Loew's Paradise Theatre
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
63 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 671 comments
It is too bad that a theater like this is not in manhattan and stuck in a a neighborhod where people generally have no culture at all or an interest in a theater that would show film classics.The neighborhood is the main problem.Nothing against a neighborhood that is primarily Dominican.Believe me I know.I have asked many people around there in spanish(I'am puerto rican).You are talking about the great unwashed that live around there.It just seems to be the truth.I have seen people walk by that theater that could care lees about the treasure they have in their community.
For those who manage the Paradise, it will be a difficult task to make it a success. In the trade it’s a type of theater known as “a barn.” A beautiful place but difficult to program for. There a several factors working against it even before you take into account the skills of the managers.
Size: 3800 seats is a tough room it fill.
Competition: More established spaces of similar size are plentiful. In mid sized cities you can program for a place this big because it’s the only one in town. Broadway tours can fill it for a couple of nights, concerts on week ends. There is a built in audience base. In NYC there are at least 50 houses in a 10 mile radius that provide either theatre or music on a regular basis.
Name recognition: People know the Garden, Radio City, the Beacon, Broadway. Loews Paradise, not so much. There’s a simple solution. Produce your own show on a regular basis with the theater’s name in the title and get out to as wide an audience as you can. internet, public access, cable.
The Paradise will need to find a niche and build an audience. The key to success will be getting audience members into the habit of going there. Studies find audience members will go to more events if they will go to the first one. If two different shows are playing across the street from each other you will find that they don’t compete against each other but rather complement each other. If an audience member is willing to go to one event, they are more likely to go out the next night to another event. They need variety.
If I were managing the place, I would try to reach out to the local artistic community and make the place available for a series of low cost events. In my youth, it would be a regular battle of the local bands. Local acts on a regular basis. Make your break even point filling the orchestra,close the balcony and make your profit on concessions. Read the article in this Sunday’s Times about programming for the New Victory. Look everywhere for new acts and give them an outlet. That is the road to success. Put butts in seats.
The two most recent comments speak for those of us who would like to see variety in the programming at the Paradise. Unfortunately, its description in the introduction on this page as a “Latino theatre and special events venue” is vexingly at odds with such a goal.
I raised an objection to the offending phrase in my comment on February 28 and repeat it nowâ€"unless, that is, management’s booking policy genuinely is specifically to target such a narrow audience.
Otherwise, it’s nonsensical and off-putting. Would anyone seriously describe the Apollo Theatre as a Black theatre just because it’s in Harlem? Or a theatre in Chinatown as an Asian theatre? New York City is all about diversity, and even the Bronx is far more diverse than many realize. That description is exclusionary, rather than inclusive.
Because of that great diversity in audiences easily within the potential reach of the Paradise, limiting its programming to hip-hop, boxing and “the occasional Spanish show that comes in” wouldn’t seem to make much business sense, either.
I would like to see some great vocalists, such as Tony Bennett, Al Martino and Keely Smith. Or some acts from the early days of rock and roll, such as Brenda Lee, Neil Sedaka and Dion. Latin legend Trini Lopez is still cooking and puts on a great show. Big Bands from the forties and doo-wop from the fifties would be wonderful too!
It sounds to me like the Paradise as of now, is doing the same types of shows as the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. That theatre underwent a complete restoration, and now sits empty except for the occasional spanish show that comes in. Yet, with proper management and promotion, that theatre could be as big as the New Jersey PAC in Newark, or the State in New Brunswick. For any of these big theatres to survive as performing arts, they need to be diverse, cater to all, and let people know youre out there. With the Paradise, its been documented in the newspapers, as with the Ritz, no one knows its there.
I have to agree with Warren over this particular issue – misrepresentation can cause all sorts of issues. A theater can have/be a promoter, but not all promoters work for theaters directly. If one of the promoters who occasionally use the theater I operate was to have a signature/moniker of my theater’s name, I would be irate. It is not clear whether that is the case here, but what is very clear is that many people have great affection and hopes for the Loew’s Paradise, including THE PARADISE THEATER.
Gentlemen, We had great success with Patti Labelle and friends and will continue to bring THE BEST of THE BEST to the Theater. We hope everyone enjoys the show and welcome all promoters to put the Theater on the map again…in good taste of course
Warren, There are no rules regarding what names people log onto as on this site, providing they are not obscene or offensive. ‘THE PARADISE THEATRE’ is quite rightly pointing the way forward on the future of the the Paradise Theater, and drumming up interest for the building. Let’s hope that more shows come our way and keep the building operating.
Last November I toured the building with my group of 60 members of the Cinema Theatre Association (UK) and we were eagerly greeted and welcomed by management and staff of the theatre, who made us feel most at home. If this welcoming attitide is passed onto regular patrons, then the future of the theatre will be even more secure.
