I guess I didn’t mean literally why was it torn down, but more why would they do such a thing. There must have been plenty of vacant lots or abandoned buildings they could have removed to build the Con Ed building.
I also saw that commercial. Recently many music videos are also using the interior of these old gems too.
ANd of course the exteriors are used in countless films and shows as a backdrop. There is much more substance in an old theater either in shambles or in good condtion depending on what look or feel to the scene they are looking for, than a multiplex.
As for the Kings, what is the current condition? Any update or photos available of it currently?
And to comment on someone’s comment above from March, why is there no description for this theater? How do we edit that part. This theater deserves a description in it’s opening paragraph.
I remember this theater quite well. We would always pass it on our way home from visitng my late aunt in Greenpoint. I haven’t been there in quite some years now, as my aunt moved over to New Orleans to be with her daughter (my cousin) about 15 years ago, and has since passed on.
I should really get over there and trace our monthly steps again one day.
What is the Maspeth Theater being used for now?
I don’t remember this one. My late aunt used to live in Greenpoint, but I only have vague memory of the Greenpoint theaters, because I have not been there in that area in at least 15 years.
Does anyone know when it closed?
I was also only in the old theater once when I was visiting a relative near there but the theaters were terrible.
I should check the new one out next time I am in the area.
Thank you Peter. I actually only changed my screen name, but even so, only posted here once or twice before today anyway, and I didn’t like my other name.
Great site, I joined a few weeks ago, but only read occasionally.
I agree with you Robert. They do have attractive “curtain” walls in this one I think, and even “sconces” on the walls, so it’s almost like old time theaters, except, no more screen curtains.
I think the Zeigfeld in Manhattan still does that, and I think the late Trylon did too, but not many left still have curtains.
I think some theaters like the Ridgewood used to have two sets of curtains, a thick one, and a thin one.
Why did they tear this great old theater down? It could have been put to some other use like the RKO at Gates subway station was. It was an attractive building, even if in bad shape.
Anyone know of any photos of it inside or outside, past or in later years?
Thank you very much for posting that photo above. I wonder when the site here will allow photos to be uploaded again. In the meantime, it’s nice to see the off site links.
Wow, I always thought the building in your photo was a theater when I used to go by there years ago. I think it was a knitting mill for a while.
I wonder what still exists of the theater ornamentation inside. The above listing should be changed to “closed” – but not demolished.
Robert, are you talking about UA owning the Ridgewood or the Crossbay, I wasn’t clear from your comment. If UA owns the Ridgewood, it is doomed, because while their theaters were great in the 80’s and 90’s, recently they all seem to being going to hell.
I am not sure. If I am not mistaken, it was your typical shopping center theater of the period.
For much more info on this theater, read the “Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts” section where this one came up too.
It’s a shame that this once beautiful theatre is now falling apart.
Thank you Warren. I guess that’s better than no movies being played in it.
What kind of film does this theater show now?
How are the auditoriums in this theater, like the other new National Amusements auditoriums recently built?
I guess I didn’t mean literally why was it torn down, but more why would they do such a thing. There must have been plenty of vacant lots or abandoned buildings they could have removed to build the Con Ed building.
I also saw that commercial. Recently many music videos are also using the interior of these old gems too.
ANd of course the exteriors are used in countless films and shows as a backdrop. There is much more substance in an old theater either in shambles or in good condtion depending on what look or feel to the scene they are looking for, than a multiplex.
As for the Kings, what is the current condition? Any update or photos available of it currently?
And to comment on someone’s comment above from March, why is there no description for this theater? How do we edit that part. This theater deserves a description in it’s opening paragraph.
Somehow I can see why it closed. The neighborhood never would have let an XXX theater open up in it’s neighborhood.
I remember this theater quite well. We would always pass it on our way home from visitng my late aunt in Greenpoint. I haven’t been there in quite some years now, as my aunt moved over to New Orleans to be with her daughter (my cousin) about 15 years ago, and has since passed on.
I should really get over there and trace our monthly steps again one day.
What is the Maspeth Theater being used for now?
What a shame they destroyed such a beautiful theater. Was it empty long before they demolished it?
Why was it demolished?
What is there now?
I don’t remember this one. My late aunt used to live in Greenpoint, but I only have vague memory of the Greenpoint theaters, because I have not been there in that area in at least 15 years.
Does anyone know when it closed?
I was also only in the old theater once when I was visiting a relative near there but the theaters were terrible.
I should check the new one out next time I am in the area.
Thank you Peter. I actually only changed my screen name, but even so, only posted here once or twice before today anyway, and I didn’t like my other name.
Great site, I joined a few weeks ago, but only read occasionally.
From the photo, it still seems like a quite attractive building (aside from the barred windows), and it’s not in that bad of shape.
I agree with you Robert. They do have attractive “curtain” walls in this one I think, and even “sconces” on the walls, so it’s almost like old time theaters, except, no more screen curtains.
I think the Zeigfeld in Manhattan still does that, and I think the late Trylon did too, but not many left still have curtains.
I think some theaters like the Ridgewood used to have two sets of curtains, a thick one, and a thin one.
Why did they tear this great old theater down? It could have been put to some other use like the RKO at Gates subway station was. It was an attractive building, even if in bad shape.
Anyone know of any photos of it inside or outside, past or in later years?
Thank you very much for posting that photo above. I wonder when the site here will allow photos to be uploaded again. In the meantime, it’s nice to see the off site links.
Did the Gates have a smaller auditorium in addition to the main auditorium?
Is the Williamsburg still standing, and if it is, what is it now?
Wow, I always thought the building in your photo was a theater when I used to go by there years ago. I think it was a knitting mill for a while.
I wonder what still exists of the theater ornamentation inside. The above listing should be changed to “closed” – but not demolished.
Was this a regular movie theater or was it more of an early nickelodeon?
Canal St sure had a lot of theaters in it’s day.
When did this theater close?
Oh, thanks. Yeah, most of UA’s newer theaters (and older ones for that matter) look like crap, and years older than they are.
Robert, are you talking about UA owning the Ridgewood or the Crossbay, I wasn’t clear from your comment. If UA owns the Ridgewood, it is doomed, because while their theaters were great in the 80’s and 90’s, recently they all seem to being going to hell.
I am not sure. If I am not mistaken, it was your typical shopping center theater of the period.
For much more info on this theater, read the “Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts” section where this one came up too.