Loew's Oriental Theatre

Theatre location is Bay 19th and 86th Streets.

It had a grand lobby with a sculpted dragon in the ceiling. unfortunately parking was at a premium in the area, and without a parking lot, Sony Theaters scrapped plans to convert it into a multi-screen theater. It's closing marked the end of the Loew's era of theaters in Brooklyn...for now, at least.

I was in the building this weekend shopping with my wife. Although the orchestra level is completely gutted, I found an original theater staircase behind a closed door. it still has some of the original brasswork. Look at the drop ceiling and you'll see a few missing panels, let your eyes adjust to the darkness above and you can barely make out the old ceiling of the theater. Also look at the plastered side wall. It's also from the original theater lobby. It's freshly painted but if you look up to where the ceiling panels are, and look above them through one of the missing panel's holes, you see where the old dark paint from the theater begins. (To gain access to this stairway, just ask to use the bathroom, as it stands behind a locked door, and a store associate must open it for you.)

The Loew's Oriental opened in 1927, designed by Harrison Wiseman. It contained 2,733 seats before it was twined in the 70's and triplexed in 1982. The Oriental showed it's last movie in May 1995.

The address for the Loew's Oriental Theatre was 1832 86th Street.

If there is a single theatre that I could say I practically grew up in, it's the Loew's Oriental.

I've seen countless movies there with my family as we lived within walking distance (imagine a family of 5 WALKING to the movies?!?)

From infancy being sent to the movies with my older sisters to get out of our parent's hair on a Saturday, to seeing firt-run blockbusters like "Love Story," to hanging out with high school chums (while cutting out of class) watching "The Longest Yard" to making out in the wonderful balcony with my future wife - this theatre was a huge part of my life!

I'll never forget being there with a 100 percent capacity crowd watching "Lenny," or how complete strangers passed teary eyed neighbor a Kleenex during "Love Story."

There is a special exhilaration in being part of a packed house during a riotous comedy! "The Odd Couple" and "Airplane" provided me with memories of HUGE laughs with the crowd.

Thanks for letting me reminisce. I drive past the Oriental to this day, and I still smile at the great times!

I saw a movie at the Oriental not too soon before it closed. The sound was so unaudiable, I had to ge tmy money back. There were tons of broken seats n the auditorium and a ladder sitting there.

However, this theatre was actually kept up more than most of the decaying old Brooklyn theatres. It lasted awhile, and was not renovated into something sterile.

Do you remember the sign that said in VERY faded paint VAUDVILLE SHOWS on the side of the building.. you could see it from the train!

Here is something interesting. An employee of the theatre who was there when it closed, made a home movie, just a few minutes long, about the theatre. He showed it's last day of operation, a bunch of pictures from when it was new, and some photos of photos that were in the basement.

It is amatuerish but very interesting nonetheless.

If you are interested in a copy, I have transferred it to DVD. Please email me at MikeRadio@aol.com and I can make you a copy of the DVD. Cost including shipping will be $15, since DVD blanks are still costly. However, it is a very nostalgic piece.

Mike

Philip.. Thanks for the tip about how to see a PIECE of the ld theatre! Next time I am in Brooklyn I will try that.

I saw some of the best movies of my youth here during the late 70'and early 80's it was better as a twin , triplexing cut the second level theatre in half. It was a huge building. The first floor still had a piano in it i suppose a holdover from its early days , it seemed to be a mile from the first row of seats to the piano and the screen . As kids we would dare eachother to go and play the piano. The lobby was really nice full of marble and brass . a real contrast to the Benson which was a few blocks away. It became very rundown in later years broken seats poor lighting and bad sound. And the Drapery on the walls would fall .

In the later years, most seats were broken or missing.

There was also a ladder present in the downstairs auditorium.

Mike

There was talk in the early 90's of modernizing this theatre into a true multiplex, unfortunately it never happened because of parking. In the film "Angie" with Gena Davis there is a brief shot of this theatre at the start of the movie. The marquee lit up at night is visible in this scene.

This was the last theatre near the West End elevated "B" train line.
It was very convienant to take the train & not have to use the car.
The area also had good restaurants and a large variety of retail stores. In its prime, the Loew's Oriental theatre was attractive & comfortable.

Several years after the Oriental closed NBC filmed several scenes of a made for TV movie outside the theatre. They even put phony movie titles on the marque. You can also see the Oriental during the chase scene from "The French Connection."

The one and only film I ever saw at Loew's Oriental was "Star Trek IV : The Voyage Home" the last Sunday in February 1987. It was a triplex at the time. Even divided into three cinemas, each cinema was huge, given the total size of the theater. The Moorish architecture of arches and tiles was beautiful. One of my friends thought it had been a mosque before it was a theater. I and my other friends had to explain to her the grandiose architecture and interior decor of some of NYC's older theaters.

There was no reason for this theatre to close, too bad another company did not take it over.

The Oriental is visible in the background in this image :

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?5262

As you can see from the apartment bldgs. at the left edge of the image, the side wall alone is seven stories high, with the roof peaking several stories above that. The high, nearly block-long brick side wall, the zigzagging exterior fire escape metal staircase, and individual water tower above the roof, are all dead giveaways of older,larger theaters in NYC.

The marquee is visible in this image, but I do not know, and cannot read, what was playing then. Perhaps some cinema buffs can figure it out from the date of the photo, and from their knowledge of films, as was done for that image I posted the link to for the Loew's Hillside Theater in Jamaica, Queens. Thanks.

Sorry, I meant right edge of aforesaid image.

An outside wall of the Oriental, with "ORIENTAL" on it in large capital letters, appears in the upper left of this image of the West End elevated line :

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?5432

What you cabnt see is that on the lefthand side under the painted LOEWS ORIENTAL there wasa VERY faded painting of the words

VAUDVILLE
SHOWS

How incredible is that!!

What you cabnt see is that on the lefthand side under the painted LOEWS ORIENTAL there wasa VERY faded painting of the words

VAUDVILLE
SHOWS

How incredible is that!!

I have heard from old-timers that they did have some Vaudville shows there in the early 1930's. Al Jolson made a personal appearance and performed at this theatre before a screening of "Jolson Sings Again" He toured several Loews theatres on the same day in the New York area.

I don't think that vaudeville lasted too long at the Oriental, which was situated in an area that wasn't heavily populated at the time. Not too far away was the Universal, which opened a week earlier in October, 1927, and also had vaudeville. When Loew's later took over the Universal and re-named it the 46th Street, it kept vaudeville there and phased it out from the Oriental.

Nevertheless, the sign in faded paint always said VAUDEVILLE SHOWS

I believe there was also a faded sign on the 46st mentioning Vaudeville shows.

Many theatres just let those signs remain because it was too expensive to hire rigging and have them painted over. Many of the signs eventually faded away with the passage of time.

Referring to Peter K’s May 12th posting of the el train photo containing part of the marquee for Loew’s Oriental, I think I have deciphered the titles of what was playing that day. The first two lines read “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK” and the bottom title, of which only one word is visible, should be “ZORRO, THE GAY BLADE”. This time the date of the photo (August 2, 1981) appears to be correct, which was not the case when I figured out the Loew’s Hillside marquee. That one was only slightly more legible. In any event, according to the microfilm of the New York Times for 8/2/81, these were the two features that were playing at the Oriental, which had already been twinned by that time. If you zoom, enlarge the photo and stare a bit, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” does seem to fit.

Thank you, ErwinM, for your diligent work ! It's indeed a pleasure working with you on this site !

Alot of you guys failed to mention that John Travolta as Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever" (the quintisential Brooklyn film) is walking down 86th street after he buys his pizza and the Oriental is in the background showing "Rocky" and "Network". This is a great scene in a great film and great theater. the last film I saw there was "Mr. Mom" in 1984.

In Saturday Night Fever, Tony (John Travolta) runs under the marquee of the Benson Twin Theatre, not the Oriental. You can see the Chase Bank and the 20th Avenue subway entrance clearly in the backround.

You are wrong Theaterfan. I lived in that neighborhood all my life and I was there. But you discuss it with the rest...

I am not wrong Carl, I grew up two blocks away from the Benson and I know the area. In the movie Tony buys two slices at Lenny's Pizza, then goes into Shirtown on the corner of 86th St. and 20th Avenue, how is it possible that you can see the marquee of the Oriental if it's actually two Avenues over from 20th Ave? Trust me it's the Benson Marquee that you see in the movie. The Oriental did not even have a stainless steel marquee like the one shown in the movie.

You are wrong!!!
But you are right!
Think about it....

It is the Benson Marquee. I have lived in the neighborhood all my life and you can not see the Oriental Marquee from 20th ave. I believe the Oriental does appear later in the film. Its like the chase scene from the "French Connection" (Also filmed in this neighborhood) If you watch closely they pass Lafayette High School several times during the chase. Sometimes the train is on the center track, sometimes its on a different track. By the way, what year was the Oriental twinned? If it was in the late 1970's then they could not have shown Rocky and Network in 1976. The last film I saw at the Oriental was Dick Tracy in the main (downstairs) theatre. Untill its demise the entire orchestra section was intact as one theatre. Several rows of seats were missing here and there so you had great leg room in many of the rows. It really is a shame it had to close.

It was twinned in 1976, and triplexed in 1983, at the very start of Saturday Night Fever, when the B Train zooms off, you can see the Loew's Oriental Building and writting in faded paint Loew's Oriental. Does anyone remember the upstairs theatres with the orange seats?

