Why does everything have to be about the theater’s past? Has anybody done anything toward getting it opened again? Has anybody contacted a developer? Has anybody written a proposal? Has anybody contacted the newspapers? If this theater is to be saved, somebody has got to do somethin
Robert-Now I feel terrible that I missed ‘Black Street Fighter’ and ‘Tatooed Hit Man’. Do you think they’re available on DVD? What a sad ending for a theater that had so much glory.
Yes they did and unfortunately they ran it into the ground and that’s when the NYC Economic Development Corporation took over – thanks to tax default.
Bob, thanks for point out that you saw the EXORCIST II in the summer of 1977 and I have been told that there was a live show put on in 1979 by the Flatbush Development Corporation. That show featured Arthur Tracy, the Street Singer. He and I talked in the late 90’s-early 2000 and at the time he told me that he was friends with George Burns, Goodman Ace (Jack Benny’s writer) and a few others. They sat around the round table at the Algonquin Hotel and Arthur remembers being very depressed over his career being at a stand still. His friends said he should keep his chin up and keep plugging. “Look at George Burns, when Gracie died he found a new career as an actor in ‘The Sunshine Boys’ The picture was supposed to star Matthau and Benny, but Benny died and Burns got the part. So Arthur looked at his friends and said, ‘That’s true, but I don’t have Jack Benny to die for me!!’
Both acts, Arthur Tracy and Burns & Allen worked the boards at Loew’s Kings.
You’ve got me! I have read about the theater’s past and talked to informed sources and they all agree that it was 1978-1979. Perhaps it closed and then reopened? I know that Loew’s sold and another company took over for a year. I also knew people at the Flatbush Development Corp. who took over custodial duties from the NYC Economic Development Corp, the present owner and they all said it was 79. But what is more important than when it closed is when it can reopen. That’s why we need Save The Kings and that’s why I hope you can attend our next meeting.
As far as the housing and the retail, I would say it’s gone through a major upswing. Many of the apartment houses on Ocean Avenue have either gone coop or have had kitchen, bathroom work upgraded. Also the mansions just a few blocks from the Kings are selling for at least $500,000 and some going for over a million. That is not the sign of a neighborhood in decline!
Can the Loew’s Kings rise again as a local theater or might it become a regional destination? If the only subdivision is to the air rights, then this once grand vaudeville/movie house can rise to the occasion and take it’s place as one of the most beautiful theaters in any direction. Remember the Loew’s Kings was patterned after the Palace of Versaille and the Paris Opera House.
When you look at other Brooklyn neighborhoods like Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Coney Island, it’s easy to see how gentrification can change everything. Flatbush, home to our favorite – theater has been on the UP SWING for a number of years and there is no entertainment/retail center. There is no place where the locals and the regionals can go. Yes, there’s Brooklyn Academy of Music and Brooklyn College, but they only serve a portion of the public.
Dear Bob,
Thanks for responding! From what you’ve said you put in a lot of time getting the Loew’s Jersey back in business. What I would hope is that you could attend a meeting and put us on the right track. Please give the Loew’s Kings a chance!
Bruce (KINGS)
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get another Richard De Cezare to take an interest in the Loew’s Kings? He’s the guy that put all that money into the Paradise, before getting the shaft. I just called and got: ‘This number has been temporarily disconnected.’ I had no other way of reaching him!
Only a major real estate developer might have the vision we need, only a major real estate developer would have the money this project will take. So any member of our group or independent should try to contact a developer and get and hold their interest.
Enough cold water. Anybody that can throw cold water need not apply. However, if once we start to get things done and you want to jump aboard, you’re welcome.
To my knowledge no such molds exist, but I do know that if you have ‘like’ designs elsewhere in the theater, they could be replicated. Thus creating new molds!
Jack’s idea of contacting people who have actually done work in the other Wonder theaters is a good one. Although it’s impossible to get input from the people that restored the Loew’s Paradise as they are involved in a lawsuit against the present owner. Also, I am pretty sure that much of the work at Loew’s Jersey was volunteer work. As far as the church work at the Valencia and Rev. Ike’s church was also done by the congregation. Maybe Jack or some others can research this information with a few phone calls?
