FAMOUS PLACES THAT NO LONGER EXIST

Give them time, they'll get there sooner or later. They figure you can never have enough Starbucks, TJ Maxx, Marshall's etc. 
We used to love to take the bus downtown to anywhere and get off and just walk. We always found something interesting. Now everything looks depressingly the same.

ASTOR THEATER
The Astor Theatre, opened on September 21, 1906 with Annie Russell starring in a production of “A Midsummer Nights Dream”. It was built and operated by producers Wagenhais and Kemper, at the corner of Broadway and W. 45th Street, seated 1,600 patrons and was considered one of Broadway’s premier venues for decades among the top actors of the era who aspired to play its stage.

Located just next to the Hotel Astor, and later surrounded by theatres like the adjoining Victoria Theatre on Broadway, and on W. 45th Street, the Morosco Theatre, Bijou Theatre and the first Helen Hayes Theatre (which opened as the Folies-Bergere, but quickly became the Fulton Theatre). The Astor Theatre was designed by George W. Keister, who decorated its interior in simple-yet-elegant Greek Revival style.
Red, gold and ivory were the original predominant colors. Outside, the five-floor building, which also contained shops and offices, was a blend of Neo-Classical and Second Empire styles, including a bronze-domed tower at the entrance at Broadway and W. 45th Street.

In 1912, Sam Harris and George M. Cohan took over the Astor Theatre, continuing legitimate fare (except for a 1913 presentation of the hit motion picture “Quo Vadis”) until 1916, when the theatre was acquired by the Shubert Bros., who would run the Astor Theatre until the Depression.

During the times when there were no legitimate bookings, motion pictures were also screened. Starting in 1925, movies replaced live entertainment on a permanent basis at the Astor Theatre, and remained so for the remainder of its existence.

By the 1940’s, the Astor Theatre was the theatre that MGM premiered its big-screen Technicolor musicals on Broadway, and remained so for over a decade. The New York premiere of Warner Bros. “East of Eden” starring James Dean was held here on March 9, 1955.

In 1959, a radical modernization of the Astor Theatre to the plans of architect John J. McNamara resulted in a dramatically stark-looking interior, with all of its original decor torn out in favor of expanded orchestra seating. Modernistic murals on its side walls and the removal of the boxes and its set of balconies, replaced by a smaller, single balcony.

The gilded proscenium arch was removed to make way for a huge curving wall-to-wall screen. The exterior was also greatly simplified and its original facade covered by a wall of marble, and given a rather plain, boxy marquee.
The Astor Theatre was closed May 30, 1972 with “Hannie Caulder”. Walter Reade Theatres said it was due to maintenance problems with the air conditioning, and not long afterwards, both it and its neighbors, the Victoria Theatre, the Helen Hayes Theatre, the Bijou Theatre and Morosco Theatre, were all earmarked for demolition to be replaced with an office tower. Plans were delayed, however, and as preservationists fought for nearly a decade to keep the theatre’s standing, the Astor Theatre’s old lobby was used for retail space.

In 1982, however, despite the valiant efforts of preservation organizations, the Astor Theatre and its four neighbors were razed to construct the Marriott Marquis New York Hotel, which contains its own legitimate theatre venue.

Truly. Grit and character have largely vanished from our major cities. City living, when I was a young fellow, meant having to "put up with" stuff like that. It was part of the landscape, and that included the street hookers I used to walk past and across the bridge by when coming home from work after dark. They'd proposition you right there, grab at you sometimes , or try to. Like something out of Lou Reed (Walk On The Wild Side), which is exactly what it was. Then all the gay stuff,--drag queens and the like, no "trannies", please (no such word then)--it was quite a sight to see. I can't honestly say I'd want the world to look like that now, but as part of my coming of age experience I wouldn't want to change one bit of it. An education in living in and understanding the world.

Jervistetch mentioned Playland At The Beach, in San Francisco, from The Lady From Shanghai.

There are, also, venues from Vertigo, which have disappeared.

-Ernie's Restaurant, where Scotty first sees Madeleine, changed hands, but remained a restaurant for some time. I'm not sure what it is, now. Since retiring, I don't get to that part of town often.

-Podesta Baldacchi, the upscale flower shop where Madeleine bought the bouquet, before going to view Carlotta's portrait, closed many years ago.

-The large building that served as Carlotta's hotel/rooming house, has been gone for decades.

****

Not from a film, but The Fox Theater, on Market St., fell to the wrecker's ball, in the late 60's. It was tragic! There was a massive effort/protest to save it. But, somehow, $$$$ seems to win. It's now a monolithic office, and apartment complex.

*****

BTW ... Amyghost, it's great to see you again!!

So where's the "square"?

Reminds me of the first time my parents took me to Oxford Circus. "Where are the clowns?".

"Vintage" TIMES SQUARE


Statue is George M. Cohan
Statue in the background is "Go West Young Man" - Horace Greeley

Automat on the left: A group of us were singing folk songs in the balcony seating area. The acoustics were great there. The manager asked told us to leave. The patrons protested and said that he should pay us to be there. He won.
The pumpkin pie was terrific ! Coffee and cocoa were a nickel and were dispensed thru a lions mouth. Kid heaven !

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I remember a shot of an automat in a movie … something with Ginger Rogers ? One girl was filling the cubicles and the other was talking to her from the other side. An IKTK 

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The food dispensing area of one is displayed at the Smithsonian

bravomailer That's the ONE … THANK YOU !

I wonder about the steel mills used in The Deer Hunter, though I think I know.