They replaced the original seats with the orange ones when they twinned the balcony theatre.

I remember what crummy shape the seats were in the last time I was in the upstairs theatre, when you sat down the whole row would rock back and forth with you. Remember the big marble staircase leading up to the former balcony sections, I think the bathrooms were in the upstairs section just like the Kingsway, so much for being ADA friendly.

The bathrooms were upstairs. Similar to the Loews Jersey, but smaller. There was also a plaque on the upper lobby wall dedicated to Marcus Loew. (had a small bust of his face on it) Wonder what happened to that. I believe part of the marble staircase still exists. If you go into the Marshall's store there is a black door on the left wall with a window. If you look through the window you can see the staircase. I bet they still use the bathrooms upstairs.

Bathrooms are still upstairs but everything is new construction. I have a funny feeling that the balcony still exists. I am trying to confirm this.

yes, I've been in that store and asked to use the bathroom, once they open the door, you go up the original marble staircase on what would have been on the left side. I'm not sure if the right staircase is still intact but from the looks of things on the main selling floor it actually might be. I agree with Mark that the balcony are might still exist as a secondary floor. It's sad that there are drop tiles everywhere hiding anything original.

I recently went to another Marshall's and had to use the rest room. Unfortunately, they have been closed down to the public and only staff can use them. When I complained to the manager, he said that they had to close them because of shoplifters. I don't know if this is true of the Marshall's at the Oriental, but it could be. More and more large stores seem to be closing down their rest rooms. It has also happened at the two K-Marts in Manhattan.

Warren, it's a shame that we live in a time where unfortunately that has to happen. I did do this a few years ago so it could be possible that the policy is the same at the Oriental Marshall's.

The Loew's Oriental opened on October 13th, 1927 only about a month after Marcus Loew the chains founder passed away. The first feature to premiere at the Oriental was "Beau Geste" and the last three movies to play there were "Muriels Wedding, A Goofy Movie & Tommy Boy"

Hawthorne Amusement Corp. (A Loew's Theatres Subsidiary) owned this theatre for much of its run. Abe Boritz was the projectionist at the time of its closing and had worked in this theatre for 26 years. The final ticket prices at the time of its closing in 1995 were $4.00 for a matinee show and $7.00 all other times.

Somone recently mentioned that the Oriental had an organ. I don't recall seeing it when I attended the theatre. I also do not remember
Loew's 46th Street or Loew's Boro Park having a theatre organ.
Does anyone know for sure?

I was told by a Loew's corporate executive a few years ago that the Marcus Loew plaque was removed by Loew's and is now outside the entrance to the theatre at Lincoln Square honoring Loew...ahkesq

I went around there a while after the Oriental closed, and found that the auditorium, lobby and other store-fronts on 86th St. had been stripped down to the brick walls and roof. There was a freshly poured flat concrete floor in the auditorium area. When I looked in from the side exit doors there was no balcony. The only thing from the theatre that was left at that time were the brass entrance doors.

If you ever went to this theatre between the years of 1977 to 1984, there is a good chance you saw me there. I started out as an usher and shortly thereafter became Assistant Manager. I worked six nights a week during those years, while I was going to school in the day. Many weekend evenings there were sold out crowds in 2 theatres at the same time (about 2,000 people) with another sold out crowd filling the lobbies downstairs and upstairs and circling the block one way for downstairs and the other way for upstairs. Star Wars, Grease, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, to name a few. We had a police car stationed outside for the opening of Fort Apace the Bronx. It was truely an exciting experience-

Sorry I missed you, Tampadad. I'm glad to read that the theater did such a brisk business on weekends back when you were there. The one and only film I ever saw at Loew's Oriental was "Star Trek IV : The Voyage Home" the last Sunday in February 1987. It was a triplex at the time. Even divided into three cinemas, each cinema was huge, given the total size of the theater. The Moorish architecture of balconies, arches, vaulted ceilings, all covered with ceramic tiles, was beautiful. Seeing all of this, one of my friends thought it had been a mosque before it was a theater. I and my other friends had to explain to her the grandiose architecture and interior decor of some of NYC's older theaters.

Did a gang war break out inside the theater during "Fort Apache The Bronx" ?

Here's a current photo I took of the Oriental, taken from the elevated West End Subway Line on July 24, 2004:

Click here for photo

I think its sac-religous, with everything that has happened with all the theatre's in brooklyn. To me, they are like Roman Monuments...

Hi: ERD had asked in Aug. if Loew's Oriental ever had a pipe organ?? YES, it did!! It was a 3 manual 13 rank Robert Morton. I was at the Oriental in the late 80's to remove the organ's 15hp blower from the sub basement. The Oriental's blower is now playing the recently installed organ in the Heights Theatre in Columbia Heights, MN. There wasn't much left in the organ chambers but, the swell shades, marimba harp and some regulators. The theatre was still very much open and alive but, not well enough to survive. It's a real shame that someone hasn't bought and restored this wonderful theatre!! Cheers: TK...

We lived on Bay 19th Street between Cropsey and Shore Parkway. I remember walking home with my parents and my older brother on a cold wintery night after seeing a movie at the Oriental in the mid 1950s. I was about 7 years old and I was FREEZING. My mother opened up her persian lamb coat and wrapped both me and her in it as we continued on our trip home. I was toasty from then on! The Oriental was the "classy" theatre in the neighborhood as opposed to the less opulent Deluxe or Benson. As a kid the huge dimly lit upstairs lobby at the Oriental, with it's large woooden chairs that looked like royal thrones, would scare me, but the air conditioning on hot summer nights was a welcomed relief.

Wow. I thought I was the only one who cared. I grew up on Bay 19 between Cropsey and Shore in the 70's and 80's. My grandparents and father lived there since 1948. Hey Fred, maybe you knew them! This theatre was a palace to me. I saw Star Wars there 58 times! It tears my heart out every time I think about it.

A few years back I asked a Marshall's guard what happened to the rest of the theatre since it's only a one-floor store. He said it was all still up there. Do you guys know how many times I've thought of trying to gain access to that? I'd love to see what happend to the rest of it. I took my future wife to our first movie there 20 years ago. Back To The Future, but the way. I still have dreams about that place. I'm glad there are some people who still remember.

I would love to go in there and ask to look around upstairs. I doubt they would let me. Maybe we can get a bunch of us together and see if we can pull it off.

Does anyone remember the chandelier up stairs? I always wondered what they did with it after they made it a triplex.

I lived on Bay 19 from 1954 - 1972. Tommy, who are your grandparents and father? Email me at fred@barlam.com

I'd think the best person to gain permission to explore what remains of the Oriental would be someone who: a) can locate a store manager during a relative moment of downtime (perhaps, say, during the early morning hours of a Monday or Tuesday - I'd guess not too many people go shopping then) - and a sympathetic-seeming manager at that; and, b) can offer a genuine, sympathetic anecdote or two and an understanding that what's being made is an unusual request. That approach has worked for me in similar situations and I suspect it would in this case, too.

In my moments of obsessive insanity I'm thinking I'm going to attempt to do what br91975 suggests. I'm just dying to know what is left of our old girl. Perhaps just after the holiday season when things calm down in the retail world a bit. Man, if I ever get to become a Hollywood actor I think I'm gonna buy her and and bring her back. Just a thought anyways...

Thanks TK for your informative post. I hope someone knows if Loew's 46th Street or Loew's Boro Park had a theatre organ.

The Oriental was the best theater in Bensonhurst.It was a picture palace,a cinema cathedral and a mosque to the movies. When you went to the Oriental you went to the movies. Not as big or ornate as the Kings, it still was a picture palace of the first order. Somewhat similiar inside to the 46th St,it did not have as much statuary work, but was just as beautiful.There was the marbl;e stairway to the mezzanine where the restrooms were located. At either end of the mezzanine were the two stairways to the upper and lower parts of the balcony. Expensive looking drapes hung there. The interior was in green stucco with brass trim. The doorways had pointed Moorish style arches. There was a seperate entrance from the lobby to the proscenium with heavy brass doors. There were 3 blocks of seats seperated by 4 aisles. There was a fence around the stage and a domed celing. The theater resembled a sultans palace and epic films seemed right at home on the big screen.It was, in fact taller than the 6 story apartment buildings that were behind it on Bay 19th St.

After writing the above blog, I would like to add some additional comments about the theater . After the theater closed in May 1995, official word was it was closed due to the lack of parking space in the area. That sounded like BS because parking was never an issue for almost 65 years.Also there is another fact that many of you do not know. In late 1995. there wetre a small number of homeless people living there. A friend of mine from my second job got put out by his wife. He managed to make his way in after sleeping in his car for over a week.When he told me this, I asked him if I can come inside and take the grand tour. He said y7es, but he told me not to tell anybody about it.Lack of time prohibits me from getting into it now, but maybe I will continue the story in the near future.

Sounds interesting, please continue when you have time.

Yes, Theatrerat, please continue with your recollections. They are bringing back many warm and fond memories. I remeber those stairs going to the upper balcony. When it was a duplex, us kids were never alloewd up there. I don't remember why...

and I'd love to hear more about the tour.

