Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
86 people
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According to Curbed it is opening in January.
I’ve been working on a book documenting the Kings for a long time, and I’m really excited to finally be able to talk about it. Here’s some more information about the project:
Kings Theatre – The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Brooklyn’s Wonder Theatre
THS Press Release
Curbed Article with new restoration photographs
And here’s one from 09/13/13 with more photos.
http://gizmodo.com/inside-the-restoration-of-brooklyns-glamorous-temple-o-1295348916
Here is an article dated today, about the restoration with photos.
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/28/see_the_amazing_restoration_of_flatbushs_1920s_movie_palace.php
I just went by the theatre on Sunday. The front of it is covered in scaffolding. The marquee is gone in prep for a new replica of the original to be installed. The extended stage house also needs to be walled in. My mentor, Lee Erwin, played the last concert on the organ, and tried to save it. NYU dropped the ball and refused to take ownership of it. The console was then put into Carnegie Hall Cinema, and the pipework put into storage. While in storage, the pipework was terribly vandelized and damaged. I do not believe any of it still exists. Paul Van der Mohlen bought the console and had it restored for his home. He put Morton pipework to it. If the Kings gets the organ, it will be a Wonder Morton console with Morton pipework that needs a lot of work on it in order to fill the room. I hope this happenes, and that the theatre gets its voice back.
Just posted a shot of the auditorium during renovation in the photos section.
Once the restoration project has progressed far enough, the New York Theater Organ Society will begin the process of re-installing a Robert Morton Wonder organ into the Kings. The console used will be the original which was installed the year the theater opened in 1929. With the King’s smaller mezzanine/large main floor seating area, the Morton will have a nicely open area to speak into – it should be a “Wonder” to hear it!
The beautiful Rialto Theatre in Joliet, Il. does a very brisk business in weddings. I am there once a month on a Sunday and many times the marquee still spells out from the day before. Example: “A Love Story” starring the names of the couple who just wed. The theatre has many packages that include catering, flowers etc. all from local Joliet businesses. Some use the lobby alone, many use both lobby & stage & Barton organ. They do reach out and lobby the theater rental. You are right Lifes Too Short, management has to be creative & pro-active in these times for a successful operation.
“Tax dollars are supposed to be spent on projects that make taxpayer’s lives better.”
Right. And that definition provides an umbrella under which politicians justify just about anything.
I think there are two keys to future success: 1) support of the government and 2) creative and intelligent management.
Obviously they have number 1 or the project never would have gotten done. Hopefully number 2 will materialize.
There are so many ways a building of this size and grandeur can be used. One example is for weddings. Several old theaters I am aware of seem to be benefiting from that. My hope is that they will hire a manager who understands and has the hustle to go out and form business relationships.
If they just sit there and wait for big bookings to roll in I’m not sure things will work out very well. Nationwide it seems like there is competition for business and I doubt New York City is an exception.
I’m also not sure they can expect it to be strictly profitable all the time. It may be. But if it isn’t every year and still adds to the community that really isn’t a bad thing. Tax dollars are supposed to be spent on projects that make taxpayer’s lives better.
You are so right Life’s Too Short. Stadium seating is really something. That would leave me to believe showing films might be in the future. The Uptown Theatre in Chicago which is trying to find funding to re-open is reported to have said their intenion is to remove all seats from the first floor and make it a dance club/theatre. The King’s sounds like the people in charge know what they are doing…I too hope the community is behind this beautiful place and will support it over the years…
They are putting in stadium seating? That’s really first-class. I hope the community rallies around the Kings and makes of good use of it. Not every city is lucky enough to have a facility of this caliber.
I also noticed the omission of films in the proposed line-up. I do hope they are installing projection equipment as well as theatrical lighting, sound, etc.
I’m also curious about the stadium seating. Will it rise as high as the first mezzanine, perhaps incorporating it? Can’t wait to find out…!
Luis and LM, thanks so much for this very encouraging article.
It appears that the new management of the Kings is taking a prudent and level headed approach as to how they will market the theater once it re-opens. Given the disappointing experience that befell the Bronx Paradise, this is a very important consideration that will hopefully work out for the better in Brooklyn.
Finally, although it is not mentioned in the article, I hope that the restored Kings will possess the facilities to present an ocasional movie ot two. It would really be great to experience viewing a classic film in this envoronment. Such special events would also probably draw capacity crowds.
To create a link, first copy the web address you wish to link to and put it in brackets [like.this] and right next to it put some words that will be in blue in parentheses (like this) then hit Add Comment and you should be done.
I try to remember the order of the bracket and parentheses by alphabetic order — “b” as in bracket comes before “p” as in parentheses.
Thanks Lost Memory! Can you please tell me how to create that link myself? Many thanks! Luis
Thanks LuisV and Lost Memory. This old timer isn’t too good with that copy and paste and all that stuff. All greek to me. The story and photos are great. She’s gonna be a beauty when they’re done.
Have you tried to just copy and paste the link rather than click on it. That should work. The photos are beautiful.
LuisV, for some reason (I don’t know why), so many links, including the one above in your last post don’t work for me. Im not sure if its my computer or what. I would love to read the article and keep tabs on the project.
To all the naysayers, this $94MM restoration and expansion is happening and may actually be ahead of schedule. :–) According to this article in The Brooklyn Paper, the rejuvenated theater may open as early as this November! A tidbit I didn’t know was happening is that the theater will have “stadium” seating to provide better viewing for all. http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/37/10/all-kings-theater-update-2014-03-07-bk_37_10.html
Goldman Sachs is involved? Nobody is happier than I am to see this happening. But it still isn’t clear to me how the deal came together.
Thanks for the wonderful photos. It is really happening. What a thrill it will be to see it when it comes back to life. Wish all the grand movie palaces had the same dedication.
Has the old marquee been removed yet? Anybody know.
That is a good question..I bet Tinseltoes would know. I would say mid 1940’s when neon became big. I thought the present one was a bit bland…One size fits all. Chicago was much more creative when it came to modern signage.
Does anyone know when the marquee changed from the deco curved one to the present rectangular one?