Loew's Spooner

Photo old:
http://bronxblotter.home.mindspring.com/old/spooner_old.jpg

Photo new:
http://kraybill2.home.mindspring.com/41theatres/southern961_spooner_2002.jpg

I must correct myself on the introduction. The theatre first opened in 1910 as home for the Spooner Stock Company, headed by actress and feminist Cecil Spooner (she insisted on spelling her first name without the usual "e" ending). When her lease expired in 1913, the theatre's owners sold the theatre to Loew's, which kept the Spooner name.

When Loew's had the Spooner, the ads from the 50s show that it did not play the features paired in the "mainstream" Loew's theaters but mainly, double features that had just completed the RKO circuit or double features that had not been booked anywhere else (revivals or a pairing of "B" films). The Bay Ridge & Boro Park seem to be two other Loews' theaters in the same pattern.

Three photographs I took of Loew's Spooner Theatre in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225301842/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225303175/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225303666/

Some recent photos of this and several other Bronx theatres can be found in a new feature article about the Longwood district at www.forgotten-ny.com

THE REAL ESTATE FIELD; Shuberts Buy Bronx Theatre in $900,000 Deal

NY Times April 24, 1914

The realty market was enlivened with a deal involving properties valued at about $900,000 yesterday, in which the larger part of the transaction involved the purchase of the Cecil Spooner Theatre, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, by the theatrical firm of Lee and Jacob Shubert. The theatre was leased by Charles E. Blaney for his wife Cecil Spooner, and this lease has been purchased by the Shuberts.

I walked by the Spooner this past week and noticed that Duane Reade has vacated the premises. There are still half a dozen retail stores occupying storefront space in the building, but the area that had been the main entrance to the theatre is now empty and available for rent/lease. If anyone's interested, the realtor is Winick (www.winick.com). By the way, Duane Reade relocated just a few doors away at the intersection of Southern Blvd. and 163rd Street, in another historic old structure - the former Hunt's Point Palace.

Loew's Spooner can be seen in this photo.

The photo posted on Jun 3, 2008 is now at this link.

The Loew's Spooner was Kelly's Furniture store in this 1971 photo.

Passing the Spooner today, I noticed a "For Rent" sign in the window of Duane Reade.

I went into the old Loew's Spooner this morning. It is now a department store named 'El Mundo'. What used to be the balcony is now opened and full of cheap furniture. The amazing thing is that the bathroom for Ladies is almost completely intact. It's hidden behind a curtain but the old door is there and it looks almost the same as when I saw it in 1965! There's also two old columns that have tragedy and comedy figures on them downstairs. It's bittersweet to see what's left of what was a beautiful theater.

Great picture of Kelly Furniture with LOEWS SPOONER vertical sign still on it.