EdSolero, realistically I don’t see Streisand (or any other ex-Brooklyn celebrity) getting involved in any substantial way with the Kings. She may pay lip service to her memories of the Loews Kings but it’s just that – lip service. She might kick in a few bucks for old time’s sake. She has to be out of Brooklyn for more than 40 years at this point. Actors and actresses are always gushing forth about something. It’s what they do best I suppose. The Streisand connection has come up before in this discussion. Has she or her “staff” ever responded officially to anything regarding the Loews Kings?
“Councilmember Clarke would prefer that the future of the Loew’s Theater is determined by a fair and impartial RFP process, which will allow for a discussion between the community and elected officials on how best to proceed. This project can be the cornerstone in the future economic revival of Central Brooklyn and she looks forward to working with the EDC and the Borough President toward’s this end.”
Councilmember Clarke’s RFP idea makes a lot of sense. The RFP process will determine if there is serious interest out there in a restoration of the Kings. It will force those with plans to spell out the economic viability of their proposals. The RFP process will also keep everybody honest – or so we NYC taxpayers hope.
Most likely the Culver name came from the BMT elevated line which in turn was named after Andrew Culver. In 1875 he built a ground-level railroad on McDonald Avenue which preceded the current elevated line which opened in 1919.
So maybe it’s come full circle. People put in home theaters to re-create the feel of a movie theater. Now some movie theaters are going plush to re-create the feel of a living room.
The Commodore Theatre concept seems to have worked for them. In some cases a smaller audience can work. You pay a bit more but are as assured as you can be of being surrounded by others who came to enjoy the movie.
I was just browsing through some of the old news items on the site and came across an interesting one regarding digital cinemas. (http://cinematreasures.org/news/13413_0_1_0_C3/) Poster ‘TheaterBuff1’ sees ‘gourmet’ movie houses as an option. He may have a point. Maybe movie houses have to go upscale with higher ticket prices.
In return for shelling out more $$$ you get wide comfortable stadium-style seats, a huge digital screen, a superb sound system in a clean well-maintained theater. Maybe the theater experience needs to be made so special that it will bring the adults back to the theaters. I think many movie patrons would be willing to pay $15+ for such an experience. But the key is the experience. A ‘gourmet’ theater would be taking the gamble that a pricier ticket would keep out the cellphone users, talkers and other inconsiderate patrons. (I guess I’m asking for a lot here!)
How will Digital Cinema play into all this? Some here are upset at the demise of the film medium. But who said that film was to last forever. Movies shot digitally will be of a much higher resolution than those shot on photographic film.
Which brings up another point. Will these new digital movies look like “movies”? Or will the improved resolution, though a technological breakthrough, make movies look too much like HDTV? And is that good or bad? There is no way to really see at this point what the mass audience reaction to digital will be.
Product is another issue. So many movies are aimed at a teen audience, because they seem to be the only ones going to the movies in large numbers. Which is one reason why many adults do not go to the movies anymore. It’s a vicious cycle I guess.
Movie Theaters could end up the way ‘legitimate’ theaters have. A relatively few large (and pricey) digital movie houses in Midtown Manhattan, LA, San Francisco, Toronto, London, Paris, etc. Some smaller digital theaters in the wealthier suburbs. Even today’s busy multiplexes may not be willing to shoulder the cost of upgrading 15+ screens to digital projection. We are in unchartered territory here.
The digital movie era is only beginning. It is in some ways a replay of the first shake-out of movie theaters in the 1950s when TV and urban flight was the threat. But this shakeout will happen over a shorter period of time.
I don’t think that the VCR hurt movie theaters in the 1980s that much because VHS releases of a film were usually 12-18 months after theatrical release. VHS was nowhere near DVD quality, a large screen back then was 35"and HDTV didn’t exist.
The theaters are in a financial bind. They are expected to spend small fortunes to go digital. At the same time many ex-movie-patrons simply wait 3 months or less for a film to come out on DVD.
The theater experience has become a task for many. You have to drive into the city or to the local multi-plex. Then you have to park your car and wait on the ticket line. Popcorn and beverages are over-priced. Now you are seated and discover that many people don’t know how to behave in a movie house. Cellphones ring, people talk among themselves, etc. Theater owners can’t do much about that without risking lawsuits from ejected patrons.
So more and more people are buying those ever-cheaper HDTVs and watching movies in their nice quiet home theaters. The $20 DVD is cheaper than taking the family to the movies, especially with gasoline at $3.15/gallon. Maybe digital projection will give movie houses a second life. But what about the theaters that can’t afford to go digital?
The Lane is for sale – again. This time a different realty company’s sign is attached to the marquee. The landmarked interior makes the Lane a difficult sell.
