Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Must see theatres of NY and New England.

This is topic Must see theatres of NY and New England. in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-11-2002, 04:10 PM:

I'm taking vacation to New York City and a few parts of New England right before the 4th of July. I am anticipating that I'll want to check out a few of the 4th of July releases if only for an excuse to go into a nice theatre and check the place out. So allow me to ask the question that always gets asked...

Where should I go? What is the best place to see a movie in New York City? I'm looking for the best combination of presentation and A) movie palace charm or B) screwed up multi-plex butchering / imagination. The same sort of recommendations for movies in Connecticut and near Boston. I'm also always interested in going to one of those theatres that you can tell is going to close soon...

Any input is appreciated.

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Scott D. Neff

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-11-2002, 04:41 PM:

Depending on how far you want to drive from Boston, here are some smallish older theatres that deserve to be seen:

Cape Cinema (Dennis, MA - see photo gallery for pics)

IOKA Theatre (Portsmouth, NH)
Music Hall (Portsmouth, NH)

Academy of Music (Northampton, MA)

Avon Cinema (Providence, RI)

And in the Boston area:
Brattle Theatre (Cambridge, MA - rear projection!)
Coolidge Corner (Brookline, MA)
Wang Theatre (Boston, MA - mostly live performances; occasional films incl. 70mm)

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-11-2002, 06:08 PM:

Having just returned from NYC, I can share my experiences (I was REALLY limited for time, was on a tight scheduled tour, so didnt get to check out all the theatres I would have liked).

Ziegfeld: STAR WARS in DLP! Rolling stock ads on 35mm! I saw this film on the Thursday of the second week. NO mention of DLP on the marqiee or on posters. But the (pre-made) marquee DID feature the SDDS logo! The next day wghen I walked by the theatre, this was covered up with a new logo for Dolby Digital Surround EX. My guess is that with the megaplex trend that has hit Manhattan, very few of the REALLY old theatres are left. The ASTOR PLAZA is still open, but I can't imagine it staying thatway much longer, given the SAME movie shown there always plays at the E-Walk, just a couple of blocks away.
Back to the Ziegfeld: I found the red and gold trim decor to be rather garish, but in a "fun way." I always wanted to visit this theatre, and Im glad I did. Its a HUGE auditorium (with the back third being a "stadium" section in the rear (probably more designed to preserve space (Its built up over the lobby area) than for sightlines (which are adequate even in the main section). Instead of curtains, the theatre uses those loveable slides (although their gold curtain closes about a minute before showtime). the other curtain still hangs, but went unused. there was about a thirty second delay between 35mm ads and the DLP previews, etc. Both 35mm and DLP were BRILLIANTLY bright! The DLP filled the full screen. The Ziegfeld at one point in time had a control console in the auditorium (according to a NY Times article at the time of the opening) where the projectionist sat and controlled the whole show, but this booth is now gone (does anyone know when they stopped using it?) Sound was not the greatest at the Ziegfeld, though.. It was the one disappointment. It was plenty LOUD, and had good bass, BUT there seemed to be accoustic problems in the theatre.

LOEW'S E-WALK: Times Square audiences are not bad as SOME people have claimed elsewhere (not in this forum). this is a theatre with a beautiful entryway, and a LONG haul of escalators to get to the theatre floors (I THINK 2). I saw opening day of INSOMNIA. The film was already scratched and had dirt on it. The auditoriums, while featuring rocking chairs, weren't all that comfortable, but weren't bad either. The auditorium I was in was rather prosaic, with just draped walls. Rather bland. The projection wasn't very steady, neither was the lamp. The sound was also a little thin. About the quality I'd expect to see in my hometown.

AMC Empire 25: VERY impressive megaplex. The lobby is actually the auditorium of an old legit house turned "grind" movie house. The two balcony rims serve as a restaurant. After taking many escalators up, I saw "ABOUT A BOY" in (I THINK) #8. The film was in its second week, but there wasn't a blemish on the print. It had perfect corner-to-corner focus, very bright, and beautifuly tuned sound that didn't blast or strain with the dialogue intense film. This theatre was exceptionally clean, with very wide, tall, rocking chair seats covered in TOP-GRAIN LEATHER! this theatre was using a video projector for moving ads (although not VIDEO style ads) before the show started. It was a very tastefully done theatre (although there was light coming from the ONE very wide booth that seemed to stretch the width of the back wall...no spill on the screen, though.

NYC theatres are $10.00...no student discounts or bargain shows.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-11-2002, 09:34 PM:

Wasn't the Empire picked up and moved down the block to be used as a part of the new AMC?

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-12-2002, 01:06 AM:

Yes, our tour guide even pointed that out.

I should add several other theatres I saw: a tour of Radio City Music Hall, with a peak (through glass obeservation window) of the projection room. Also, on Times Square, visit the Tourist center. Its a virtually intact old movie theatre, with even the sloping floor and projection portoles visible (I think it was originally called the EMBASSY). What made this theatre unique that it was originally operated entirely by women, including the projection staff (the only female projectionists in that local's union).

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 06-12-2002, 04:32 AM:

Scott
I'm really surprised the Brattle and Coolidge Corner theatres are still running. I worked both of those venues when I lived in good ol' Waltham, Mass. back in the late 50s and thought they'd both be gone by now.
Some others that come to mind are the RKO Keith's Memorial, the Pilgrim, the Metropolitan, the Orpheum and the Trans-Lux. I'm assuming these are all history.
Too bad they tore down the Embassy in Waltham, Mass. Boy, what a palace. I miss it. I have alot of memories of both movie watching and running films there. Also the Paramount in Newton Corner, where I saw my first film in scope and 4 track mag sound, BENEATH THE 12 MILE REEF.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 06-12-2002, 04:57 AM:

That's exactly right, Adam, and I remember the day they did it. They had a pair of Laurel and Hardy balloons, each about 3 stories high, which they inflated and tied off to the side of the structure to make it seem like they were pulling in down 42nd street. There's pictures of it in the theatre lobby, and probably on the net somewhere.