I hope that I am not opening a can of worms. My friend (who shall remain nameless)gained access to the theater from the back stage area.Upon entering there was a corridor with the long abandoned dressing rooms on each side. The mirrors were still there but all the bulbs were missing. there were also bathrooms with showers in this area.Then came the back stage area itself. It seemed to be as high as the celing. Scaffolding held the lights. There was a wooden floor with hatches that led under the stage-I never went down there. This is where the riser mechanism fof the orchestra pit was. I understand it was not operating due to years of neglect. There was an elaborate system of ropes and blocks(pulleys) to raise and lower the top and side curtains as well as a winch. The ropes were attached to the pinrails and were made fast to the belaying pins . This area kind of resembled the deck of an 18th crntury pirate ship.There were also switchboards and othet controls for the lighting system.When I walked on stage, the walled off front section of the balcony that had been divided down the middle was clearly visable.In the orchestra section all the fire doors were locked from the inside. Somebody had removed the glass plates that had exit written on them. Even at this stage after the theater was closed for almost6 months it seemed to be in good order. There was no graffiti sprayed on the walls.At the rear of the orchestra near the doors to the lobby was the new projection room that was built when the theater went multiplex. The projectors were gone.We had to be careful in the lobby-we did not want anybody to see us. A large roll down gate was placed at the outside entrance on 86th st. I saw the managers office that was built under one of the stairways to the balcony. Nothing was there except a leather couch. This is where my friend slept. Ironically enough, the electricity was never turned off, but your eyes quickly adjusted to the half light in side. All the vending machines and video games were also gone. The beautiful mezzanine was also in good condition. The toilets un the bathrooms still worked as did the sinks. The balcony had hundreds or broken seats. I was also shown the upper projection gallery, also with the projectors removed. This was a long narrow area that seemed as wide as the theater. Nothing of value was in here. The basement was pretty much nondescript as were the heating and airconditioning areas. It was an eerie experience.but a thrilling one too. The few homeless people that were residing there set up big garbage bags for their litter. I guess they respected the old theater, their new home.My friend was a Trival Pursuit fan> .I wrent over a few times and we played it in the managers office.I should have taken my camera. Sorry I didnt.

Thanks for the recollections, Theaterat - they paint as vivid a picture as any snapshots would.

Thanks, I always wondered if there was an orchestra pit elevator in that theatre. Wish you had taken some pictures. It was a great place to watch a movie.

So do I Yankee Mike. So do I

Theatrerat: I had to read your post several times because it painted such a vivid picture in my mind. Funny thing is, I just finished a book about staging plays(I'm an actor) and thought I really didn't need to know things about the ropes and pulleys and belaying pins. Then I read your story and the irony slapped me silly. I whis I had known that me favorite place to spend the day was so full of rich detail and history.

Back in December, I went there and tried to speak with a manager of the store that occupies the space. I wanted to know if they preserved any of the theatre. She was very rude and her thick Russian accent didn't help much either. What I got from her in a dismissive way was that everything was torn out during the conversion. I was so saddened by that since the department store is only one floor. I had hoped they had the presence of mind to preserve something more than the marble staircases. I'm even more saddened by the realization that every detail you described is also no longer there as well. There ought to be a law...

Ahem...please ignore the glaring spelling errors. I forgot to proof...

I used to work at the Pharmacy on the corner of the Oriental. It was called "Karelle Drugs" and owned by Joe Friedman. I worked there all through my High School years and then some. These words brought back a slew of memories from those years. I moved away from NY and never found out what became of Joe and the store.

Ravenhall,
I don't remember Karelle Drugs. When was that? When I was active at the Oriental, in the late 70's and 80's, there was a candy store on the most immediate corner and a luncheonette on the left of the theatre. I think that became a furniture store of some sort later on.

There was a large furniture store next to the Oriental that was also taken over by Marshals. The Oriental luncheonette was there until the theatre closed. I know when they started work converting the building I saw bulldozers in the orchestra section so the ground floor is probably gone. I would guess the balcony and cieling of the auditorium could still be intact. The Russian manager would not know (or care) about the status of the theatre.

Tommy X
I worked at the Pharmacy from 1951 through 1955 or so, which is a little before your time there. I doubt that most of the folks that hung out there are still alive. I was in my early teens and they were all in their 20's to 40's.

One day in September of 1997 I was walking by the front of this theatre, and was horrified to see a construction crew gutting the entire main floor. There was a dumpster full of old theatre seats from the Loew's Oriental right outside the front entrance, everything that existed on that level was clearly being torn out in the conversion to retail.

I did get to take one of those staircases once when I asked a guard if I could use the bathroom, the staircase was the same as I remember only painted a different color, the bathroom also seemed to be in the same place when it was a theatre. I tried to look around for any other signs of the former theatre, however I could not find any, only a bunch of rooms for the sales staff. Someone once mentioned to me that the Walker on 18th Avenue has its balcony mainly intact so one can only hope about the Oriental. I also wonder how much of the original marquee is left under the Marshall's sign, they look like they are the same exact size & location.

I have a copy of a photo of the Loew's Oriental, the movie playing at the time was "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" from 1974 according to the IMDB, the two stores on the right side of the theatre entrance were: Oriental Movers & Food "N" Stuff, I remember later in the early 90's a bagel store right next door to the theatre.

All this talk of the Loew's Oriental is really making me nostalgic. For me, as a child it was always such a treat going to a palace like this to see movies, I still remember the huge line for Star Wars back in the summer of 1977, twenty years later they were tearing the place apart!

The Walker is 100% intact behind all the false plaster board walls.

Thanks for the info RobertR, I hope too much damage wasn't done when it was quaded in the mid 80's right before it closed. I know there was a proposal for landmark status that did not get passed.

Tommy X,,,I had an encounter with that Russian woman. Rude to the extreme. And nasty. Bet the only party she ever went to was the Communist party!

Theatre rat,
I'm glad I wasn't the only one. al I asked her wss if any of the old architecture was preserved. She looked at me as if I just gave her the flesh-eating bacteria. "No! All gone. All of it"! was her reply. In an almost spiteful tone I might add. I still want to try again and see if there's anything left. I was just by there today and was thinking that there must be something up there. It's like five stories of empty space. Hmmm...

That Russian lady is no help whatsoever, I believe they have a different manager working on the weekends, that may have a nicer attitude.

I hope so. It still gets to me every time I see it. Every time I see anything related to old theatres I think of the Oriental. The gym I go to in Bay Ridge is an old theatre. The main room still makes use of the top of the screen frame, the Teaser? I still can't believe that all those years the old dressing rooms and stage set up were still in tact. Why didn't I think of getting a job there when I was a kid?

I just re-read this entire conversation and a few things are apparent, I really should proof before posting, more than one of us have encountered the Eastern Bloc Of The Oriental, and we'd all love to know what's left of the old girl. I'm glad to see the spirit still alive...

This posting by Philip Goldberg might answer some of the questions about what remains of the Loew's Oriental...

I was in the building this weekend shopping with my wife. Although the orchestra level is completely gutted, I found an original theater staircase behind a closed door. it still has some of the original brasswork. Look at the drop ceiling and you'll see a few missing panels, let your eyes adjust to the darkness above and you can barely make out the old ceiling of the theater. Also look at the plastered side wall. It's also from the original theater lobby. It's freshly painted but if you look up to where the ceiling panels are, and look above them through one of the missing panel's holes, you see where the old dark paint from the theater begins. (To gain access to this stairway, just ask to use the bathroom, as it stands behind a locked door, and a store associate must open it for you.)
posted by philipgoldberg on Nov 5, 2002 at 2:10pm

No damage was done to the walker when it was quaded. Three small auditoriums were built on the orchestra under the balcony and all the original walls, ceiling, screen etc were visible from the balcony theatre.

I guess, almost needless to say, the owners of the Loew's Oriental or Marshall's just didn't care much about the uniqueness of the space they were working with.

"I guess, almost needless to say, the owners of the Loew's Oriental or Marshall's just didn't care much about the uniqueness of the space they were working with. "

I think you're right. And what a true shame it is. I just can't believe the complete disregard for living history. I still wish I could just get someone there to tell me if there is or isn't anything left. I know I'm obsessing but it seems such a crime to have it all gone for nothing but a B-list department store.

Robert R When the Oriental was multiplexed, the orchestra saction was left intact. The Balcony was seperated in its first incarnation to make it a twin. When it became a triplex, the balcony was divided down the middle. The orchestra level was never cut up.

The May 15, 1986 "Movie Clock" of the NY Post shows the Oriental with three screens, presenting "Wise Guys," "Fire With Fire," and "Blue City."

...And I don't remeber a single one of those pictures, you?

Tommy X....Neither do I. It seems that not too long ago there were movies that were actually worth seeing. For the most part, todays films are not really films at all. They are only deals that are made by producers, Hollywood and merchandising people. They are designed to be made fast,open in wide release, do a few good weekends, and go to DVD or pay per view in the span of three months. Can anyone with half a brain be willing to pluck down 8 bucks, go to a faceless multiplex, be bombarded by endless commercials( not including the trailerts) to see a moron movie like The Pacifier with Vin Diesel and call THAT entertainment? If Hollywood gave us more intelligent movies say like Master and Commander, prehaps I would go back again. It may be sad, but it is certainly true.

Hahaha, Rat, That's a rant that rings so true. And that's the business I actually crave to be in! I always swore that if I made it, I'd try my hardest to bring back some modicum of class to Hollywood. It will be tough though with the likes of Vin "Did I mention I was a bouncer in New York?" Diesel and Sandra "They threw a whole lot of chash my way to make a sequel nobody asked for" Bullock. And by the way, it's more like ten bucks. And I loved Master and Commander. The guy may be an arrogant sob, but he certainly can act.

Tommy X ... LA Confidential, Gladiator. A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander. Hey, he is Russell Crowe and he can do whatever he wants!

