Movie Ad of the Week: Fabian and Peter Lorre in New Rochelle (August 1962)

Peter Lorre and Fabian appeared onstage at the RKO Proctor's theater in New Rochelle on August 27, 1962 to promote FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON, an Irwin Allen production in CinemaScope based loosely on Jules Verne's novel. The two were introduced by legendary WINS-AM disc jockey Murray "the K" Kaufman. The other half of that afternoon's Barbara Eden double feature was SWINGIN' ALONG (1961), a Tommy Noonan-Peter Marshall comedy also released as DOUBLE TROUBLE.

Movie Ad of the Week: Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre in New Rochelle (January 1963)

Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre appeared at the RKO Proctor's theater in New Rochelle on Saturday, January 26, 1963 to promote the release of THE RAVEN, the fifth of eight movies Roger Corman made for American International Pictures based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Radio and TV announcer Fred Robbins, best known for CBS Movie Nights, introduced Karloff and Lorre that afternoon.

Movie Ad of the Week: The Three Stooges in New Rochelle (January 1962)

The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, and Curly Joe) appeared at the RKO Proctor's theater in New Rochelle on Saturday, January 27, 1962 to promote the release of their third feature and biggest box-office hit, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. Clay Cole, the popular disc jockey, songwriter, and host of the TV dance program THE CLAY COLE SHOW, not only introduced the Stooges that day, but also appeared (as himself) in the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK (1961).

Movie Ad of the Week: Bela Lugosi in New Rochelle (December 1950)

"Mr. Horror himself" Bela Lugosi and his Horror & Magic Stage Show appeared at the RKO Proctor's theater here in New Rochelle on December 29, 1950. The movie screened before his performance, THEY CREEP IN THE DARK, was a retitling of THE APE MAN (1943).

Youngblood Priest was here

Dig this: BLYE International Ltd. was located right here in New Rochelle, a short drive from the Temple and right around the corner from AJ's, our favorite burger joint. Now how's that for early '70s street cred? New Roc's not only the birthplace of Richard "Shaft" Roundtree, but it's where Ron O'Neal picked out his finest vines for SUPER FLY T.N.T.!

Leonard Kirtman and International Film Industries

Leonard Kirtman is probably best known to Temple of Schlock readers as the director of CARNIVAL OF BLOOD (1971) and THE CURSE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN (1972) and the producer of John G. Avildsen's first film, the nudie TURN ON TO LOVE (1969), but he had a long career as a producer and/or director of softcore and hardcore adult movies (SEX CIRCUS, DEATH BY INVITATION, THE FARMER'S DAUGHTERS, EROTIC DR. JEKYLL, THE AFFAIRS OF JANICE, SEX WISH). In 1977, Kirtman relocated his International Film Industries (and its videotape/cable TV division, Video Programs International) from Manhattan to nearby New Rochelle, NY, once the home of the Thanhouser Company and Terrytoons studio. In the article below, published in The Standard Star (12/14/77), he outlines his plan to produce more mainstream fare and states that his company will not be making adult films.

HERBIE THE SUPER DOG never got finished, if it was even started, but Kirtman -- under the pseudonym "Leon Gucci" -- did manage to crank out such hardcore hits as FEMALE ATHLETES, COED TEASERS, TARA, THE SEDUCTION OF CINDY, and THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF LOLITA during his stay in New Rochelle (For slimy Kirtman stories, check out issues of Bill Landis' Sleazoid Express 'zine and the 2002 documentary DESPERATELY SEEKING SEKA). By 1986, with the majority of hardcore being produced on videotape rather than film, Kirtman was gone from New Rochelle and, judging from the IMDb, no longer making movies of any kind in any format.

(Above) The Standard Star, 9/4/78

(Below) BOUNCE ad from a 1978 issue of Boxoffice, courtesy of William Wilson of Video Junkie Strikes Back from Beyond the Grave.

(Below: 450 Main Street in New Rochelle today)

Jerry Lewis at the RKO Proctor's -- 7/12/1961

Jerry Lewis appeared onstage at the RKO Proctor's theater right here in New Rochelle, NY on July 12th, 1961 for the opening of THE LADIES MAN, his second feature film as a director. We'll have more about THE LADIES MAN later this week, while the gone but not forgotten Proctor's will figure into the Temple of Schlock tour of New Roc I'm preparing for a future post.