Things You'd Love To Do

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 5:39pm

If I had money, I would like to refurbish & reopen the last ( & only remaining) picture palace in Times Square. It started life as the Loews Mayfair, later to become the De Mille ( in the 60's it played many of the epic films) & lastly becoming the Embassy 2, 3 & 4. It has been closed & vacant for many years - probably awaiting demolition.

I would show classic movie, big Hollywood epics, cliffhanger serials etc. I would love to give people a taste of what the movie going experience used to be before TV & video. We started out with nickelodeons , graduated to picture palaces & now have regressed to crackerjack size multiplex's

Would not mind spending $ 10 to see a movie in a big old picture palace. To spend that to sit in a shoebox eating bags of $ 4 popcorn ( which it cost about $.25 cents to make ) is not my idea of movie going.

Having attempted to save 2 old picture palaces & after being done in by the same local politician both times, I have seen these theaters at the end of their careers & how many communities have saved them & turned their communities around with them

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 05:39 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 5:47pm

I think that would be great. I wish more people would be interested in that kind of thing and that such a place could not only survive, but thrive. Alas, I don't think that's likely.

If you had money left over, could you bring back one automat? I never went to one.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 5:52pm

I must give credit where credit is due. Normally Namo & I are at each other throats & we never agree on anything. We will never see eye to eye politically but that is life

I must thank you , Namo , for you kind words. Maybe this can be the start of a reproachment. Let us start fresh & forget what has happened in the past between us. I offer the olive branch

By the way, the automat was great. They made a macaroni & cheese & creamed spinach you'd sell your mother to the devil for. There is a book out about the automat with pictures & actual receipes for their signature dishes. If interested, let me know & I will get you the title of the book & the name of the publishers

Thanks again

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 05:52 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 6:11pm

Dammit. I sold my mother to the devil for the first Patridge Family album when I was ten.

The devil returned my father.

Hmmm.

At first I thought you'd written that you were offering me olive bruschetta, which sounded delish, too.

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 06:11 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:06pm

I was lucky enough to see Oliver, Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark at wonderful old picture palaces (balcony, curtains, murals, curved screen) before they closed. I agree wholeheartedly. It really made the moviegoing experience more special than it is now.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:15pm

To those interested, name your locality & I will let you know of some theaters like this that may be open or that exist in other forms as you might want to take a look at them. Some localities have theaters like these either showing old movies or now resurrected as either performing arts centers or churches

For the record, Chicago had the most in number & the most ornate theaters of any locality in the country. Many old palaces were actually vaudeville theaters. The picture palace was built during a relatively short period ( early 1920's) until it stopped cold due to the depression. Some planned were never built & others closed quickly. Once early fatality was the Chicago Paradise. It was absolutly eye poping . It opened in 1928 , was closed on & off & was torn down in 1956 at the age of 28. The list of demolished palaces is astounding. The worst loss was the San Francisco fox done in by one of Californias voter initiatives not properly explained to voters . Years after it came down, people began to realize what a colossal mistake they made. It was dubbed the most palatial palace ever built

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 07:15 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:23pm

I have "The Automat" right in front of me. It's written by Lorraine B. Diehl and Mariane Hardart. (Clarkson Potter Publishers). It has many photos of the old automats and severl recipes of dishes that were served there. Yes, even the recipe for macaroni and cheese! The book sells for $18.

[DofB5]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:35pm

We have one. I think it's called the Tampa Theater and it's downtown off of Franklin street. I've never been there but I would like to.

They've had some of the sing-a-long movies. Like "Sound of Music". I'd like to try that sometime. Sounds like fun.

D

Updated On: 1/11/04 at 07:35 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 7:45pm

Most of the theatres here in chicago that play touring companies nd such were movie palaces. its very cool when i ssee a show in one of those. theyre beautiful

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 8:47pm

"We have one. I think it's called the Tampa Theater and it's downtown off of Franklin street. I've never been there but I would like to."

oh my Lord, the Tamp theatre is to DIE for!! I was there for competition, and unfortunately I didn't get to perform there but I saw a few productions and it is just truely breathtaking!!!!

