Loew's Paradise Theatre

Feature Film “We Own the Night” with Jaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, and Robert Duvall filmed last week at the Paradise. I am so glad the location scouts discovered this gem. Don’t know how many days they filmed and if they filmed exteriors of the theater.

They had also shot around the corner in the church on Fordham Road @ University Avenue.

The latest episode in WNET-TV’s “Walking Tour” series, “A Walk Through the Bronx” (filmed in 2005), showcases this grand old theatre in a brief segment discussing the history of the Grand Councourse. The theatre is presented as the centerpiece in the revival of this area, and the footage features an interview with local historians in the grand lobby. What magnificent views! Bravo for featuring it, when other television programs about NYC fail to even mention it. Its importance as part of the historical, cultural and economic fabric of this city cannot be ignored!

This gem of a building holds a lot of history and memories. My parents were born and raised in the Bronx (Soundview), and their teenage years in the 1940s coincided with this theatre’s heyday. I never thought of it before, but I’ll bet they created a few “memories” of their own in that theatre, although I’m afraid to ask what they were!

Visit WNET-TV’s website, which includes background information and highlights from this program. A profile of this theatre can be accessed directly at: http://www.thirteen.org/bronx/sites15.html (The “Resources” page even includes a link to the theatre’s own homepage – the same one included in the Cinema Treasures profile: http://www.theparadisetheater.com/en/defaulten.htm))

Well, the orchestra was filled completely…which is 2300, plus about another few hundred in the mezz. and balcony. No upcoming shows yet, but they seem to average about two events per month.

As promised, I will give the lowdown on my trip to the Paradise Theatre last night. I went to the concert with my sister from New Jersey. The show consisted of five early 70’s soul groups, the featured act being The Stylistics. We arrived about an hour before the scheduled start time of 8:00, and found a parking spot on the street about two blocks away. Many people were parking in public lots in the area, one of which was charging $18.00 for the evening. Upon entering the theatre, we had to pass through metal detectors, with the ladies going through one and the men going through another. I assumed the reason for the seperation was that if a body frisk was required, it would be done by staff of the same sex. I guess nowadays, any large venue would be crazy not to have metal detectors due to terrorism. Once inside, we had some wine at the bar that was in the main lobby. We went to the second level wher some tables and chairs were set up, and relaxed for awhile. The show started about 9:00, and ended about 12:30. Our seats were good (about 10th row orchestra.) All of the acts were from a similiar mold, that being of something like The Temptations…matching suits, synchronized moves etc. As for security, the Paradise or maybe the musical groups had there own security, in addition, there were four uniformed cops outside the theatre for the entire evening. The crowd, however, was quite mellow, with the average age being somewhere around 50. I was somewhat concerned when leaving the theatre, not knowing what to expect on the Grand Concourse at 12:30am. However, the crowd exiting, in addition to the police presence alleviated any fears, and it was uneventful. All in all, it was a very pleasant evening.

Orlando Lopes, New York Metro Director of the Theatre Historical Society of America (THSA), is coordinating a volunteer effort for the Loewâ€\s Paradise. There will be a series of events and shows where help is needed, starting this Saturday, February 11, 2006.

This is a wonderful opportunity to become part of the excitement of this beautifully revived Cinema Treasure. Orlando and the Paradise management have some great plans in store for all movie theatre and film fans.

Please contact Orlando at (631) 225-7071 after 9PM or email him at There will be a name list, so you cannot show up unannounced.

Thank you all.

Cuba junior is the actor. Cuba senior is the singer (“Everybody Plays the Fool…”).

It sounds strange, but they might not update the web site regularly. This New Year’s celebration was not there. It wouldn’t surprise me if they succeed in spreading the word through other means.

But, to be fair, the theatre could also be foundering.

P.S. Since this may be my last comment this week (you never can tell), please let me wish any readers here a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukah, or a joyous holiday. Whichever you may prefer.

I compliment EdSolero; he put it so very nicely.

No need for noses to get bent out of shape… I think it’s obvious that the most important factor here – overwhelmingly – is not just that the Paradise is still standing, but that the theater has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to its former beauty. Is it the $70 million dollar nook-and-cranny polishing that Radio City Music Hall received a few years back? No… but somehow I’m even more impressed because it doesn’t have that sort of corporate backing.

Still… I think it’s very much in the spirit of this site to use this forum to discuss and debate and, yes, even nit-pick over details. While we celebrate the marvelous work to restore this grand theater and the efforts to keep it going as the great showplace for the people of the Bronx it was intended to be, surely there is room enough for us to point out where we feel the project might have incongruously missed the mark. Perhaps it is precisely because the rest of the restoration has been going along so respectfully and tastefully that some of us were jarred by the sloppy splatter of bright yellow and blue paint on the building’s facade. I think it’s a fair point of criticism. Just as I think it’s fair to criticize the decision to refurbish the 1930’s era art moderne New Amsterdam marquee while rhapsodizing over the otherwise splendid restoration of the theater’s original 1903 Art Nouveau architecture. Or to appreciate the Ziegfeld Theater’s spacious single-screen auditorium while taking exception to its – in my opinion – tacky 1960’s decor.

I know it wasn’t everyone’s intention to run stevebob off this site, and I hope he finds it within himself to come back and continue contributing to the Cinema Treasures mosaic.

You’re welcome to comment here, Stevebob, but you must do so in a civil manner.

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Thanks,
Patrick

Lets hope they get some bookings now!