Can you ID this theater?

posted by richmurphy on September 22, 2010 at 7:45 am

I participate in the chat board of the “Talkin' Broadway” web site, and on its homepage is a photograph of a theater which is obviously not a Broadway theater, but instead is what appears to be an atmospheric movie palace. In the site’s FAQs, the owners admit they have no idea what theater it is. I am also an old theater buff, but every lead I have followed has so far come up dry.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions that the experts on this forum might have to try to identify this theater. Thank you in advance.

Comments (7)

historiccinemas
historiccinemas on September 22, 2010 at 9:15 am

If it’s just that picture and nothing else, then it’s gonna be really hard to ID it. Especially that many theatres are often duplicated and only small artifacts will be able to distinguish the differences. I cannot quite see the small details of the theatre. However it looks much like the Byrd in Richmond VA.

At the same token it could be 20 other theatres as well.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 22, 2010 at 10:00 am

It looks to me to possibly be the Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 22, 2010 at 10:27 am

I am now just about sure it is the Paradise; click on and then compare the sixth picture in the set on this webpage: http://www.starboxing.com/para/index.htm (which is of the theater’s right sidewall) to the picture on the “Talkin Broadway” website.

This picture, also of right sidewall, also could be used for comparison: View link

RichardCWolfe
RichardCWolfe on September 23, 2010 at 11:04 am

When I first saw that picture, I thought that it was the Paradise in the Bronx, but something just didn’t seem right. I think I’ve figured it out. The picture is reversed. Someone printed the negative backwards. What you see appears to be the left side when it is actually the right side printed backwards. Most atmospheric theatres were designed differently on each side of the proscenium where the organ chambers would normally be.

spectrum
spectrum on September 24, 2010 at 2:44 pm

This is definitely the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx, with the picture reversed.

irishcine
irishcine on October 3, 2010 at 12:41 am

Picture Reversed – The other side of Paradise?

Simon Overton
Simon Overton on September 26, 2011 at 12:41 pm

After watching this rock video (in silence, thank you) I noted, in utter astonishment, at the staggering number of viewers -WOW!!! Now here’s another brainwave/idea to help save and restore our countless historic theaters and cinemas in need of help… Charge these very rich movie and video making companies BIG BUCK$ to shoot their promos, etc.

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