Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
86 people
favorited this theater
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Well, well, well. It FINALLY looks like the proper authorities have seen the KINGS in all its {still existing} glory. There may be issues, but according to the NY Daily News article on 10-31-06 and other recent posts, it seems that this majestic theater will rise like a phoenix from its current state and be the showplace that it SHOULD be!
The NY Daily News article does not appear to be online :–(. If someone scans it and sends it to me, I’ll post it for the others.
In the Brooklyn section of Todays NY Daily News there is a 2 page article about efforts to restore the Kings including a nice picture of the interior of the theatre.
In the Brooklyn section of Todays NY Daily News there is a 2 page article about efforts to restore the Kings including a nice picture of the interior of the theatre.
Awesome news thanks for your detailed account, sure is good news.
Hi Luis! Thank you very much for sharing a detailed personal account. It definitely sounded like a magnificent event! Loew’s Kings Theatre is a treasure waiting to be unveiled!!!!!!
The city does finally appear to be serious about saving The Loew’s Kings. As mentioned in above posts the city has in fact issued a “Request for Expressions of Interest” from developers who are interested in saving The Kings. As part of the process, the city organized a tour of the theater for all people interested in submitting a proposal. I had never previously been to the Kings, but nonetheless I have been following the efforts to save it. I grew up going to Loew’s Valencia and have wondrous memories of that palace. It pained me to see that the Kings was the only one of the wonder theaters that was not restored.
Though I was not a potential developer I was allowed to sign up anyway. I had never been to that part of Brooklyn even though I’ve lived in New York all my life. (Born in the Bronx, raised in Queens, now residing in Manhattan). I was surprised to see how relatively nice the area was. The only empty storefront on Flatbush Avenue was indeed The Kings.
When I walked into the theater, I thought I smelled old popcorn! It wasn’t! It was more of a musty smell. :–) The theater truly looked like its been abandoned for 30 years. It must have been an impressive sight in its day and it still is now! The seven chandeliers are spectacular and appear to be mostly intact.
The initial question and answer period was held in the grand foyer in front of the grand staircase leading to the upper level. The Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, was hosting and told the story of how he had his first unescorted date there and how he wants to save The Kings to be Brooklyn’s main performing art center. (I assume he meant after The Academy of Music of course.)
Then the city’s economic development people took over. I think there were about a hundred people there and, luckily for the Kings, it appeared that most of the people there were truly there to see what they could do to save this theater. I overheard people talking. Some were from Forest City Ratner. Others were from the firm that restored Kansas City’s old train station which apparently was in much worse shape than this theater. I also met an architect who had worked on the restoration of The New Amsterdam in Times Square which is arguably the most spectacular theater in New York. That theater had gaping holes in the ceiling before renovation was undertaken. He felt the Kings, though with many problems, is eminently savable and has great bones. He was looking to find a developer to work with.
We proceeded into the main auditoium and I was in awe of the vastness of the space! It was painful to see the tremendous water damage on parts of the walls. The seats are all there though and, to me, looked quite comfortable. The seats appeared larger than what we have today and the rows had amazing amounts of legroom; much more than you see in today’s theaters.
The walk up the grand staircase is majestic. Though the balcony is relatively small, it is spectacularly beautiful. What I found funny is how far away the screen is from the furthest seats in the orchestra and balcony sections. I could never see a movie from these seats! I would need opera glasses.
We also went into one of the basement levels under the grand foyer. It was big enough to have a makeshift basketball court set up. Apparently, the ushers played there between shifts. There is also a basement space beneath the theater itself though we didn’t get to see it.
We learned that the exterior vertical Loew’s sign that once adorned the theater above the marquee is alive and well and being stored by the city. The city is asking, though not requiring, that the sign be reinstalled with any restoration of the theater. I am in agreement with above posters that the original marquee may be underneath the square one currently in place. You are able to see the curves when you stand underneath the marquee.
Very few of the curtain fabrics in the theater remain though some do.
I also was surprised by how small the candy counter was! It was tiny! I was also surprised at how small the bathrooms were especially for a theater of this size.
It was an incredible expereience to take this tour and I am hopeful that a tangible, functional plan comes about as a result. Brooklyn, a borough of 2.5 million people, has incredibly few performing arts spaces. Let’s hope that the city can finally get the ball rolling on this.
