Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
86 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,326 - 1,350 of 1,564 comments
To: Robert R.
From: Bruce1
The last time I visited the Loew’s Kings was about 5 months ago. At that time, nothing much had changed. Every so often, something manages to disappear. This time, I noticed a 1929 vintage – intercom no longer hung from the manager’s office wall.
The City of NY had completed their asbestos study and found that that was NOT a problem and they had shored up the terracota facade. Above the stage house, the glass panes have suffered and it still allows the entry of pigeons. A few years ago, I was alarmed after seeing the damage caused by cascading rain water on the box seats. I was able to convince the Bklyn Borough Pres. Office to begin work on that roof within 3 weeks, instead of the planned 6 week wait. So now, it appears to keep the place dry. Of course there is no heat or fresh air, so the theater remains in a constant state of mildew/chill.
Maybe, I’m just in love with the place, but it looks no worse than the New Amsterdam before the Disney people went to work.
Rapp and Rapp ceased to exist as an architectural firm in the 1950s, but much of their archives remain at the Theatre Historical Society in Elmhurst Illinois, 15 miles west of Chicago. Reach them through their web site: www.HistoricTheatres.org
By the way did you all know that Rapp and Rapp also designed the Brooklyn and New York Paramount Theaters? They also have many theaters on the National Register of Historic Place, and for their architecture yet!
I tried to contact the firm of Rapp and Rapp, but they seem to be a computer firm now, and aren’t returning my E-Mails. I figured they would be able to help me find some groups that are interested in retoring Rapp and Rapp Architecture.
So Bruce1 tell us what the Kings looked like when you were inside? How many years ago were you inside?
To: Warren
Thanks for the information on the early demise of vaudeville at Loew’s Kings, but how sure are you that it’s accurate?
Loew’s Metropolitan continued vaudeville until around 1935
Brooklyn Paramount kept it going until 1936.
Are you familiar with pit vs presentation shows? If not, ‘pit’ meant that they had the orchestra in the pit and ‘presentation’ had the orchestra on stage with acts in front.
To: Jim Rankin
Thanks for the ‘super information’. Having been on the stage and under the stage at the Loew’s Kings many times, I never saw such ‘traps’ but interestingly at the Loew’s 46th Street, still pretty much intact, but alas a furniture store in Brooklyn, there is a ‘normal’ trap door that opens up – ward! Only this one is not on the stage (stage is gone) but is actually in the manager’s office. It was used by the manager to secretly exit the office with the day’s receipts and go down to the basement, out the back door and straight to the bank!!
The ROXY, NY and Brooklyn Paramount’s were designed by Rambusch and Company. A few years ago, the family came with me on a tour of the Kings. They offered to begin a training opportunity program for interns in the art of theatre restoration. As you can well imagine, all the contacts ++ all their enthusiasm, means nothing if we don’t have the money guy!
Bruce1
Thanks Everybody for all the info;
Bruce 1, I knew they were not for the general public, but people interested in restoration.
Thanks, Bruce, for that excellent breakdown of the dimensions and physical nature of the wonderful KINGS. I wish I had the proximity and resources to it that you have.
“Traps†are actually small openings in a stage floor covered with doors that open downward instantly so as to cause the dropping of an actor through the floor onto cushions in the below stage space. This was a device often called for in classical plays as well as melodramas of later years. In more advanced theatres, multiple traps could be linked together to open as one, thus opening a large portion of the stage floor for some scenic effects. Perhaps the single best illustration of their use is in the Cary Grant mystery “Charade†where the antagonist is walking across a darkened stage in search of Mr. Grant who is below the stage in the wings putting his hand to the line of trip lines that will release the one appropriate to the one the man is standing on; Mr. Grant is shown estimating the man’s position on the numbered trap doors only by sound of his footsteps above. It is exciting and shows the physical usage of multiple traps in a large stage.
The ROXY and other large facilities not only had stage elevators as that wonderful photo in THE BEST REMAINING SEATS makes clear, but often several traps in each elevator sometimes along with a turntable the width of the stage! When Ben Hall dubbed such “miracles of levitation†he wasn’t far from wrong.
