Shore Theatre

Originally the Loews Coney Island. This theater became the Brandts Shore in the early 70's. It closed showing XXX movies. The main floor has all seats removed and the floor was leveled so a planned bingo hall could be opened. The balcony is pretty much intact. The theater and office building suffered heavy vandalism for several years between the leveling of the floor and it's purchase in the late 80's by it's current owner.

Location: Surf & Stillwell Avenues

Thank you for the comments on the Shore. I saw this theatre last July while making my first ever trip to Coney Island, and there was this huge theatre, across from Nathan's Famous hot dogs. I was with several theatre buffs at the time, and no one knew anything about it, except one person did mention that it had been a Loew's house at one time.

The theater is currently owned by Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise king Harold Bullard who, in the 1990s, made news by wanting to build an amusement mecca, similar to Steeplechase Park, on the fabled amusement area's former site. Of course, his dream was shattered when his financing feel through. He still owns the theater as well as a few vacant lots in the Coney Island area.

STAY TUNED! Rumor has it something BIG is going to happen to this theater soon!

I ate the worst Ribs ever at the Kansas Fried Chicken located on the former theatres ground level.They were covered with a disgusting sauce.

The Coney Island Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Reilly & Hall. Built by real estate developers Irwin & Henry Chanin, it was sold before opening to Loew's, which began operation on June 27th, 1925, with a policy of vaudeville and feature movie. Although it was never a big moneymaker (who went to Coney Island to attend a movie?), Loew's stayed on for decades for the public relations value. The theatre's dazzling marquee and vertical sign kept the Loew's name in view of the millions who visited the resort annually. The Brandt take-over and name change to the Shore took place around 1964-65. Attempts to appeal to the area's large Jewish community by presenting stage revues like "Bagels & Yox" failed, and the programming switched to exploitation movies and eventually porno...Photographs of the Coney Island's elegant auditorium in its original condition can be found in volume one of "American Theatres of Today," by R.W. Sexton and B.F. Betts.

The theater can be seen at either the upper center or upper right of the following images of the Stillwell Avenue el station :

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6503
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6851
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4987
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4774
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4818
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4880
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?5183
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?28296

Listing should be changed to Loew's Coney Island.

To clear some things up in the listing

Loew's Coney Island renamed Brandt's Shore in the late 60's for it's last few years.

Status: Closed Architect: Reilly & Hall Chain: Loew's

Loew's Coney Island became Brandt's Shore in May 1964 which is hardly late '60's. The Brandt Theatre display ads of the time show the theatre as the Coney Island for about a month after the changeover and then being renamed the Shore. At this time some theatres had their own ads as well. The new single Shore ads still stated "formerly Loew's Coney Island" for about two months after the name change.

Yeah, I had trouble finding the theater as the "Shore Theater" instead of "Loew's Coney Island", but finally found it a few weeks ago after seeing the "Shore" sign in a nycsubway.org photo.
It's difficult I guess, as so many theaters went through many name changes. Some people know them by their original names; others know them by their later names.

The owner was in there for 3 hours yesterday with structural engineers. Something is brewing... I was in the theatre about a month ago. While it needs TONS of work, It can be restored. I will try to post the pics I took in there.

Mark W. How did you get in the theater. I was in there about six years ago. E-Mail me. I want to compair notes. JDousmanis@hotmail.com

Here's a current photo taken of the Shore Theater on July 24, 2004:

Click here photo link

Hey Mark! If you could e-mail me some of those photo's that you took, that would be great. My family is from Coney Island and a theatre in Coney Island is just too much to resist!
Thanks!
SIDEWALK714@aol.com

Does anyone know, that at one time the Loews was own by "Ol Blue Eyes" himself? "Frank Sinatra"...

When did Mr. Sinatra own this theatre, and for what purpose?

I don't have the details just yet, but I will get them...

I am a huge Sinatra fan and have never heard this?

Hey! Rob! Glad that you are interested. I'm a person who respects Sinatra as well... Yes! My father first told me before he passed away. My family is from Coney, there are some things that only the origanal locals would know...
Be well...

The Sinatra rumor is just that, A rumor. When gambling was proposed for Coney Island, Rumors were everywhere. Mr. Sinatra visited Coney Island one day in the late 60's / early 70's and all of a sudden, He owned or wanted to own this building and that building. At no point did Frank Sinatra own this or any other building in Coney Island. It is not an opinion, It's a fact.

