Loew's Paradise Theatre

2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx, NY 10468

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Bwayniteowl
Bwayniteowl on February 26, 2008 at 3:14 pm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American and British English spelling differences

Theater is the prevailing American spelling and is used by America’s national theater as well as major American newspapers such as the New York Times (theater section) to refer to both the dramatic arts as well as to buildings where performances take place; yet theatre is also current, witness Broadway and The New Yorker. Some places in the United States have “Centre” in their names (i.e. Rockville Centre, New York), named both before and after spelling reform, and there are very occasional uses of “Center” in England [4]). For British accoutre(ment), US practice varies: Merriam-Webster favours the -re spelling,[27] American Heritage the -er spelling.[28]

Ziggy
Ziggy on February 26, 2008 at 2:58 pm

In short, if you would read my post from 2:32 today, (with apologies to dave-bronx) a building in which theater takes place is called a “T-H-E-A-T-R-E”, and just because someone wants to spell it with an “E-R” on the end, doesn’t change the way the english language works, it just means they aren’t aware of how it works.

Ziggy
Ziggy on February 26, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Well, if by “theater”, they simply mean some corporation that runs and owns the “theatre” then it doesn’t need correcting at all, but if we aren’t even going to insist on correct usage of spelling and words, then why not just call the building “sohjdeijnvaoi”? Words mean things, and the way they are spelled affects (or should eye say “effects”) there meening. Since their iz a write and wrong whey to spell, Y not dew it write?

dave-bronx™
dave-bronx™ on February 26, 2008 at 2:41 pm

I was always told ‘theatre’ referred to a facility that showed movies, and ‘theater’ was a facility for live stage performances.

Ziggy
Ziggy on February 26, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Actually, the spelling “theatre” refers to the actual physical structure in which the business of “theater” takes place. Someone needs to correct the theatre’s website.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 26, 2008 at 6:41 am

It was with the Russian gentleman in the Spring of 2006, I assume this is the current occupant. It wasn’t just the drywall, they had raised the floor as well which created a height problem due to the projection angle, but that could be dealt with.

Regarding programming, we had a full summer and autumn schedule worked out with classics and first-run, the idea was to try and see if there was enough interest to continue on a regular basis or just on an infrequent basis. We were willing to tackle all the film costs and promotion, the Paradise just needed to open the doors. The kibosh was apparently put on it by the technical director at the time, who had his own designs on the place if the current management failed.

Bwayniteowl
Bwayniteowl on February 25, 2008 at 8:57 pm

Regarding the projection equipment offer. Was that with the prior manager or during the current one, Joseph Gentile? IMHO, the removal of the drywall for the booth would be easy. It’s the booth A/C and electric that would be most costly.

Do you think tik sales would be sufficient to cover operating expenses? What kind of program would attract audience big enough? Old films, new or a mix of both?

Also see the Jersey City Loews Jersey for a active film program. This March 1 they are having a Bette Davis salute. $6 tik tops.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 25, 2008 at 8:15 pm

Well, they did the conversion during their big renovation, which was prior to us making the offer of the gear back in the spring of 2006. They would need to turn the center box back into a small booth to show films, which would involve some reconstruction. Not likely at this point, from what we were told.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on February 25, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Hmmmm. Converting the booth to a luxury box strikes me as a rather short-sighted move. Why not keep the booth in reserve – and take up the generous offer of free equipment – just to maintain the Paradise’s capacity to run a film or series of films should the prospects for such an event ever arise? So much for the hopes of ever catching a flick at what we can now safely describe as a FORMER movie palace?

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 25, 2008 at 8:41 am

The Paradise was offered a complete working 35mm setup at no charge (as well as the programming of a full classic film series schedule) a few years ago and was not interested. Sadly, the original booth has been converted into “luxury boxes”, so there would need to be construction to accommodate projection gear.

movieguy
movieguy on February 25, 2008 at 7:59 am

I just spoke to an agent at the box office.There is boxing this Thursday and on April 26th a Latin concert.More events will be added by the middle of the week.

Showing older movies from the 30’s-80’s when no big events are taking place would be a good way to make $$$.Charge $6.00 and do a double feature.