Warren: A church is one possibility, but that would only please the parishiners. A theater would be open to everyone. At the meeting, Brooklynite said that he had seen workers carting out what he thought were chunks of concrete. More than likely they were chunks of plaster that had collected after falling from the balcony facings. More than likely they are chunks that had fallen quite a while ago and the fact that they are being hauled away may mean that the city is getting ready for real estate developers to tour the theater.
So our job is to seek out real estate developers and make them aware of the possibilities that the theater holds.
Dear Warren,
What would you suggest the present owner (NYC) do with this PATHETIC theatre? Maybe you belong on a SHOPPING MALL web site? Sorry to be so harsh, but would you just give up?
What does the McCarren Park Pool and the Loew’s Kings have in common? McCarren is the last of the Robert Moses built pools not to have had a makeover, just like the Loew’s Kings is the last of the Loew’s Wonder Theaters that could be restored. The NYC Parks Department made an arrangment with Ron Delsener Productions to hold a series of 10 concerts at McCarren. Delsener came with me to the Loew’s Kings—(a few years ago) and liked what he saw, but said that I should get a real estate developer to restore the place and then he would book concerts!
The Loew’s 175th Street is now Reverend Ike’s Church, sometimes used for commercial concerts. The Loew’s Valencia was restored as a church while the Loew’s Jersey was restored for various events.
Our meeting is scheduled for 12 Noon today, let’s have a really good showing! ‘Memoirs of a Movie Palace’ will be shown and the discussion will center on how we can best motivate the money people to save this theater and how nostalgia could be the driving force for progress.
I had a self guided tour of the Paradise after most of the work had been done, but I also toured the house before any of the work was done. Therefore, I am in a good position to judge the extent of the work. The Loews Paradise was magnificently restored!
I also remember Orlando and his efforts toward saving Loew’s Jersey and the Loew’s Kings.
Bruce
Brooklynite: Thank you for arranging this meeting! Honestly, I have tried so hard and tried so long that it’s a real shot in the arm that other people want to join in the fight to Save The Kings. Maybe an organized effort can accomplish more than I have been able to do myself.
Dear SAPS and Warren,
The Loew’s Metropolitan is now the ‘Brooklyn Tabernacle’ and that’s how it will stay. Why not put your energy toward saving a theater that could become the Kings County Center for the Performing Arts? That’s the Loew’s Kings!
Hi Francesca,
Good to see you’re still interested in theaters! When I did an episode of public access cable TV show ‘That’s Brooklyn,’ your song really hit the spot.
Bruce. Hopefully, a meeting to try to save the Loew’s Kings will be held on April 8th. Check under that department for further information.
Brooklynite:
There’s nothing wrong with meeting at the library and then walking down to the theater, but another possibility is to meet at my house, have the meeting then watch ‘Memoirs Of A Movie Palace. then we could take a ride over to Flatbush Avenue.
To: Jonah Jonah Jonah
For some strange reason, I can’t send email to you! So here’s my reply:
Hi Jonah!
Thanks for writing. I don’t know whether you saw the recent post by Brooklynite, but we are trying to set up a meeting for April 8th at the Flatbush Branch of the NYC Public Library. The meeting will start there and proceed down Flatbush Avenue to the Loew’s Kings. Afterwards everyone is invited back to my house for a viewing of ‘Memoirs of a Movie Palace’ a filmed documentary made in 1979-1980. It shows off the architecture and contains interviews with various theater personnel.
What can you do to help? Come to our meeting. Further details to follow
Why does everything have to be about the theater’s past? Has anybody done anything toward getting it opened again? Has anybody contacted a developer? Has anybody written a proposal? Has anybody contacted the newspapers? If this theater is to be saved, somebody has got to do somethin
Robert-Now I feel terrible that I missed ‘Black Street Fighter’ and ‘Tatooed Hit Man’. Do you think they’re available on DVD? What a sad ending for a theater that had so much glory.