The 'headers' for the Shore Theatre need changing as follows;
Architectural Style: French Renaissance
Chain: Loew's
Architectural Firm: Reilly & Hall

Opened as Loew's Coney Island Theater on 17th June 1925 with the movie "The Sporting Venus" starring Blanche Sweet & Ronald Colman. Film stars Ben Lyon and Mae Bush attended the opening.

A week after opening, an attraction on the stage was The Hilton Sisters-a pair of Siamese Twins who were born joined together.

According to various newspapers of the period, some 18 "stage, screen, radio, cabaret and newest celebrities" were brought from Manhattan to the Shelburne Hotel for dancing and then to the opening of Loew's Coney Island. The Brooklyn Citizen (June 18, 1925) reported "the crowd gathered in front of the theatre was so great that a special cordon of police was necessary to keep the surging mass back from the entrance". The paper also enjoyed "the impromptu show stage by Neils Granlund (N.T.G of W.H.N.). Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) was not amused--criticizing both Granlund and Johnny Hines for "smut patter" .
The papers also state "the new theatre will present pictures exclusively except for the week of June 22, when the Siamese Twins, Violet and Daisy Hilton will be introduced as an extra attraction". This quote must have been taken from the same press release since it appears in several papers. At that time, the Hiltons were enjoying a certain popularity as a novelty musical act in vaudeville. Jazz playing Siamese twins may have been a novelty elsewhere but not at Coney Island. Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) reporting that "the big Siamese Twins draw isn't drawing", adding that appearing at the Island's various side shows that week was a "boy with an elephant's ear" and a "girl with three legs".

TO: cjdv. A great report! Do you suppose that the Siamese Twins, --Violet and Daisy Hilton -- were perhaps the great-grandparents of Nicky and Paris Hilton?

The Hilton Sisters were featured in the MGM cult classic, "Freaks." Their vaudeville career was managed by the legendary Terry Turner. In the 1950s, they starred in a low-budget exploitation biopic, "Chained For Life," which is still available on home video. They died in 1969 at age 60 from complications brought on by the Hong Kong flu.

Anything ever rumored to be going in here? Since the area is improving it might do some business.

A few gays ago, a friend advised me of this page devoted to the Loews Coney Island Theatre. I was born and raised in Coney Island
during the late 30's to the late 50s and I have a wonderful close history with the Loews. My father was its custodian/electrician for decades and I took advantage of his affiliation. While growing up, I attended all kiddie shows and Saturday matinees. But my great enjoyment was attending the Tuesday night double feature and vaudeville shows. My permenantly reserved seat was on the aisle, third row, stage right. The movies were B pictures from Republic Studios, but the live acts were a thrill and a precurser to the Ed Sullivan and Milton Berle TV shows. This incredible theatre played host to the greatest vaudeville and clean burlesque acts. Acts like Gallagher & Sheen, Peg Leg Bates, Pat Rooney, Sr., The Boswell Sisters and dozens of singers, comics, jugglers, and novelty acts. My father found me, usually asleep, right after the curtain came down and we'd walk home to 2841 West 22nd Street. I never paid to get in. However, during my high school years at Lincoln, I reciprocated to the Loews by making it my business to carry the heavy film cans from the lobby to the projection booth high above the balcony. For some strange reason, the cans holding MGM musicals always seem to be the heaviest. Frankly, I'm glad I wasn't around to see that beautiful theatre spiral downward to a porno house. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a Michael Eisner type came along and renovated the great lady as Eisner did for the Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street?