I remember I saw Gladiator on a whim and came out stunned. He just killed me. I was a fan from then on. I don't know how he does it. I wish there were more like him, at least in an acting sense. It's amazing to see the physical transformations from character to character. The choices are just great to watch.

One night, back in early December 1997, a friend of mine called me after super. He told me the Oriental was open and was showing a movie!I met him and we got in my Oldsmobile and without even warming it up, we drove to the theater and parked. The stores appeared to be open and had items in the windows. The marquee advertised a movie called "Innocence Lost Forever". As we approached the theater, we stopped to look. A huge guy in a black jacket and a shaved head told us to move along. When we asked him what was going on, he replied in an easygoing voice that belied his rough looks that it was a movie shoot.It was all an illusion. The movie being shot(no pun intended)was an HBO movie about Sammy "The Bull" Gravano. Never did get to see it, but for one brief almost shining moment, we almost thought our favorite theater was re opened.

I believe that made for TV movie was on NBC, not HBO. I took a picture of the Loew's marquee when they were filming it. The scene outside the Loew's takes place at the start of the film.

Yankee Mike.... Would love to see that picture posted! Seems you were there the same night as I.

Reading all the posts on the Oriental sure brought back fond memories. I was raised on 79th and 18th. My youth was about movies. I remember the Hollywood, Benson, Oriental, Walker, The Garden, The New Garden, The Kingsway, The Marlboro, The Jewel (showed three movies)and the many theatres in the city that all had live shows. The Hollyuwood was a favorite because on Saturday it held the crazy races and had loads of cartoons and serials. What else could a youngster asked for? I'm in my 70's now and in Arizona but I still have a love for good old Broohlyn and Besonhurst. I'd love to have some interior pictures of the old stately lady. triple8larry@yahoo.com

Triple 8 Larry...Thanks to CINEMA TREASURES the old and forgotten theaters of Bensonhurst and Boro Park are well documented. A friend of mine who calls himself PhilPhil has posted entries on the Colony, Merro, Senate, Endicott and Ritz(QV).I post his entries under my screen name(Theaterat) because he does not have a computer. Can we press you for an anectdote describing the Hollywood? He was only there once or twice and his memory of it is very hazy.I myself live fairly close to it and always remembered it as a catering hall called the Hollywood Terrace. 2 years ago, it became a Kosher catering hall called Atares Shlomo. Your info on this theater will be most helpful. Thanks from PhilPhil and Theaterat.

Hollywood memories. There are so many and I definitely am not the writing expert. Saturday was my day. The movies cost all of 7 cents. With that you received two movies, at least two serials and of course the very popular races. The races would be of crazy people going through obstacles courses or car races that were more like demolition derbies. Each racer, car or person, wore a number. This number would be on a ticket that was given as you entered the theatre. The winning numbers would go on stage and receive a token prize. It wasn’t the prize but the acclaim by your friends for being the lucky winner. As they would say “you lucky dog”.

If I went to the movies during the week you could only get in after 3 pm. Then you’d have to sit in the children’s section which always had a matron watching over us. At 6 pm all children were “supposed” to leave. We’d ask to ask adults to buy our tickets so that we could go in after the designated hours.

I remember that they would put the film canister out by an exit door on 78th St. for the pickup and delivery of the films. Could you imagine that happening today? I never heard of anyone stealing the films. What a tragedy if that happened. The public would be without a movie for the next few days.

When December 7th came I was in the movie with my friends. They stopped the film and the theatre almost completely emptied. I wish I could remember the movie.

If I remember it was on Wednesday’s when they had dish night. They would give one dish per ticket. My mother and grandmother were regulars for this night. We ate off these dishes forever. My mom even gave my wife and me a full set when we got married. I eventually gave them away but I understand that they have real value today. When someone dropped a dishes there was always a big round of applause. Rarely, but not often, the Hollywood would have some form a stage entertainment. It was usually an Italian radio show’s soap opera actors. This didn’t happen very often as the Senate and the Walker had that venue pretty covered up. The big Italian soap opera was a show called “Pasquale C.O.D.” They also had some operatic singers come through from time to time.

I also remember that after the movies I had to pass Freytag’s on 79th and 17th. If I could I’d stop for the best ice cream cone on earth. This too has passed into oblivion.

I can’t remember when it became the Hollywood Terrace. I know that I attended a few weddings there and if I remember, I think it became a dance hall somewhere along the line. When it first opened as a catering hall the builders/owners didn’t level the theatre floor and it was a joke. That lasted a very short time and the floor was leveled. Many won’t remember that because it last only a “New York minute”.

I hope that this has jogged a few memories.
Thanks for listening.
Larry

Larry c.... Excellent!

Tommy X (if you are still out there)...Russell Crowe is at it again! Saw him on Letterman a few days after the "cell phone" incident, and I hate to say it but he came accross as a jerk! Great actor- to be sure, but every other word he says is "ya know"! Also "Cinderella Man" is a fairly good movie even though most critics panned it.

Theaterat
Believe it or not, I thought of you when I read that story of the Flying Phone. I'm sorry to say it, but the more he shows his face, the less respect I have for him. Eventhough I want to see Cinderella Man just for the performance, he's really making it difficult for me to be in his corner so to speak

Theaterrat I remember the homeless people at the Oriental in 1995/96. I had plans to stay there also but I was only 15 and stopped atempting to get in after seeing people in there through the front gate, whoever it was certainly showed themselves to stop a few stupid teens from trying to break in. Well I remember climbing up the old fire escape staircase on the outside of the building which probably had 3 screws left to hold it up, the whole thing shifted with your weight from side to side. On the opposite side, and I asume this is where you enetred the building? There was a burntdown/abandoned 3 family house next door this is where I stayed, from the 3rd floor window I caught sights of the back and side of the theater and looked for some entrance swearing I'd come back and get in someday. I really envy you, to see all the history in that building that was even hidden when it was open Amazing! I too was there to use the bathroom at Marshalls 5 years ago and although I can't remember too much of the inside from when I was 11ish and saw Hocus Pocus there, it does seem as if some things are intact above the first floor, the walls, the staircase, probably just not worth the money to tear everything down. (Unlike the theater on 18th ave between 64th +63rd which must be completely gutted, I've been through the first floor stores and the second floor doctors office.)
Maybe one day someone will realize how completely obsured it is to be using such a beautiful landmark as a one floor department store and turn it back into a theater, even though it would be very different apperance wise the structure of the building, the floor plans basically would still be the same. Maybe hang some original pictures in the lobby WoW!

Theaterrat I remember the homeless people at the Oriental in 1995/96. I had plans to stay there also but I was only 15 and stopped atempting to get in after seeing people in there through the front gate, whoever it was certainly showed themselves to stop a few stupid teens from trying to break in. Well I remember climbing up the old fire escape staircase on the outside of the building which probably had 3 screws left to hold it up, the whole thing shifted with your weight from side to side. On the opposite side, and I asume this is where you enetred the building? There was a burntdown/abandoned 3 family house next door this is where I stayed, from the 3rd floor window I caught sights of the back and side of the theater and looked for some entrance swearing I'd come back and get in someday. I really envy you, to see all the history in that building that was even hidden when it was open Amazing! I too was there to use the bathroom at Marshalls 5 years ago and although I can't remember too much of the inside from when I was 11ish and saw Hocus Pocus there, it does seem as if some things are intact above the first floor, the walls, the staircase, probably just not worth the money to tear everything down. (Unlike the theater on 18th ave between 64th +63rd which must be completely gutted, I've been through the first floor stores and the second floor doctors office.)
Maybe one day someone will realize how completely obsured it is to be using such a beautiful landmark as a one floor department store and turn it back into a theater, even though it would be very different apperance wise the structure of the building, the floor plans basically would still be the same. Maybe hang some original pictures in the lobby WoW!

Anni3May.... When my friend was living at the Oriental along with the other homeless people, there was a STRICT policy on who could enter. Most of these people were over 30 years of age, and the LAST thing they wanted was to see the theater vandalized. After all, if they were to be discovered, the charge of "breaking in" was bad enough and they really did not want charges of vandalism added to that. In retrospect, there was really nothing of value in there anyway and chances were probably good that no charges would be levied against them anyway.I did go in to visit my friend a few times. Even though his wife put him out, he did have a job and worked a regular schedule. Entry to the theater was afforded through the backstage area, wich was on Bay 19th.st. behind the theater and right before the first apartment house. It would have been to risky to use the entrance on Bay 20th.st, because of its close location to the private homes. As I stated in my entry, you had to be careful when you walked in the lobby because there was a good chance that someone outside on 86th. st would be able to see inside.When Marshalls opened, I got a look inside and the entire orchestra level{first floor} was completely gutted. There is a very good chance that the balcony may still be intact, but when I asked one of the managers- a very obnoxious Russian woman, she just blew me off by saying everything is gone,yet one of the salesgirls says the balcony AND the mezzanine is still there ans is an employee`s lounge!I tend to believe her. Anyway it is a damn shame that this theater was neglected and closed. At one time Bensonhurst had the Deluxe, the Walker, the Benson the Marboro, and the Oriental. Now all we have are memories.

Stupid as teens may be there was NEVER ANY thought of vandalizing ANYTHING at the Oriental! A place like that certainly deserves respect, and if it wasn't already inhabited I certainly would have gone in to admire it's beauty!