To: Jim Rankin
Loew’s Kings has two stage lifts, if that’s what you mean by ‘traps’. Here are some accurate dimensions:
Proscenium Height: 32 ft
Proscenium Opening: 60 feet wide
Stage Depth [From rear of orchestra pit] 32 feet
Fly Height: (to grid from state est.) 70 feet
Grand Lobby: (approx) 42' W x 70' D
Inner Lobby (approx) 32' W x 56' D
Main House/ Excludes Stage (approx) 152' W x 144' D
Rear Orchestra Foyer (approx) 136' W x 32' D
Shop Space (approx) shoe store 20' x 50'
Shop Space (approx) 3 store fronts 60 x 50' D
Building a box above the retail frontage can create additional selling space or components of a multiplex with access to the main theater’s mezzanine. The square block footprint has an additional 30,000 sq. feet of retail which is available. The basement areas do include a basket-ball court once used by the ushers, but could be retrofit for two additonal screens or even more retail space (or Jazz Club or Comedy Club) Under the stage are a grouping of rehearsal space, screening rooms and backstage offers almost 30 dressing rooms, wardrobe and chorus facilities.
In effect, you could create at least a 10plex or a combination of theater and retail space without subdividing the auditorium.
To: Gustavelifting
These tours are not for the general public, but only for real estate developers, entrepreneurs and other billionaires.
Bruce1
Count me in darling!
Is anyone on this page still interested in what’s going on with the possible restoration of the Kings? Last I heard they may start tours in April for people who are interested in possibly restoring the theater.
I saw the Ali-Frazier II and Ali-Foreman fights on closed-circuit in this theater. The crowds outside alone were huge, like the fights were actually being held there.
Thanks beardbear;
That does look like a grand stage.
A 1929 view of the Kings stage can be found towards the bottom of the page at this website View link
That would mean they could hold Broadway Productions at the Kings.
The KINGS has a full fly system and large stage, though I do not have the statistics at hand. Likely there are or were several traps in the stage since that was usual construction back then. Even the MODJESKA, a neighborhood house here in Milwaukee had 20 traps!
I just read the theater description above. Does full stage mean that it has elements like theatrical traps, and what we call in theater a “fly system”? That is a system where they can store flats and lower them from above.
We really need someone who is interested in theaters. Maybe we should try some promoters who have money enough and are also interested in construction.
I don’t have the e-mail address, but the company name is: Leviev Boymelgreen—they may have an office in Manhattan, but you might also try 700 Pacific Street, Brooklyn NY.
One e-mail might not do the trick, but if all the people who read this site were to send an e-mail, maybe it could light the fire.
That would be okay, just so long as the theater itself is not split. The hotel above the Palace Theater in Manhattan was built so that it does not touch the roof. What’s this Boymelgreen’s E-Mail? That would really be some help. Maybe we should also contact whoever built the hotel and see what they think.
Has anybody seen this Sunday’s NY Times? Take a look at the Real Estate Section and you’ll find the cover story about a new developer in town! Among his projects is to build atop the old RKO Flushing with an apartment complex. Perhaps he would be interested in building a hotel/rental apartments with a revolving restaurant looking out on all of Brooklyn? If so, why doesn’t he look at the Loew’s Kings?
You’ll also find an article about various developers buying up former bank buildings, built by some of our finest classical architects. They are not being destroyed, but lovingly restored -not as banks but as high end condos, restaurant/catering, the newest Balducci’s and I know this will be hard to believe, but as a Union Square Theatre.
I’ve got a rather novel idea! Why not convert a magnificent movie palace into all of the above? The lobby could be rented out for private parties or for an art exhibition or as ‘The Joe Franklin’ memorabilia museum, [Joe loves the idea!] then building up from the store fronts, this can be additional retail space and then, a smart developer could use the air rights to create a hotel and condos and even a multiplex and capped with a restaurant. Best of all, I have a ruly novel idea, why not use the theater as a live theater?
Perhaps cinematreasure fans could write to Mr. Boymelgreen? He seems to have respect for the classic architecture and seems to find neighborhoods that need a boost. Check the article!!
Bruce1
You should make them available in video, Bruce 1.
I know there is already a Broadway Show about Brooklyn. Mine has a different premise.
Bruce1, please provide those details when you get them. I know some others here in Manhattan who’d also like to see it. Thanks—
Dear Shade,
Thanks for your interest. I have no immediate plans to repeat those episodes of ‘That’s Brooklyn,’ but you might catch them on manhattan neighborhood network, channel 56 on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm sometime in the near future. [www.mnn.org] I’ll provide details ASAP.
At this point videos are not available, but thanks for your interest.