Frankie O-- It must have been your dad who performed a random act of kindness to me when I was six years old. My grandfather, a character out of "The Gangs of New York" (since '02 I've been bragging that his father, my great-grandfather, was Leonardo da Caprio), brought me on an outing to Coney Island (or, "The Oyland," as we called it in B'klyn). It must have been late Spring '48, since I recall seeing a poster for "I Remember Mama" as we passed the RKO Dyker on the bus. Upon exiting the bus at Stillwell and Surf Aves, we passed by the stage door of Loew's CI. It was open and ready to receive stage sets that stood on the street. Small-fry theater-addict that I was, I pulled da Caprio, Jr., to the door and onwards into the dark. The movie was playing, and the custodian/electrician (Frankie O, Sr.?) invited us further, but not too much further, to survey the space. It was my first time on a stage, and I was amazed at the tangle of ropes and cables, flats and braces, gauze and padding, that contributed to what, in reality, must have been fairly minimal vaudeville sets. I was also amazed that the movie projected through the screen, which was clearly not the opaque sheet that I had assumed movie screens to be. Your dad (?) explained some principles of stage effects to us, and after a few minutes my grandfather tipped him (that's how you got along in old NY, or at least how he did) and took me on my way. I have no recollection whatsoever of the rest of that day, but for the past half-century and more I've had flashbacks of standing on the CI stage as a defining moment and point-of-no-return in my addiction to theater buildings.

Hi BoxOfficeBill, no offense, this is just my opinion, but I thought "Gangs of New York" was one of the most horrible, dull, and worthless films I've ever seen. Please again, no offense. I'm sure you loved your Grandfather, and I've never met him. My comment is strictly about the movie and not about your family.

Di Caprio (sorry for the above misspelling--my Italian got in the way) was the weak link in that film -- shoudda been a young Sean Penn. Or my grandpa.

Hi BoxOfficeBill, Not sure if it was my dear father who showed you around, although it sounds like something he would do. I just kinda doubt he would have taken any money. His name was Pasquale, but most called him Patsy. You're quite right about the huge screen. I also was amazed that you could see the movie while standing behind the screen. Upon close inspection, while no movie was playing, you could actually see the thousands of pin sized holes in the white screen fabric. The stage door entrance was indeed on Stillwell Avenue adjacent to a sporting goods shop. Anyway, regarding the theatre personnel, they were like family and most worked at Loews for many years. On my father's 25th anniversary, he was given a party and presented with a small lapel pin depicting Leo the Lion in which whose eyes were imbetted two small diamonds. Unfotunately the pin was misplaced many years ago. Not exactly sure how MGM and Loews were affiliated. I remember the A pictures showed by Loews were from MGM and Paramount. I believe the Tilyou Theatre at Surf and 19th street had the exclusive showing for 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. pictures.

If your dad didn't take the tip money, my grandad likely slipped it into your dad's pocket when unawares--he did things like that. And the Tilyou: yes, that theater caught my eye at The Oyland, too. Once on an outing there with my parents, I drove them crazy about going to see a movie at the Tilyou instead of wasting time on the Whip and the Loop-the-Loop. I remember we saw "The Iron Curtain" there, so it must have been Summer in the same '48.

"The Iron Curtain" played the RKO circuit as the top half of a double feature with "The Tender Years."...What's preventing Coney Island from being re-developed into an equivalent of the current Atlantic City? There seems to be plenty of land for it, and I think it could be even more successful than AC due to its proximity to Manhattan and numerous subway lines from all over.

No gambeling :(

FYI The thousands of pin holes are there for a reason. They let the sound pass through from the speakers which are in back of the screen.
John D. Projectionist Local 306 NYC

Why couldn't gambling be permitted at Coney Island? I realize that there might be present laws prohibiting it, but couldn't they be changed by a public vote or whatever is required? It would rejuventate Coney Island, create thousands of new jobs, etcetera. But perhaps the "Mafia" that controls gambling is opposed.

Warren -- thanks for the recall of "The Tender Years" with Joe E. Brown, likely the reason my dad agreed to forego the Coney Island rides to see a movie with that comic actor. I remember that the coming attraction at the Tilyou was for "The Woman in White," based on Wilkie Collins's novel, an apparently overheated film that would have appealed to my toddling sensibilities. When it came to our local RKO nabe the following week, we didn't see it, much to my disappointment.

According to my notes, the RKO circuit program after "The Iron Curtain" & "The Tender Years" was "Berlin Express" & "Scuda-Hoo!Scudda-Hay!," and "Woman in White" followed that as second feature to "Silver River." But it's possible that the Tilyou showed trailers for more than one week ahead, one set marked "Next Week" and the other "Coming Soon."

Right-- The coming attractions were always a great part of the show.

Nowadays if you get trailers at all, they might be for movies that won't even play at that theatre.

