Loew's Victoria Theatre

Thank you Nicholas for the credit. I have been posting this all over the place.

I read an article yesterday from the New York Daily News and I can’t believe it. The State of New York has cleared a final hurdle for the development of the the site upon which sits my beloved Loew’s Victoria. This treasure designed by the great Thomas Lamb will become part of a hotel and apartment tower which will be built on the site and the lobby and foyer of the Victoria will be preserved and used as part of a ballroom conference and convention venue in the new space.

However the auditorium will have to be demolished the developer says. Why is there not one thought about saving the auditorium? That is the space that could serve as a convention center, even a ballroom. The theater is not in such horrible shape, it can be saved. Harry Macklowe tried to demolish the Hudson Theater but was stopped. His plans thwarted, he accepted defeat and restored the theater and uses it as a conference room / convention space. Why not the Victoria?

Instead of being excited by this, I hope Harlem wakes up before all of it’s too late, before all the treasures are gone and the “white hot” 125th street corridor is just another mall that could be any where in this country.

To paraphrase the New York Times, it’s the buildings that make a city special and we will be judged not by what we have built but what we have destroyed. To paraphrase another New Yorker “enough already”. When will we learn that we live in the most special city in the world and it got that way through it’s buildings, whether a tenement, a mansion or a theater and the people who built them and those who use them.

What sad news, it looks like the re-development plan that has been approved will demolish the auditorium and stage house !

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/harlem-victoria-theater-hub-arts-cultural-center-article-1.1117287

“The Victoria’s cavernous auditorium will be demolished, but its ornate lobby, signature fountain, original marquee, grand stairway and gilded chandeliers will be preserved.”

AND BEHIND the multiplexing is a carefully preserved mostly intact single screen auditorium ! (see photos in link below)

http://newyorktoursbygary.blogspot.fr/2011_11_08_archive.html

“Mr. Blake, sensitive to the historical and irreplaceable aspects of this theater, had partitions put in to create 5 auditoriums that would leave no scars and could be easily removed.”

Ed, somewhere here on CT, I saw an old studio ad someone posted for another theatre from the early/mid 70’s. Under Manhattan I remember was listed Loews Victoria 125th St. Maybe thats how the photographer meant to refer to it?

It has been reported today that the redevelopment of Harlem’s Victoria Theater is moving forward. Sadly, only the lobby and “a fountain” are being preserved. No word in this article about the facade or whether a replica of the original marquee will be installed.

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/07/19/state-approves-massive-harlem-development-plan/

You beat me to it Ed! This was always something of a long shot for preservation and I’m not quite sure how much was there to preserve, but at least some of it will live on. Of course we wish we could save them all, but we can’t. We need to dedicate our efforts where the true potentials are: The Loew’s Canal is foremost on my mind as our best hope for bringing back a faded beauty in Manhattan. We have succeeded in saving stunners like Radio City, The New Amsterdam, The Hollywood, all five Wonder Theaters, The Saint George, The Beacon and, of course, the Apollo. I fear for the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill. However, I do have hope for the Brooklyn Paramount and The Jackson in Queens. As for the Victoria, we will still keep the dignified exterior though I hope with that hideous marquee removed and perhaps a period marquee in its place. I hope they make good use of the chandeliers and grand stairs.

This theater will get a make-over and reopen for live entertainment. See today’s New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/realestate/commercial/along-harlems-125th-street-redevelopment-projects-advance.html

Josephine Baker performed here in 1973.

That should be Buddy not Bubby!

Nice photos Tinseltoes.

Love the Loews Victoria 1968 Pictures.That style vertical was the best I have ever seen.Classy looking,those were the days.

View link

As the Loews.

View link

How depressing! :–)

Anyone know what the latest is on the redevelopment of this theater?