Psycho at the DeMille Theater
”Psycho” opened in New York City at the DeMille Theater (and the Baronet) on Thursday June 16th 1960.
The DeMille Theater was located on Broadway and 47th Street. The theater was originally known as the Columbia which opened in 1910 as a burlesque house. In 1930, the Columbia was gutted and basically a new theater was built and when opened was called the Mayfair. The Mayfair was owned by Walter Reade who leased the theater to RKO. RKO eventually sold the lease to the Loew’s Corporation. When Loew’s lease expired the theater was leased to the Brandt organization. Around 1960, the Reade family took over management of the theater and renamed it the DeMille. “Psycho” was one of the first films to open at the theater under its new name. The theater was eventually turned into a triplex and renamed the Embassy 234, under new ownership. The Embassy 234 was one of the last movie theaters to survive on Broadway closing sometime around late 1998 or early 1999.
Below are some photo of the DeMille theater through the years.
RKO Mayfair (the Palace and the Loew’s State theaters are also seen in this photo).
Mayfair Theater 1954
Mayfair Theater 1955 (on the right is the RKO Palace)
DeMille Theater 1965
Embassy 234 in 1993
Closed
At the two young age of thirteen, I saw Psycho at a matinee sometime during the month of June of 1960 in NYC. I’m trying to remember if it was at the Baronet or DeMille Theatre.
Now fifty years later I recall a busy street outside, a uniformed doorman, a mammoth temple like interior with huge balcony in which this then youngster sat terrified almost all alone but for a few other audience members. I suppose that it was not too long after the movie’s premiere. Can anyone with certainty i.d. the particular theatre for me, please, as well as add any background about it in general as as specifically relating to the Psycho showing? Thanks! W. W. S.
Warren W. Spencer - April 26, 2010 at 4:41 pm |
Warren, from your description, “a uniformed doorman, mammoth temple like interior with a hugh balcony” it sounds like the DeMille, a much larger theater than the Coronet which had a more modern (at the time) interior. Also during those days many of the Broadway theaters still had uniformed doorman.
John Greco - April 26, 2010 at 7:19 pm |
Thanks, John, for narrowing it down to te DeMille for me.
From what you say, it sounds as if it much be that particular theatre. The on-line photo of the exterior marquee and line there confused me, since I recall it as even much larger and grand than even that. Maybe that’s from the different perspective of a young adolescent then to elder now. During the particular matinee that I attended sometime in June of that year, there was no wait to get in and only a few other than myself in the audience. That may have been due to the time of day and day of the week more than the popularity of the movie itself. Having recently seen the full screen version as part of a fiftieth year celebration not too far from my home here in FL, I was struck by how well the movie not only stood up for me but affected youthful first time viewers already having been exposed to more explicit if less well made such fare which followed Psycho’s lead. In planning to write a memoir, my general love of movies in particular Psycho will take rightful place as a seminal moment in my life. I really appreciate you verifying that experience and invite you to add further in any way that you can to the particulars of that experience. W.W.S.
Warren W. Spencer - May 19, 2010 at 1:22 pm |
Glad I could help Warren. The attached link will give some information on the history of the DeMille. (It is listed as the Embassy because this website goes by the last name the theater operated under) The theater was large inside and there are some knowledgeable here who describe the interior. At one point in its history there were over 1,700 seats.
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/501/
John Greco - May 19, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Having already located and read on-line of the indeed interesting history of the Embassy, it was good that you, John G., verified that as one and same as the DeMille.
Since my Mother had us always stay at the Picadilly Hotel when in NYC, am I correct in thinking that nearby the DeMille? If so, that would further make likely that is where she and my Dad walked to with me and picked me up after Psycho. Having then just returned to the U.S. after living abroad for nearly three years, I took them up on their typically kind offer of doing anything on the first day back with a movie. Film fan at such an early age, there was nothing more exciting for me than seeing a new movie. Certainly, Psycho lived up to and way beyond my then naieve expectations. Your well informed comments have reaffirmed that for me fifty years thereafter. Warren W. S.
Warren W. Spencer - May 20, 2010 at 3:42 am |
with hopes of another follow-up comment
Warren W. Spencer - May 20, 2010 at 3:43 am |
[...] recta final del curs així que avui hem trobat el motiu perfecte per renovar la secció. I és que tal dia com avui de fa 50 anys es va estrenar en una sala novaiorquesa, Psycho, una de les obres mestres del cinema de terror i [...]
La seqüència de la setmana 18 : 400 colps - June 16, 2010 at 11:23 am |
I was wondering if anyone might have any photos of theater maquees showing 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA? The movie came out on Christmas Day 1954 and played around the US to the end of 1955.
I know that it premiered at the Astor Theater, but I’ve never seen any photos of the marquee. I’d love to see something on this.
Larry Brooks - July 19, 2010 at 5:55 am |
I have not seen any Larry, but if I do I will post it,
John Greco - July 19, 2010 at 10:15 am |
With appreciation for the information about the opening of Psycho at the DeMille, I wonder how you know so much about matters such as this. So impressed by your knowledge, I wonder if you are a film buff, historian, or what?
Warren W. Spencer - July 19, 2010 at 9:12 pm |
Warren,
I am more of a “what?” (lol). Actually, I have been a film lover just about my whole life. Sometime in the mid-60′s I began hunting in the libraray for film books which I started reading and have been reading since, along with other non-film stuff. The web is also a good place to do research, you just have to keep hunting..
John Greco - July 19, 2010 at 9:28 pm |
Sounding much like my own approach in acquiring movie info, you’re just much better at it. And, at that, I again thank you for sharing.
Warren W. Spencer - July 19, 2010 at 10:33 pm |
While PSYCHO was certainly one of the DeMille’s most famous pedigree, I remember buying the New York Times down here in Virginia during Christmas 1964 and seeing that James Bond’s GOLDFINGER was such a huge it at the DeMille, they were showing it 24 hours around the clock. To a 12 year old that was unbelievable!
Ray Bentley - November 10, 2010 at 4:26 pm |
I can imagine the wonder, Ray. There were some films back in those days when the crowds were large enough they would run the film 24 hours a day. Long before the drab multiplexes we have today. thanks!!!
John Greco - November 10, 2010 at 6:24 pm |