Hi Patsy, The last time I was at the BP/LIU was almost 10 years ago. The first time I was in the building was back in the mid to late 70’s. When I walked in the doors it still looked like I was walking in to a theatre. I looked in the main orchestra area and was surprised that it was the athiletic center for LIU. I had thought they still used the theatre for production. From what I could see at that time the suspended cieling was still there. The walls were almost untouched. The stage looked like it had been gutted out and I did not see any type of fly rigging above the stage. It looked very bare. When I took a walk to the back of the house and up a grand stair way I walked up to where the balcony seats used to be and the area was sectioned off and they turned it in to class rooms. As I was saying in the previous post the last time i was in there it was in good enough shape that it could be renovated and restored to it’s former glory. To bad that Con Ed bought out the o;d Brooklyn Fox. I never got to see the inside but from what I recall as a kid passing by it was huge on the out side then poof it was just a hole in the ground.
Hey Patsy look at it this way. At least they didn’t demolish the place. Unlike the Kings that has suffered from weather beating and vandalism the BP is still in good shape. An effort should be spearheaded to restore this historic place and turn it in to a cultural center for live shows and concets and maybe even premier movie openings. A lot has been done over the last 10 years to rebuild the area so why not include the BP. Unlike the Kings the BP is in a major transportation hub of subway and bus lines as well as a short walk from the Atlantice Ave LIRR terminal.
I hope LIU considers restoring the Paramount to it’s former glory now that they will not be having basketball in there. I had been in the building a couple of times and even in it’s current status it is still a grand place.
And Wow looking back in the posts and seeing Clay Coles name. I know i was only 8 in 1964 but I do remember his TV show. :)
NIce pics Ed. Really nice. One thing I can sauy is that I never say the Beacon so bright on the inside when I was working shows back in the mid 70’s. As i stated in another post I love the place but the stage and the rest of the theatre is at an angle. The stage Left side is not as deep as the stage right side and because of that most live concerts have to have equipment loaded in and out during set changes.
I hereby promise that if I win either the Powerball or Mega Millions Lotto with a jackpot of over $100 Mil I will kick the furnature store out and also do what I can for the Kings on Flatbush.
You know as close as i lived to the Oriental I had never seen a movie there. It was 2 years ago today that my mom died and her funerak was on Feb 18th 2004. She lived her last years in Luna Park. On my way back to Maryland I took my gf through some of the areas i used to hang out in. On the way to the VZ Bridge instead of taking the belt I went straight up 86th st to Ft Hamilton parkway. I wanted to dry when I went by there. I remember all the fights that used to break out on weekends after the last shows let out and people would rush the Vegas Diner. At least the time I passed by the old Lady of 86th street the marquee was not covered over. RIP great Lady.
I was in the Kingsway when it was a single screen and later when it was divided. Not for nothing but whenever i see or hear the name Cineplex Odeon I want to puke. This is a Canadian based company that ripped off the American public. I remember years back when i was in Montreal Canada I went to see a movie and it cost me $5 Canadian which at the time was about $3.75 US…That same movie at an Odeon showing in NYC was $8. why the $4.25 cent difference for the same movie? Seem like before the C/O Loews merger CO was always the first to start a price increase. They started the others followed.
For the life of me I can not remember the Avenue U theatre. I remember the Ave M that is now a bank or at least it was the last time i was by there. I also recall that the old 61 Precient used to be on Ave U between 15&16 and there is a bank there now
Wow of all places I have never been in to was the Alpine. I have always past by there but never in it. Does anyone remember a theater on 4th ave in the 90’s not the year but the streets. The turned it in to some fur store and a gym? Was that the Fort Hamiton theatre?
There was some talk years ago about building a multiplex somewhere near Bay Ridge blvd or by the area of the old 69th st pier.
I have seen the Dead at least a dozen or so times. Mostly working the shows when they played the Academy of Music. However to keep on track the first time I saw them was at the former Loews 46th street in Boro Park Brooklyn.
Hey Coney are you in or are from Coney? I grew up in Coney. I live in Maryland now.