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 8:48pm

I'd love to star in RENT with Princess MimiChica.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:03pm

Mr Roxy, I think that is a beautiful idea. If ever your dream comes true I'll be there the minute it opens.

I want to star in RENT with PrincessMimiChica and Joizey!

Honestly, I want to go to Julliard and live the rest of my life as the next biggest Broadway superstar until the day I kick the bucket.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:05pm

In Chicago, you have the Chicago & The Oriental. You may also have the Uptown still

My dream will come true if I win the lottery so it will stay a dream

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:08pm

- I was being sarcastic, just for the record.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:09pm

We play the lottery too, my family, and we always seem to get our hopes up too high I guess. The sad thing is I'm not sure I'll be able to go to college without winning the lottery.

Would you play Marilyn Monroe movies in your palace Mr Roxy my dear?

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:10pm

Joizey sweetheart, so was I...

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:12pm

If there was a place showing the old cliffhanger serials on the big screen I'd be there every weekend. I'm WAY too young to have ever been part of the serial generation but my interest in comics and such led me to them and I think they're a marvel -- so much fun crammed into them. Compared to the antiseptic 'action films' of today, give me a big cornball serial anyday.

Especially one with Linda Stirling. Or Kay Aldridge. Or Lorna Gray. Or Peggy Stewart. Or ...

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:14pm

Haha. I just realized that MyNameInLight's Icon was Angela Lansbury -- I thought it was some person in a giant yellow cat costume. They look like ears.

Didn't realize it was Sweeney Todd.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 10:17pm

Angela Lansbury in that movie scared the urine out of me, but not as much as Betsy Joslyn's vibrato as Johanna. God save the queen!

Damn I love Sweeney Todd.

[orion59]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 8:34am

We used to have many of those great old theaters here in Boston. Unfortunately, they no longer exist. My grandmother used to tell me about going to Scolly Square (now Governement center) to see vaudville and burlesque shows. She would go and see fanny brice, Gypsy Rose Lee, Abbott and Costello. A few blocks from this area was what is still called the theater district where one would go to see plays.

Most of these buildings fell into disrepair and were destroyed in the 60's and 70's after being used as movie theaters. When I was a kid, you could go to these gold gilded palaces with red velvet curtain to see movies. Even then they were shabby and nearly falling down.
There is one downtown that was somewhat preserved. Squeezed in between stores like Macy's and Barnes & Noble there is one sad, crumbling facade of what used to be a great burlesque house. It's no longer safe to be used for anything. It's very sad to think that in a town where we value history and architecture, these palces were allowed to fall apart and disappear.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 8:46am

There is a refurbished movie theater in New Jersey (relatively easy to get to) that I used to have on my 'favorites' page, but the website went down a few months ago & I deleted it.

Roxy, do you know which theater I'm referring to? It looked spectacular.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 2:51pm

If I had the money I would open a Broadway Museum in the midtown area. It would have original costumes on display, scripts, photos, Biographies, Memorials, Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Instruments, Life-size wax figures like the ones at Madame Tusseu's, listening stations for cast recordings, screening rooms for shows that have been taped and for past Tony and Drama Desk Award shows, lecture halls for guest speakers, a stage area for Broadway hopefulls to have a little kareoke fun...they could put on costumes a make a video singing a Broadway song of their choice. I need to hit the lottery

[orion59]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 3:05pm

Well I hope you hit the lottery and open this museum so I can go to it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 6:54pm

To Master LC Z

I know of the Loews Jersey in Jersey City. If not, let me know the city & I should be able to tell you.

To Theater Baby

Years ago I had the same idea before the New Amsterdam was refurbished. I thought recording every score ever written for any show would make it a great archive. Out of work singers could record the scores

To My Name in Lights & Orion

It would not be a museum but an actual operating theater. The Capitol Theater in NYC ( it was across the street from the Winter Garden - demolished ) was a 5000 seat beauty. When they converted it to Cinerama, they removed a number of rows from the rear of the theater & put in an authentic Japanese Garden with wooden bridges & ponds of water

Updated On: 1/12/04 at 06:54 PM

[Princess MimiChica]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 7:38pm

"I was being sarcastic, just for the record."


huh?? that was mean! =*( i'm hurt