We can't always use the tired blame by placing "stuff" on teenagers. Example; I've lived in Arizona for over 40 years. One of my hobbies when I arrived here was to seek out ghost towns. Arizona is loaded with them. I discovered many and some appeared to have been abandoned just days before I arrived which is actually not the case. I walked through the towns not disturbing anything. There were shelves with can goods and tables with dishes and silverware just as they were placed when the buidings were inhabited. I left everything undisturbed. I returned twenty years later and it appeared that the town never existed. All that was left were the foundations. All I can say is I was glad I got to see the town before the dumb adults pick it bare for their souveniers. My kudos to the unlucky homeless that had the sense and decency to live and let live. Theaterat tell you buddy I said thanks.

Anni3May and LarrtC....The best thing anybody could have "taken" from the Oriental were the great memories of just being there and enjoying the movie experience as it was ment to be. Wether the film was good, bed, or indifferent, did not really matter. You were at a great theater and, for my money that was half the show!Like Marcus Loew once said" I don`t sell tickets to movies. I sell tickets to theaters".Bet those old Ghost towns were a terrific experience. Sounds like something from the Twilight Zone or Indiana Jones.

The February 13th 1995 Issue of New York Magazine rated the Sony Theatres Oriental "The Best in Brooklyn", here is what they had to say about the screen (size, whiteness): "The landmark theatre has been hacked into three theatres, all with semi-grand screens; the largest is 37' x 17'".

And here is the assesment about the seats (comfort, legroom, views): "Old and creaky, but you have an excellent chance of scoring some extra legroom in one of the upper cinemas (in what used to be the theatre's balcony), and the raking is spendidly steep".

Until I was 6, we lived above my grandparent's candy store on 15th Ave and 86th Street. We used to go to the Oriental all the time. It was a scary place for a little girl. My grandfather would keep the store open late as the people walking home from the theatre would stop in and get the night edition of the Mirror or the Daily News. In 1957,my parents bought a house in Sheepshead Bay. There were many fine theatres in that area - the Sheepshead, and a bit further north - the Avalon, Kingsway, Mayfair and the Elm on Ave M.
When I got older my husband and I used to go to the Oriental on Christmas Eve. It was a tradition for us. (We are Jewish and did not celebrate the holiday.) It was a great place to see a blockbuster movie such as the Godfather without waiting on a long line.
The last time we did that was on December 24, 1979. On December 24, 1980, our first daughter was born. Our Christmas Eve tradition ended.
A few years after that we moved to California. i will never forget the Oriental.

Shoshana... Mazel tov! The Oriental was a great theater. We are all a bit poorer due to its closing. As long as people remember this great theater, it will live forever in our memories.

On the New York City Department of Finance website in the ACRIS system there is a copy of the original lease between 1832 Realty LLC (Oriental's Lanlord) and TJX companies (Marshalls). In the lease are several architectural drawings that shows what the Marshall’s did to the former Oriental Theatre such as leveling out the lower theatre floor for retail. Based on some of these drawings it looks like the upper balcony portions (including the marble staircases) of the theatre are in fact intact but most of it is hidden behind false drop ceilings and new walls, the auditorium's original ceiling is also hidden. Also based on some of these drawings it looks like the former stage area of the theatre where vaudeville once played has been gutted out unfortunately.

The Loew's Oriental Theatre was sold by Hawthorne Amusement Corp.(Loews/Sony) to 1832 Realty LLC on May 3rd 1995. The lease for the Marshalls Store was signed on January 10th 1997.

How did you access the ACRIS system on the NYC Department of Finance website, Theatrefan? I couldn't find it... (Maybe a lack of ginseng or something...)

br91975, you can just google the word "ACRIS". I find ACRIS much more informative about theatre properties than the NYC Department of Buildings BIS lookup system.

My goodness. I'm sitting here reading all these posts and I almost what to cry. Unfortunately, I'm probably younger than most of you but I still remember being a small child in the early 80s walking into the lobby. It seemed so grand. I practically grew up in that theater but moved out of the neighborhood in 1994. When I returned around 98-99, I was horrified to see what had happened. Marshall's? Such disrespect. I remember hearing from relatives about the marque with Innocense Lost (something like that) but later found out that it was for a movie filming.

I believe the last movie I saw there was either Friday the 13th: Jason goes to hell or Jurassic Park. They were both playing in the orchestra. I wish I had known that there were still dressing rooms and a backstage. I had always (since I was a small child) wanted to be a performer. Many of my dreams where bred it that theater.

If I was to ever win the lottery (or become famous but right now I have more of a chance of winning the lottery) I want to buy the Oriental and restore and bring it back to a one screen movie palace. Of course, I will perform as well as anyone else who wants to.

We all still have the right to dream.

From the plans from the Dept. of Finance, it looks like there where plans to demolish the balcony. Does anyone know whether the balcony is still there?

lady Rigel
- The Oriental was a wonderful theater. I grew up in Bensonhurst and lived about six blocks away from it. Spent a lot of my teen years in the dark of that theater. The Loew's Oriental can be seen in some scenes of the 1994 film "Angie" with Geena Davis and James Gandolfini.

Yes, I grew up about six blocks away from it as well. They shot the house scenes from Angie on my block.

I remebered thinking as a child what a glorious place it must have been in its prime. It had already been uncared for by the time I started seeing movies there regularly. I remember seeing movies there and my feet where sticking to the floor and random chairs where missing.

It is too bad the Oriental wasn't appreciated as it should have been.

Yes. Its sad but true. ALL the great theaters in Brooklyn are now memories, With the recent demise of the Fortway, we are down to 9 theaters.Somehow, going to a multiplex like the Sheepshead or the awful Alpine just isn`t the same as going to a majestic theater like the Oriental, but thats showbiz.

Lady Rigel - What street was that where they filmed the house scenes in Angie? Just wondering if I know the block. I grew up on 81st and 18th Avenue.


During the release of The Bellboy, Jerry Lewis did a promotional tour of Loew's theaters where the film was playing. Got to see Jerry do about 15 minutes or so of bits before he got back on the bus for his next stop. Along with the Oriental I do know the tour included the Loew's 46th Street. YOu can see Jerry's home movies of this tour which are included as extras the DVD.

Here's a 1974 exterior view:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/129-2995_IMG.jpg

Hard to believe that if you rode the West End subway line into the 1950's you would pass 8 theatres. Normandie,Loews 46th,Loews Boro Park,Hollywood,Loews Oriental,Benson,Stillwell & The Loews Coney Island. All gone now but at least except for the Boro Park, all the theatre buildings still exist.
As for the Oriental its a shame it could not have been saved. Even after the theatre was twinned and tripled the orchestra section, stage,walls and cieling were still intact. Since the restrooms were on the mezz. level there were no changes there either. Even in its last days the only thing missing was a few seats in scattered rows of the orchestra.

yankee mike... Lets not forget the Deluxe and the Tilyou theaters that were within walking distance from the West End subway.

Then we should include the Mermaid also.

Yankee Mike... Almost forgot. I was never there, but I remember seeing it a few times.

I was never there either. Did get to the Tilyou once.

Yankee Mike... Did the Tilyou 2 or 3 times. It was a decent thearer that sort of resembled the RKO Dyker. Remember seeing "The Family Jewels" with Jerry Lewis and a double feature horror show- Cant remember the name.

The Garden Theatre was left out of the list of theatres along the West End line route. It was across the street from Loew's 46th Street.It closed in the 1950's. (See Garden theatre)

I saw the Incredable Mr. Limpet at the Tilyou. Was the Garden Theatre demolished. Never remember seing another theatre building across from the 46th street from the subway.

I saw the Incredable Mr. Limpet at the Tilyou. Was the Garden Theatre demolished. Never remember seing another theatre building across from the 46th street from the subway.

The Garden theatre was demolished in the 1950's. I went there as
a child. It was called the "dump" in its last years. It was built before World War I. Originally, before air conditioning, the roof opened at night. A supermarket and now a lumber store and yard occupy the site where the building once stood. (The theatre is listed
in Cinema Treasures.

The Garden theatre was demolished in the 1950's. I went there as
a child. It was called the "dump" in its last years. It was built before World War I. Originally, before air conditioning, the roof opened at night. A supermarket and now a lumber store and yard occupy the site where the building once stood. (The theatre is listed
in Cinema Treasures.

The Garden theatre was demolished in the 1950's. I went there as
a child. It was called the "dump" in its last years. It was built before World War I. Originally, before air conditioning, the roof opened at night. A supermarket and now a lumber store and yard occupy the site where the building once stood. (The theatre is listed
in Cinema Treasures.

JohnG409-Angie was film on 81st between 18th and 19th Avenues. I think you may know the block.

Also, I remember a Steven Segal movie being filmed at the intersection of 86th Street and 18th Avenue. Has anyone seen it and if the Oriental can be seen?

It's called "Out For Justice". I saw it in April 1991. I don't recall if the Oriental was seen in it. I remember the el station was in it, and the following dialogue :

MAN : What chick ? (pointing) Her ?

SEAGAL : No, the other one over there, the one with the nipples you could dial a phone with !

That was it ! I cracked up, and COULD NOT take the rest of the film seriously.

Thanks Lady Rigel. I'll have to watch the film again and pay close attention to those scenes.

Just as a note Other movies filmed the Bensonhurst area include The French Connection, Dog Daya Afternoon and Sat. Night Fever with it's classic opening sequence of Travolta walking down 86h St.

Anyone know of any other movies filmed in the area.