Hey Rat my best friend lived in Boro Park but due to the Hasidic invasion his family moved to S.I It is a shame that religion has to interfier with life. I remember that it was Hasidics east of New Utrecht and the Italians on the west of it. How i wish I could go back to those days knowing then what I know now. But I’d trade all of my tomorrows, for one single yesterday. You know how it goes.
ok are you trying to be a wisea$$. Yes I meant the movie. When you live in NYC seeing someone 6"3' with big feet is nothing odd. You guys a a goof but hey if it keeps this page moving wtf. :)
LOL P. I know what you mean. I just found a woman on the NY Academy of Music page with whom I knew her father who was the DM for the UA theatres in the 5 boroughs. This has turned out to be more then a treasure for sure. I grew up in Coney Island but as i said I lived in the Brooklyn section of Ridgewood. Sometimes thread drift can be a good thing don’t ya think? I am so glad I found CT. I live in Southern Maryland now but sometimes I feel like driving up there but then again what is up there for me. With the price of gas and tolls as they are I guess i am better off living those memories in my head and through others who post here. It hurts to read about places i grew up with or had been to and find out they are a retail store or like the Academy torn to the ground.
To everyone else here I just want to say a BIG HELLO to all of you and just keep on writing. I also want to add to a comment I read last night about July 13th 1977. I just got home that morning after going out to Chicago for a week. I got back that morning to the PABT and took the subway home. I remember that day real well cause i got a phone call that woke me up asking me if i had lights at my place. I remember all the looting in the Bed Sty, Williamsburg and Ridgewood sections of Brookly as well as the 6 people who were stuck high atop of the Astro Tower in Coney Island. They were stuck up there for hours till the owners in conjunction with the NYPD and NYFD and a genorator that was ample to run the lift motors were found. Since that night Astroland has aquired 2 large power generators and has been using them ever since.
Waren the Fillmore was only 2700 seats. I used to work with some of the same people who worked for Bill Graham who left when he closed the place in June of 1971. In Sept of 1971 Howard Stien booked a deal with United Artists for the unlimited use of the Academy and when Howard did not have a live show UA ran movies. One of the things i used to do for a few extra $$$ Was come in and change the marquee. What a pain it was in the winter because the letters were all cast iron and they got cold. And no I did not take all the letters down. I would inventory what was already up there and then pull what I needed from the back room. Saved me a good deal of time and grief.
Hey Bwy I just cought up on the Ridgewood site last night. Interesting reading about that and the Madison. I am not trying to stir up a hornets nest either but both you and PKoch are so right when saying there is only so much you can say about the almost long gone 46th street. I run a Nascar forum on Delphi and believe me we have topics about everything.
Ok here is a revilation. When I was there and saw the Dead playing it was the first time I ever found out what pot smelled like and also participated in the festivities. Yes this was at the 46th street.
Erd don’t take this the wrong way but sometimes going off topic can be a way to get to know the others who post here. For example I post on the NY Academy of Music page. Hust by dumb luck or what ever you may want to call it I started talking to a woman on there who asked me if I knew her dad. Low and behold because of this it turns out that yes I knew her dad back in the 70’s. Going off topic has put me back in touch with someone from my past that I had no idea how to contact. All this thanks to CT.
Ok wake me up someone. I was living on Grove between Mrytle and Wyhkoff from 1977 -1980. For some reason I recall this theatre back then as a UA Ridgewood. Pleas correct me if I am wrong. I saw Sat night Fever and Sasquatch there. I knew the UA district manager so I had free run of the place as far as not paying to get in and free refills on drinks and sitting in the then closed balcony.
At one time i lived on Grove st between myrtle and Wykoff. I had a blast at the UA Ridgewood when they were showing Saturday Night Fever. I knew the district manager and he gave me carte blanch to seeing movies there. One day however I walked past the old RKO Madison before any retail stores were built. There was an open gate in the back that led up to the fire stairs. From there i was able to get up on the roof and in to the projection booth. There were work lights on in the inside so I was able to see around and the lights in the foyer ways were also lit and thank goodness they were. Because at one point i thought I saw a statue of a dog sitting. To my dismay it was a real doberman showing teeth. I slowly was looking for a way out and found my self in the mens room. The windows had steel gratings on them but I was able to take a coin and remove some screws and got the window open and it was right on top of the Marquee. I jumped down but then I had noway to get off of it. There was a diner across the street and finaly got someone to call the fire department and they came and set up a ladder and I came down. Good thing the NYPD didn’t show up or I may have gotten hit for trespassing. But from what I saw of the theatre it will always be an image in my mind of a beautifull place going no where.
