Walker Theater
6401 18th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11204
6401 18th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11204
9 people
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Showing 26 - 50 of 81 comments
Thanks, Warren for your information.
I was told the Walker opened in 1927 by a person who worked there many years ago-not 1929. Perhaps some member knows for sure.
Two photographs I took of the Walker Theatre in July 2003:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/219248080/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/219248385/
This is not really about the Walker theater. My dad, Erwin Bader taught social studies at Shallow, 1954-1981. Shallow used the Walker for graduation. If you would like to share any memories of him with me I would be thrilled. Thanks.
As I said in my many posts, above, the Walker would be one of the most practical former theatres to restore. It is a project that should be looked into. If I would live in the area, I would have done so already.
Yes, RobertR, isn’t it a wonderful dream ? I just wonder if people in Bensonhurst would support it. I know I’d come there from South Brooklyn all the time. I spoke to Marty Markowitz at the Prospect Park concert last night, and he claims to have a kind of combo public/private plan for the Loew’s Kings during his last 3 years. Better than nothing, but it would take a real miracle to pull THAT off ! Meanwhile, we have the Loew’s Jersey City to look forward to in the fall !
This would be so easy to put back together as a theatre.
All the Koreans taking over 18th Avenue might scare away any possible “developers-theater lovers”. But if stars like Debbie Reynolds can play the Bronx and Rita Moreno & Mitzi Gaynor can play Brooklyn College and The Redgraves & Cate Blanchett can play BAM, maybe the Walker is ripe for renaissance !
The Walker building seems to be a good candidate for a theatre restoration in Brooklyn.
They only tore the interior walls down that had been constructed for the quading, none of the theatre was ruined.
Yes it was a wonderfull theater. I remember the double features//Midnight movies/Italian movies and live entertainment//Closed circuit TV Ali And Frasier The Balcony…Roosevelt diner Davinci pizza cant remember the name of ice cream place on 18ave 69-70st next to cafe (part of cafe)it was a great place to grow up on the ave.
Also does anyone have any history about the Cotillian terrace 18ave 74-75st. I heard it was a theater with a parking area in basement????
As I said in my Oct.27th, Nov.8th & Nov.9th posts, some interested person or group should take an interest in trying to restore the Walker theatre. It is still intact, covered by a shell, and would be affordable. It is a more practicacle idea than trying to restore theatres in the borough that are too far gone. If I did not live so far now, I certainly would have tried to started something. A theatre like this should be preserved for this & future generations.
As I said in my Oct.27th, Nov.8th & Nov.9th posts, some interested person or group should take an interest in trying to restore the Walker theatre. It is still intact, covered by a shell, and would be affordable. It is a more practicacle idea than trying to restore theatres in the borough that are too far gone. If I did not live so far now, I certainly would have tried to started something. A theatre like this should be preserved for this & future generations.
Thanks ERD, (and Warren!)
It is truly beautiful and exciting to think that is might all still be there. But for how long?
LuisV, See Warren’s post of August 14, 2005 for an excellent picture of of the Walker’s auditorium before multiplexing.
I don’t suppose anyone has any pictures of this theater, inside or out? My curiosity has been piqued.
correction for the above post: Unlike other theatres that are closed, it is certainly finacally possible to restore.
I realize that the Walker is 100% intact, as Robert says in the above post. That is why I feel something should be done before years go by and it is too late. This beautiful theatre is a treasure for the boro of Brooklyn. It is something that should be done for future generations. As a performing arts center it could bring back some of the culture Brooklyn has lost. Unlike theatres, it is certainly financially possible.
The Walker is 100% intact behind the retail walls. Remember it was all restored when they quaded it and then it was only used for a few years.
The more I hear about the phenomenal costs it would take to restore former movie palaces in Brooklyn, the more convinced I am that the beautiful Walker should someday be considered before more alterations or eventual destruction takes place.
A lot of people mention the restoration of Loew’s Kings, but I think it would be a great idea to try and restore the Walker. It was a beautiful theatre, and it would be more afforadable than many of the other closed movie palaces.. I now live very far from Brooklyn, so I can’t get involved in this idea. Perhaps someone living in Brooklyn who has strong feelings for the Walker can get a group together.
Here’s a link to the Brooklyn Library site with a photo of the Walker. Abbott & Costello’s “It’s Ain’t Hay” was the attraction.
Again warren, thanks for this excellent interior shot of the Walker. You are doing all of us theaterbuffs a great favor! Thank you.
A 1979 double bill
View link
To the best of my knowledge, the theater organ being worked on at Loew’s Jersey is the Wonder Morton Organ that was once at the Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx. Perhaps someone else has the definitive answer as to what happened to the Walker Wurlitzer.