Yes they did and unfortunately they ran it into the ground and that’s when the NYC Economic Development Corporation took over – thanks to tax default.
Bob, thanks for point out that you saw the EXORCIST II in the summer of 1977 and I have been told that there was a live show put on in 1979 by the Flatbush Development Corporation. That show featured Arthur Tracy, the Street Singer. He and I talked in the late 90’s-early 2000 and at the time he told me that he was friends with George Burns, Goodman Ace (Jack Benny’s writer) and a few others. They sat around the round table at the Algonquin Hotel and Arthur remembers being very depressed over his career being at a stand still. His friends said he should keep his chin up and keep plugging. “Look at George Burns, when Gracie died he found a new career as an actor in ‘The Sunshine Boys’ The picture was supposed to star Matthau and Benny, but Benny died and Burns got the part. So Arthur looked at his friends and said, ‘That’s true, but I don’t have Jack Benny to die for me!!’
Both acts, Arthur Tracy and Burns & Allen worked the boards at Loew’s Kings.
You’ve got me! I have read about the theater’s past and talked to informed sources and they all agree that it was 1978-1979. Perhaps it closed and then reopened? I know that Loew’s sold and another company took over for a year. I also knew people at the Flatbush Development Corp. who took over custodial duties from the NYC Economic Development Corp, the present owner and they all said it was 79. But what is more important than when it closed is when it can reopen. That’s why we need Save The Kings and that’s why I hope you can attend our next meeting.
As far as the housing and the retail, I would say it’s gone through a major upswing. Many of the apartment houses on Ocean Avenue have either gone coop or have had kitchen, bathroom work upgraded. Also the mansions just a few blocks from the Kings are selling for at least $500,000 and some going for over a million. That is not the sign of a neighborhood in decline!
Can the Loew’s Kings rise again as a local theater or might it become a regional destination? If the only subdivision is to the air rights, then this once grand vaudeville/movie house can rise to the occasion and take it’s place as one of the most beautiful theaters in any direction. Remember the Loew’s Kings was patterned after the Palace of Versaille and the Paris Opera House.
When you look at other Brooklyn neighborhoods like Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Coney Island, it’s easy to see how gentrification can change everything. Flatbush, home to our favorite – theater has been on the UP SWING for a number of years and there is no entertainment/retail center. There is no place where the locals and the regionals can go. Yes, there’s Brooklyn Academy of Music and Brooklyn College, but they only serve a portion of the public.
Dear Bob,
Thanks for responding! From what you’ve said you put in a lot of time getting the Loew’s Jersey back in business. What I would hope is that you could attend a meeting and put us on the right track. Please give the Loew’s Kings a chance!
Bruce (KINGS)
Dear Bob,
You’re ideas are good, but as a one man operation most were not possible. Hope we will see you at our next meeting.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get another Richard De Cezare to take an interest in the Loew’s Kings? He’s the guy that put all that money into the Paradise, before getting the shaft. I just called and got: ‘This number has been temporarily disconnected.’ I had no other way of reaching him!
Only a major real estate developer might have the vision we need, only a major real estate developer would have the money this project will take. So any member of our group or independent should try to contact a developer and get and hold their interest.
Looking forward to the next meeting
Bruce KINGS
Enough cold water. Anybody that can throw cold water need not apply. However, if once we start to get things done and you want to jump aboard, you’re welcome.
To my knowledge no such molds exist, but I do know that if you have ‘like’ designs elsewhere in the theater, they could be replicated. Thus creating new molds!
Jack’s idea of contacting people who have actually done work in the other Wonder theaters is a good one. Although it’s impossible to get input from the people that restored the Loew’s Paradise as they are involved in a lawsuit against the present owner. Also, I am pretty sure that much of the work at Loew’s Jersey was volunteer work. As far as the church work at the Valencia and Rev. Ike’s church was also done by the congregation. Maybe Jack or some others can research this information with a few phone calls?