They just have to get projection equipment and set up for films.

movieguy
movieguy on February 24, 2008 at 9:34 pm

The phone # for The Paradise on the top of this page is INCORRECT it should be changed to 718-563-2222

movieguy
movieguy on February 24, 2008 at 9:32 pm

I just called @ 12:35AM and the number was working.Someone DID answer “Utopia’s Paradise Theatre” they were security but said to call the box office in the morning.

I will check it out and see what info I can come up with.

beardbear31
beardbear31 on February 24, 2008 at 8:45 pm

and now their website seems to be down….

derosa
derosa on December 23, 2007 at 6:58 pm

My uncle was Jerry DeRosa. He managed the Paradise Theatre from about 1930 until his death in 1945. In fact, he actually died of a heart attack in the theatre. His brother was my uncle Eugene DeRosa, who as an architect, along with my father Felix DeRosa, designed a number of famous theatres in New York in the 1920s. If anyone has any information these three DeRosa brothers, I would be very appreciative. I have so little information myself. NOTE: Jerry was born in 1891 in the region of Calabria, Italy. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1897.

mp775
mp775 on September 8, 2007 at 7:23 pm

The video you have from the library is the film that is being shown at the Portage next Saturday. It was written and directed by Steve Samtur of Back in The Bronx. It is not the same video as the YouTube clip.

johnblattnerstudios
johnblattnerstudios on September 3, 2007 at 6:17 pm

Yeah…the video that i’m holding is at View link I don’t know if it’s the same thing. Its on VHS.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on September 3, 2007 at 1:44 pm

Thanks for sharing. That clip is actually from an installment in a long running PBS series featuring walking tours through various parts of NYC. Previous episodes include “A Walk down 42nd Street” and “A Walk Up Broadway,” each featuring host David Hartman and NY historian Barry Lewis. It’s an excellent series with lots of great footage, photos and historical anecdotes.

johnblattnerstudios
johnblattnerstudios on September 3, 2007 at 10:28 am

There IS a documentary film about the Paradise Theater. A clip of the film is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmOI95U40nA I’m borrowing a copy on video from the New York Public Library (I don’t know if it’s the same thing as the YouTube video I showed you…but it might be). The Paradise was one of the grand movie palaces of it’s day. I wish they would show movies again!

mp775
mp775 on August 28, 2007 at 1:19 pm

The 2003 documentary Loew’s Paradise Theatre, narrated by WPIX anchor Marvin Scott, will be shown on Saturday, September 15 at the Portage Theater as part of the “Preserving Palaces” documentary film festival, along with The Wizard of Austin Boulevard and Memoirs of a Movie Palace. The festival begins on Friday, September 14 with Uptown: Portrait of a Palace and Preserve Me a Seat (chronicling efforts to save the Indian Hills in Omaha, Gayety/Publix in Boston, DuPage in Lombard, and Villa in Salt Lake City). A theatre preservation discussion panel will follow the films on Saturday night. For complete information, visit www.portagetheater.org.

rlvjr
rlvjr on August 18, 2007 at 10:14 pm

MOAN! MOAN! MOAN! BOO! HOO! HOO! If you really want to find the website, just Google: Utopia’s Paradise. That’s it. It took me less than 30 seconds.

After all the talk, we get a poster who moans about tickets costing more than $50. How shocking! A live show costing more than $50 —– for the good seats! Alert the media! GROW UP! That’s what shows cost these days. I’ll say it again: Sign off and go buy a ticket. Learn to live some sort of life besides the internet.

derekwoods
derekwoods on August 8, 2007 at 11:13 am

I have enjoyed many of the posts, and thank all the positive responses about the Bronx. This years Bronx Ball was held at the Paradise, so you might like to check out the video I posted. Some shots of the interior (www.youtube.com/dwiproductions)
Stay Well
Derek Woods
Producer/Host
Bronx Magazine

Broan
Broan on July 29, 2007 at 8:31 am

Perhaps english did not realize the dateline was July 17, 2007.

mauriceski
mauriceski on July 28, 2007 at 5:03 pm

Warren, Warren, WARREN, what are you trying to intimate by referring to something that happend over twenty years ago. The Bronx is Safer than a lot of places in Surburbia. Do you agree?