Commodore Cinemas

The organ is listed as a 3/8 Kimball installed in 1921. This fits the 1920 completion of the theater. But there seems to be no room up there for 8 ranks of pipes with chests, wind lines, etc. especially with the traps sitting up front. At least not that is visible. And the corner is small for a stage, unless it was placed like the Roxy to take advantage of the site. But still, it doesn’t seem like part of the organ would have been installed so far back if this was the stage area.
But anything’s possible, I suppose.
Anybody have a pic of the auditorium? There’s one listed in one of the posts above, but it’s very dark. I could try some fixing of a pic if I could get a copy. (The one above is not copiable)

I think that is a side chamber wall. The procenium may have been to the right of that, but I can’t figure out perspective of what part of the theater that is. Anyone know of any historic photos of the Commodore’s interior?

Also, Billburg, you should submit some of those photos to the site as a News Item. There may be many people that would love to see them, as well as know the fate of the Commodore, but may not have an email notification to the Commodore’s page. Just look at the links for news items on this site.
I am sure they will be greatly appreciated.

Oh, I see from previous posts it was a Kimball organ- a kissin' cousin to the Roxy’s. Anyone remember hearing it?

It’s certainly odd to see the organ out there right in the open. It looks like it was over the proscenium, but I could be wrong. From the looks of those big mitered diaphones, it must have had a lot of water damage over the years. You can see the toy counter (or what’s left of it) right in front. The bass drum is there and a harp or chrysoglot to the left of it.
This may have been a side chamber with another opposite it on the opposing wall. Anybody know what type of instrument was there. Better yet, does anybody remember hearing it played??

And the sad part is that the place was not in that bad of shape when it closed….just read the opening paragraph of this page, which was originally written before it closed…. it says, “Despite the wear and tear of time, the theater is still in good condition, although the original screen has been replaced by two smaller screens.”

Ugh, this is just horrifying! I wonder where the urns will wind up. I hope they don’t just throw them in the dumpsters. Even the Penn Station Eagles wound up in different places. These photos are so sad to see! Thanks so much for posting the links! Again, I wish I was able to document the destruction of the old Loews Broadway on film, I passed it each day getting more and more ripped down, but never thought to take my camera.

Here are the pictures I posted of the demolition of the Commodore Theater.
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Try the free www.photobucket.com site. You can host them free there, and then post the links to the photos or album here once they are uploaded.

Wow, that is horrifying. What a shame. I wish I had time to get over there to take some photos. I am still kicking myself from when they were tearing down the Loews Broadway near Myrtle/Broadway in the 1990’s. Two of the three side walls were down, as well as much of the roof, yet the procenium arch stood there in clear view of the station in the distance, as well as one side wall. Corinthian coloumns still standing proudly on one side. There was even a chandelier swinging in the wind. I wish I had a photo, as it was surreal as you describe for the Commodore.

I am still sickened that they couldn’t save the Commodore. I will miss those large concrete urns near the top of the building when I would go by on the train.

I pass by the Commodore on my way home from work but unfortunately don’t carry a camera. The demolition has some very surreal qualities that were more obvious one night when they left the plywood doors open to the site.

The roof has been removed except for the metalwork structure. There is a marble wall on the far side that looks relatively intact. There is a ceramic tile wall with an archway doorway that probably was part of a bathroom that stands completely intact on the Rodney Street side of the building. There are one or two other things that are still standing and the outer brick wall, with the exception of a section that was removed to allow the heavy equipment in, still stands, including the marquee. But to the most part, the inside looks like a roof-less empty shell.

Like I said – a kind of surreal looking site.

Billburg Anniegirl here. Sure send me the pics at my e-mail thanks anniegirl

There is nothing wrong with a multiplex type of moviehouse for art films, if it is done correctly. I think the IFC Center (formerly the Waverly) and the Sunshine Cinemas (on Houston) are excellent examples. They are two of the best theaters in the city and Williamsburg would be very lucky to have something like it.