I personally witnessed the city kill this street in the early nineties by harassing teenagers (read BLACK) who were the life the street after dark in this neighborhood.
I found some New York Times articles about the re-naming of the Jolson Theatre (2nd Avenue & 59th Street) the MOLLY PICON in 1942.
The 1930 production of THE GIRL OF YESTERDAY took place at the Folks Theatre (Village East), and it was never renamed but became know as the MOLLY PICON FOLKS Theatre in 1931 anyway.
I cannot find any proof this theatre was ever named MOLLY PICON or that it showed movies past 1915. Does anyone know what years THIS 2nd Avenue theatre showed movies?
A meeting of the League of City Peddlers of Greater New York was held at the Golden Rule Theatre in June 1928, indicating it may have still been open for Yiddish Vaudeville or movies.
On April 27, 1952 a hold-up gone wrong resulted in the gunman firing a shot at the Victory cashier (who questioned whether the gun was real), missing her with the bullet getting embedded into the boxoffice door.
The two failed robbers then ran down the street while others went in pursuit. One man was shot in the abdomen and critically injured. The shooting robber was captured by the police but his accomplice escaped.
This may be the reason the Victory was closed that summer.
I think the riff-raff and the porn followed the anonymity made possible by the massive subway exchanges of Times Square. As you moved away from the Deuce it all dissipated.
The area declined rapidly after the US entry to WW II when the soldiers boosted the local street prostitution and gay cruising trade, but this was indeed the border of Hell’s Kitchen, a crime ridden Irish slum during the best of times. The Deuce started declining during the depression when the theatres all switched over to film and burlesque.
Although hard-core porn theatres like the Hollywood were a seventies invention, skin flicks and brothels were always around at some area locations.
Listed in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook as an Ansell theatre, a chain that runs Spanish language theatres.
Still listed in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook as CINEMA 48, an Ansell theatre, a chain that runs Spanish language theatres.
Still listed in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook as an Ansell theatre, a chain that runs Spanish language theatres.
This entry is assuming that the Loew’s Yorkville closed in 1921 and that this location was the one that persevered through the forties with this name.
Does anyone know anything different?
That’s a gray area. Is the IFC Center really the Waverly, or the American Airlines really the Selwyn?
The Commodore opened on September 2, 1926 as an M & S movie house.
The last films to show appear to have been “A TICKLISH AFFAIR” and “HOOTENANNY HOOT” on October 8, 1963.
This theatre deserves a richer intro when you consider the history it has created and the contributions above…
..and there is no web site there.
I personally witnessed the city kill this street in the early nineties by harassing teenagers (read BLACK) who were the life the street after dark in this neighborhood.
Ethnic cleansing, Rudy Guliani style, at work.
Get rid of the Roman numerals
The Cinema 3 opens:
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I think this guy is on the right track.
The theatre address has always been 209 West 42nd Street. 229 West 42nd Street are the operating offices.
I found some New York Times articles about the re-naming of the Jolson Theatre (2nd Avenue & 59th Street) the MOLLY PICON in 1942.
The 1930 production of THE GIRL OF YESTERDAY took place at the Folks Theatre (Village East), and it was never renamed but became know as the MOLLY PICON FOLKS Theatre in 1931 anyway.
I cannot find any proof this theatre was ever named MOLLY PICON or that it showed movies past 1915. Does anyone know what years THIS 2nd Avenue theatre showed movies?
This was showing Slavic films in 1937-1938 as the Chopin.
Featuring plays in 1948 as the New Stage Theatre. By 1950 it is the Bleecker Street Playhouse.
It appears the Coral opened shortly after, also with major delays. The problem may have been at Paramount Theatres.
The Garrick was showing films as the NICKELODEON in 1964.
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The Agee Room opened in November 1980. It became the Bleecker 2 by 1985.
In 1936 The Rexy became the home of The Bowery Tabernacle.
Here is a 1929 photo of it as the Houston.
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Shores theatre opens in 1946:
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A meeting of the League of City Peddlers of Greater New York was held at the Golden Rule Theatre in June 1928, indicating it may have still been open for Yiddish Vaudeville or movies.
In the 1930-1931 season the Odeon had a banner year with the Yiddish Vaudeville it was built for. This theatre had a very happy ending, for a change.
On April 27, 1952 a hold-up gone wrong resulted in the gunman firing a shot at the Victory cashier (who questioned whether the gun was real), missing her with the bullet getting embedded into the boxoffice door.
The two failed robbers then ran down the street while others went in pursuit. One man was shot in the abdomen and critically injured. The shooting robber was captured by the police but his accomplice escaped.
This may be the reason the Victory was closed that summer.
I think the riff-raff and the porn followed the anonymity made possible by the massive subway exchanges of Times Square. As you moved away from the Deuce it all dissipated.
It was always better on 7th Avenue.
The area declined rapidly after the US entry to WW II when the soldiers boosted the local street prostitution and gay cruising trade, but this was indeed the border of Hell’s Kitchen, a crime ridden Irish slum during the best of times. The Deuce started declining during the depression when the theatres all switched over to film and burlesque.
Although hard-core porn theatres like the Hollywood were a seventies invention, skin flicks and brothels were always around at some area locations.