Comments from Luis Vazquez

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Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Todd Haimes Theatre on Apr 25, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Just saw The Philanthropist at this theater last night. I haver to admit that I was was too scared to have ever seen a single film on the Deuce back in it’s prime decadent period of the 70’s through early 90’s so this was my first time in the theater and I have to say that it is a very handsome Broadway playhouse; a beautiful restoration and a joy to see a play in as the chairs had ample legroom.

That said, it didn’t have that “movie palace” feeling and obviously it wasn’t built as a movie palace but that didn’t stop the New Amsterdam or Radio City from feeling like palaces even though they too were built for legit and not movies. Still a great theater though!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Loew's Paradise Theatre on Apr 20, 2009 at 1:55 pm

Let’s hope they will have greater success. The Paradise should be viewed by New Yorkers as a crown jewel of a performing arts space. Instead, due to mismanagement, most New Yorkers don’t even know that this theater had been beautifully restored. Loew’s 175th Street is now a premier concert hall as is the newly renovated Beacon. The Loew’s Jersey continues to make progress and the St. George in Staten Island is also booking a lot of events. It’s time for The Paradise to join in!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Casino Theatre on Apr 19, 2009 at 10:09 am

Thanks Bway for the link. I haven’t been to the old casino site since my family left the neighborhood way back in 1986. The auditorium looks bigger than I remember it. But I always have to remember that the Ziegfled has only 1,100 seats and it is now the largest single screen still showing movies. That makes it only slightly larger than the Casino. As a matter of fact, if you remove the seats in the rear of The Ziegfeld (the raised section) then the Casino and Ziegfeld are about the same.

Be that as it may, my recollections of the Casino are that it was non descript. The ultimate also ran theater; the theater you went to because it was playing the movie you wanted to see and it was close and no other reason. Oddly though, I still miss it!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Shore Theatre on Apr 16, 2009 at 11:04 am

That’s what I was afraid of. I believe that the current state of the RKO Keiths Flushing is much worse and yet there is now a growing movement to save it. The Loews Kings is better but at least the city is trying to find a way to save it. I don’t know who would spearhead an effort to save the Shore.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Shore Theatre on Apr 16, 2009 at 9:43 am

As the city fights with Joe Sitt over the future of Coney Island, one thing is for sure…….This property will get more and more valuable. While the economy is now a shambles, it is fair to assume that a major new amusement park with new retail and possibly housing will rise in the “New” Coney Island. What this will mean to Loews Coney Island is anyone’s guess. Is there enough demand for a movie theater in this part of town? Can it support a performing arts center? (p.s. the City has just announced construction of a spectacular amphitheater by the Boardwalk) What other use can this old theater serve while still retaining its architectural detail?
Is it better to just tear the building down and sell the land to the highest bidder? These are the questions that will be asked.

I hate to see any old theater destroyed, but I am not hopeful that this one can and will be saved. I truly hope that I am mistaken.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Loew's Gates Theatre on Apr 16, 2009 at 9:14 am

Wow, I wasn’t aware that Loew’s (as a corporation) allowed their theaters to show porn. This is actually shocking to me and very sad.

In comments above, someone asked if Loews walked away from the Gates after the blackout of 1977. While I can’t comment on the Gates, I do recall comments made on the Madison’s page about RKO nver reopening after the blackout. They just walked away. Perhaps this was the theater he was thinking about.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Shea's Hippodrome Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 10:40 am

I’m always astounded to see theaters of this size (in the US and Canada) only now making it to Cinema Treasures. I wonder how many others are waiting to be discovered.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about New Delancey Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 8:12 am

Yes, that is how I remembered it when I drove down Delancey Street. I remember the yellow background on the marquee. I say “drove” by because I never would have walked in this neighborhood back in the 70’s. I shudder to think. It’s really amazing that the hood is so nice now. My favorite Cambodian restaurant “Kampuchea” is now about 2 blocks from where this theater was.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Loew's Canal Theatre on Apr 11, 2009 at 1:28 pm

I’m confused as well B'way. From what I can gather from reading all of the above posts, it appears to me that the interior is still therea and that this theater might be salvagable. I think it could be Manhattan’s greatest “secret” theater.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Kew Gardens Cinemas on Apr 11, 2009 at 1:10 pm

I passed by the front of the Kew Gardens Cinema yesterday evening and looked through the windows and thought “What a cute theater this is!” While I live in Manhattan, I am going to have to make a special effort to see a film here some day.

Which screen actually contains the original proscenium, if any?

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Adonis Theatre on Apr 11, 2009 at 11:31 am

I surprised that I have never commented on this theater prior to now. Had this theater survived into the new century, I believe it could have been saved and restored; probably into a legit house.

I say this because I have to admit that I did visit this theater once. I was in my mid twenties and still very much in the closet and the facade of this theater was so impressive and I wanted to see what it looked like inside. Well that, I I was curious about what a gay theater would be like. I believe it was the mid 80’s and as others have posted above, I remember being impressed with the beauty of the lobby and I could tell that at one time it had been a beautiful theater. I do believe that its history as a gay porno house has diminished what what lost when this theater was demolished.

