Loew's Georgetowne Twins

Since I just learned how to make links clickable I thought I would repost this Youtube video of the tag that was played before each film in this theater as well as many others from at least the early 70’s through the early 80’s -> Youtube

When I was 12 in the Summer of 1980, I lived in Starrett City. My friend John said, “hey want to watch a movie”, and I thought he meant on TV or something. The next thing I knew, we were waiting for a bus, then changed buses and I had no idea where we were or where we were going but it was an adventure, so the dumb kid that I was went along. The next thing I knew, we walked up to this amazing theater. I don’t even remember what we saw because I was so scared we were going to get caught (but I’m pretty sure it was something with Stallone in it). Now as an old man, I know we weren’t actually doing anything wrong. We paid our admission and watched our movie, we didn’t get loud or rowdy or make a mess. But I did it without my parent’s permission and that kept me on pins and needles the whole time. I couldn’t help feeling like someone would say, “I’m telling your mother” and snitch me out. And it was also the first time I rode the bus without a grown up, so that bus ride was exciting too. This led to us going to see lots more movies at the Georgetown. And this first adventure opened the door to more adventures like this before I even became a teenager. We went all over Brooklyn to catch movies that weren’t on closer screens. In the next few summers, We were taking the subway to 42nd St to watch the ALL-DAY Kung Fu movies for $2. I love movies and the old school movie theater experience so much that one of my first jobs was at a movie theater. Now, it’s kind of a hobby of mine to try out different theaters. Whenever I travel, I make a point to catch at least one movie in that area’s oldest theaters. Taking road trips to visit a Drive-in Theater is a completely different animal that I encourage all theater lovers to try at least once. Sure, my parents took me to the movies before to see the flicks they chose. But going without your parents to see the movie you picked felt so grown up for me at 12. And it started with the Georgetown that sparked that joy in me.

Article with picture Loew’s Georgetowne Twin opening Thu, Aug 13, 1970 – 5 · Canarsie Courier (Brooklyn, New York) · Newspapers.com

I’m not sure how long this real estate listing link will last, but here is a great pic of the Georgetown theater most likely taken in 2017. As of December 2018 half of the space is now a medical office. Copy & Paste link, then click on the photo for a full view. –> https://42floors.com/us/ny/brooklyn/2183-ralph-ave?listings=1262403

I saw Saturday Night Fever there and also had one of my first sexual experiences in the last row of the place. Sad it’s gone.

Thanks for the correct opening year Orlando.

I worked at this theatre as an usher back in the mid 70’s and it was a money maker to say the least. When Kings Plaza opened with it’s indoor waiting it took a lot of business. Loew’s looked into adding some screens to it but the city said there was a 2 story building code that would not allow it as the projection booth already occupied the second floor. I later became a NYC projectionist and was able to come back to the Georgetowne to work the booth. That was a big thrill.

Went to this movie once in 1983, there was so much pot being smoked my husband and I had to leave.

This was a very nice theater that never went downhill. It opened around 1970 and I saw many films there. I remember the large crowd Christmas eve. 1976, when we waited to see the first disappointing “King Kong” remake. But that was the exception to the rule. For some reason,for the most part, this theater never drew big crowds. I remember once not being able to get into this theater, on a Saturday night, to see “Murder on the Orient Express.” But, for the most part, this theater never did a great business. When the UA Sheepshead Bay multiplex opened in 1987, it drew even more people away and was the final nail in this theater’s coffin. Actually this was a nicer and more relaxing place to see a film.

Wow thats two theatres in one night I find are now gone. I guess since I moved out of Brooklyn in 1998 to much has changed in 8 years. It makes me want to crawl under the covers like when I was a kid and didn’t like what was going on.

This theatre was very similar to the original Loews Bay Terrace excpet that was built as a single and later twinned (excellent twiining 2 huge cinemas with balconies and drapes). I think if Loews Cineplex had not been in financial troubles they might have done something with this place. Some of the theatres they still have open are being given the UA treatment and being run into the ground.

The last film I remember seeing here was “The Firm” with tom cruise, so I assumed it closed in the early 90s. It had walls that were orange with shadowed pictures of movie stars, as I recall. Rarely modernized, always looked like it was stuck in the 60s 70s. Nice marquee out front, now used to advertise shops in the shopping center.