Here's a photo I took back in 1977.

http://photobucket.com/albums/a9/John409/?action=view¤t=f626f7ed.jpg

The marquee still looked great then.

I found this on the web long ago. Not sure where or who to credit.
A great shot of the marquee.

http://photobucket.com/albums/a9/John409/?action=view¤t=LoewsOriental-1950s.jpg

Essentially the same marquee in 1950's and 1977, but I wonder if all the neon was still working in the latter days.

I never knew Alan Freed played his shows at the Oriental.

RobertR - I don't know for sure, however, I wonder if it was a rock n roll show or was he himself just touring theaters to romote "Rock, Rock, Rock".

This was merely a PA tour of the Loew's circuit for "Rock, Rock, Rock." Freed made a brief stage appearance and then moved on to other Loew's theatres.

Al Jolson made an appearance at the Oriental to promote his film "Jolson Sings Again". He also went to other Loews theatres in Brooklyn on the same day.

Warren, PA = Prince Albert? Then the tour should include the Cameo, no doubt.

The Jolson tour has been discussed at the listing for the ex-Loew's Prospect in Flushing, Queens.

Thank you SO much for those wonderful pictures. They really sent me back.

My father remembers an appearance by Al Jolson at the RKO Madison Theater in Ridgewood, Queens, almost on the Brooklyn-Queens border, and probably, like the Ridgewood, to this day, listed in newspapers as being in Brooklyn.

My dad remembers that Jolson "brought the house down" with "Mammy" and other big numbers. He also claims to have met Jolson coming out of the subway a block from the Madison Theater at Myrtle, Wyckoff and Palmetto, directing him to the Madison, and getting free passes to the show as a result.

I would have thought a star of Jolson's stature would have pulled up to the back entrance of the Madison on Madison Street in a limousine and entered the theater that way.

From what I remember, the neon signs were working, however, not all of them at the same time. There was always one or two letters out.

That photo is great JohnG, I remember seeing The Deep there. We would ride the bus up from Bay Ridge (The B-13 if I remember correctly, or B-39? Can't remember and don't live around there anymore). Saw The Big Bus there, saw Airplane, the Psychic Killer, one of the Friday the 13th's, Ferris Bueller, etc...Last film I saw there was The Brady Bunch Movie and the theatre was in disrepair by that time.

A 1939 billboard. Please note the teaser at the bottom: "LOEW'S ARE EXPECTING TWINS!." I wonder what that meant?
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/quartet.jpg

Thanks, Warren. Perhaps it meant a new Loew's Twin Theater was about to be opened, or ground broken to start construction of one.

The wait is over! The reference was to "Loew's Twin-Hit Shows," a promotion designed to combat competition from the launching of the New York World's Fair. As a Loew's circuit ad said: "Our own World's Fair of double-barreled entertainment on every program. Both features are so good that each is deserving of top honors." The first program was "Huckleberry Finn" (with Mickey Rooney) & "4 Girls in White." Among those that followed were "Stagecoach" & "Fast and Loose"; "Ice Follies of 1939" & "Let Us Live"; "Midnight" & I'm From Missouri"; "Broadway Serenade" & "King of Chinatown"; "The Hardys Ride High" & "Society Lawyer"; "Pygmalion" & "The Lady's From Kentucky"; "East Side of Heaven" & "Calling Dr. Kildare"; "Union Pacific" & "Some Like It Hot"; "Wuthering Heights" & "Blondie Meets the Boss"; "Only Angels Have Wings" & "Spirit of Culver"; "Tarzan Finds a Son" & "Clouds Over Europe."

I saw my first horror film here, The Terror, with Boris Karloff. I forced my parents to take me so I didn't have to stay with the babysitter. My mom loved horror, but dad hated it. I loved the balcony and dark interior, and it was close enough to walk to on spring and summer nights to catch the latest horror or sci fi flick. I was heartbroken when it closed.

John (http://zomboscloset.blogspot.com)

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.

East Cost Rocker... Sorry to hear about your mother`s death. On the way you took to the VZ from Luna Park, there were at one time no less than7 theaters there. They were the SHORE, the TILYOU, the STILLWELL, the BENSON, the ORIENTAL, the HOLLYWOOD and the DYKER. Also, not too far away from these were the MERMAID, the SURF, the TRUMP Cinema, the TUXEDO and the DELUXE. Each and every one is now closed, abandoned, demolished, or used for retail. As long as we remember them, they will be , as Neil Young says in RUST NEVER SLEEPS- "gone, but not forgottren".

You can add the Marboro to that list.

DOn't forget about the WALKER and further down 18th Ave.(Near MacDonald Ave. under the L) the CULVER.

A c/o was issued to a New building at this address on February 14, 1928. Owner is listed as Hawthorne Amusement Corp. Architect was Harrison G. Wiseman. Purpose of building: 2725 seat motion picture theater. Another c.o was issued on February 7, 1977 for a twin screen theater. Seating was: theater1-1076 seats and theater2-1140 seats. On February 10, 1984 this theater is now listed as a triplex. Only a total seat count of 2216 is given.

My mother lived on 19th Street between Cropsey and Bay Shore. She went to Lafeyette High School and was very pretty.

Her name was Vivian Gelardi.

She always told a story about this theatre.

One day, in 1959, "Pillow Talk" opened there. My mother went to a Saturday Matinee and loved it so much she stayed till the midnight show.

Now, my mother had told her mother where she was going but when she failed to show up for dinner, my Grandfather beagn to panic.

Within minutes, it seemed, the whole block knew my mother had been "kidnapped" and was out looking for her.

When my mother returned home and explained she had been in the movies all day, literally, 5 minutes from her house, my grandfather took off his shoe and started hitting her with it in the middle of the street.

I only went there once or twice but I loved the feeling of it which never exsisted in the more modern theatres of Central New Jersey, where I was raised.

Here's an aerial view of the massive Oriental Theater building:

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qs0yvm8tzv1c&style=o&lvl=2&scene=2154072

What is currently happening to the theatre, what is there now?

It's a Marshalls Dept. Store although only the first floor is being used.

The last movie to play here was "A Pyromaniac's Love Story." A long way from "Moonstruck", which I saw there one cold winter's night !

So some enterprising person could do something with the balcony theatres?

How was it cut up when they multiplexed it, two or three theaters in the old balcony?

The balcony was split into 2 theaters. The orchestra was untouched.

Originally the theatre was made into a twin in the mid 70's by splitting the orchestra and balcony sections.

Later in the early 80's the balcony was split into two thus creating a triplex theatre. Two theatres above and a single theatre underneath.

An article and recent photo of the Marshalls store located in this former theater is at this website.

Yet another recent view of the exterior can be seen at the very end of the new two-part article about Dyker and Bath Beaches, Brooklyn, at www.forgotten-ny.com

This website has a small color photo of the Loew's Oriental Theater. The date given is "around 1989".

Not sure if this photo was posted here before.

This photo is from the mid 1940's. The caption reads "Loew's Oriental Theater on 86th near Bay 19th Street".

Very cool photo. Thanx for sharing and not being selfish like another fella here.

Yes, "Lost Memory" is so sharing. But I would call it a "hot" photo, since it is plainly marked as being under copyright to a Brooklyn agency. If "Lost Memory" had obtained it honestly by paying for its use, the markings would have been removed.

Cut the B.S. "Warren". It is a legitimate photo on a website. If you purchase the photo, the Brooklyn Pix.com is removed from the bought copy. There is nothing illegal about linking to it. Are you annoyed that I found it and you didn't? How are those opening day photos of the Ridgewood theater coming along? Ready to post them yet? We would all enjoy seeing them.

Are the copyrighted photos in your photobucket being used with permission fella. Perhaps I will draft an email to photobucket.com and make some inquiries. Let us see how legal your photo's are fella. You know even less about the law then you know about theatre's. It would be impossible for 'Warren' to post the Ridgewood theatre photo's right now since he doesn't have possession of them. He is a fibber. A nasty trouble making fibber at that.

I don't understand how that comment got messed up. Perhaps 'Warren" caused it. haha

I write this comment openly to Patrick and/or Ross and would like to know why it is that Warren continues to get away with wantonly aggravating other members on this site with no apparent provocation? Perhaps he has been privately admonished, but I see no contrition or abatement on his part. It may be Warren has been careful not to cross any "obvious" lines and becoming vulgar or explicit - but aren't some of his comments of late even in the slightest bit reprehensible? Go check out his comments on the Beacon Theater page (CT #42) from November 6th towards Lost Memory and mikemovies and tell me I'm wrong.

As great as so many of his contributions over the years have been to this site, I am hard pressed to think of another individual member who has been the cause of more personal rancor on this site or wasted more bandwidth by belligerently haranguing folks over the nature of their contributions and comments.

I am getting pretty fed up with it.

I'm also fed up with his accusations and sarcastic comments. This has nothing to do with off topic messages. All I am doing is posting links to theater photos. I tried to ignore him and I tried turning the other cheek as was suggested. That doesn't work. I didn't mind when it was confined to the Ridgewood theater page, but he now follows me around the website. It seems that he has "diplomatic immunity". At least thats how it appears to many people on this site. Does he receive ten warnings to our one? I thought the rules were applied equally to everyone. If he has nothing else to contribute besides his sarcastic comments, maybe a "vacation" from this website would help to improve his disposition.

Lost, the word is "deportment"... which perhaps needs to be amended to "deportation" in his case.

