The Exhibitor (1961)

RKO 23rd Street To Have Completely Landscaped Area An innovation in theatre construction is being planned with the building of the new RKO 23rd Street in New York City. This will be the first motion picture house in Man¬ hattan to be built in a park-like setting com¬ pletely landscaped on all four sides. This new idea eliminates old-fashioned alleys and stage door entrances. A long term lease for this new theatre was signed jointly by Harry Mandel, president of RKO Thea¬ tres, and Abraham E. Kazan, president of the Mutual Redevelopment Houses, Inc. It will be built as part of the Penn Station South Project on 23rd Street near 8th Avenue, and will be operated as part of the RKO thea¬ tre chain. The theatre, in addition to serving the en¬ tertainment needs of the 2,820 families in the project itself, and drawing from adjacent Greenwich Village and other sections of the metropolitan area, will be an important ad¬ dition to the recent modernization and trans¬ formation of Greenwich Village and New York City’s lower West Side. John J. McNamara, architect for the RKO Theatres, and Herman J. Jessor, architect for the development, are completing plans for the 900-seats house on a plot that mea¬ sures 75 x 175 feet. In addition to being ul¬ tra-modern and affording complete comfort the theatre will be equipped with all-purpose projection to permit the showing of 70mm and CinemaScope films. The architects are including many novel departures from the conventional in their plans. A waterfall curtain on glass is to separate the main foyer from the auditori¬ um. A coffee room, lounge, air-foam seats, equipment for complete temperature control, and lavish concessions counter will add to the patrons’ comfort and enjoyment. Construction of the new theatre will start this month with an expected opening at East¬ ertime, 1962. PHYSICAL THEATRE Vol. 16, No. 8 September 13, 1961 Sherman, Brotman Theatre To Be Built In Suburb Of Chicago To Build Hard-Top Permits have been taken out for the con¬ struction of a new 1500-seat hard-top to be erected on Harrison Street and the Congress Expressway, adjacent to the Hillside Shop¬ ping Center in Chicago. Sponsors of this $600,000 project are Leon¬ ard H. Sherman, realtor and builder, and Oscar A. Brotman, attorney and motion pic¬ ture exhibitor. The plans include stereophonic sound, ToddAO screen, foam rubber seats, a section de¬ voted for fine art displays, and an extralarge foyer. A single feature policy showing only the top attractions will be the format. Instead of the usual shovel-digging ground breaking ceremonies, arrangements have been made with Doris Day to press an elec¬ tronic button in Hollywood, which will set in motion the actual Hillside construction. The modem architectural treatment will emphasize the light and informal feeling of suburban living, the co-owners state. Inter¬ ior decorators are now submitting sketches to Sherman and Brotman for the job of planning and installing furniture and decorat¬ ing the foyers. Ed Novak, Chicago district manager of National Theatre Supply, the firm that is furnishing the theatre’s equipment, stated that, “The Hillside will be one of the most beautiful theatres in the middle west and I predict that it will win the trophy for the Most Outstanding Theatre of the Year.” Two glass enclosed sound proofed rooms will be available in the rear of the audi¬ torium for private theatre parties. Opening is scheduled for the late Fall of this year. September 13, 1961 PHYSICAL THEATRE • EXTRA PROFITS DEPARTMENT of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR PE-5