Finally, I want to make something very clear that is important to CT members: The city’s proposal is very clear on one point: The city’s goal is the total restoration of the theater and all of its architecturally significant details. Any development of the surrounding lots and air rights must ensure that the theater is restored!
If anyone who reads this was on the tour as well, please share your thoughts. I’m curious about other perspectives.
Those updated marquees that Loews installed on the Kings and the Jersey in the late 1940s sure were ugly. I don’t mind the squareness so much as that mock-cursive typeface that spelled out the name of the theater. Eeeeew. We’re lucky that zoning restrictions on the Grand Concourse ruled out doing such a thing at Loews Paradise in the Bronx.
Parts of the original curved marquee may still exist behind the updated one. If you stand under the marquee on Flatbush Ave and look up, it appears that might be the case.
Great coverage in the NY Post!!! Thanks for posting the link! It’s about time politicians are determined to restore and adaptively reuse this “wonder theater.” A big thank you to all those who fought. I think the later marquee could be reused someplace else. I’d rather see the original curved marquee located or recreated, and once again adorning the theater’s unique facade. That would be a true restoration. What do you think?
I praise efforts to save this theater & Loew’s Paradise (now landmarked), but indeed… where were those ruthless politicians when we needed them for the RKO Keith’s?? :( I look forward to tracking the progress of the restoration of the Loew’s Kings!!! :)
Understood, Bway – and I really don’t want to carry on this conversation on the Kings' page – but suffice to say that there was a time when the authorities had the owner on the ropes and could have (had they chosen to do so) held him completely liable for restoring the elements that had been destroyed under his criminally careless and wanton watch. They let him off the hook far too easily and allowed the building to crumble further in the meanwhile.
Unfortunately, the Keiths began it’s decline in the 80’s already…plunged decline because of it’s former owner. The Kings, while it began it’s decline, wasn’t plunged into it, as it at least only suffered neglect or deferred maitenance, whereas the Keiths was actually attacked and intentionally had aspects of it demolished. The Kings only suffers from time, the Keiths suffered from destruction.
Here’s a direct link to the article. As a Queens movie goer, I read this and – while being very happy to see progress being made with the Kings – wonder where were the local politicians to help save the RKO Keith’s when we needed them and the place had a fighting chance?!? Shame on the local pols in Flushing!
Article in today’s (10/17/06) New York Post about the city’s efforts to save The Loew’s Kings theater. Go to www.newyorkpost.com and type in Loew’s Kings in the search field to find the article. It looks like the city is finally serious about saving this incredible landmark!
If you missed the A&E show you can see a snippet on the Loew’s Kings by clicking here:
http://www.planetplg.com/docs/LoewsKings.mp4
You’ll need pateince and an MP4 player (QuickTime should work).
Dan
BIG NEWS:
NYC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND
BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT SEEK
REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER LOEW’S KINGS THEATER
New York City, September 28, 2006 â€" New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), in cooperation with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the rehabilitation of the former Loew’s Kings Theater at 1025-1035 Flatbush Avenue. The theater contains approximately 63,000 square feet of space, including about 5,000 square feet of retail space, on a 53,900-square-foot-parcel. RFEI responses may include plans for additional City-owned parcels, containing about 77,200 square feet, adjacent to the theater. Redevelopment plans must be economically feasible, rehabilitate and reuse the theater building, and retain certain elements of the theater’s original architectural features. Public funds may be made available for initial capital expenditures.
“The unique character of the former Loew’s Kings Theater combined with its location in the middle of the Flatbush Avenue retail strip make this an especially exciting redevelopment project,” said EDC Interim President Joshua J. Sirefman. “Our goal is to receive responses that are forward-thinking, but with a genuine reverence for the theater’s glorious past. I want to thank Marty Markowitz for his enthusiasm and support of this important project.”
The RFEI envisions a wide array of possible uses, such as a commercial theater, a not-for-profit cultural institution, a gallery and auction house, a television and motion picture production facility, residential units, a hotel, restaurants, a community facility and retail establishments. Development opportunities for the adjacent City-owned parcels may include decking over the parcels or transfer of surplus development rights from the theater to the parcels, or the parcels to the theater. Respondents may also plan redevelopment of the adjacent City-owned parcels, provided their submissions recognize and adequately address certain existing agreements.
