Kings Theatre

Yes, there is shopping and then the Pavilion Theater. It’s a digital cinema where satellite dishes bring the movie to the audience.

To: Brooklynite, Gustav and all others wanting to have our first meeting:
Flatbush Avenue Bus, Church Avenue BMT (nice walk) Nostrand Avenue Subway. I’m sorry I really don’t know the correct names or lines for public transportation. Although we could meet at my house and from here, drive over to the theater.

Greetings, Bruce and all friends of the Kings! I’ve been reading over this long, long message board and I think I can see what we really need is a live meeting, as soon as possible. Let’s call it for next week at the Grand Army Plaza Library or something. Even if only 3 or 4 people show it would be a much better start than this slow-motion message board.

Yes, I’ve done all that stuff, but somehow the theater remains closed. Maybe that’s because the city owns the building and doesn’t know how to market it? Maybe it’s because the surrounding area has decayed and had a crime problem. Now is definitely improving) Almost directly behind the theater is one of the most successful Sear’s stores with a large parking lot. Along side the Kings is a mini-mall with Stop & Shop Supermarket; Old Navy, Staples, Marshall’s and off the corner is a Foot Locker. And behind and to the left of theater is additional 750 car park lot—city owned lot that is long term lease by the owner of the mini-mall. He is a major major developer in Brooklyn, but plays things close to the vest. Loew’s Kings can certainly be a Center for the Performing Arts and draw its audiences — that travel a distance.

The original theater held 3,600 people, but was reduced to 3,192 in the sixties. (Still a commanding space!) The main design elements are the Palace of Versaille and the Paris Opera House.

Dear Life,
I understand the fact that you don’t live in the New York area, making it impossible to meet in person, but I am not asking anyone for money. I have been trying in different ways (contacting real estate developers; contacting theater operators, contacting live concert promoters, etc.) but I have never once asked anyone for money.

Where do you live and is there a local theater that appeals to you?

Hang On For Dear Life,
Thanks for the advice, but what I would really like is a face to face with you and other interested people. Maybe a meeting is a good idea?

To: Bob Furmanek
Several months ago I thought that this message board was only for nostalgia buffs. It seemed to appeal to people who want to see a theater restored but never took the concept forward. Now it seems there are people who are also living in the present, but fall victim to the games and politics or those who don’t think it’s possible. So far I haven’t heard from anybody who wants to have a meeting.

I visited the Loew’s Jersey while it was still going through renovation and frankly found it’s decor a little overwhelming. Maybe I’m prejudice but the Loew’s Kings is classy, it’s not overdone.

I don’t feel Jack was trying to be negative in his post; he was merely being honest and realistic. Nobody loves old theaters as much as I do. I put a HUGE chunk of my life into saving and fixing the Loew’s Jersey to get it to the point where it is now. (Some pretty choice years too, from age 30 to 40. I was there nearly every Saturday, and many many more days and nights. I’ve got the physical scars to prove it!) But I finally had to walk away from that project because of the games and politics. I accomplished what I set out to do – they CAN run 35mm film again, but I grew tired of all the nonsense.

To make a difference in saving these great showplaces, you have to be willing to commit a great deal of time. You can’t just sit at your computer and be an armchair preservationist. You might feel better about it as if you’re making a difference in saving the place, but that’s about it.

To: Jack
When I first read your negative comments, I was upset. Now that I have had the chance to digest them, I have a different perspective. Maybe I have been trying to Save The Kings for too long? If only some deep pocketed developer would understand the potential. If only they could see how such restoration and air rights expansion (Botique Hotel, Multiplex, Shopping Mall) could mean to the whole neighborhood. Others have suggested we form a 501C and make a business plan, but that would mean raising the money (Estimates have gone as high as $30-$50 million dollars.) In my opinion, the best way to go is to find a developer and convince him that saving the theater can and will increase the surrounding property value. Maybe I’ve been at this for too long? Maybe I have talked with too many developers, talked to one too many retail chains (those that have surrounded the Loews Kings) but I wouldn’t say I have accomplished nothing. I’ve collected memorabilia and stories from former theater manager and ushers that went way back to 1936.

Certainly the memorabilia and availability of some original furniture could fill a small museum. I hope by inviting new blood to a meeting, we can divide responsibilities and give it another push. Maybe that would make the difference.