I live in California, but I still have family who living in Brooklyn. I attended a neighborhood reunion at Gargiullo's Restaurant in Coney Island a few years ago. At that time there was talk about making Coney into another Atlantic City. It appeared that funding was no big problem, but the current gambling statutes would have to be amended. I really hope it happens. I took a tour of my old neighborhood and I was shocked how it had deteriorated. Very sad. At least Nathans still has the best hotdogs.

The Siamese sisters mentioned earlier on in the list of comments had their lives told again recently in the failed Broadway musical "Sideshow" October 16, 1997 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran 91 performances. Music was by Henry Krieger and Lyrics by Bill Russell. It starred Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as the sisters.

1971 the Shore was playing X
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/SexfreedomInGermany.jpg

Here are two 1925 views of the auditorium. Except for wear and tear, I doubt that there were many changes over the decades:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/128-2829_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/128-2831_IMG.jpg

Warren- Are the two photos you posted of the Shore's interior the ones that are in "American Theatres of Today" or did you find them somewhere else?

Warren, thanks for the two pix you posted of the interior of my most favored place when I was growing up. My father, Pasuale (nee Patsy) worked at the Loew's Coney Island for almost 30 years as their general handyman. I probably spent all of my formative years attending every Saturday. On Tuesday evenings, after doing my home work, I'd go to the Loew's and see a double feature and the vaudeville show. Always the same seat - third row aisle, stage left. I can still smell the Nathan's hot dogs and fries. Thanks again.

Here's a 1939 image of the exterior,with Paramount's "Beau Geste" and Columbia's "Blondie Takes a Vaction" on the marquee. I wonder how the corner Nedick's managed to survive against the legendary Nathan's, which was directly opposite?
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/132-3202_IMG.jpg

A 1939 billboard. For more details, please go to the listing for Loew's Oriental.
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/quartet.jpg

Is the interior of the theatre still intact? Are there any future plans for this theatre?

I doubt that few beyond the owner(s) know the current condition of the interior. The theatre's future seems to depend on the re-development of Coney Island, which is a political "hot potato" and seems like it may never be resolved. However, I suspect that the building will never again be used as a theatre and will eventually be demolished.

It looks like a nice house, judging by those interior pictures above. But it is nothing special. Hopefully the auditorium can be used again. But it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was tastefully reused for another purpose.

Wow. I grew up 3 blocks from the Lowes Coney Island. I was there when it became the Shore and then a bingo hall. From what i know Horrace Bullock the owner of Kansas fried chicken fast food place owns the building. He was hoping to also build an amusement park south of Neptune Avenue From Stillwell to where Steeplechase Park used to be but the plans fell through no thanks in part to High Singer. Three blocks over on W 17st used to stand the RKO Tilyou. It was named after the builder of Steeplechace park that closed it's doord Sep 21 1964 and soon after the RKO Tilyou closed and was demolished.

Click on the links below for recent (Summer 2004) interior photos of the Shore/Loew's Coney Island

http://www.wcbsfm.org/Shore1.jpg

http://www.wcbsfm.org/Shore2.jpg

http://www.wcbsfm.org/Shore3.jpg

http://www.wcbsfm.org/Shore4.jpg

Wow I almost want to cry knowing that it is not totaly destroyed. Do you know if by chance the stage rigging is still there? I know there used to be a plan to turn it in to a casino if they ever legalized gambeling in NY.

Those photos are remarkable, Mark W... and heartbreaking. Did you take them? How did they come to be posted on what appears to be the WCBS-FM website? This theater appears to be absolutely salvageable. Too bad the redevelopment of Coney Island that has been promised for decades seems to have stalled with the completion of the wonderful Brooklyn Cyclones' minor league ballpark a few years back. One thing this theater would have going for it should it be restored to use for, say, live performance is that there is ample parking down the road in the ballpark lot.

I agree with you on that Ed. I lived in the Coney Island area for a good deal of my life. I beleave the building is owned by Horrace Bullock. He is the guy who owns Kansas Fried Chicken. He was also supposed to buy some property from a man named Hy Singer who owned the lot where Stuches Arcade used to be. Thhe building had about 400 building code violations and he backed out of the deal and the property on the other part of the block is owned by who ever owns Nathans and they were not willing to sell. Mr Bullock was hoping to build a self encloed ammusment park extending from Stillwell Ave to West 21st that would have included a renovatrion of the Abe Stark Skating Rink. This plan went wel lback before the city and the NY Mets made plans to have a minor league team play in what used to be Steeplechase Park. The main reason for the redevelopement of the area is that on one hand Coney is getting flooded with Russian imigrants and from Stillwell and west the high rise apartments are mostly welfare except for Sea Gate.

