Loew's Paradise Theatre
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
55 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 799 comments found
As at churches everywhere, I’m sure that you would be welcome at any of the services held at Loew’s Paradise.
Can anyone go to church services at the Paradise? I would love to go there on a Sunday morning. I have been to 175th Loews and felt welcomed during a service. I would “close my eyes” and imagine I was there when it was a movie palace.
Amen Bway! I’m an atheist so i don’t like churches but I don’t deny that they have saved a great many palaces; some better than others. Not all churches do a great job. Many have butchered the palaces they took over but I believe the majority have benefitted from their divine users. I wish them well.
I never understand all the mocking that takes place in regard to the Loews Valencia. Sure, it would be nicer if it was a theater again, and it is “sad” that it’s a church instead of such, but this church has saved the Valencia. While yes, the colors they painted the interior are garish at best, what would you rather have, the interior gutted into a drug store or something instead? or worse, leveled? The Valencia is completely intact, maintained, and good shape. Who cares if the colors are garish….all that beautiful plasterwork could be gone instead, and prescriptions sold there instead.
Most people don’t want to go to the Bronx and there’s limited parking.
Agreed Ed, the Loews 175th has been quite successful as a concert venue. It has been so for decades though it is not the primary purpose of the space. The Kings is by far a better location than the Paradise. I have no doubt that the Kings has a much better chance at success. In addition, the owners of the Paradise were terrible managers. The people in charge of the Kings are very experienced.
Tinseltoes, the only advantage I would give to the Kings over the Paradise is that of location. While the Kings isn’t exactly in the prime downtown area, seems to me that Brooklyn on the whole has a better reputation as a destination for cultural activities than the Bronx. And this is not to denigrate the Bronx, which is the borough from which my parents and grandparents hail, but I just don’t think it has the same appeal as Brooklyn. And the United Palace is first and foremost a church. I think a deal was arranged for concerts there, primarily as a temporary replacement for the Beacon, while the latter was undergoing its extensive renovations. While sporadic bookings have continued, I don’t think it was ever seriously positioned as a competitor of the Beacon’s and other downtown venues.
Is this a “done deal” or just gossip? In any case, it doesn’t augur well for the proposed rejuvenation of Loew’s Kings, since it’s an open confession that the Paradise couldn’t be run successfully as a performing arts center. I also haven’t seen any evidence that the ex-Loew’s 175th Street has been successful as the United Palace concert venue.
Though I despise churches, there are many examples where they prove to be great stewards of our glorious palaces. The Hollywood in midtown, the Loews 175th Street in Washington Heights and the Stanley in Jersey City but just a few excellent examples. That said, I am saddened that this theater is becoming a church. Of course, it is a successful church. They bought an old Christ Scientist church on W. 96th and Central Park West that was also a landmark and have respected that architecture. This particular church worships money so in theory they will not skimp on their infrastructure. They need to project affluence to get it.
Let’s pray that if this takes place, the lease requires that the Church must refrain from undoing the magnificient, mult-million dollar effort that restored the Paradise to much of its original grandeur. Don’t let them “screw it up” like the Church that made a mockery of the original Loew’s Valencia in Jamaica, Queens.
Here’s an active link to the Daily News article: nydailynews
Bah Hum Bug
Uh oh! According to today’s Daily News (12-2-12) the Paradise has been leased to The World Changers Church of New York. At least it’s a televangelist church so us theatre lovers can get glimpses of this majestic house on TV. Here is a link to the article: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/world-changers-church-new-york-occupy-paradise-article-1.1211185
A fire apparently started by welding going on at the Paradise on November caused at least some smoke damage. View article
The Paradise is pictured in 2nd position in this New York Times slide show about the Fordham Road area of the Bronx: nytimes
Loew’s Paradise dropped vaudeville in 1935, along with other key Loew’s neighborhood houses theat were still presenting it. All switched to double features. At the same time, stage shows were also dropped at the Capitol Theatre on Broadway (Loew’s ran the house, but did not have its name attached). Loew’s State in Times Square was the only Loew’s in the Greater New York area which continued with a film/vaude policy (ending in 1947).
Can anyone tell me if the Paradise still had vaudeville acts between the pictures in 1947?
TLSLOEWS- good to see you so far from Nashville.
Thanks-
Here’s a 1940 exterior photo from the Municipal Archives: lunaimaging
The Paradise has added a seating plan to its UPDATED website. The venue also seems to be expanding its non-entertaiment facilities: paradisetheater
OMG! I actually have a copy of this LIFE magazine! Thanks for the reminder.
Link to Life Magazine, then scroll through to pages 57, etc. There are a lot of other interesting articles in this special nostalgia issue. (Just close the pop-up offer to join.)
“Kewpie,” I think that one needs to be a member of Memory Lane to view that. Also, a photo that you linked on the Loew’s Sheridan page.
Judging by the official website, I don’t think that the Paradise is being used as frequently as its owners would prefer. Did the venue known as the Supper Club ever open?
Since I don’t get into the Bronx often was curious how often this venue was in use.
Hey Guys,
Im a student at Lehman College and i have to do an assignment on the paradise theater, i want to just ask a few questions about your experience with the theater.
You will be helping me out tremendously and we can communicate through email or whatever you feel comfortable with.
you can email me at
if you would like to participate and it will only take 2 minutes of your time
Thank You