AMC Empire 25
234 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
234 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
81 people
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A mistake on the authors' behalf, hardbop. (I think the title of the book you’re referring to is ‘Open Wide: How Hollywood Box Office Became a National Obsession’.) The Empire indeed has 25 screens.
Is the AMC ‘plex a 25-'plex (which I thought it was) or a 24-'plex. I just finished the book “Box Office: How Hollywood Box Office Became a National Obsession” and the authors mentioned that the AMC 'plex was a 24-'plex.
And if you think the 38 screens between AMC & the 13-screen Sony E-Walk on the north side of the deuce is big, there is a pair of mega-plexes in California. One has 30 screens, Regal I believe, and an Edwards ‘plex with 22 screens. Ouch.
I saw Sin City there last week and Assault on Precint 13 a few months ago. I was so amused at how big one auditorium was. I live in Brooklyn and Linden Blvd Multiplex cannot compare to AMC Empire 25. I just love it.
I saw Sin City there last week and Assault on Precint 13 a few months ago. I was so amused at how big one auditorium was. I live in Brooklyn and Linden Blvd Multiplex cannot compare to AMC Empire 25. I just love it.
Hey saps and Don
Come to think of it I do remember sometimes the Movieplex would run a film that was also playing at let’s say the UA Critirion which was just a couple of blocks away on B'way but it was the Criterion that would get listed in the ads and not the Movieplex. So my bad. Although I did remember wondering back then that if Movieplex ran films that were also booked at the UA then something must be wrong with the version of the movie they are playing. Possibly reject prints that the studios didn’t want showcased at the major bookings? hum…
I think it is because a movie usually plays in only one theater per neighborhood; when it plays on both 42nd Street and on Broadway, it is then playing in two houses in the same area, so the discount house gets left out of the advertising and the prestige booking gets the ads. But both bookings get listed in the movie clock.
In many cases the 42nd Street theatres would play the same film as the Broadway houses at reduced prices. Case: In August of 1968, “Hang ‘Em High” plays at the Victoria (46th & B'way) and at the Lyric 42nd St. The “exclusive engagement” ad lists only the Victoria, Loew’s Orpheum and Loew’s Cine theatres.
This is just one case. Now, when the film hit wide or showcase release, sometimes the 42nd Street house would be listed, but never in the “exclusive engagement” listing.
Hey Don…
Your explanation about why the Movieplex 42 was not listed on any movie ads for films that were running there in the newspapers makes no sense. If it were because of the low cost of admission than why are the Brooklyn and Queens theatres where you can see any first fun release for a couple of dollars less still listed in the ads? Also, I’ve never heard about this “policy” that the newspapers have or had about not advertising movies on 42 street. I’m sure if I look at any old issue of the New York Times there will be an ads for movies playing on that street. I mean there were even ads for pornos up until 1976, so c'mon.
Don,
Even in the 1950s, some 42nd St theaters appeared in ads placed by the distributor (ala “showcase”). I’m looking at ads for Pinocchio (‘53 release) that lists the Selwyn; Some Like It Hot (New Amsterdam). Some ads (House on Haunted Hill) mention that the film is at the New A but will play the following week at the Harris.
The Apollo advertised a lot since its art-house programming was geared toward the “non-typical” 42nd Street crowd.
The re-release theaters (Empire, Victory, Anco, Liberty)with the most eclectic programming do not appear in any ads that I can find from the ‘50s. The Anco & Liberty pop-up on occasion in the 60s when they would do the 3rd week of a popular booking, after the New A. & Harris.
I am still looking for booking info on these “re-release” theaters from the 50s-60s. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Jerry
“they played first-run films and charged a price a couple of dollars cheaper than other theatres in NYC. And they weren’t strict about allowing people to move to another theatre without buying a second admission”
This is why the Movieplex 42 was not allowed to advertise in the newspapers. In the 50s and early 60s, none of the 42nd St theatres were allowed to advertise. In the late 60s, restrictions were loosened up a bit and the theatres appeared in the showcase ads.
Hardbop…
I remember this theatre even though I’d never gone inside only because it just looked real seedy. From what I recall it had six screens and the strangest thing of it all was the fact that for some odd reason this theatre was never listed in any of the newspapers adds of movies being played there at the time. So on paper the theatre didn’t exist.