To: Jack
When I first read your negative comments, I was upset. Now that I have had the chance to digest them, I have a different perspective. Maybe I have been trying to Save The Kings for too long? If only some deep pocketed developer would understand the potential. If only they could see how such restoration and air rights expansion (Botique Hotel, Multiplex, Shopping Mall) could mean to the whole neighborhood. Others have suggested we form a 501C and make a business plan, but that would mean raising the money (Estimates have gone as high as $30-$50 million dollars.) In my opinion, the best way to go is to find a developer and convince him that saving the theater can and will increase the surrounding property value. Maybe I’ve been at this for too long? Maybe I have talked with too many developers, talked to one too many retail chains (those that have surrounded the Loews Kings) but I wouldn’t say I have accomplished nothing. I’ve collected memorabilia and stories from former theater manager and ushers that went way back to 1936.

Certainly the memorabilia and availability of some original furniture could fill a small museum. I hope by inviting new blood to a meeting, we can divide responsibilities and give it another push. Maybe that would make the difference.

Jim—The Jehovah’s Witnesses already have the huge former Albemarle Theatre on Flatbush Ave. It’s unlikely they would need a second theater within such a short distance.

The city owns the property, so until such time as they want to move on the matter, forming a not-for-profit would serve little purpose. At its most noble vision, a politician, such as the borough president, works to implement what his constitutents want, but in reality the works of politicians are not so noble. It will require of those wishing to save the KINGS, someone on the political ‘inside’ who can find out the real attitude of the politicos, contrary to whatever they may be saying ‘for public consumption’ as the saying goes.

Obviously, the theatre is not high on the politicos' list of problems, especially since (unlike Disney and the NEW AMSTERDAM) there does not appear to be any big money in the background. Yes, folks, the KINGS will never return to showing movies, so you have to interest a developer with BIG BUCKS or DEEP, DEEP POCKETS to become interested in order for there to be any realistic hope of renewal. That athlete who wanted to subdivide the place realized that even his pockets were not deep enough to withstand the tens of millions this job would require before a penny is received as income. In this country, without an assured high return on investment, 99.9% of would-be investors will back off. Disney did it for image in Manhattan, not the blue collar suburb that Brooklyn is perceived to be. What Brooklyn-based entity is willing to take the risk here in their own backyard? Even the tax-free Jehovah’s Witnesses with their HQ in Brooklyn did not take on the KINGS (assuming the borough would have let them). They had to go to Jersey City to the former STANLEY (which is about 2000 seats smaller than the KINGS). Does this say something about Brooklyn politics? Are other entities scared off of getting involved with the politicians there? If so, and given the ownership, we could all be wasting our time on a noble, but lost cause. Maybe those in the area should turn their efforts toward the former BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT, and try to encourage LIU to restore it as a showcase of some sort, though I don’t know how they would turn a profit on it.

Dude: the New Amsterdam, as I understand it, was not well taken care of. For whatever it’s worth I’ve heard it was about as trashed as you describe the Kings when they got started.

I think the Kings could rise again. But I think it requires a person (or people) with vision and drive. You have to get people excited about the place, raise funds, and come up with a multi-functional plan (like the Orpheum in Madison, WI…they have movies, concerts, a restaurant in the lobby, private rentals for parties and ceremonies…and they seem to be making it). You have to make people understand how cool it is that there are generations of memories in the place, and that it should continue…like some European structure that has been standing for hundreds of years. If it can’t be completely restored, a redevelopment plan like the one used at the Tivoli in Washington D.C. would be an option.

That being said, I agree with you about what has taken place so far. All I see is a bunch of people talking and that is not going to cut it. I think this Gustav guy put up a little web site. But it’s basic HTML and isn’t going to do anything by itself. I suggested months ago that a 501©(3) be formed and the idea was met with resistance. If nobody is willing to take that basic step (which is work, I admit…but is not that big a deal…I know someone who set up a 501©(3) theatre company) then I don’t see how the people having this conversation are ever going to accomplish the sizable tasks mentioned in the paragraph above. I can see the comments coming now: why don’t YOU do something? I would love to. But my volunteer efforts are currently devoted to my high school alumni association. I am an officer, it is a ton of work, and I can’t just walk away.

Not trying to beat you up fellas. But I don’t think being nice is going to help. You need to get your act together and start taking action if you expect to have a chance of saving this place. Otherwise, eventually, another redevelopment plan like the multiplex thing will come along. This time it will succeed…and that will be the end of it. The place will be torn apart.

If you are afraid of failure, you should get over it. Embrace the possibilty of failure. There is no better teacher.