Sounds like Marty Markowitz is trying to do something. No sane businessperson has come forward in 32 years with a realistic plan. My guess is that somehow the NYC taxpayer will end up paying for a multi-million dollar restoration of the Kings. I hope I’m wrong. But would any of you invest your own money in this place considering the surrounding area? I know it’s near beautiful Ditmas Park, but those folks aaren’t going flock to the Kings. They have nice air-conditioned home theaters.
I’ve had no problem receiving e-mail notifications. Has everyone checked their e-mail filters/spam-blockers to allow email from this site to be accepted?
If you are using Earthlink (as I am) be sure to go to the ‘WebMail’ page and adjusts the email spam filter settings. Earthlink does a good job of eliminateing spam but sometimes legitimate emails get snagged.
A warehouse of some kind is currently located at 308 Sheffield Ave. The NYC Building Dept shows a New Building permit issued and cancelled in 1915. No c of o information is available.
I stand corrected. So the Loew’s Kings made two brief comeback attempts. But I’m sort of right in one way regarding the 1974 closure. That was the last year for the Loew’s operation of the theater. It looks like 1980 was the last time a movie was shown there to a paying audience.
I don’t think Staten Island can support an ‘art house’ type movie theater. Even in Manhattan the smaller ‘art’ and ‘revival’ houses are mostly gone. The DVD has replaced those kinds of movie houses. What’s hurting New Dorp Lane are the high property taxes on the commercial buildings. Landlords have to raise their rents to cover increased costs.
Regarding the closing date of the Loew’s Kings. I’m certain it was 1974, not 1977 or 1979. I graduated High School in June, 1974 from the Loew’s Kings. The movie on the marquee that day was “The Great Gatsby”, the last film ever to play there. I’m sure the theater closed up later that summer. Flatbush Avenue was in horrible shape by 1974, the surrounding neighborhood was in a steep decline. The area west of Ocean Avenue contained those large beautiful homes, but the homeowners were under siege for years with burglaries and robberies. The area has come back a bit but has a long way to go. Is the Loew’s Kings really a salvagable structure in 2006, 32 years after it shut it’s doors?
EdSolero, realistically I don’t see Streisand (or any other ex-Brooklyn celebrity) getting involved in any substantial way with the Kings. She may pay lip service to her memories of the Loews Kings but it’s just that – lip service. She might kick in a few bucks for old time’s sake. She has to be out of Brooklyn for more than 40 years at this point. Actors and actresses are always gushing forth about something. It’s what they do best I suppose. The Streisand connection has come up before in this discussion. Has she or her “staff” ever responded officially to anything regarding the Loews Kings?
Statement from Councilmember Yvette Clarke:
“Councilmember Clarke would prefer that the future of the Loew’s Theater is determined by a fair and impartial RFP process, which will allow for a discussion between the community and elected officials on how best to proceed. This project can be the cornerstone in the future economic revival of Central Brooklyn and she looks forward to working with the EDC and the Borough President toward’s this end.”
Councilmember Clarke’s RFP idea makes a lot of sense. The RFP process will determine if there is serious interest out there in a restoration of the Kings. It will force those with plans to spell out the economic viability of their proposals. The RFP process will also keep everybody honest – or so we NYC taxpayers hope.
Most likely the Culver name came from the BMT elevated line which in turn was named after Andrew Culver. In 1875 he built a ground-level railroad on McDonald Avenue which preceded the current elevated line which opened in 1919.
So maybe it’s come full circle. People put in home theaters to re-create the feel of a movie theater. Now some movie theaters are going plush to re-create the feel of a living room.
Commodore Theater – /theaters/1600/ – An upscale movie presentation.
The Commodore Theatre concept seems to have worked for them. In some cases a smaller audience can work. You pay a bit more but are as assured as you can be of being surrounded by others who came to enjoy the movie.
I was just browsing through some of the old news items on the site and came across an interesting one regarding digital cinemas. (http://cinematreasures.org/news/13413_0_1_0_C3/) Poster ‘TheaterBuff1’ sees ‘gourmet’ movie houses as an option. He may have a point. Maybe movie houses have to go upscale with higher ticket prices.
In return for shelling out more $$$ you get wide comfortable stadium-style seats, a huge digital screen, a superb sound system in a clean well-maintained theater. Maybe the theater experience needs to be made so special that it will bring the adults back to the theaters. I think many movie patrons would be willing to pay $15+ for such an experience. But the key is the experience. A ‘gourmet’ theater would be taking the gamble that a pricier ticket would keep out the cellphone users, talkers and other inconsiderate patrons. (I guess I’m asking for a lot here!)