Posted above was a comment from Zechendorf about how ugly the Adonis was and that he hoped to put up a more attractive building in keeping with the new identity of Hells Kitchen. Well, the building that was built was the Longacre, a banal high rise rental that is certainly no improvement over what was lost.

p.s. I remember staying in the theater only about 15 minutes. I couldn’t bring myself to actually sit down and I wasn’t comfortable with what was going on around me. I’m glad I got to see the theater though and I never went to another gay porno theater. :–)

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Beacon Theatre on Apr 11, 2009 at 10:33 am

I too was disappointed that there wasn’t more emphasis on the “history” of the theater and I also turned it off about half way through because I got tired of all the old people saying the same thing over and over. I taped it so I will see the rest of it, but I’m sure it won’t get better.

I understand that this is produced by MSG and that they probably had a very small budget, but I still think it should have had more history and less yapping.

That said, it appears that MSG has done an exemplary job at the Beacon and I tip my hat to James Dolan and his staff. Personally, I think the Dolans have practically driven Cablevision , the Knicks, the Rangers, and the Garden into the ground, but the one business line where I feel they have done a great job is at Radio City and The Beacon. Now, if we could only get Jimmy Dolan to visit the Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Apr 2, 2009 at 3:49 pm

I totally agree Bway. I’m not quite sure why the Liberty or the Times Square couldn’t be turned into a nite club or relatively small performance venue like BB Kings. How could it NOT do well in Times Square? The answer, of course, always lies with the amount of money that it would take to get it to that point. That is the $64K question.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Apr 2, 2009 at 9:42 am

I’ve heard conflicting comments about the DeMille so I’m not sure that the auditorium itself has been gutted.

Like you, I am not counting on any of these three to return as actual movie theaters,however, I would like to see them preserved for future generations. The Hudson Theater on W. 44th Street is beautifully restored though it operates as a confernece center/event space. I’m happy to see that it is still with us.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Apr 2, 2009 at 9:06 am

Ah, thanks Warren. That makes sense. It still leaves us with an empty theater that, whether it qualifies as a true movie palace or not, it is still a better theater than the vast majority of those listed on CT. For me, and I am speaking only for myself, what makes a theater a palace is the architecture of the building and the environment that it created as you watched a film. Whether it was a Spanish Courtyard, an Italian Villa, an Asian Fantasy, these are the theaters that need to be preserved, not the post war multiplexes with shoe box screens. Luckily, The Times Square, does have a movie screening past and therefore we can discuss it here.

Directly across the street is yet another theater, The Liberty, which is cocooned behind the cacaphony of 42nd Street. The theater sits there awaiting a new use. So now there are two theaters on the illustrious 42nd Street that are just sitting there. A third, the DeMille, sits behind some cheesy retail at 47th and 7th Avenue. I think, these are the last remaining unrenovated theaters in midtown Manhattan.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Apr 2, 2009 at 7:59 am

I know it’s a fantasy, but I still feel that it deserves to be looked at seriously now that the one entity who had committed to lease it has backed out. An alternate use needs to be found; one that respects the architectural elements of this theater.

Other ideas are welcome.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Apr 1, 2009 at 11:29 am

I think it would do well because it would be different. As a single screen theater that seats a healthy 1,000 patrons it would operate as a unique experience; an opportunity to see a movie in a “palace” environment. Unlike The Ziegfeld which was constructed in 1969, The Times Square would be an opportnity to see a film on 42nd Street, the way generations past watched them in their heyday.

The new Times Square could host movie premieres (where better than on 42nd Street), limited release films, film festivals, oldies and act as a set for films/commericials. There is curently no theater dating before the Ziegfeld that shows films anymore.

I believe the market is there, but the money that it would take to get this theater to that point may be prohibitive. Nonetheless, it should be seriously looked into by the city.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Times Square Theatre on Mar 31, 2009 at 5:00 pm

As I’ve mentioned above, this theater does not work for live theater. It is too small and the investment required too large. There is not enough backstage space either, in addition to not having enough customer seating. That is why I feel that the best use would be to revert to showing actual movies. I think it could do well, but again, the problem is who would front the renovation costs?

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 30, 2009 at 9:15 am

Thanks Peter for you great testimony and for putting a personal touch on the landmarking process. Also, I just realized that Peter K is PKoch. I had wondered what happended to pkoch. I’m very happy to see that you are continuing to contribute your knowledge and insight. Thanks again!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Regent Theatre on Mar 27, 2009 at 8:20 am

Does anyone know what theater is referred to as “The Black Lady”?
It too is for sale as per the above.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Regent Theatre on Mar 27, 2009 at 8:18 am

As per today’s Real Deal, a New York Real Estate industry publication:

Slave Theater faces extinction

Slave Theater
By Candace Taylor

Bedford Stuyvesant’s beloved Slave Theater may be sold to a retailer or developer in a matter of weeks unless a preservationist emerges to buy the place.