I took the photos in August 2004. Just using the webspace of my website www.wcbsfm.org to host them.

May I ask how you gained entry, Mark? Or is that information classified?

Thanks so much for posting those photos Mark. It's actually nice to compare them to the historic views of the interior Warren had posted above (July22).

All I can say is I was there legally.

Here's some more photos I found of the interior of the Shore, probably taken the same time as Mark's.

http://www.hopetunnel.org/ue/shore.html

Thanks, Bway. Such strong mixed emotions ... the beauty of what was, the ruin that it is now, yet, gratitude for what has survived.

There is a cinder block wall on the right side of the lobby picture posted at that link. Was the lobby space reduced at some point to create more retail?

1972 the shore as part of an "Adult Showcase", look at how it looks like an art film.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/EasyRiderre-issue.jpg

The photos linked above are no longer linked to the Shore Theater, and have been taken down. I guess they didn't want them linked here for some reason.

RobertR... Many of the theaters in that ad were already showing porn or about to, but it's interesting that the film was booked into the Carnegie Hall Cinemas! I suppose many "straight" theaters dabbled here and there in during the porn chic era.

On a small side note... at the lower part of that page below the RKO block, a small ad shows the St. Marks Cinema playing Ken Russell's "The Devils" along with Peter Brooks' fascinating adaptation of the play "Marat/Sade". I caught these two films on a double bill some 10 or 12 years later when the Hollywood Twin on 8th Ave was showing revival. I find it interesting to learn that they had been previously paired at the St. Marks.

RobertR... Many of the theaters in that ad were already showing porn or about to, but it's interesting that the film was booked into the Carnegie Hall Cinemas! I suppose many "straight" theaters dabbled here and there in during the porn chic era.

On a small side note... at the lower part of that page below the RKO block, a small ad shows the St. Marks Cinema playing Ken Russell's "The Devils" along with Peter Brooks' fascinating adaptation of the play "Marat/Sade". I caught these two films on a double bill some 10 or 12 years later when the Hollywood Twin on 8th Ave was showing revival. I find it interesting to learn that they had been previously paired at the St. Marks.

Scaffolding has gone up around the entrance to this theatre on Surf Ave. Anyone know why?

Considering its proximity to Nathans, it could be for ESPN's coverage of the annual hot dog eating contest on July 4th. Perhaps if someone who's lived in the area or attended past contests might shed more definitive light on this other than my speculation.

Perhaps the aging exterior has some "safety problems" that need to be repaired? I doubt if the scaffolding has anything to do with TV coverage of the Nathan's hot dog derby. I was in Coney Island last July 4th, and there were no TV cameras stationed anywhere near the theatre.

There was no scaffolding last July 4th and the exterior looked OK the last time I passed by. Only the girders from the Marquee remain so that would not be a reason. 2 weeks ago a tour of Coney Island theatre sites was run and I wonder if anyone on that tour would have any information about the Shore.

I took this photo yesterday. The wooden scaffolding at the front seems to be of the standard type that goes up on NYC buildings whenever there are "safety issues." The vertical sign and fire escape were re-painted in the same color scheme, apparently fairly recently. Unfortunately, the letters on the vertical sign are now just that. The neon tubings have been removed. Perhaps they will eventually be replaced and the sign re-lighted as part of Coney Island's rejuvenation. The legendary "Parachute Jump" tower is now illuminated at night, although the ride itself has not been restored.
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/coney709.jpg

There is some info and pics here if anyone is interested in the parachute jump.
http://www.peacethroughunderstanding.org/index.php?showtopic=5815&pid=42459&st=0&#entry42459

The building looks remarkably nice on the outside. It did when I took the photo of the SHore above in my October 2004 comment too.
But of course, from the interior photos, the interior is not as lucky.

