The Music Palace closes in New York

[Bill Thompson]

Kinejapan,

Those interested in ethnic movie theaters will be
disappointed to learn that the Music Palace in New York closed
its doors last Friday, June 30th.  This was the last exclusively
Chinese movie theater in New York City.  From the '50's
or '60's New York had numerous ethnic move houses, including
the Bijou, which presented Japanese cinema exclusively.
At one point there were at least five or six Chinese
theaters in Chinatown, and through the years I was
able to see numerous films which are now regarded as
Chinese classics (and numerous fizzles as well).  Later
a couple of these theaters also provided much of my education in
Japanese Roman Porn, their double features
frequently including a dubious Chinese feature
along with a Nikkatsu offering.

When I first came to New York, the Chinatown movie theaters,
like the Chinese restaurants, appeared to possess mysterious
powers.  As they became demystified, they began disappearing.
In the '90's at least one Chinatown theater closed every couple
of years (or so it seemed),
giving way to shopping malls and housing developments.
One theater even became a Buddhist temple.

The closing of the Music Palace may be a tragedy, but it is hardly
a surprise.  A year ago the New York Times had an article stating
that it would close soon (the staff at the theater seemed quite
surprised about that article).  Just before the New Year, a
"for sale" sign appeared there.  Although at its
peak several hundred people would visit the theater daily,
it now attracted barely a handful, and received
little maintenance in recent years.  The best place to smoke
in the theater appeared to be just under the "no smoking"
sign, and cell phones helped numerous patrons keep in
touch while they watched films.

I realize that the focus of this list is Japanese cinema,
but reporting the passing of one of the very few exclusively Asian
theaters in the West seems in keeping with the
Kinejapan spirit.


Bill Thompson