How will Digital Cinema play into all this? Some here are upset at the demise of the film medium. But who said that film was to last forever. Movies shot digitally will be of a much higher resolution than those shot on photographic film.
Which brings up another point. Will these new digital movies look like “movies”? Or will the improved resolution, though a technological breakthrough, make movies look too much like HDTV? And is that good or bad? There is no way to really see at this point what the mass audience reaction to digital will be.
Product is another issue. So many movies are aimed at a teen audience, because they seem to be the only ones going to the movies in large numbers. Which is one reason why many adults do not go to the movies anymore. It’s a vicious cycle I guess.
Movie Theaters could end up the way ‘legitimate’ theaters have. A relatively few large (and pricey) digital movie houses in Midtown Manhattan, LA, San Francisco, Toronto, London, Paris, etc. Some smaller digital theaters in the wealthier suburbs. Even today’s busy multiplexes may not be willing to shoulder the cost of upgrading 15+ screens to digital projection. We are in unchartered territory here.
The digital movie era is only beginning. It is in some ways a replay of the first shake-out of movie theaters in the 1950s when TV and urban flight was the threat. But this shakeout will happen over a shorter period of time.
I don’t think that the VCR hurt movie theaters in the 1980s that much because VHS releases of a film were usually 12-18 months after theatrical release. VHS was nowhere near DVD quality, a large screen back then was 35"and HDTV didn’t exist.
The theaters are in a financial bind. They are expected to spend small fortunes to go digital. At the same time many ex-movie-patrons simply wait 3 months or less for a film to come out on DVD.
The theater experience has become a task for many. You have to drive into the city or to the local multi-plex. Then you have to park your car and wait on the ticket line. Popcorn and beverages are over-priced. Now you are seated and discover that many people don’t know how to behave in a movie house. Cellphones ring, people talk among themselves, etc. Theater owners can’t do much about that without risking lawsuits from ejected patrons.
So more and more people are buying those ever-cheaper HDTVs and watching movies in their nice quiet home theaters. The $20 DVD is cheaper than taking the family to the movies, especially with gasoline at $3.15/gallon. Maybe digital projection will give movie houses a second life. But what about the theaters that can’t afford to go digital?
The Lane is for sale – again. This time a different realty company’s sign is attached to the marquee. The landmarked interior makes the Lane a difficult sell.
Sounds like Marty Markowitz is trying to do something. No sane businessperson has come forward in 32 years with a realistic plan. My guess is that somehow the NYC taxpayer will end up paying for a multi-million dollar restoration of the Kings. I hope I’m wrong. But would any of you invest your own money in this place considering the surrounding area? I know it’s near beautiful Ditmas Park, but those folks aaren’t going flock to the Kings. They have nice air-conditioned home theaters.
What are the demographics of the surrounding area? Are you planning on showing first/second run movies or more of a ‘revival’ type program? GOOD LUCK!
I’ve had no problem receiving e-mail notifications. Has everyone checked their e-mail filters/spam-blockers to allow email from this site to be accepted?
If you are using Earthlink (as I am) be sure to go to the ‘WebMail’ page and adjusts the email spam filter settings. Earthlink does a good job of eliminateing spam but sometimes legitimate emails get snagged.
A warehouse of some kind is currently located at 308 Sheffield Ave. The NYC Building Dept shows a New Building permit issued and cancelled in 1915. No c of o information is available.
View link
I stand corrected. So the Loew’s Kings made two brief comeback attempts. But I’m sort of right in one way regarding the 1974 closure. That was the last year for the Loew’s operation of the theater. It looks like 1980 was the last time a movie was shown there to a paying audience.
I don’t think Staten Island can support an ‘art house’ type movie theater. Even in Manhattan the smaller ‘art’ and ‘revival’ houses are mostly gone. The DVD has replaced those kinds of movie houses. What’s hurting New Dorp Lane are the high property taxes on the commercial buildings. Landlords have to raise their rents to cover increased costs.
Regarding the closing date of the Loew’s Kings. I’m certain it was 1974, not 1977 or 1979. I graduated High School in June, 1974 from the Loew’s Kings. The movie on the marquee that day was “The Great Gatsby”, the last film ever to play there. I’m sure the theater closed up later that summer. Flatbush Avenue was in horrible shape by 1974, the surrounding neighborhood was in a steep decline. The area west of Ocean Avenue contained those large beautiful homes, but the homeowners were under siege for years with burglaries and robberies. The area has come back a bit but has a long way to go. Is the Loew’s Kings really a salvagable structure in 2006, 32 years after it shut it’s doors?
The Culver was torn down in 1966 to make way for a Chase Manhattan Bank. A bank is still there, but it may not be a Chase Branch anymore.