I'll have to throw in with Paul on the AMC Empire, it's one of the best managed and operated 'plexes I've ever been in, and my personal favorite place in NYC to catch a movie. It's a great mix of old and new, and beautiful projection to boot.

Other cool NYC things: Drop by the Ziegfeld (54th between 6th and 7th Aves), the largest single still operating in NYC, or see it's little sister, the Beekman on Second Ave. and 65th Street. The most interesting conversion in town is the recently opened Landmark Sunshine, on East Houston (pronounced HOW-ston) and Forsythe. It's built in the shell of a VERY old Yiddish vaudeville theatre, some of the original construction has been left exposed. The strangest conversion in town is the Village East Cinemas on 2nd Ave. and East 12th St. If you can figure out why they laid this place out they way they did, please write and explain it to me. As long as you are down in the village, drop by the recently abandoned Waverly Cinema on 6th Ave near West 3rd Street, it's where the very first person talked back to the screen during The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Walk north on 6th to West 8th St, turn right and go down about 500 feet to TLA Video, that's the old 8th Street Playhouse where Sal Piro staged the first RHPS floor show. The lobby of the video store is papered with old film calanders from the Playhouse and the TLA cinema in Philly, back in the days when you could still make a buck from rep programming (heavy sigh).

Another great screen is the #1 at the Loews Lincoln Square, one of the few THX auditoriums in the city. The Astor Plaza, mentioned above, is another large single with great sound, but the rumor is that it will not survive it's next lease renewal. If you go, spit on the floor for Jerry Chase, who is angry about what they did to the recent 70mm realese of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

If I can think of anything else, I'll add.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-12-2002, 06:31 AM:

Peter: of the theatres that you mention, the Metropolitan still exists (now the Wang Center...mostly a live theatre organization) and the Orpheum is used as a music concert venue. The others are gone. The Coolidge almost went under in the late '80s, but was saved and is now run as a nonprofit. The Brattle is still rather popular and was recently upgraded with a new screen and sound system and new seats. The others are gone.

Interesting that you mention the Embassy in Waltham. Landmark built a new 6-plex in about the same location in 1998 and it, too, is called the Embassy Cinema. (I've been working there one night a week or so lately.)

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 06-12-2002, 09:17 PM:

Scott
Thanks for the response. Sounds like all the good old palaces are history there, unfortunately like most of the country.
I'm familiar with the Embassy in Waltham that Landmark built. A good friend of mine from Seattle moved back there to manage it when it opened. She wanted me to take part in the grand opening of the new Embassy since I'm the only projectionist they could find that worked at the Embassy. Unfortunately Landmark did not want to pay for the trip so I didn't go. My folks were back there recently and took some photos for me. It appears to be on the site of the old News Trbune building. Would really like to get back there this summer on my vacation.
Thanks again.

Posted by Daniel Boisson (Member # 1027) on 06-12-2002, 10:10 PM:

I'd recomend you visit the Zeigfeld. I went there and was blown away by how grand it is.

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3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 06-13-2002, 01:31 PM:

Just a few minutes ride by PATH train from New York, is the Loew's Jersey Theater in Journal Square, Jersey City. I recently came over from London to see it. It is currently under restoration, but much of the original decoration survives, in both the auditorium, and the lobby.

Sadly, it is not open at the moment, the last screening was in May, and the new programme for later in the year is not yet published, but it would propably be possible to arrange to see the building. Contact details are on their web site at: www.loewsjersey.org

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-13-2002, 08:14 PM:

It looks like you might miss it, but the Theatre Historical Society of America is holding its annual conclave in NYC on July 9-13. A part of the event will be a tour of local theatres.

Cost of the event is $325 for members and $370 for non-members. Details are at www.historictheatres.org

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-13-2002, 08:16 PM:

Since I brought it up, the League of Historic American Theatres is having its annual conference July 16-20 in Minneapolis. Details are at www.lhat.org

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 06-14-2002, 11:58 AM:

While you're in Manhattan go on a theater tour of Houston (HOUSE-ton) Street.

Take the subway (1 or 2 train) to Houston Street, walk east 1/2 block and you're at the Film Forum. Arthouse, repertory cinema and documentary specialist all under one roof. They run reel-to-reel, upgraded to Dolby Digital 3 years ago and can accommodate any aspect ratio from Academy to CinemaScope. The halls are a bit cramped, though, so if there's a crowd you'll really have to fight for a seat. (Take it from me; I was a member until last summer.)

Head east on Houston to Mercer Street and the Angelika Film Center. Once upon a time the Angelika played every big arthouse hit. Now it has to fight for product and more often than not gets a few clinkers. The Angelika does run the occasional mainstream movie (Bulworth, The Blair Witch Project) and is Miramax's theater of choice for "Oscar Bait". It doesn't have digital sound, though, and subway/truck rumble leaks into the halls.

Continue east on Houston to the Sunshine Cinema. This East Village landmark began life as a 19th century Yiddish music hall. Later it became a neighborhood theater but was abandoned after World War II. For more than 50 years it was a warehouse. Now it's been restored for Landmark Theatres as a 5-screen arthouse with Dolby EX and some big arthouse hits (Monsoon Wedding, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Kissing Jessica Stein). Halls 1-3 are stadium seating; halls 4-5 (top floor) are sloped seating. No escalators, though -- you have to walk up and down steep stairs or take an elevator.