Commodore Cinemas
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
22 people
favorited this theater
Showing 251 - 275 of 304 comments
Is anyone still looking into this space? I am interested in participating developments. I currently work for a non-profit arts organization in williamsburg that recently closed their doors in Nov. I have been investigating other spaces, and can across the Commodore today. The ligths were on inside and there was a phone number written on the door to gain enteranc. Is it still being converted into something else or what? I am interested in knowing any future developments, or just meeting with you and chatting about your possible leads, etc. Here is my personal email, feel free to contact me there. Thanks
JAckie
In 1949, I was 7 years old. My friends and I had a choice of 3 theatres that was within walking distance. One was the Commodore. It was smaller than the Republic theatre but it was air conditioned and always showed 2 full features, lasting almost 4 hours, including many cartoons and all the news of the week. Not many families had television. If they did, it was a 9 inch black and white with programming starting at 5:00p.m. The theatre seating had 3 sections. The 2 side sections started with one seat in the front with 2 seats behind it and so on, till it got to about 25 seats in the last row. We favored this theatre because it had air conditioning and were sad leave to go to our all non-air conditioned apartments. If that theatre was on the other side of the street, it have to be torn down to make way for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The only bad thing was you can hear the elevated trains pass right outside.
Posted by stanofdallastexas Dec. 19th 2004
Anyone know anything more about the Commodore?
I don’t have time to do a search, either; perhaps someone within the five boroughs, Jersey, or Connecticut does (or knows someone who does)…
Neo, I doubt the current owners – the inflexible sorts they seem to be, unless ‘bqe’ knows differently – if they had any info that could be relevant towards the goal of saving the Commodore, would be willing to pass whatever they had along. Landmarking the property is the only argument that seems likely to have any bite to it and, in order to do that, official proof needs to be found as to who the architect responsible for the Commodore was, and time for that to happen is running out…
I made a mistake. It should say “THEIR” property
I talked to Andrew. Even though he has contact, they still want 3 million. About the wait, I have no answers. But remember, this is THERE property and they can do whatever they want. They could wait 5 years to make changes.
As for city records, finding an architect is not my thing. I do not know the first thing about it. If someone could find the information it would be helpful, but I do not have the time or resources to do a search.
Back on February 24th, someone with the member tag ‘bqe’ (I’m guessing an initialization of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and a possible resident of the area near the Commodore and/or someone who works nearby) posted the following message: ‘I am currently working at one of the major new real estate developments in w'burg,and as such direct line to the current owner of the property at 329 broadway. Reopening the commodore would be of tremendous cultural benefit to the area, .’ If this individual is legitimate, perhaps they’re worth contacting… (Also, just out of curiosity: a) why did the new owners wait two years to begin work – or, at least, visible work – on the property; and, b) would any department within City Hall – i.e., the Buildings Commission, for starters – have records of who the architect of the Commodore was?)
This is such a shame!!!!
I recommend start writing news papers, put out news on cinema treasures,
start a rally, start a petition, write to the owners, etc!
Something MUST be done!
Even though I have never even stepped foot into New York,
this is a global issue!
I would recommend searching local libraries and archieves. Any chance the owner would have any info?
The firm is there, but not the architect. Also, the website is not sufficient. We need hard evidence, such as building records, public records etc listing the architect not just the firm.
BTW, isn’t the architect listed right here on this page?
Groneberg & Leuchtag
What a shame this is happening. This theater was in very decent condition right to the end, and it’s only closed for two years. This is one that really should have and could have been saved.
There’s still hope, but more and more of the interior seems to be compromised as this conversion continues. The theater is in it’s final hour right now unless something happens quick.
Capitalism and ownership is the reason for the Commodore’s demise. There might be abandoned building and empty lots, but the owners of the Commodore do not own the other locations. So they are changing their own property.
With all the abandoned buildings and empty lots around there why tear down the Commodore and build there?
RE: Seats Removed.
Actually, it is probably being taken down, or being renovated for non theater use. I spoke to the owner about buying it. They were difficult Hasidic Jews who bought it probably for a Yeshiva. I asked them about purchasing it because it was a landmark. The ask for $3 million which I know is double what they paid. Being an MBA, I was willing to accept the challenge and was willing to try to save it.