Another view that I snapped yesterday. At the back is an eatery called Pizza On The Run, which seems to be the only business currently operating in the building. The undersides of the fire escape roof coverings were painted red to match the lettering in the vertical sign. Unfortunately, you can't see the undersides in this photo:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/pizzashore.jpg

Nice shots, Warren. It seems the Pizzeria is only occupying the stage area (or portion thereof). I meant to post the other day that I noticed the Shore in the background of several crowd shots during the Hot Dog eating contest at Nathan's on the 4th. The crowd stretched way back, easily as far as the pizzeria entrance at the rear of the Shore.

I don't believe this photo has been posted yet:
http://tinyurl.com/z7ccm

Thanks, ken mc.

Great shot, ken. Click on the small photo to open it large. Judging by the titles on the marquee - Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray in "Smashing the Spy Ring" and Ralph Byrd in "Fighting Thoroughbreds" - the photo dates to 1939.

This is a recent photo of the Shore Theater.

Mark W. would you please repost of recent (Summer 2004) interior photos of the Shore/Loew's Coney Island. The links from your post on Feb 7, 2006 at 3:19pm are no longer valid. Thanks

Repeats are your new forte' aren't they fella. Do you have permission to alter these photos? Perhaps the photos are copyrighted or someone's intellectual property and should not be tampered with.

Jeez, everyone needs to stop nitpicking and attacking eachother. This is going on on both sides. Take it to email if you have a problem with another poster, it's getting tiring reading everyone's laundry here.
(This is not directed at any particular poster, just everyone that's constantly nitpicking eachother).

Man, something needs to be done, from the looks of the exterior the theatre looks fine but the interior is completely the opposite. I hope this gem is going to be fixed soon before its deemed unsafe like the thunderbolt rollercoaster which was torn down.

Bway is right, guys.

If you can't stay on-topic and be friendly with each other, we may be forced to take action. So please keep things civil, ok?

Here's a link. Apparently this weekend there's a tour of old COney Island Theater, and the tour starts at the Shore Theater, I wonder if it will be opened to see inside. If anyone goes, please report back here.
Here's the link:
http://www.ohny.org/programs/tours.cfm?mystartrow=16&realstartrow=16


Old Theatres of Coney Island

program name: OHNY tours
program type: Architecture/Design, Cultural/Museum/Gallery, Theatre/Performing
borough: Brooklyn
event date: Oct 7, 2006
hours: 11:30 am
Take a stroll along Coney Island’s show biz past when it was home to numerous cabarets, variety halls and movie shows–a training ground for a generation of legendary performers. Organized by the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment.

reservation instructions: BCUEinfo@bcue.org
logisitical meeting information: Meet outside the Shore Theatre at Sillwell and Surf Aves, Coney Island
program status: available

I took the OHNY tour yesterday morning and was incredibly disappointed to learn that the tour was of the exterior only. In fact, the tour was mostly of empty lots where famous theatres once stood. Does anyone know who owns the Shore Theatre currently? I'd love to contact him/her and ask if I could take some photos of the interior.

Attention Webmaster, Please remove the pictures posted by "Warren" on Sep 30, 2006 at 8:58am. They are my pictures and I removed them from my server when asked by the owner of the theatre.

I never gave permission for them to be alered or reposted. Thanks.

Sorry about that, Mark. I've removed the links, per your request.

The final C/O for this theater is dated July 15th, 1926 (a full year after its opening) and states "theater seating 2421 people" - I only point that out because C/O's usually cite maximum capacity per fire codes rather than seat counts. This information is handwritten and may also include standing room and allowances for staff, despite inclusion of the word "seating." The C/O also lists a ballroom on the 2nd floor with offices in the upper floors.

A subsequent C/O, issued August 8th, 1967, breaks the building down to "theater portion" and "business portion." The theater occupancy is cited as follows:

Orchestra 1314 seats, stores, lobby, stage, dressing rooms.
Mezzanine 336 seats, lounge, toilets, dressing rooms.
Balcony 650 seats, projection booth, dressing room.

The "theater lobby" is also noted on the 1st floor of the "business portion" of the building. All floors above are now offices (no ballroom), a nursery for the "head start" New York City program and a janitor's apartment on the penthouse level.

Finally, on March 2nd, 1973, another C/O shows the orchestra level as a "banquet hall (bingo)" with capacity of 850 persons, the mezzanine for "accessory storage" and toilets and the balcony "to remain vacant."

