Monday, June 27th, 2005

The Relentless March of Progress

The single-screen Beekman Theatre on the Upper East Side is being bulldozed to make way for progress:

Immortalized in “Annie Hall,” Woody Allen’s 1977 romantic comedy, the 53-year-old upper East Side movie house - one of the last single-screen theaters in the city - closed for good last night.

A throwback to the premultiplex era of neighborhood cinemas, the Beekman, on Second Ave. and 66th St., is being cleared to make way for a breast cancer treatment center.

. . .

“This is an assault on the character of what makes New York wonderful,” said George Reisz, 56, a nearby resident. “Some day, there’ll be nothing left.”

Starbucks, McDonald’s, Home Depot, breast cancer treatment centers . . . where will it end? Sloan-Kettering must be stopped!