All over Manhattan (and everywhere else) tons of new movie theaters are opening, but they are all multiplexes with 10, 20 or even 30 screens in one building. Some of them aren't bad for a quick flick but I'm sure some of you remember when going to a movie was a big experience.

For a while now there have been two remaining movie theaters in Manhattan that still capture that experience. My favorite has always been the Loews Astor Plaza on Times Square... large place (1440 seats all on one screen) VERY large screen, comfortable well arranged seating, and still has a CURTAIN that opens and closes for the feature attraction. Its also been kept up to date with the latest sound technology and projection systems.

All of the original Star Wars films opened there in '77, '80, and '83. When Return of the Jedi opened there, that was the first time I slept overnight on the sidewalk to see a film premiere (and I had scarfed some tix to the charity premiere a week before, but still slept on the sidewalk to see it again!) For you youngun's that was before the internet and before advanced ticket sales and before 12:01am "first shows"... you were on the sidewalk all night... took care of "business" when the Howard Johnson opened up (they were the first restaurant to open in the morning on T.S.) and when the ticket booth opened you bought your stub and went in and watched the movie.

At the beginning of this month they closed the Astor Plaza. They are turning into a live rock auditorium, which is better than turning it into a parking garage. Still I have a lot of memories there for a lot of film premieres.

Today I found some old photos and got them scanned and I posted them here:
-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
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