Kent Theatre
1170 Coney Island Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11230
1170 Coney Island Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11230
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A recent view of the ticket booth can be seen here.
Here is another recent photo of the Kent theater.
Here are some photographs I took of the Kent Theatre:
July 2003 showing old marquee:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199182076/
A couple of photographs from June 2006 showing the new marquee and restored facade:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199184542/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199184801/
Here are some photos of the Kent Theater.
The theater becomes stronger and stronger as others die out. In the past 2-3 years we have lost the kenmore, fortway, kingsway, marlboro, all near and close to the kent. Meanwhile, the kent is still weak as many of the shows are poorly attended. Typically 10-20 people may be in a show, and I have been to shows with 2-3 people (including myself). But sometimes a big show (popular) comes in, and the reduced rate Wednesdays also bring in some money. During the summer the theater also rents out to peoples day camp and that brings in money too.
Its amazing how a very small theater like the KENT can survive in this day and age. Quess it will be around for a while. I noticed a new marquee was installed recently. This neighborhood {wich is predominately Pakistani and Bangladeshi}probably has a core group that supports the theater to keep it in business. If that is the case, the Kent is a true survivor!
A bit has happened in the two months. A new marquis was built, and doe not look too ugly. It just says Kent. Under the marquis and above the entrance doors is a sign that shows the movies playing. At one time they were putting up the movie times, but it looks like they stopped that.
In December I went on a Wednesday to see King Kong, and they shut down the theater for the rest of the night. Some lady (about 50 years old) was fond dead and in a box or barrel outside in the back of the theater. (in the alleyway)
Some renovations. Last week the marquis was ripped apart only showing just the bare metal structure. They are going to rebuild and modernize the marquis.
I remember when Caligula took over this theatre and showed for what seemed liked the longest time. At that point, I wasn’t old enough to get into it, but I also remember looking into the theatre and watching the ticket taker watching the screen, a girl who did not look old enough to be seeing it either.
You know that scene in Gilmore Girls where that guy has a movie theater in his living room? That’s the size of the Kent.
First take the theater and split it in half right down the middle.
Then, take the right side and divide it in half – 120 seats in back and 141 seats in front. In-between the back half (which is really theater 3) and the left half (theather 1) is a narrow hallway that lets people get from the lobby to the front half.
What’s the layout of the three screens at the Kent?
Listed by the city as a three screen theater. Seating is as follows: Theater #1-232 seats Theater#2-120 seats Theater #3-141 seats for a total of 493 seats.
I just saw Transporter 2 this weekend at the Kent. If you check through moviephone and other venues, only two films are listed (Transporter 2 and 4 Brothers). I saw on all the windos the info for the Russian film, including a 1 page description/review of the film (in Russian) (I can’t read Russian). Since I went to the first showing, I paid 4.50 for the Transporter 2 film. Normally the films will be $7.00 (less the Wednesday and first showing specials). The Russina film was $10.00.
This is not the first attempt by Kent to do films like this. A couple of years back they were doing Hindu/Indian films.
The time clock in the Daily News has two mainstream movies listed for the Kent, so I suspect that Russian films are being shown on only one screen of this triplex. The News article made a serious error in claiming that this is “the first Russian movie theater in New York” and that “there is no precedent for it.” From the 1920s into the 1950s or even early 60s, there were showcases for Russian films in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In more recent times, Russian films were shown regularly at the ex-Oceana Theatre in Brighton Beach.
I saw the Russian film article too. That was a smart move, because that’s the only way to keep Kent up and running. However, have to wonder why the Oceana (Brighton Beach theater) or cinema kings highway were not converted for such use. Both areas have higher percentages of Russians than Coney Island Avenue.
Today’s Daily News reports Russian films are being shown. The idea of Gregory Davidzon, producer of local Russian radio programs. Initially, two to five films will be shown daily.
If successful, Davidzon will take a long term lease.
It is independently owned. It is rarely full, even when taking in blockbusters. It’s pricing is cheap considering $7.50 vs $8.75. It appeared to have a slight spike when the Kingsway closed. The screens are garbage, the sound is garbage, but they get many first run, and the parking isn’t that bad. Now with the Fortway closing, that is less competition. However, I think less people are just going to the movies alltogether, and that is the real killer.
How many people remember the “Stop Pay TV” promotions at the theaters back in the 1960’s! I guess they were right, cable killed the theaters. But so did VCR & DVD which weren’t even inveted back then!
How long will this place stay open?
The Kent had Charles Sandblom as architect. It was one of the last commissions of his long and prolific career.
Seats and carpeting?
How about that funnell sound system.
You can not even hear the diologue~!
yes, the kent was used in purpple rose…I remember my uncle telling me about it at the time…
The Kent has recently put in new seats and carpeting, although not the most comfortable, it’s an improvement over what was there before.
I could have sworn Woody Allen used The Kent, I remember the owner telling me that was how they afforded the original twinning after the closing for the movie shoot. It was stupid to not remodel the Kingsway it’s such a densely populated area for a triplex thats only open nights.
The Ciema Kings Highway…. Is that the one that was off Ocean Prkway and was an adult movie house (as long as I could remember)?
Mike