside and turned on the the lights, apparently the marquee lights were on all night. The person I spoke with said they would alert the district supervisor to this problem, lets hope something gets done.
Loews Cineplex made millions off the sale of the property the theatre was sitting on. I remember the marble and neon in a lot of their theatres, Cineplex apparently thought that was real classy, as was selling you extra squirts of butter on your popcorn. I wonder though why towards the end of it’s exisitance the theatre changed from being a Cineplex theatre to just a plain Loews theatre, maybe a way to drum up some business. My friend used to call them Cinebucks Odeous.
This theatre was never a proper replacement for the former Famous Player Loews 5 across the street, that was a true movie palace! I suppose it’s better than having the former Simpson’s department store building standing empty and unused like a white elephant.
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 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?
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.
Lucky for me I was able to get a picture of the Deluxe before this conversion began, with the marquee still up. This theatre was empty and vacant for almost 10 years before anything was done with it.
I also wonder if it will be run under the United Artists Theatres banner or under Regal Cinemas. I do hope they keep the name Marboro as the actual theatre name.
Is this theatre still capable of showing movies like the 175th Street? or did Loew’s take out all the projection equipment when they donated it to the Tabernacle of Prayer in the late 70’s?
I wonder if anything is still left of the Kilgen Organ in the main auditorium of the Fortway. I often see employees going down into the orchestra area duirng the movies here. Perhaps something is still intact. Guess I will have to check it out the next time I see a movie in theatre one.
I guuess that means we won’t be getting the Midway treatment on this one. Do we have any idea yet how many screens the new multiplex will have?
Yes the Alpine is a Loews Cineplex theatre, albeit with that upside down Cineplex Odeon logo on the Marquee, didn’t any one notice when that sign was installed it was wrong! I miss the old sunburst style Loew’s marquee the Alpine originally had, I wonder if its underneath the new one?
I guess, the State, Orpheum & 72nd St. are just replacements in name only for the former Loew’s theatres that used to occupy the same site.
Of those 51 theatres in the Metro NY area, I wonder how many are still around today operating as motion picture theaters? I’m sure quite a few have been demolished, converted to retail or, are being used as houses of worship.
Thanks Warren!
Once again you continue to be the authoritative source on all things related to movie theatres! Please keep all those informative posts coming!
Movie Place NYC,
There is absolutely no difference in the Fortway photograph in the two editions of the book that I own. I was supprised the Fortway was not listed in the index as well Warren, but I’m glad the book at least has the photo.
Maybe someone out there knows what the “kilgen” in the caption refers to?
Movie Place NYC,
I went back and checked two editions of Ben Hall’s “The Best Remaining Seats” for the photo. In the original hardcover version, the actual photo is on page 191 with the caption on the page before. It reads as follows: George Mantalba at Fortway, Brooklyn, Kilgen (with pilots license?) in the softcover the same photo is on page 187.
You can clearly see the organ console on its lift above the orchestra, right below are chimes and a drum. In the backround is one of the Female figures mentioned in a previous post. You can also see a beautiful curtain with vines on it that must have been for the stage. The Fortway must have been quite a nice showplace in its heyday, glad it’s still showing movies.
Your welcome Bill,
It must have shown them at one point during its history and then been converted back to a legit theatre like the RKO Palace was.
I remember those stairwells, one of the only ways to tell this used to be a theatre. I hate to say this, but this building probably will never be used for motion picture exibition again. It would take an investor with a big dream and even deeper pockets to make this happen.
Thanks Movie Place NYC!
I do have a copy of this book as any theatrefan should, do you know which edition is it that has the photo? I have the original hardcover version. I believe there were three versions published.
Mikeoaklamdpark,
Try it this way: http://www.artkraft.com/
I think that should work!
I think the Loew’s booking office was better at getting product for their theatres during this era, I remember Loew’s almost always having the top blockbusters of the day in the 70’s and 80’s.
Vincent,
You might want to check out Artkraft’s website: www.artkraft.com, they do have a lot of famous historical photo’s in the gallery section, some even feature movie theatre advertising. You can see many theatres that are no longer with us like the Rivoli, Criterion, etc.
Hopefully one day someone will put together a book of famous marquees and billboards of Times Square, with all the changes to the Square and all the interest surrounding it I can’t see why it wouldn’t sell well.
Wasn’t Artkraft Strauss responsible for all those type of signs, if so maybe they have an archive at their headquaters in NYC. I for one would love to see a book of all the theatre advertising during the glorious heyday of Times Square.
Wasn’t most of this theatre totaly destroyed in the creation of that horrible Toys R Us store? Is there anything that remains inside?
I once read that most of this buildings revenue source comes from those huge billboards on top of the building.
I called Regal Entertaintment Group this morning to let them know someone ripped the boards off the front door got inside and turned on the the lights, apparently the marquee lights were on all night. The person I spoke with said they would alert the district supervisor to this problem, lets hope something gets done.
Loews Cineplex made millions off the sale of the property the theatre was sitting on. I remember the marble and neon in a lot of their theatres, Cineplex apparently thought that was real classy, as was selling you extra squirts of butter on your popcorn. I wonder though why towards the end of it’s exisitance the theatre changed from being a Cineplex theatre to just a plain Loews theatre, maybe a way to drum up some business. My friend used to call them Cinebucks Odeous.
This theatre was never a proper replacement for the former Famous Player Loews 5 across the street, that was a true movie palace! I suppose it’s better than having the former Simpson’s department store building standing empty and unused like a white elephant.
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 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?
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.