However, it seemed fruitless with these owners. They would not let me see inside the theater, take pictures etc, unless I showed them I had 3 million. When I said, in order to raise this money, I needed to be able to make a presentation to investors as well as at least take pictures of the interior. They refused, and bascially wanted me to raise the money and buy the theater sight unseen which I think is ridiculous and also, a sign that even if I raised the money without seeing it, they were not going to sell anyway.
The other route I took to save the Commodore is during a meeting I had with Katherine Oliver, the NYC Film Commissioner, I brought up the plight of the Commodore, handed her my research and told her, it was the last of the old vaudville houses which once were on every block in Williamsburg. I could not understand why it was not “Landmarked.” She investigated the theater for me and told me that even though she agrees that a theater like the Commodore should be saved, the problem why it was not landmarked it because there is no architect on file. The city Landmark committee did investigate landmarking the theater, but the rules on Landmarking state that in order to proceed, there must be an architect named.
I think this is an unfortunate rule, but that is the procedure. I do have a relationship with Katherine Oliver that if an architect is found, we can move swiftly on this, but we need absolute proof to do this. So if anyone has, hard documentation, I would welcome it, and immediately, talk to the Mayor’s Office and the preservation department to get an injunction to stop further constuction until Landmark status can be explored.
I live in the neighborhood and about two weeks ago, I saw old seats being removed from the Commodore. I didn’t think much of it, but there has been some sort of activity going on inside for the last three days. There were lots of lights from the actual theatre area. I could only see the lights from a door that was kept open from the secondfloor fire escape. Everything else was boarded up per usual. I figure it is either renovation (fingers crossed) or film production.
Last time I drove by here the place looks like it has not been broken into yet. The front glass was still intact, but how long can that last?
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is David D. Mitchell. I am the artistic director for a small not-for-profit education theatre organization based in Brooklyn called Project PLAY (Put Life Ahead of You). I too have had my eye on the Commodore Theater for the past two years and look forward to its re-opening.
Ideally, I’d like to move Project PLAY into the space and have it function as a community outreach program. I’d like to preserve it as a movie house and in addition have it function as a performance space.
Project PLAY is still in its incipient stages and therefore doesn’t have the necessary capital for the actual acquisition of the aforementioned space.
I’m presently looking for investors who may share the same vision. I’m presently working with Chase Manhattan, AT&T, The EDC, and the Department of Cultural Affairs. There is a definite willingness on behalf of all parties mentioned. Working capital is the Key.
In short, I welcome any interest and support and look forward to your responses.
Dave D. Mitchell
Artistic Director
Project PLAY
www.projectplayny.org
As likely as the eventual reopening of the Commodore seems, its status should be changed to ‘closed’, at least for now.
To see if the Commodore was the location for the video, you should contact the director, etc.
Hello,
I’m the technical director of the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival. We are currently looking for a venue to host our 2005 fest. this coming spring. If anyone has any useful information regarding the commodore, ie; who owns it, how we can get in touch, etc; please contact me at
for information on BUFF please visit www.brooklynunderground.org
thanks
Cris
I’m wondering if they didn’t digitally insert a balcony that was no longer there. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
I really miss the Commodore.
Camden
I don’t think the interior is the Commodore because the balcony seems to be visible in a few shots and the Commodore’s balcony was walled off to house the second smaller theater.
The more I think about it, the more I think what little we can see of the interior of that theatre is the Commodore.
Camden
That’s a good eye, Bway. I got a kick out of that video. It sure does capture Williamsburg’s unusual feel, there’s no two ways about that. I can’t really tell whether or not the interior of the theatre is the Commodore, since it’s been over a year since they closed it and I can’t remember exactly, but I do think it could be. The Commodore has an interesting design in the huge main theatre, and I do think that video might have been shot there, but I’m not sure. If we could’ve gotten a better look at it more of it in a shot, I imagine I could. I liked the footage of her running down Broadway beside the theatre like in Run Lola Run; I love that neighborhood. Thanks for pointing that out, Bway.
Camden