It was the Movieplex 42, hardbop – /theaters/8429/
There was a multiplex on the site where the AMC moved and I assume it was demolished to make way for the AMC ‘plex. I forget the name of it, but they played first-run films and charged a price a couple of dollars cheaper than other theatres in NYC. And they weren’t strict about allowing people to move to another theatre without buying a second admission. I usually was afraid to walk on that block and wouldn’t step foot in any of those 42nd Street theatres, but do remember seeing one film there in '94 called JASON’S LYRIC. It was probably the only place the film was playing so I was forced to brave the block. I remember the woman in the ticket booth sat there couting and recounting cash as I waiting to buy a ticket, which caused me to miss the beginning of the film. It was the first and last time I went there. Anyone remember this theatre?
View link
A nighttime marquee shot
I couldn’t open that link from woody, so I just joined the Cinema group at this link instead. Instant membership, no waiting.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cta-uk
Yes, the “Pandora” lettering was from the use of the Empire’s exterior for “The Last Action Hero.” The interior of the fictitious Pandora Theatre was the Orpheum in Los Angeles, since restored and still operating for both live shows and movies, and with its original pipe organ still in use (a friend of mine tunes it).
The timing would be about right, i took the pic of the doors through the filthy security grill in early 1995, and last action hero filmed in 1993
wonder what became of the doors, they were amazing and looked very authentic
In reference to the post by Woody, I believe the “Pandora” inscription on the doors was for the movie “The Last Action Hero” which had scenes filmed at the Empire.
Check this link to the UK Cinema Theatre Association CTA Online Yahoo group.Ive added six photos of 42nd st area cinemas, including a 1995 photo of the Adonis, the David, the Empire, Cine 42, New Amsterdam and Harem
As well as two postcards one of 42nd street in the snow in all its eighties sleazy glory and one very early eighties one of it at night…enjoy!
View link
posted by woody on Jan 29, 2005 at 3:42pm
Prior to the redevelopment of 42nd st about 9 years ago, when all these theatres were boarded up i took some photos and a close-up of the original amazingly ornate doors of the empire, they had carved greek-style faces and around the face was the inscription “pandora theatre"
i cant find any reference to the empire being called this?
anyone shed any light?
Here are some comments about this theater posted on the Cine 42 page:
About the most impressive thing – heck, make that the ONLY impressive thing – in the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick ‘The Last Action Hero’ are the multiple shots of the 42nd Street (and Deuce-area) grindhouse marquees illuminated at night.
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:13pm
I recall that they created an elaborate facade for the Empire, which they crashed into or something. It was a beautiful version of how the Empire could have looked at one time.
posted by saps on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:23pm
There was also a scene – if memory serves, the one following the scene saps makes mention of – set within, I believe, the interior of the then-rundown Empire (or at least a fascimile of a theatre which had seen better days).
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:48pm
Just a random thought – I wonder what ever became of those beautiful street-entrance doors which once graced patrons and passersby of the Empire (tossed in a dumpster, I fear, but I hope I’m wrong). By the time I became aware of them, they were coated with years of grime, but that didn’t take away from their unique detail.
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:53pm
It’s nice to discuss something other than the Roxy and the Music Hall.
Especially because it’s the only Rapp & Rapp theater in Kansas City.
< http://cinematreasures.org/news/12324_0_1_0_M9 >
< /theaters/4866 >
You know it’s ironic that AMC saved and used the Empire in its redevelopment and creation of the new multiplex on 42nd St. in NYC. Yet, the Empire Theater in Kansas City, which sits four blocks from the AMC headquarters here, sat empty and rotting for since 1986. AMC had owned the Empire here in KC at one time.
Now that the Empire is being restored as part of the new entertainment district being developed here by Cordish, AMC still has no part in the saving of the Empire. All the new residents of renovated downtown buildings constantly dream of having a movie theater downtown again. There’s hope that Cordish will bring a new theater to downtown. It won’t be the Empire, since it’s being restored for use as a live music venue. AMC is willing to spend millions salvaging an old theater in NYC, but hasn’t done the same in its hometown. Especially sad since AMC executives have to drive by the Empire every day.
Thanks, kids. I just ordered both of them from my library down here in the jngle. I’ll do a book report when I’m done. I’ll try some Google searches on the bookers. The quest continues! Jerry the K 42nd Street Memories
Jerry the K: I believe the book you are looking for is called “Lost Broadway Theatres” It is availble in both Hard And Soft cover versions. I have seen it in many NYC library branches. It has many exterior and interior photos of Broadway area theatres going back to the turn of the century.