I'm on a roll here about the old neighborhood. The movie theater scene in the states has become quite sterile. The Park Plaza was the neighborhood theater, but was as fancy as they got. Brass railings, carpeting, plush chairs, balcony, loges (never saw anyone in them). All day Saturdays watching the cartoons, newsreels, shorts and B movies. Later on going on dates in the balconies, not caring what movie was playing. Not as opulent as the Paradise, but something special within walking distance. I heard that it was taken over by PS 82 for their auditorium, and is now some sort of bargain basement store.
Not sure what they have Now But i remember one of my first jobs of the summer was as a iusher, wow I even rember the Movie that played that whole week.. The bridge over the river qui..Da da da da da da da da dat da da t da dat. LOL
Posts: 34 | Location: 156West174th st /Now Omaha Nebraska | Registered: 29 March 2008
I understand that the Paradise on Grand Concourse was refurbished and is looking great. I haven't seen it though. I live in upstate New York now. From Fordham Rd originally.
I lived on 190th and Fordham Road, across from Fordham University. Same street as PS 45. Went to Theodore Roosevelt HS '59- we're planning a reunion this November. Let me know if you also graduated about that time. Barbara Ilardi Zottola
Originally posted by jeff in pai: I'm on a roll here about the old neighborhood. The movie theater scene in the states has become quite sterile. The Park Plaza was the neighborhood theater, but was as fancy as they got. Brass railings, carpeting, plush chairs, balcony, loges (never saw anyone in them). All day Saturdays watching the cartoons, newsreels, shorts and B movies. Later on going on dates in the balconies, not caring what movie was playing. Not as opulent as the Paradise, but something special within walking distance. I heard that it was taken over by PS 82 for their auditorium, and is now some sort of bargain basement store.
i remember seeing Cinderella there and other cartoons. I loved that theater. It went to PS 82 I think the year we left the neighborhood.
quote:
Originally posted by jeff in pai: I'm on a roll here about the old neighborhood. The movie theater scene in the states has become quite sterile. The Park Plaza was the neighborhood theater, but was as fancy as they got. Brass railings, carpeting, plush chairs, balcony, loges (never saw anyone in them). All day Saturdays watching the cartoons, newsreels, shorts and B movies. Later on going on dates in the balconies, not caring what movie was playing. Not as opulent as the Paradise, but something special within walking distance. I heard that it was taken over by PS 82 for their auditorium, and is now some sort of bargain basement store.
I remember the Park Plaza well. I won a twist contest when I was around in fourth grade I think (1964ish) and the prize was to be on the Bozo the Clown show.
Posts: 4 | Location: SF, CA | Registered: 23 March 2009
Not sure what they have Now But i remember one of my first jobs of the summer was as a iusher, wow I even rember the Movie that played that whole week.. The bridge over the river qui..Da da da da da da da da dat da da t da dat. LOL
Hey, Stan. I was friends with your brother Bobby. My name is Arty Bram. My older sister was Barbara, and brother Norman. Funny you mentioned that movie. After the 6th grade prom, I took this girl Ilene Alper to see that movie. I suppose that movie was playing in the early summer of 1964, right?
Up until about 6 months ago the Park Plaza Movie House was still standing. Of course it wasn't a movie anymore. It was toen down sadly, and they have begun erecting another building. I was sad to see it go. It was a place which had many great memories.
Too much o the old Bronx neighborhood is totally gone now, including my old building at 1615 University that housed Ronai's Deli, Curtis Supermarket, Bernie's Candy Store, Mr. Cohens Drug Store, etc.) People today have NO RESPECT FOR TRADITION, and no desire to keep up old neighborhoods. THAT'S WHY NEIGHBORHOODS DIE !!!!
I'm not sure there was one cause for the demise of the old neighborhoods, but Co-op City has to be a major reason. The corporation and investors (including the usual seedy politcos)who built it started a scare campaign, convincing people that the rest of the Bronx was a dangerous place to live. People flocked to Co-op City and abandoned to old neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the Bronx has not had the resurgence that we see in Brooklyn and Harlem, where the old houses remained standing and were able to be refurbished.
Jeff, Have you been to the Bronx lately. Most areas that were blighted have recovered. Many new large apartment buildings, and private homes. Some of the older buildings still standing have been refurbished. The Bronx still has a lot more to do, but it is on its way back. There are still some bad neigborhoos with drugs and crime, but much less than before.
Haven't been back for a long time. Last time was in the 80s and my house, 1495 Popham wasn't there. I know there are new buildings going up, but there is something to be said about the feel of the old neighborhoods, and the west Bronx wasn't all that old. Considering that my building was built around 1930, it never made it past 50 years. On another subject...this one for Roger...Did you live in the same building as Lenny Korman? I know he lived in one those buildings on University. For some reason his name popped up in my head. We were is a number of classes at 109.
Jeff, I did not live too far from you. I went t0 104 and 82 and the Park plaza.
I lived on Nelson Avenue near W. 172 St. All the buildings on my block are still there and have been refurbished. I was there a couple of years ago and traveled theoughout the West Bronx. It all looked good.
Did you live near the bagel bakery? During the winter I was sent to pick up fresh bagels when we had company. I enjoyed watching them make the bagels and learned a lot. Right now I am living in Thailand and make the closest thing to a Bronx bagel in this part of the world. However, only those from the NYC area (and there are a number of us living here) appreciate the denseness of the real thing. I usually return to the states once a year. I will try and talk my sister into taking a trip to the old neighborhood when I get back. She went to 104 before 109 was built. Also...there is an article "the benches" that appears in Back In The Bronx. It was written a number of years ago, but it brought back a lot of memories. If you haven't read it, I think you will like it.
Hi, everyone...I lived on University avenue & 174th St from 1940 thru 1972. Looked forward to every Saturday as a boy to walk to the Park Plaza theatre. Someone on this forum struck a cord mentioning bon-bons at the concession stand. Well, my favorite 5 cents candy was Bazzini's roasted peanuts. I probably spent all my allowance [25 cents] on those peanuts. Second favorite at the theatre was Bonomo's turkish taffy. Remember the 3D movies? I saw "House of Wax" and those cardboard glasses were horrible. I am now 69 years old, subscribe to Back in the Bronx which is fabulous since I love to reminisce about the good old days. Anybody remember sneaking in the side doors of the Plaza and hoping not to get caught by the matron?
Posts: 2 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 11 November 2009