Mr Lamb I had the pleasure of working at the New York Academy of Music on 14th street in NYC for about 8 years of my life. It was not just a building but a piece of art. Being able to have the time to explore the basment as well as the catwalks above the audience. It was a grand old place that had lots of history. Did you know that when the Beatles came to Amrerica in 1964 and did the Ed Sullivan show The Rolling Stones played at the Academy. In the years i was there some people sed to say it was a cold building. I never found it that way at all. When I was working there i was told that the Academy and then later renamed the Palladium had landmark status. That came in to play when the new owners attempted to install a new air conditioning system. They knocked out a wall witout contacting the NYC landmark commission and by the time the dust settled they had already gone to far with the instalation to revove it and replace the wall so it stayed. Some of the biggest names in the music industry played there in the sixties till the early 80’s when it changed hands and became a disco. To me that was the death of a great place. Seems as though landmark status or not NYU took it over and demolished it to make new dorms. They did the same thing to the old Luchows that was there for like 100 years. I have seen some of the other theatres in NYC that your great grand father built and designed. I wish I could have met him. His work reflects his greatness.
Here is another local venue going by the wayside. Right down the street was the Canarsie India Palcae. I would take my gf at the time there for a great Indian dinner and then walk right over to the Canarsie. I used to call it the Ave L theatre. Call it a cheap date but at least once I found the place to park my car I didn’t have to look for another one to see the movie.
after a little more digging i came upon this about the Anderson
Owner: CORPORATION Non-Profit Flag: N
SCHWARTZ ED PRESIDENT
ANDERSON THEATER REALTY CORP. 152 WEST 57TH STREET, 212 956 – 7070
NEW YORK NY 10019
OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATION: N
OCCUPANCY NOTIFICATION: N
REL TO BLDG OWNER: PRESIDENT
CORPORATION:
SCHWARTZ IRVING SEC'Y
152 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK NY 10019 212 956 – 7070
I may try and call them to see if there is any public info available and add it to the data base
Hey Warren it may not have been 5000 seats but it was HUGE. It had to be to be able to compete with the likes of the Fillmore. I saw Slyvester and the DCockettes there in 71 and it had a large orchastra section. I sat in the balcony. I have been searching and searching for any kind of specs on the place but it is hard to come by.
Hey Noel if your dad is Ron Poole yes I knew him. He worked for UA as a district manager. So I take it you were not related to Gus Boviani and his family.
Yes Warren that is exactly what i saw when i went snooping around that day. I really do hope the LIU considers restoring the theatre.
Hi Patsy, The last time I was at the BP/LIU was almost 10 years ago. The first time I was in the building was back in the mid to late 70’s. When I walked in the doors it still looked like I was walking in to a theatre. I looked in the main orchestra area and was surprised that it was the athiletic center for LIU. I had thought they still used the theatre for production. From what I could see at that time the suspended cieling was still there. The walls were almost untouched. The stage looked like it had been gutted out and I did not see any type of fly rigging above the stage. It looked very bare. When I took a walk to the back of the house and up a grand stair way I walked up to where the balcony seats used to be and the area was sectioned off and they turned it in to class rooms. As I was saying in the previous post the last time i was in there it was in good enough shape that it could be renovated and restored to it’s former glory. To bad that Con Ed bought out the o;d Brooklyn Fox. I never got to see the inside but from what I recall as a kid passing by it was huge on the out side then poof it was just a hole in the ground.
Hey Patsy look at it this way. At least they didn’t demolish the place. Unlike the Kings that has suffered from weather beating and vandalism the BP is still in good shape. An effort should be spearheaded to restore this historic place and turn it in to a cultural center for live shows and concets and maybe even premier movie openings. A lot has been done over the last 10 years to rebuild the area so why not include the BP. Unlike the Kings the BP is in a major transportation hub of subway and bus lines as well as a short walk from the Atlantice Ave LIRR terminal.
I saw Yes and Badfinger at the Ritz. Maybe you can go on the bands web sites and see if they have a list of places they played.
I hope LIU considers restoring the Paramount to it’s former glory now that they will not be having basketball in there. I had been in the building a couple of times and even in it’s current status it is still a grand place.
And Wow looking back in the posts and seeing Clay Coles name. I know i was only 8 in 1964 but I do remember his TV show. :)
NIce pics Ed. Really nice. One thing I can sauy is that I never say the Beacon so bright on the inside when I was working shows back in the mid 70’s. As i stated in another post I love the place but the stage and the rest of the theatre is at an angle. The stage Left side is not as deep as the stage right side and because of that most live concerts have to have equipment loaded in and out during set changes.
I must have passed by this place a few million times and never knew that it was a theatre.
I work in Tuxedo and pass by there every so often. I am glad it was saved.