Whatever the correct word is Ed, something has to be done with him. He attacks me for posting a legitimate link to a photo. At the same time, he uses and alters copyrighted material without permission. For an example, take a look at a comment "posted by Mark W. on Nov 8, 2006 at 8:12pm" on the Shore Theater page.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/595/

If "Mark W" needs to contact me, my private e-mail address is displayed (and always has been) at my membership page. There is no need for him to post complaints to the webmaster, if he really has. It might be "Lost Memory" or "mikemovies" hiding under another pseudonym. "Lost Memory" once changed pseudonyms four or five times in a single day.

MarkW is definitely a different and single person. He is not any of the other people here, I know him from a different forum, and is most definitely not any of the other people here, and can vouch for his credibility.

I'm sure that he already knows that Bway. Does the name Mark look like a pseudonym? Thats right "Warren", we're all the same person. That seems to be your typical defense when you get caught doing something wrong. Why should Mark have to email you "Warren"? You used and altered his photos without permission so why would he want to talk to you? If I was Mark, I'd have my lawyer contact you for copyright infringement. Its time for you to go "Warren" before you cause anymore trouble on this site.

Seriously, I REALLY do know Mark, not personally, but have met him in person a few times. He is most definitely a real person.

From Warren: <<If "Mark W" needs to contact me, my private e-mail address is displayed (and always has been) at my membership page. There is no need for him to post complaints to the webmaster, if he really has.>>

If Warren had only followed his own advice more often, think of all the space we might have saved on these pages not having to waste bandwidth on the bilge about the bilge! G whiz!

Warren, it's not your job to worry about whether an image has copyright issues. Leave that to the people who run this website.

As you can see, attacking the contribution of another user is pretty counter-productive. And, personally, I'm pretty tired of dealing with the same argument, over and over, on multiple theater pages.

Your contributions are welcome. But, if you can't get along with other users on this site, or at least stop baiting people with negative comments, we may be forced to suspend your posting privileges for a while.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, etc,etc, etc, Lets stop the personal attacks and senseless accusations. This is a website devoted to theaters and infomation on them be it past or present.After all, we did have enough of that during the election campaign with all those cheap and negative ads from the politicos from BOTH parties! Lets not carry that over to Cinema Treasures!

I agree it's time for this movie engagement to end, its the same movie in so many theaters.... it's been playing in so many theaters on this site already....pretty impressive even for theater that have been closed to showing movies....
Time to take those letters off the marquee and move on, and get back to what we are all here for (and it's not this bad "movie").

Good points, Theaterat and Bway, and so, so apropos to Election Day !

As we approach Veterans Day, let's stop running both the "bad movie", as Bway called it, and end the war within Cinema Treasures.

Thank you, Patrick, for addressing the issue ! You see, boys, we're not alone ! DOWN, Warren !!! SIT !!! QUIET !!!

NY Times May 28, 1995

"Former Brooklyn Movie Palace Is Sold; For 3 Screens, The End

Shopping in a big-box store is a popular entertainment of the 90's. So perhaps it's fitting that the purchasers of the Oriental Theater, which was built in 1927 as a 2,700-seat movie palace on 86th Street between Bay 19th and Bay 20th Avenues in Brooklyn, hope to lure such a tenant into the 35,000-square-foot space on Bensonhurst's main shopping street.

Sony, which sold the theater and an adjoining 10-store blockfront for $1.6 million, declined to identify the purchaser.

But Barry Rosner of Williams Real Estate, which represented Sony in the all-cash sale, said that the buyer was a group of foreign investors and that big-box retail was their goal. The property needs "substantial reinvestment," Mr. Rosner said.

The empty theater, converted to a triplex several years ago, could not compete with a nearby multiplex and closed in February. The 10 stores on 86th Street have been vacant for some years, said Howard Feuer, district manager of Community Board 11. "It was almost an eyesore," he said.

Mr. Feuer said that Sony had considered converting the theater into a multiplex but dropped the idea because of a lack of available parking. "I have mixed emotions about the sale, because it's the end of an era," he said. "But if a good-quality tenant comes in, it could enhance the district".

Yes Mr Feuer, Marshall's really enhanced the district. Real upscale.

Incredible-isn`t it. Parking was never an issue for the almost 70 years the Oriental was open for. They just gave up on it, gutted it and opened a Marshalls.I quess the future of Bensonhurst will be more stores and many, many more of those so-called "Cookie Cutter" houses that are spreading like wild mushrooms throughout the neighborhood on almost every vacant lot there is. Call it "borough improvement" if you like. I call it a blight-and an eyesore that is even worse than the closed Oriental theater and the surrounding stores that were near it.^The nearest theaters that are still open are the UA Sheepshead and the Alpine. The less said about these, the better.

Curiously, "a lack of available parking" deterred Sony from converting the theatre into a multiplex but didn't seem to bother Marshall's. Where do its customers park, or do they all come there on roller skates or public transportation?

The theatre, if booked right and the place was cookin', on a Friday or Saturday night would draw far more customers at any given time than Marshalls can, particularly now that there few theatres left in Brooklyn - hence, the parking issue. There's a Marshalls over here by me and you could throw a bomb in there and not bother anybody.... Besides, Sony was not interested in the theatres - they were just part of the the baggage they got when they took over Columbia Pictures. Once they discovered they owned them they decided to use them as a petri dish for their experiments with cinema audio equipment and development of SDDS.

The Oriental was a terrific theater. I grew up six blocks from it and saw many films there. Hercules with Steve Reeves,Visit To A Small Planet, Tarzan The Magnificant, Thief of Bagdad, Wakiest Ship In The Army, Cinderfella, The Cardinal, The Commancheros,Exodus, Guns of Navarone, Von Ryan's Express,King of Kings, Hey Let's Twist, Mad Dog Cole, Morgan The Pirate, GI Blues,Blue Hawaii, Of Human Bondage (Kim Novak verison), Amorous Adventures fo Moll Flanders, Five Easy Pieces, In Like Flint, The Train, Stagecoach (1966), Reds and many others. Last fil m I saw there was Leagl Eagelsin 1986.

I remember well when the The Godfather started playing there. The crowds were around the block! The entire neighborhood went. Even my parents who had not been to a movie theater in years.

Yeah John, remember "The Godfather" at the Oriental very well. Went on a Sunday night in May of 1972 with my friend Mike McG-don`t want to reveal his last name, and his brother Sean.Since they are Irish, I had to tell them what all those Italian expressions ment! The theater was so packed that we had to sit in the first row, center stage.A great night at the movies.

While parking would be necessary for a store such as Marshalls, the difference between a theater and a store is that while with a store you have lots of people coming through the doors over the course of let's say a day, you don't have them all coming at the same time, and all parking at the same time as you would with a theater.

This is a recent photo of Marshall's, formerly the Loew's Oriental Theater.

My grandparents lived off of 86th street (around the corner from the Benson). My grandfather only took us to the Oriental once in 1972. We saw a peculiar kids adventure movie called "Flight of the Doves". It was a British movie about orphans finding there real parents, and a menacing uncle with a hawk tattooed on his hand was after them. The theater seemed gigantic to me! I love reading all these posts/stories/folk lore. Really haunting and sad... P.S. the above poster who was there when the seats were being tossed in a dumpster--did you take one??????? I would have!

Here's a nice front view pic I took in either the summer of '97 or '98:
<img src=\"http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a253/Brooklyn00/LoewsOriental2.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket\">

The link didn't work.

ooops!, heres the link to the pic again:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a253/Brooklyn00/LoewsOriental2.jpg

Thanks for posting the link, VinnyBrooklyn. Unfortunately, it's blocked at my PC. My headache, not yours.

Thanks, Bloop, for your reminiscence.

Hey PKoch, If you would like me to email the pic to you, get in touch with me at my Email. Its VinnyBrooklyn@yahoo.com

Pkoch, your computer won't let you access photobucket?

No, it's a gvmt. computer system. Super security, Big Bush is watching, might be Al Qaida, etc., yadda yadda.

Hey Vinny Bklyn, I got that image of Loew's Oriental, printed it, showed it to my dad. He enjoyed it. Thanks again !

I loved the loews, to me it was so cozy, you know the balconies, marble staircases, water fountains in the marble walls, it was an awesome theater. I saw Star Wars, Grease, The Warriors, and countless other movies there. To me the Loews is still there because its massive frame still exists. The only thing that stunk was the sticky floors, but now I wish I had those sticky floors back.

Thanks Vinny Bklyn for the image , I got chills when I saw it.

I'm happy you guys enjoyed the picture. I actually attended Loews one of the last weeks they were open for "A Goofy Movie" when I was about 12 years old for a friends birthday party. One of the things I miss about that place was the decor. I remember the ceilings had beautiful vintage designs, they also had antique chandeliers ect...

Yes, the inside was beautiful : the arches, tiled floors, balcony railings, domed ceilings, Moorish motifs : beautiful archutecture. I was only in there once, the last Sunday in February 1987, to see "Star Trek IV" (the one with the whales) but I got a good look at the interior. Even divided into three cinemas, the place was so huge, each of those three cinemas was a good size.

Because of the Moorish motif, a friend I was with for the Star Trek movie thought the building had originally been a Muslim mosque. She was unfamiliar with such grandiose and splendid NYC theater architecture.

More bad Bensonhurst news. The Oriental Manor, the catering hall and Brooklyn legend directly across from the former theater has now been closed. Even though the decor is still there,a new cut rate "schlock shop" has opened there as of 2 weeks before this post.