“Restoring the historic Loew’s Kings Theater represents an opportunity to create a world-class cultural venue for current and future Brooklynites by bringing back a little piece of yesterday,” said Borough President Markowitz. “The return of the Kings will confirm Brooklyn’s status as the creative capital of New York City, and when this people’s palace is back in the heart of the borough in all its former splendor, it will be a great day for both Brooklynites who have walked her aisles and those who have yet to discover her majesty.”
The Loew’s Kings Theater opened in 1929 as Loew’s flagship theater.
Designed in the French Renaissance style, the theater’s architecture
was heavily influenced by the Palace of Versailles and Paris Opera
House. The theater features high curved ceilings, ornate plaster
walls, wood paneling, pink marble, and a glazed terra-cotta ornamental façadeâ€"all in keeping with classic movie palace styling. The stage is approximately 70 feet wide by 30 feet deep and has a fly gallery about 80 feet high and a proscenium opening 60 feet wide by 50 feet high.
EDC will use a variety of criteria to evaluate the responses, such as: return to the City; financial feasibility; development team's
qualifications; development plan’s relationship to surrounding
community; design; and respondent’s satisfaction of development
guidelines. EDC also supports high performance, green building and
sustainable design.
The Flatbush Avenue retail corridor is a major shopping area with many businesses selling clothing, appliances, furniture, food and other goods. The theater is located near Sears, Staples, Old Navy, and a Super Stop and Shop serving the adjacent residential neighborhoods. It is within walking distance of the B and Q trains and numerous bus lines.
There will be an information session and site tour on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the theater, 1025-1035 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. Please RSVP by calling Anifia Binns at (212) 618-5721 or e-mail , on or before October 17, 2006. Interested parties are encouraged to attend the information session and site tour. A copy of the RFEI can be obtained by calling (212) 618-5721, or may be downloaded at www.nycedc.com/rfp Responses are due no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2006. EDC may select a developer or development team from responses to this RFEI, or may issue a subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP may be issued only to developers, or a selection of developers, that responded to the RFEI, so all interested parties are urged to respond to this RFEI.
At least the Kings isn’t nearly as bad as the Shore.
From photos that were posted in the Loews Shore Theater section (unfortunately now taken down though), the plaster from the entire top of the procenium arch has already fallen down to the floor at the Shore, as well as a good part of the ceiling itself, right up to the circle in the center of the theater. On the right side, in the old Juliet balcony section, a large chunck of the plater has falled to the ground from there too. The place is in need of help immediately. And unfortunately, if parts of the ceiling already came down from the water damage in the Shore already, I am sure much of the ceiling still up may also be lose, and ready to come down. It’s not good.
At least the Kings isn’t to that point yet….but they betetr do something soon.
For some reason I doubt that will happen. Look whats happened to Coney Island and even the Shore theatre. All three things need restoration and work but we can’t wait too long, even though there have been so many plans, nothing has been done. I hope the Kings will soon be fixed though.
I met Markowitz at a summer concert and he claims to have a “3 year plan” in place to restore the Kings.
How long after its premier did that Showcase run begin, Robert? I think this was one of the earliest films I saw in theaters and it was probably at the Lefrak – which would have been closest to my home in Elmhurst at the time. Although, it might have been the Flushing Prospect as well.
Holiday Showcase
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Bruce Friedman reports that things are moving forward on getting an RFP written for the Loew’s Kings. See details on PlanetPLG.com.
http://www.planetplg.com
Dan
I am writing an article about the theater and recent efforts to reopen it. I would love to hear from anyone who has is interested in sharing personal stories about the theater, discussing its history, and talking about what they’d like to see happen with the theater in the future.
Please e-mail me at
Thank you!
Caroline
I recently saw Memoirs of a Movie Palace. Amazing film about the Kings. Watching it, you want to cry. Even more so, when thinking about the state the theater must be in today. If you get a chance, see this film. It’s at Donnell library in New York City.
Crawford on a Columbia Showcase
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