I hereby promise that if I win either the Powerball or Mega Millions Lotto with a jackpot of over $100 Mil I will kick the furnature store out and also do what I can for the Kings on Flatbush.
You know as close as i lived to the Oriental I had never seen a movie there. It was 2 years ago today that my mom died and her funerak was on Feb 18th 2004. She lived her last years in Luna Park. On my way back to Maryland I took my gf through some of the areas i used to hang out in. On the way to the VZ Bridge instead of taking the belt I went straight up 86th st to Ft Hamilton parkway. I wanted to dry when I went by there. I remember all the fights that used to break out on weekends after the last shows let out and people would rush the Vegas Diner. At least the time I passed by the old Lady of 86th street the marquee was not covered over. RIP great Lady.
I was in the Kingsway when it was a single screen and later when it was divided. Not for nothing but whenever i see or hear the name Cineplex Odeon I want to puke. This is a Canadian based company that ripped off the American public. I remember years back when i was in Montreal Canada I went to see a movie and it cost me $5 Canadian which at the time was about $3.75 US…That same movie at an Odeon showing in NYC was $8. why the $4.25 cent difference for the same movie? Seem like before the C/O Loews merger CO was always the first to start a price increase. They started the others followed.
For the life of me I can not remember the Avenue U theatre. I remember the Ave M that is now a bank or at least it was the last time i was by there. I also recall that the old 61 Precient used to be on Ave U between 15&16 and there is a bank there now
Wow of all places I have never been in to was the Alpine. I have always past by there but never in it. Does anyone remember a theater on 4th ave in the 90’s not the year but the streets. The turned it in to some fur store and a gym? Was that the Fort Hamiton theatre?
There was some talk years ago about building a multiplex somewhere near Bay Ridge blvd or by the area of the old 69th st pier.
I have seen the Dead at least a dozen or so times. Mostly working the shows when they played the Academy of Music. However to keep on track the first time I saw them was at the former Loews 46th street in Boro Park Brooklyn.
Hey Coney are you in or are from Coney? I grew up in Coney. I live in Maryland now.
Hey Rat my best friend lived in Boro Park but due to the Hasidic invasion his family moved to S.I It is a shame that religion has to interfier with life. I remember that it was Hasidics east of New Utrecht and the Italians on the west of it. How i wish I could go back to those days knowing then what I know now. But I’d trade all of my tomorrows, for one single yesterday. You know how it goes.
ok are you trying to be a wisea$$. Yes I meant the movie. When you live in NYC seeing someone 6"3' with big feet is nothing odd. You guys a a goof but hey if it keeps this page moving wtf. :)
LOL P. I know what you mean. I just found a woman on the NY Academy of Music page with whom I knew her father who was the DM for the UA theatres in the 5 boroughs. This has turned out to be more then a treasure for sure. I grew up in Coney Island but as i said I lived in the Brooklyn section of Ridgewood. Sometimes thread drift can be a good thing don’t ya think? I am so glad I found CT. I live in Southern Maryland now but sometimes I feel like driving up there but then again what is up there for me. With the price of gas and tolls as they are I guess i am better off living those memories in my head and through others who post here. It hurts to read about places i grew up with or had been to and find out they are a retail store or like the Academy torn to the ground.
To everyone else here I just want to say a BIG HELLO to all of you and just keep on writing. I also want to add to a comment I read last night about July 13th 1977. I just got home that morning after going out to Chicago for a week. I got back that morning to the PABT and took the subway home. I remember that day real well cause i got a phone call that woke me up asking me if i had lights at my place. I remember all the looting in the Bed Sty, Williamsburg and Ridgewood sections of Brookly as well as the 6 people who were stuck high atop of the Astro Tower in Coney Island. They were stuck up there for hours till the owners in conjunction with the NYPD and NYFD and a genorator that was ample to run the lift motors were found. Since that night Astroland has aquired 2 large power generators and has been using them ever since.
Waren the Fillmore was only 2700 seats. I used to work with some of the same people who worked for Bill Graham who left when he closed the place in June of 1971. In Sept of 1971 Howard Stien booked a deal with United Artists for the unlimited use of the Academy and when Howard did not have a live show UA ran movies. One of the things i used to do for a few extra $$$ Was come in and change the marquee. What a pain it was in the winter because the letters were all cast iron and they got cold. And no I did not take all the letters down. I would inventory what was already up there and then pull what I needed from the back room. Saved me a good deal of time and grief.
Hey Bwy I just cought up on the Ridgewood site last night. Interesting reading about that and the Madison. I am not trying to stir up a hornets nest either but both you and PKoch are so right when saying there is only so much you can say about the almost long gone 46th street. I run a Nascar forum on Delphi and believe me we have topics about everything.
Ok here is a revilation. When I was there and saw the Dead playing it was the first time I ever found out what pot smelled like and also participated in the festivities. Yes this was at the 46th street.
Erd don’t take this the wrong way but sometimes going off topic can be a way to get to know the others who post here. For example I post on the NY Academy of Music page. Hust by dumb luck or what ever you may want to call it I started talking to a woman on there who asked me if I knew her dad. Low and behold because of this it turns out that yes I knew her dad back in the 70’s. Going off topic has put me back in touch with someone from my past that I had no idea how to contact. All this thanks to CT.
Ok wake me up someone. I was living on Grove between Mrytle and Wyhkoff from 1977 -1980. For some reason I recall this theatre back then as a UA Ridgewood. Pleas correct me if I am wrong. I saw Sat night Fever and Sasquatch there. I knew the UA district manager so I had free run of the place as far as not paying to get in and free refills on drinks and sitting in the then closed balcony.
At one time i lived on Grove st between myrtle and Wykoff. I had a blast at the UA Ridgewood when they were showing Saturday Night Fever. I knew the district manager and he gave me carte blanch to seeing movies there. One day however I walked past the old RKO Madison before any retail stores were built. There was an open gate in the back that led up to the fire stairs. From there i was able to get up on the roof and in to the projection booth. There were work lights on in the inside so I was able to see around and the lights in the foyer ways were also lit and thank goodness they were. Because at one point i thought I saw a statue of a dog sitting. To my dismay it was a real doberman showing teeth. I slowly was looking for a way out and found my self in the mens room. The windows had steel gratings on them but I was able to take a coin and remove some screws and got the window open and it was right on top of the Marquee. I jumped down but then I had noway to get off of it. There was a diner across the street and finaly got someone to call the fire department and they came and set up a ladder and I came down. Good thing the NYPD didn’t show up or I may have gotten hit for trespassing. But from what I saw of the theatre it will always be an image in my mind of a beautifull place going no where.
Mr Lamb I had the pleasure of working at the New York Academy of Music on 14th street in NYC for about 8 years of my life. It was not just a building but a piece of art. Being able to have the time to explore the basment as well as the catwalks above the audience. It was a grand old place that had lots of history. Did you know that when the Beatles came to Amrerica in 1964 and did the Ed Sullivan show The Rolling Stones played at the Academy. In the years i was there some people sed to say it was a cold building. I never found it that way at all. When I was working there i was told that the Academy and then later renamed the Palladium had landmark status. That came in to play when the new owners attempted to install a new air conditioning system. They knocked out a wall witout contacting the NYC landmark commission and by the time the dust settled they had already gone to far with the instalation to revove it and replace the wall so it stayed. Some of the biggest names in the music industry played there in the sixties till the early 80’s when it changed hands and became a disco. To me that was the death of a great place. Seems as though landmark status or not NYU took it over and demolished it to make new dorms. They did the same thing to the old Luchows that was there for like 100 years. I have seen some of the other theatres in NYC that your great grand father built and designed. I wish I could have met him. His work reflects his greatness.
Here is another local venue going by the wayside. Right down the street was the Canarsie India Palcae. I would take my gf at the time there for a great Indian dinner and then walk right over to the Canarsie. I used to call it the Ave L theatre. Call it a cheap date but at least once I found the place to park my car I didn’t have to look for another one to see the movie.
after a little more digging i came upon this about the Anderson
Owner: CORPORATION Non-Profit Flag: N
SCHWARTZ ED PRESIDENT
ANDERSON THEATER REALTY CORP. 152 WEST 57TH STREET, 212 956 – 7070
NEW YORK NY 10019
OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATION: N
OCCUPANCY NOTIFICATION: N
REL TO BLDG OWNER: PRESIDENT
CORPORATION:
SCHWARTZ IRVING SEC'Y
152 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK NY 10019 212 956 – 7070
I may try and call them to see if there is any public info available and add it to the data base
Hey Warren it may not have been 5000 seats but it was HUGE. It had to be to be able to compete with the likes of the Fillmore. I saw Slyvester and the DCockettes there in 71 and it had a large orchastra section. I sat in the balcony. I have been searching and searching for any kind of specs on the place but it is hard to come by.
Hey Noel if your dad is Ron Poole yes I knew him. He worked for UA as a district manager. So I take it you were not related to Gus Boviani and his family.