Warren: A church is one possibility, but that would only please the parishiners. A theater would be open to everyone. At the meeting, Brooklynite said that he had seen workers carting out what he thought were chunks of concrete. More than likely they were chunks of plaster that had collected after falling from the balcony facings. More than likely they are chunks that had fallen quite a while ago and the fact that they are being hauled away may mean that the city is getting ready for real estate developers to tour the theater.
So our job is to seek out real estate developers and make them aware of the possibilities that the theater holds.
Dear Warren,
What would you suggest the present owner (NYC) do with this PATHETIC theatre? Maybe you belong on a SHOPPING MALL web site? Sorry to be so harsh, but would you just give up?
What does the McCarren Park Pool and the Loew’s Kings have in common? McCarren is the last of the Robert Moses built pools not to have had a makeover, just like the Loew’s Kings is the last of the Loew’s Wonder Theaters that could be restored. The NYC Parks Department made an arrangment with Ron Delsener Productions to hold a series of 10 concerts at McCarren. Delsener came with me to the Loew’s Kings—(a few years ago) and liked what he saw, but said that I should get a real estate developer to restore the place and then he would book concerts!
The Loew’s 175th Street is now Reverend Ike’s Church, sometimes used for commercial concerts. The Loew’s Valencia was restored as a church while the Loew’s Jersey was restored for various events.
So how about the Kings??
Our meeting is scheduled for 12 Noon today, let’s have a really good showing! ‘Memoirs of a Movie Palace’ will be shown and the discussion will center on how we can best motivate the money people to save this theater and how nostalgia could be the driving force for progress.
I had a self guided tour of the Paradise after most of the work had been done, but I also toured the house before any of the work was done. Therefore, I am in a good position to judge the extent of the work. The Loews Paradise was magnificently restored!
I also remember Orlando and his efforts toward saving Loew’s Jersey and the Loew’s Kings.
Bruce
Brooklynite: Thank you for arranging this meeting! Honestly, I have tried so hard and tried so long that it’s a real shot in the arm that other people want to join in the fight to Save The Kings. Maybe an organized effort can accomplish more than I have been able to do myself.
Dear SAPS and Warren,
The Loew’s Metropolitan is now the ‘Brooklyn Tabernacle’ and that’s how it will stay. Why not put your energy toward saving a theater that could become the Kings County Center for the Performing Arts? That’s the Loew’s Kings!
Brooklynite: Thanks for setting things up, I await final details.
Francesca,
Don’t you remember me??
Bruce (The Loew’s Kings) My favorite theater has never been destroyed and despite water damage, it’s intact.
Brooklynite and others: Our meeting is coming up soon, who else is interested??
Hi Francesca,
Good to see you’re still interested in theaters! When I did an episode of public access cable TV show ‘That’s Brooklyn,’ your song really hit the spot.
Bruce. Hopefully, a meeting to try to save the Loew’s Kings will be held on April 8th. Check under that department for further information.
Who else is interested? Let’s meet, talk things out and come up with a plan!!
Brooklynite:
There’s nothing wrong with meeting at the library and then walking down to the theater, but another possibility is to meet at my house, have the meeting then watch ‘Memoirs Of A Movie Palace. then we could take a ride over to Flatbush Avenue.
To: Jonah Jonah Jonah
For some strange reason, I can’t send email to you! So here’s my reply:
Hi Jonah!
Thanks for writing. I don’t know whether you saw the recent post by Brooklynite, but we are trying to set up a meeting for April 8th at the Flatbush Branch of the NYC Public Library. The meeting will start there and proceed down Flatbush Avenue to the Loew’s Kings. Afterwards everyone is invited back to my house for a viewing of ‘Memoirs of a Movie Palace’ a filmed documentary made in 1979-1980. It shows off the architecture and contains interviews with various theater personnel.
What can you do to help? Come to our meeting. Further details to follow