Thanks for the bad news, Theaterat. I can relate to "schlock shop" (my mother used to call them "shit shops", in contrast to quality stores) because of the RKO Madison Theater in Ridgewood, Queens, having become a Liberty Department Store.

P Koch... you are exactly right.This is a "warehouse" type of store that sells cut rate furniture, clothes, jewelry, toys and electronics.Marshalls-where the former Oriental theater was ain`t much better. -hit stores indeed!

Indeed ! Yet, I prefer these old theatres becoming second-rate discount stores, to them being totally gone (like the Commodore near Bway and Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg, Bklyn). At least, if they've become stores, we can still walk around inside.

Would like to share my one and only experience with this fine theatre. Back in the yearly/ mid 90's I convinced my girlfriend at the time to take a ride with me down to Brooklyn to see a film here. I was never there before, but had passed it on the street and knew right away it was something special. So, armed with my trusty pocket 35mm and girl (who had no interest in theaters, but was cooperative) went to see a movie. When i entered i was instantly reminded of the RKO keiths. Even though it looked different inside you knew it was of the same era of opulance. (I remember being a "little" disapointed at the time because i was hoping this was an atmospheric theatre, like the Triboro or keiths.) Never the less I clicked away the whole 36 exposure roll of the auditorium, upstairs hallway and lobby. Very happy, I went home wanting to develope the film the next day, to show to my older brother who also loves old movie houses. Now, Iam sorry to say fans i will not be posting these pictures here because i never had them! The next day,(and you have to remember this was the early 90's when coke/crack heads were still running around in my area-Astoria. The next day i go out to my car and the door is wide open, my radio is gone and so is the camera. No big loss-fairly cheap camera, cheap radio but the film inside!! I closed my door and looked down the side walk and there in the bright daylight was my fully exposed roll of film!! I told myself i would go back again but procrastinated and soon after learned the theatre closed.

Thanks for sharing your experience here, GerardC. Sorry to read about your car and your film. I had no idea Astoria was so bad in the early 1990's.

It's been a while since I signed into this site. It appears that Warren is still making waves. He must have a boring life an uses Cinema Treasures for his excitement. I was born and bred in Bensonhurst. 79th Street and 18th Ave to be exact. Even though the Hollywood was my theater of choice because it was so close but I still favored the Oriental. It was like going to the city to the "big" theaters. I read that some cannot understand why developers do not re-create the past because of parking etc. When I was young we had an ingenious method of travel. We used our two good legs and hoofed it where ever we traveled. The parking was solved because we park our legs under the seats. Some times, when the person was too tall in front of us, we sat on our legs. For the more distant theaters we used the trolley, the bus or the el. No need for parking. Alert! Those means are still available it's just laziness that prevents their use. Now for my sadness. I never had the means to take pictures of the interior of the Oriental. GerardC's story brought tears to my eyes. I left Brooklyn in 1961 when I was 28. I often tell my kids, grand kids and great grand kids what the "old" Theaters looked like. If anyone has any pictures of the interior of the Oriental please contact me as I would love to share them with my family.

Thanks for your post, LarryC. Good to have you on this theater's page !

I was about to post some ultra-rare views of Loew's Oriental in its original form when I noticed "LarryC"'s 5/22/08 comments about me. If he apologizes, I'll display the images. Otherwise, not.

Grow-up Warren.

It's not a question of "growing up." Why should I post rare material for the benefit of someone who recently insulted me?

Warren: I only made the comment because I've seen postings about you using other names and stirring up some heat on the site. Of course I'd like to see the images so that I can share them with the younger members of my family. My skin may be thicker than yours and so be it. I just like peace and if you feel the same then you'll take whatever is said with a grain of salt.
Peace, LarryC.

Thanks, Larry! I appreciate your comments. I have never posted at Cinema Treasures under any other names than my real ones of Warren and Warren G. Harris. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. I will display the vintage images of Loew's Oriental ASAP.

Here are the promised images, copied from 1927 trade journals. It would be more than a year before Loew's Oriental started showing "talkies." In this view, the vertical sign above the left side of the marquee is barely visible due to the camera angle:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/oriental27a.jpg
Note the unique shape and elaborate decoration of the proscenium arch: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/oriental27b.jpg
An auditorium view taken from the stage: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/oriental27c.jpg

Warren, thanks for all the photos you have added lately. Especially the color ones of may of the theaters in their last days as theaters.

As for the photos of the Oriental, its an absolute shame that all that beauty is now gone, and it's used as a store.
Does anyone know what, if anything, remains visable in the Marshalls Store? I'd like to make a trip over to that store to see the inside, but if all that remains is similar to the butchering that was done to some theaters in store conversion, like the RKO Madison in Ridgewood, I don't want to waste the trip.

Warren: Thanks for the pictures. Someone, way back, said they had a DVD of the inside of the Oriental. He promised to send me a copy but I never heard back from him. I will blow up your still and show my kids. Again, thanks
Larry

Thanks Warren, for the photos of the Oriental. I grew up in Bensonshurst on 81st and 18th Ave so I was only a few blocks away. Many Saturday afternoons were spent there. Saw Jerry Lewis live there also i hte early 60's

I too grew up just a few blocks form the Oriental on Bay 16th Street. Whenever I saw that beautiful building it meant home for me. I lived in that area from 73-03. The Loew's will always be a part of who I am. I'd love to see more pics of it from the 70s and or 80s or any old pics of 86th st. I really whole heartedly thank each and every one of you for your wonderful stories and memories. They made me feel so good to hear about times past. If anyone has any pics of the old neighborhood could you forward to bensonhurst26@aol.com? I'd be so appreciative. I've been looking for a pic of "Leisure World" Toy store that was located on 18th ave just a few short blocks from the Lowe's. Thanks so much again for the great reading. I wish you all much happiness and heath!

You're welcome, Darthscooby, and welcome to Cinema Treasures !

Here's a photo I took of the Oriental back in 1977.

http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/category/classic-movie-theaters/

Thanks, JohnG409.

I see you also took photos of the Paris Theatre. I think I saw "The Exorcist" there on 2 April 1974. I also saw "King Lear" there in late February or early March 1972.

Thanks Peter K - I am posting photos I took, of different theaters every month, from around the country. Please check back.

You're welcome, JohnG409. Will do, and thanks again ! I hope you continue to enjoy Cinema Treasures !

The Oriental used to present live shows and concerts in its earlier years. Usually to launch a new musical, the film's stars would often appear and perform a selection of songs from the movie; this was especially true in the 1950s. For instance, Vic Damone (who was actually from Bensonhurst)appeared at the Oriental when his film KISMET opened there. The great Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson were there for THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS. However, being 54, this was before my time.

Like many of the people on this thread, I was born and raised in Bensonhurst. The Oriental was indeed a special place...I miss it.

I am also a home bred Brooklyn boy and Seeing the Oriental back in 2004 which was the last time I was up there made me want to break down and cry before heading back to Maryland. So many of these fine palaces have been either converted to retail, demolished or in the case of the Lowes Kings, Shore an even Ridgewood sitting empty and decaying.

Maybe they closed it because at the time Loews was owned by Sony, who may have been offended by the politically incorrect name 'Oriental'. And changing it to Loews Asian sounded too stupid.

LOL I doubt it very much. There are 10 other listings for Orientals listed. Four are demolished . 3 listed as open and the rest closed. There was even one located in Hong Kong. Demolished in 1981.

I also was a Bensonhurst citizen and went to the Oriental more times that I can remember. The Oriental name is not necessarily a slam ss just a term for the East as Occidental is a term for the West. Further, if any one wants to know some more trivia Boral is for Northern and Austal is for the South.

Vic Damone, who took his mothers maiden name is originally Vito Farinola. I'm 5 years younget that him but we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same High School, Lafayette, which, by the way, was where Larry King went at the same time I did.

Vic had a sister, Teresa, who I dated as a kid but it didn't last long as she was taller than me and I still didn't grow to my full height until the later years. I sort of remember Vic coming back and doing a performance but I didn't realize it was at the Oriental. That would have been the one and only live show that I knew was there. The live shows were usually at the Senate and the Walker. And as far as I can remember they were all Italian Radio shows taken to the live theater. I took my grandmother to a few even though I did not understand any Italian with the exception of usual cus words. One of the radio shows I remember was "Pasquale COD". I kind of figures it was the Italian version of either The Life of Riley, Amos and Andy or Fiber Mcgee and Molly. In any event the crowd roared and I even began to laugh along with them as the laughter was infectionous.
Those were the days my friends.

Here is Loew's Oriental in 1967 and this photo is from 1981.

I want to make a trip to see the inside of the Oriental by going to the Marshalls there, but before I waste my time going there, does anyone know if any of the former ornamentation of the theater is still exposed? Is it worth taking a look, or has it just been gutted and covererd up in the conversion?

It is my understanding that most of the interior remains. Whether or not you are able to access the second floor to look over the false ceiling is a crap shoot. It probably depends on who is working that day and what kind of a mood they are in.

If all else fails you might try bribery. A high school kid would likely let you upstairs for $20, provided the manager isn't around.

How sad it must be to see, like so many wonderful movie theatres. Many of us who are old enough are lucky to remember them. I have so many wonderful memories of attending the Oriental. When I moved out of Brooklyn, New York City had greatly changed and lost a lot of its charm to me.

The "Oriental", The "Benson" and the "Deluxe" all within a few blocks of each other. Never a problem going to the movies back in the 60's and 70's. I spent many an eveing at those three neighborhood theatres. Sadly all three are now history.