More than 85 years of Forest HIlls history hangs on the success of one weekend.
The Cinemart Theater opened in 1927, and for the last eight years, owner Nicolas Nicolaou spent thousands of dollars operating an obsolete theater that didn’t have the technology to feature first-run films.
But after making a $300,000 investment to add digital projection — the industry standard — to the theater, Nicolaou is getting a second shot from Hollywood to feature the industry’s latest movies.
“After all these years I was ready to throw in the towel, but I was finally able to get another chance for the theater,” said Nicolaou, whose family has owned the place since the 1960s.
On Friday, the historic theater will be featuring Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” and if Nicolaou sells enough tickets, the future of the theater will be ensured for another 85 years, the owner said.
But if the movie doesn’t draw a large enough audience, Nicolaou may have no choice but to close his five-screen theater since Hollywood studios will likely issue him no other first-run films.
“This movie will make or break this theater,” he said as the 11th hour approached. “I hope at the end of the day we will be there and the community has supported us overwhelmingly.”
23 comments:
It is really too bad the movie they chose looks really awful and I don't want to pay money to see it and even if I did my wife would veto a sniper movie immediately.
If you read the article, it sounds like Nicolaou spent on interior renovations and the cafe well into the time when digital was becoming standard. I wish him well and will probably buy a ticket, but it sounds more like he made a bad business decision instead of investing in an industry-standard upgrade and not a victim of landlords, the city, or a political decision.
GREAT CHOICE for a last shot. I saw the movie and it is amazing. Will be going this weekend to support the theater. Everyone please go even if you are a 70 year olfd shmuck and thinks it looks bad.
In my youth, this is where the summer camp took us to see Shrek.
As the Kew Gardens Cinema proves, perhaps one doesnot need a mainstream Hollywood film to survive. That being said, the story begind Clint Eastwood's Ameircan Sniper is a real one and deserves to be told.
It sounds like the theater has had its run despite 11th hour efforts to save it. I was thinking of seeing "America Sniper" but it will be easier for me to see it in Manhattan where I work. Traveling from north east Queens to support a Forest Hills venue requires me to take 2 busses or a bus and two trains. This is a sad situation, but this theater's continued existence depends solely on the repeat patronage of its locals. One weekend might just be postponing its death sentence.
C'mon, it's just a local dump. Let's not wax nostalgia
Iike an earthquake just toppled the Parthenon. When the old Forest Hills theater closed, now that was a real loss.
I've never been but my son has seen a movie there. He said it's a terrible theater.
I could be sitting in the Loew's Jersey...a real movie palace in Jersey City in less time than it takes for me to get to the Cinemart for only a few dollars more. My local theater, The Quartet, is now a supermarket. They tried to keep that sinking boat afloat. I sorely miss having a walk to venue, but time marches on. At least now I can buy fresh produce there instead of viewing some Hollywood producer's poor product. Netflix is my savior or Manhatran is my more convenient destination.
Time to pull the plug. Heroic measures will not save it Michael.
Jerry, I was at Journal Square in Jersey City last week. You get out of the PATH station and the Loew's sits right there beautiful in the sunlight right across from the station. However, it does take some time to get there: let's say 30-45 mins by MTA subway from Queens and then 30-45 mins if the PATH train is there at Herald Square. Let's say an hour to an hour and a half one way if you're lucky. Plus 2 separate fares one way. And you are in Joisey City.
if he wanted to keep it open he should have invested in big and comfortable seats, reserved seating, real food you can eat at the seat along with drinking alcohol at the seat and kick out anyone texting or making noise. make it a nice premium experience along with the latest in digital projection which is actually a huge money saver
back in the 80's i saw a few movies in that toilet of a second run theater on woodhaven and hated it. nastiest theater i've been in.
as it is now, my #1 choice is the Loews on 34st. i can take the LIRR there on the weekend and watch a movie in a nice theater.
Not in my neighborhood, but I will try to get there on Friday to see this movie that I had no intention of seeing in the first place.
The time it takes me from my Broadway station (senior fare) LIRR isn't so bad, with a switch to Path at Penn. I saw the silent film "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" ...a 35mm tinted print with the theater's "wonder" Morton pipe organ accompanying the movie. WOW, is all I can say. This was all for $10! Is it not worth the trip for that kind of experience? Time machines do exist, George. I urge you all to visit the Loew's. But I'm always sad to see a neighborhood house go.
P.S. Too bad the Flushing Keith's got destroyed and the Triboro theater before that (1974) on Steinway street. We could have had it all in Queens. Crooked politics was responsible for these two great losses. Renown theater architect, Thomas Lamb, designed both the Keith's and Triboro.
Crooked politics also destroyed the historic Trylon theater.
Why is it that the citizens have to do all the fighting? Where are our elected politicians???
"On Friday, the historic theater will be featuring Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” and if Nicolaou sells enough tickets, the future of the theater will be ensured for another 85 years,..."
85 years???
This sounds a bit off the mark to me.
Her is some history I found.
"Opened as the Metropolis Theatre on March 10, 1927. It closed in the late 1950’s as the Inwood Theatre. The renamed Cinemart enjoyed huge popularity as a dollar house showing second run double bills, revivals and foreign films. In 1982 it was twinned and modernized and then in 1995 it was totally redone as a top-notchfive-plex. It now shows first run and leans toward offbeat and foreign releases."
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4615
That makes it 88 years old...
Congratulations on your ability to do simple math. Was there a point? Is there a most pointless post of the day contest no one told me about?
And what's with the ellipses? Is there more brilliance to come?
"And what's with the ellipses? Is there more brilliance to come?"
Another tough guy behind the computer... :-)
"Was there a point?" Yes 88 years is 3 years longer than 85.
Tu capisci ?
"Ellipsis". . . "Ellipses" is plural.
More brilliance came.
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