Many of the older c/o's will give the seat count. Both a building inspector and a fire inspector are supposed to sign off on the building before the permanent c/o is issued. The building plans should specify how many seats the theater was designed to have. Did they actually count the seats to make sure? Probably not. They could have checked the invoices for the number of seats ordered and matched them against work orders that showed how many seats the contractor installed. Other then hand counting the seats, no method is totally foolproof but I believe that count is more accurate than the seat count in an FDYbook.

There was an article in yesterday's NY Times Real Estate section about "Living In Coney Island". No mention of the Shore, but the article does say that a gentleman by the last name of Sitt owns a number of parcels in the amusement park area that he plans on clearing for a multi-purpose amusement facility and possible condo/hotel complex. I wonder where the Shore fits in relation to those plans. Of course, a number of folks have announced big amusement park plans for Coney Island over the years, only to see nothing come of them.

Anyone know what the immediate future holds for the former theater? The last permit activity noted on the NYC Building Dept site is a permit from earlier this year to erect the construction shedding that now surrounds the ground floor. According to the permit, the shedding is for "remedial repairs" with no change to occupancy or ingress/egress proposed.

The real problem with the Shore is that it appears to have suffered MAJOR interior damage from neglect and water damage. There is a lot of plaster that has fallen to the ground from the ceiling, especially near the procenium arch, and where the juliet balconies used to be. Unfortunately, that may mean that other sections of ceiling, even though still currently up, may not be in the best of shape, and ready to go too.
Unfortunately, each year the place falls further and further. The cost to restore the interior has got to be staggering.

The one bit of good news, Bway, would be that Coney Island is looking up and may have a considerable amount of potential for cash return on investment. The Cyclones have already proved a big hit since they opened their first season at Key Span Park in 2001 and future development might only mean bigger and brighter days lie ahead for real estate investors. Of course, in the end, the little guy will be pushed out. I'm pretty sure Nathan's will stay at all costs and I'm sure the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel will be entertaining the children in all of us for many years to come even if they are absorbed into some larger glitzier amusement complex of the future. Let's just hope proprieterships like Gargiulo's Restaurant and Totonno's Pizza can weather the sure-to-be-increasing rents and remain profitable. And let's also hope some person or persons of means and vision find a worthy cause in the reclamation of the Shore Theater.

If anyone has any info on the owner. Preferably an email address Id love to have it. I have an idea for the place and rather have my idea be shot down instead of sitting here dreaming. I have the contacts and the help just wish I had the money to do something with it. Any info please email me:
baldguyprod@yahoo.com

A wonderful 10-minute B&W documentary about Coney Island in its heyday can be viewed via a link posted on the home page of the Brooklyn Board. I couldn't spot this theatre, but I might have missed it: www.brooklynboard.com

Thanks, Warren.

Here and here are recent photo of the Shore I found online....

Re "Also known as" in the introduction, this never operated as the Coney Island Theatre. Loew's bought the theatre while it was still under construction and opened it as Loew's Coney Island.

This is a message board that is also talking about this theater. There are two pages of comments and a couple of photos.

It's funny they don't remember that the city owns the Loews Kings Theatre.

They probably would know that if they came to this website. I was going to post a message on the Coney Island website about Cinema Treasures, but you have to be a member and I don't feel like joining another site just to post one comment.

I know what you mean about signing up too.

I do read the messages on a number of those sites. I have found a few theaters mentioned on message boards that I probably wouldn't have found otherwise. The majority of those message boards might be okay but with my luck I would end up receiving emails containing a virus or some other nonsense if I joined them. I try to practice "safe surfing". :)

The two vintage photos displayed at the Coney Island website are the same ones that I posted above on 7/22/05. They didn't even bother to change my file numbers. They could have at least said they found them at Cinema Treasures...The scaffolding that they're so concerned about has been there at least since last summer. I believe it's just to protect the public against falling debris. I don't think that any work is in progress.

I thought those photos looked familiar. If you don't want the other website linking to your photos, rearrange those photos in your Photobucket. That should make their links invalid.

I can't. They don't have links to my scrapbook. They simply made copies of the photos and then posted them on their website.

A Moller theater organ opus 4287 size 3/20 was installed in Loew's Coney Island Theater in 1925 at a cost of $12,500.

