Series II: Theaters, 1960-2007
- Scope and content:
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This series consists of business and financial records of the movie theaters located in Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood that the Talbots operated: New Yorker Theater, Cinema Studio, Metro, and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, dating from 1960 to 2007. Some materials from the theaters may also be found in Series I: New Yorker Films, 1965-2008 as Talbot was also operating the distribution company in conjunction with the theaters.
Subseries II.1: New Yorker Theater consists of guest books, daily box office reports, bank deposit receipts, correspondence, administrative files, programs, photographs of film titles screened at the theater, dating from 1960 to 1973. The guest books, each about 300 pages, were provided in the theater lobby for guests to write their names and miscellaneous remarks. Some guest books include remarks and signatures left by the city's creative elites. The daily box office reports and receipts document the financial status of the theater, dating from 1960 to 1971. For a list of New Yorker Theater Lobby Poster, see Series V: Oversized.
New Yorker Theater was a movie house in the Upper West Side, located at 2409 Broadway, 88th Street. It was originally opened as the Adelphi Theatre by 1914, it was later called the Yorktown Theatre. Dan Talbot purchased the theater and it was opened to the public in March 1960. The New Yorker's first screening was a double feature of Laurence Olivier's Henry V (1944) and the French short film The Red Balloon (1956). The theater was a family business and Dan Talbot was the manager and programmer while Toby Talbot's parents, Bella and Joe Tolpen, worked behind the concessions. The Talbots sold The New Yorker Theater to the Walter Reade Organization in 1973 as he focused his efforts on film distribution at the New Yorker Film.
Subseries II.2: Cinema Studio and the Metro consists of business and financial records of the Cinema Studio and the Metro, which were operated by the Talbots, dating from 1977 to 1988. The Cinema Studio was located on Broadway between 66th and 67th streets; it was opened in 1977 and closed in 1990. The Metro was located at Broadway and 99th Street; it was opened in 1982 and closed in 1987.
Subseries II.3: Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (LPC) comprise administrative and financial records of the Lincoln Plaza Cinema, dating from 1981 to 2007. Materials include invoices, bills, financial records, and settlements of the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, which was opened in April 1981.
- Arrangement:
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Arranged in 3 subseries.
Contents
Access and use
- Parent restrictions:
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This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
All original copies of audio / moving image media are closed until reformatting. Please email rbml@columbia.edu.
- Parent terms of access:
- Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu