If you purchased an old movie theater, what would you do with it?

Well, The Brooklyn Paramount still exists, but it has been "BASTURSIZED" by the school system...

Maybe so, but it's fate faired far better than the Manhattan Paramount. Something is better than nothing.

Sad to say, that "something" depends upon what it is! The MICHIGAN in Detroit became a parking structure, complete with shreds of the original ceilings hanging grotesquely in place above the exposed concrete columns and brick walls of the gutted interior. Even if someone were to come along and want to 'restore' the MICHIGAN, there is really nothing left to restore. It is almost the same with the once fabulous BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT; the school has made so many depredations, that it will cost a fortune to undo them, though at least the pipe organ is still playable, last I heard. Of course, the paramount PARAMOUNT in Manhattan's Times Square, is also gone since it was gutted from the office building which still stands. At least here someone decided to replace the ornate lettering of the "Paramount" illuminated letters on the facade, but otherwise, there is reportedly nothing to remind one of the splendor that once reigned within. Will the rapidly rusting KINGS in Brooklyn be restored to us? I fervently hope so, though I am not sure that any of the options listed would pay the way. I would like to turn most former movie palaces into museums, an achievement I once recommended to a local theatre owner, only to be laughed and sneered at as a hopeless idealist, a dreamer. He was right, of course; theatres do not lend themselves well to being museums due to costs, but that won't stop any of us from dreaming of a notable palace becoming one and supported by an endowment and trust to continue the genre in all its glory for our posterity.

If you vote for 'Other', please tell us what you have in mind!

I voted for other, becuase I would do a mix of classic films, current independent "art" films, and try to license many of the live music concerts out on DVD.

Since this is only a pipe dream, I voted for "other". I would want to show silent movies (because I LOVE silent movies) with orchestral accompaniament (did I spell that rite?) and have stage shows along with them. Of course, since I would be a billionaire, with millions of dollars of interest piling up in my bank accounts and worldwide investments, it wouldn't matter how much money I lost doing it.

I would host concerts and lectures. As opposed to a Performing Arts Center...my theater would simply be a Community Center. I also think tourism boards and economic development boards could produce "Our Town" promotional films that could be viewed in the theater for visitors. These are more personable endevors than what the theater chains could ever offer.

The Brooklyn Paramount was bastardized by L.I.U. It is however, still awe inspiring. Anyone who has never been to an intact movie palace will get the idea of what we are now missing.

If the college had not taken over the Brooklyn Paramount, it surely would have been torn down like the Fox. It's still mostly there and who knows may be a theatre again someday.

I agree Robert. Something is better than nothing. Every theater can not be perserved and used as a theater. There are so many that should, yes, however we all know it's not possible. These second lifes as churches, stores (that perserve the theater features - such as the Meserole Theater in Greenpoint), or even what they did to the Brooklyn Paramount, (while not as ideal as a theater or performing arts center, concert venue, etc), is certainly better than total gutting such as the Manhattan Paramount, the RKO Madison Theater in Ridgewood, or even worse yet, when the theater is demolished completely. The Brooklyn Paramount faired well next to so many theaters that are now either completely gutted or demolished completely.

I should tell everyone that for the fun I placed in the best and worst case scenarios for fun. I wanted for people to get a smile out of this poll. Personally, I chose performing arts center, and show classic movies was a close second. I would never make it into a video store.

I should tell everyone that for the fun I placed in the best and worst case scenarios. I wanted for people to get a smile out of this poll. Personally, I chose performing arts center, and show classic movies was a close second. I would never make it into a video store.

I would do what the Carolina Theatre in Chapel Hill did: run indie and classic films upstairs and down in the basement have a rental store of hard to find films.

I was surprised to see that there wasn't a choice of: operate it as a commercial movie theatre. I bought my old theatre about 35 years ago and have made a comfortable living operating it as a 2nd run film house and rental facility for live stage shows.

I don't see that changing any time soon. It looks as though it will carry me through to retirement(keeping my fingers crossed though).

I chose "Performing Arts Center," largely because it was the closest thing to what would be a more apt description of what I would do (as if!)---a community cultural center (perhaps incorporating elements of a museum or gallery).

Fun I did just that brought one on it's last legs, cleaned it up, replaced the worn our projectors and sound system and open it running second run films, live performance and bingo, and ran it as a hobby for many years.

Live theatre and music. Also Classic Films!

My vote went to "show classic films," but in truth, I'd show any movie I could. Classics, new movies, art house, documentary ... Owning a theater would be a dream come true (even with all the hard work).

During my childhood,I loved to draw the design of my favourite theatre.At that time,my dream is to have a theatre of my own, but nowadays, I don't want to have a theatre belong to me anymore.

I own a video production company. I chose other because my dream is to have an old theater as our office. What a fantastic "Viewing Room" that would make for our clients. The front lobby would make a wonderful mini-museum to showcase old equipment. They are wonderful pieces of architecture deserving of preservation.

I would love to buy what was once the Franklin theater and turn it into a classic movie palace showing movies from every decade!!! The Franklin theater I refer to is the one in Nutley that is demolished.

I think that by chooseing performing arts centre, my choice, at least the building will be resrored to its former glory and can then accomadate all kinds of entertainment. Remeber, the reason the building was lost in the first place was proberbly because it couldnt sustain showing movies. By becomeing an all rounder then it can be visited by a wider spectrum of people therefore ensuring some kind of life for that beautiful building we've just spent millions on restoring. Showing movie classics is great but that will not fill and keep open a movie palace of 2000 seats or more! Tho we all know nothing is certain.

Show movies of course.