I’m a promoter and you sir?
The theater is going towards a new direction and everything is being updated….Stay tuned
Warren, the theater has been having events lately such as boxing and their recent Mother’s Day Show. There is also a hip-hop show coming up. About a month ago, I stopped by the ticket booth to inquire about their website, and the unavailability of same at the time. I was told that the website was being updated, and would be back up soon.
STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT BIG CONCERT IN AND OUTSIDE NYC
We welcome signed artist for mini concert events / Party rentals @
Loew’s Paradise Theater 2413 Grand Concourse, Bx, NY USA
El RANCHO E. Tremont & Park Avenue, BX NY USA
PASSIONS E. Tremont & clinton BX NY USA
TEMPLO 154 st & 3rd ave BX NY USA
LET US KNOW WHO YOU LIKE TO SEE IN CONCERT
(ROCK, LATIN, CARRIBEAN, POP etc…)
VISIT US @
http://www.myspace.com/the_industry_nyc
http://www.myspace.com/soulricanent
http://www.myspace.com/ashelynmusic
Here is a 1960 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2kduo6
Yes, guys. Let’s keep the discussion civil here.
Warren, please refrain from making personal attacks against other users. You may feel justified, but the “be nice” rule applies here. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t comment.
We have the same goal here. Let’s remember we’re using this site to save and document movie theaters… not attack each other.
If the theater opened in September 1929, I guess they played the Davies film as soon as they opened, unless it was a re-release.
These two photos are in the Ben Hall book, “Best Remaining Seats”. The exterior photo is circa 1929. No date for the interior view. As always, apologies if these photos have already been posted:
http://tinyurl.com/2tq8r3
http://tinyurl.com/3djlhm
Thanks, Howard, for posting the “theater vs. theatre” passage from CT’s guides. Hopefully that settles this tempest in a teapot. As for the management of the Paradise mispelling the word… both spellings are acceptable according to the Miriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries. No need to insult the folks in charge of the Paradise for no good reason.
And thanks, Ken, for at long last providing a proper and fitting introduction for this great palace!
Wonderful introductory comments! Just one correction; the interior of the Paradise as well as it’s facade is landmarked.
In an otherwise splendid introduction, I question the description of the renovated Paradise as “a Latino theatre and special events venue.” I don’t quite get that bit, except as relates to the predominant ethnicity of the Fordham neighborhood in which the Paradise is situated.
I haven’t seen anything in the events booked so far — or on the theater’s official website — that would justify describing the Paradise as a specifically Latino venue.
Many thanks are due Ken Roe for the wonderful new Introduction posted yesterday! Previously, there was NO introduction.
I can’t speak for long time advocates of the Paradise, but if somebody came to us (Friends of the Boyd in Philadelphia) and said they’d fund millions for the restoration, but contrary to Opening in 1928 (Boyd Theatre), it will be Boyd Theater, we’d be thrilled!
Any of you harping on this trivial point who didn’t actually fund the restoration of the Paradise? The funds did not come from Loews either (vintage photo posted in Intro.
Ed, as to theater vs US and theatre for the British, no, they did not.
You can find the Guidelines by visiting “Add Theaters”
Theater vs Theatre
When a theater name contains “theatre” or “theater”, use the name provided by the theater in question. Do not deviate from a theater’s official name or listing.
When referring to a theater in the generic sense, always use “theater” â€" unless you are referring to a theater by its name.
For European theaters, as well as those in Australia, the term “cinema” should be used instead of “theater” or “theatre”.
Didn’t Patrick and Ross post a news item recently about new format guidelines for theatre (that’s my choice of spelling for the generic use of the word) descriptions, wherein they formally announced that CT would adopt the American custom of spelling the word with “er” at for US cinemas and with the appropriate “re” for cinemas in the UK? If so, I think that pretty much settles the issue as to the generic use of the word to describe the building. I would think that those guides also apply as defaults for the name of any particular cinema where the “official” spelling of the name can not be verified.
For the Paradise, we do have the official website as our guide – and therefore the “er” prevails.
I’ve read too many comments above- and on other theater pages, about the “theater” vs. theatre" spelling. ENOUGH! Please- NO more debates about this trivial point. This movie palace was saved, restored, and reopened! That should be enough.
The official website says Paradise Theater, with no “Utopia” in front.
As far as actually relying on Wikipedia for reliable info, well, I’m still trying to control the laughter on that one. Any doofus anywhere in the world can post whatever he likes on Wikipedia. If you look at the photo of the Paradise Theatre at the top of this page you’ll see what spelling Loew’s preferred. Okay. It’s been fun, and I’m done.