Comments about Anco Theatre in New York, NY

Ed Solero on May 25, 2006 at 9:02 am

I wondered the same thing, Robert. But it looks like they listed the theaters alphabetically in the ad.

RobertR on May 25, 2006 at 8:06 am

I remember playing this double bill in both the Haven and the Drake. Isn’t it odd the Anco is listed above the Criterion?

Ed Solero on May 25, 2006 at 7:04 am

Here’s an ad from December 1980 for the double feature re-release of “The Blues Brothers” (originally released the summer of that year) and 1979’s “The Jerk” that played the Anco and Criterion as well as a number of neighborhood theaters:

Daily News 12/12/80

Also… Not sure I’ve seen this photo posted here, but it shows the Anco in it’s latter days as XXX grind:

1985 Anco XXX

This is how I recall the Anco, even though I was already visiting the Duece houses by 1980. As I stated previously, I tended to avoid this end of 42nd Street.

42ndStreetMemories on April 6, 2006 at 2:34 am

A snow covered Fascination marquee; shot from the Anco. 1968. jerry the k

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42ndStreetMemories on April 6, 2006 at 2:11 am

Thanks, saps. It is a labor of love. If anyone has any images of the Deuce in the 50s-60s, please contact me. jerry the k

Mike (saps) on April 5, 2006 at 9:26 pm

Jerry, great album. I looked at all 24 pics. In a word, wow.

42ndStreetMemories on April 5, 2006 at 9:00 am

Forgot to add this marquee image from the Anco, around 1961.

Crank up the Time Machine, I’m going back! jerry

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42ndStreetMemories on April 5, 2006 at 8:59 am

Here'a a shot of Fascination (I think). 15 games…$.50!

I seem to remember another one, Ed, on the west side of Broadway. Around 48th sounds right.
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jerry

Ed Solero on April 5, 2006 at 4:23 am

Ah, thanks Warren. I remember the Playland arcade that ran between 7th and Broadway (open to the sidewalk on both ends) up around 48th street (I think it was the block south of the Rivoli). Perhaps there was a Fascination sign jutting out from one of its facades. There was also an arcade on 42nd street, but I think it was on the north side of the street, not the south side as depicted in Jerry’s photo.

Ed Solero on April 5, 2006 at 3:54 am

Jerry… That “Fascination” sign looks very familiar to me, but I seem to recall seeing one just like it actually on Times Square (somewhere on Broadway or 7th Ave). I could be mistaken. It was some kind of topless dancing joint, wasn’t it? Or an old dime-a-dance ballroom? One of the Roxy Twin porn houses (where I understand they played video projection only) was located between the Empire and Anco back in my day. The other was down by the New Amsterdam.

42ndStreetMemories on April 5, 2006 at 2:50 am

This shot is geared toward the Empire but if you look down the street, the ANCO is showing Jimmy Stewart’s Far Country and Chief Crazy Horse with Victor Mature. A pairing of two U-I westerns from 3-4 years earlier.

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Ed Solero on March 30, 2006 at 10:56 am

I recall it being XXX also, but I just found an old newspaper from December 1980 (I saved the papers the days after the killing of John Lennon) and there is an ad for a 2nd run of “The Blues Brothers” on a double bill with “The Jerk” – a pair I saw at the Sunrise Cinemas multplex in Valley Stream – and the lead theater in Manhattan is the Anco (listed as “Creative Cinema’s Anco” in the ad). I’ll scan the ad and post here when I get a chance.

DonRosen on March 30, 2006 at 2:02 am

Oh, yes! The Anco was heavy duty XXX at the end. I’ve seen the marquee shots to prove it.

Mike (saps) on March 29, 2006 at 6:45 pm

I don’t think the Anco ever went porno.

Ed Solero on March 29, 2006 at 3:05 pm

Brilliant Robert… Thanks! That’s a double bill I might have seen at the old Times Square Theater! Well, I was a bit too young to have visited the Duece in ‘74, but I know those two films were still kicking around in the early '80’s on the bottom end of double and triple bills up and down the block. The Anco – I believe – was XXX during the time (and a bit too close to 8th Ave for my liking and that of my teenaged pals from Queens)!

RobertR on March 29, 2006 at 12:20 pm

From the heydey of the Duece
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kellyrice on December 26, 2005 at 1:10 pm

Hello – does anyone know the date that the Harem was closed for business?

thanks and Happy Holidays,
Kelly

billmetz on October 14, 2005 at 4:14 am

thank you very much i was able to access the corbin site metz

RobertR on October 13, 2005 at 10:39 am

It’s not 112 pictures just of the ANCO. If you go to the Corbis site there are a few hundred theatre pics. In the search type “Movie Theatres”, “Theatre Marquees”, “Theatres”, “Cinerama” etc. Some of them are cross referenced and some are not.
http://pro.corbis.com/

billmetz on October 13, 2005 at 6:09 am

EXHAUSTING is the perfect word for viewing all 112 pages…but I loved ‘em! Thanks RobertR!! ..this is a comment by don rosen on the ANco site …may i ask someone how to get all 112 photos???i tried ANCO photo but no help many trhanks

RobertR on July 21, 2005 at 2:52 am

Thanks, if you go to the Corbis photo album you can find a lot of theatre pictures

DonRosen on July 21, 2005 at 2:47 am

EXHAUSTING is the perfect word for viewing all 112 pages…but I loved ‘em! Thanks RobertR!!

Loved the Ali-Frazier ad with Radio City Music Hall listed in a “showcase type” ad with other theatres. You never saw that before.

42ndStreetMemories on July 20, 2005 at 4:07 pm

RobertR,

That’s the best shot of the ANCO that I’ve seen. Where did you find it?

I too went through all of your photo album, great stuff. j

Mike (saps) on July 20, 2005 at 12:58 pm

I just looked at all 112 photos in that photobucket link above; I am exhausted but satisfied.

RobertR on July 20, 2005 at 12:10 pm

Better days at the Anco
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Anco Theatre

254 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036

254 W. 42nd Street,
New York, NY 10036