The estate of former owner Judge John Phillips has listed the historic building, located at 1215-17 Fulton Street, with Massey Knakal for $2.95 million.

In the month since the two-story theater has been on the market, Massey Knakal listing broker Michael Amirkhanian said he has received several offers “north of $2 million” from local property owners, retailers and church organizations, but the estate would prefer to sell it to someone who would keep it as a theater.

“We’d love to be able to sell it to a theater preserver or operator,” Amirkhanian said.

But if no such purchaser comes forward, he said, the theater will go to the highest bidder in order to satisfy back taxes and other obligations of the estate.

That may happen within the next few weeks, Amirkhanian added.

“We want to make sure we’ve fully saturated the market, but we’re not looking to have this drag out,” he said.

Phillips bought the movie house, then called the Regal Theater, in the 1980s. After the racially charged killings of Michael Griffith in Howard Beach, Queens and Yusuf Hawkins in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the theater became a center for activism, hosting press conferences and black pride rallies.

Since 1998, it has been shuttered. In 2001, Phillips was declared mentally incompetent, and a series of court-appointed guardians reportedly mishandled his estate, leaving Phillips with only a small fraction of his former holdings and a mountain of back taxes by the time of his death in 2008.

The 11,600-square-foot Slave Theater is 60 feet wide. It seats 450 people, has a concession area, and comes with 60 feet of frontage on Fulton Street as well as a rear parking lot. It is adjacent to a 32,000-square-foot vacant lot that Massey Knakal is also marketing.

The commercial real estate company is also selling another theater formerly, part of the Phillips estate. Located at 750 Nostrand Avenue, it’s known as the “Black Lady,” or Slave No. 2.

The 11,183-square-foot Black Lady is listed for $1.45 million.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 25, 2009 at 8:19 am

While it is great news that the owner does not oppose the facades designation and that the theater is reopening, I am concerned with how the retail space is going to be configured. I am not familiar with the theater itself so will the retail take up the orchestra section and the lobby?

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Mar 24, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Here is an article that appeared in The Real Deal, the main Real Estate publication for New York:

Ridgewood Theatre up for landmarking

By James Kelly

The 92-year-old Ridgewood Theatre at 55-27 Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, is up for designation by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

A hearing on whether to designate the building’s facade a landmark will take place tomorrow, with a vote by the commission planned for some time this year, said agency spokesperson Elisabeth de Bourbon.

Neighborhood preservationists have been moving to have the five-screen movie theater landmarked since it closed a year ago this month. It was purchased the same month by Anthony Montalbano, CEO of Montalbano Builders, for $6.02 million, according to public records. It went back on the market two months later for $14 million, according to the Ridgewood Ledger, but has not traded since. Montalbano did not return a request for comment.

The 20,500-square-foot building, opened in 1916, was designed by Thomas Lamb, a prominent architect who designed movie theaters across the United States, as well as several internationally, including in Toronto and Mumbai. The Levy Brothers developed the theater for $250,000.

Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, who has been at the forefront of the landmarking effort, founded the Friends of the Ridgewood Theatre one week after it closed, and has garnered much support from Ridgewood residents and preservation organizations since. The organizations include the Theatre Historical Society of America, the Queens branch of the American Institute of Architects and the Ridgewood Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.

Perlman said current rumors hold that the theater will reopen this spring and function as a multiplex film venue once again.

In addition to what he calls the theater’s “celebrated historical, cultural and architectural significance,” he points out the economic advantage to the area by reopening the theater.

“Reopening the Ridgewood Theatre would help boost jobs for the neighborhood, and help contribute to property values and street traffic for businesses, a huge boon, considering today’s economy,” said Perlman, who is optimistic about the landmarking

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Mayan on Mar 22, 2009 at 1:46 pm

My understanding is that the theater is supposed to have shown movies for a “significant time”. For me 2 years is significant, but perhaps not for others. The reason I personally would allow it is that a good number of the theaters listed on CT are non descript multiplexes and post war theaters that, while they may have a lot of “cinema” in their past, there is certainly no “treasure”. Yet, truly spectacular theaters that happened to be devoted to live performances instead of the silver screen are excluded.

I believe a good number of New York’s Broadway theaters (which are landmarked) are included in Cinema Treasures because they showed movies for some periods in their history. So while they were built for live theater, true treasures like Radio City and The New Amsterdam are included in Cinema Treasures today.

To be fair, films did play these two theaters for significant parts of their history, but there are other examples where the percentage was less. In my opinion, if a theater is an architectural wonder and it showed movies for even 6 months, then it was a cinema treasure for someone at that time and should be allowed for inclusion. If it’s a non-descript box, then no. Good Luck!

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez commented about Mayan on Mar 22, 2009 at 1:24 pm

If the Belasco did run films for two full years then you should post it.