A recent (July 2007) picture of the Shore.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001/705610946/

Here are new links to previously posted vintage images of the auditorium of Loew's Coney Island:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/128-2829_IMG.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/128-2831_IMG.jpg

The Loew's Coney Island can be seen in this photo of Surf Avenue. Year given for photo is 1956.

Well "Duchess of Idaho" was released in July 14th. 1950. And "Mystery Street" was released on July 28th. 1950. So maybe August of 1950.

Thats sounds about right William. Many of the years given with these photos are incorrect. None of the cars in the photo seem any newer than 1950-51 at most.

Some inevitable views of the building can be seen in the backgrounds of photos taken recently at the 26th annual Mermaid Parade:
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/mermaid2008/mermaid.08.html

Here is a recent photo.

Thanks Lost

Here is one taken from the beach
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9694295@N08/?saved=1

That photo must have been taken during the summer or those people are all members of the Polar Bear Club. :)

Here's a 1954 image of Loew's Coney Island with "About Mrs. Leslie" & "Crossed Swords" on the marquee: http://www.brooklynpix.com/photoframex1.php?photo=/photo1/C/coney205.jpg&key=CONEY 205

Shifrins Hebrew National when I was growing up was the site of Murry Zarrats Animal Nursey and the Play Races was A Faber's Fascination location. Another community that has faced a major decline.

I guess the theater is still in shambles. I wonder if there are any plans for the theater in the rebuilding of Coney Island plan that is taking place.

Here is a photo of the Shore I took last week.

Thanks Bryan, the place looks better than it had been looking.

As the city fights with Joe Sitt over the future of Coney Island, one thing is for sure.......This property will get more and more valuable. While the economy is now a shambles, it is fair to assume that a major new amusement park with new retail and possibly housing will rise in the "New" Coney Island. What this will mean to Loews Coney Island is anyone's guess. Is there enough demand for a movie theater in this part of town? Can it support a performing arts center? (p.s. the City has just announced construction of a spectacular amphitheater by the Boardwalk) What other use can this old theater serve while still retaining its architectural detail?
Is it better to just tear the building down and sell the land to the highest bidder? These are the questions that will be asked.

I hate to see any old theater destroyed, but I am not hopeful that this one can and will be saved. I truly hope that I am mistaken.

From photos I have seen in the past, the interior of the theater has severe water damage. Parts of the ceiling above the proscenium have even come down. I assume it is restorable, but it would take big bucks to bring the interior back.

That's what I was afraid of. I believe that the current state of the RKO Keiths Flushing is much worse and yet there is now a growing movement to save it. The Loews Kings is better but at least the city is trying to find a way to save it. I don't know who would spearhead an effort to save the Shore.

I would say the Kings is in WAY better shape than the Shore (judging by photos I have seen of either), but would probably say the Keiths is in worse shape than the Shore.

Was also known for a short while as the "Gayway."

I've never heard that before. Was that name used when the Shore was an adult theater?

A very pleasant surprise! It loks like there is hope for the Loew's Coney Island aka Shore Theatre! It may be nominated for landmark status and the City is backing it! Please read article below:

Is this a landmark? For ‘Shore’ it is! By Mike McLaughlin
The Brooklyn Paper

Landmark status awaits — at long last, some say — at least two historic buildings in Coney Island, including the derelict Shore Theater, but possibly not the most famous site in the amusement area, Nathan’s Famous hot dog restaurant.

Preservationists nominated the façade and interior of the 1920s vaudeville playhouse on Surf Avenue for protective status several years ago, but Mayor Bloomberg’s vast redevelopment plan for Coney Island, which the City Council approved last week, jumpstarted the lingering review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

“The architectural quality is every bit as wonderful as Broadway theaters that have received landmarking,” said Dick Zigun of Coney Island USA, the group that made the request. “The city let us know they’re sympathetic to our request.”

Zigun said it was urgent for the landmarks commission to evaluate the Shore Theater, owned by fried chicken magnate Horace Bullard, and other iconic structures now that the mayor won the passage of his plan to rebuild a sweeping cross section of the People’s Playground.

The Shore Theater, formerly the Loew’s Coney Island, was built in 1925 in a neo-Renaissance style. In addition to staging musicals, it served as a movie theater and has six stories of offices above it.

The auditorium still showed live entertainment through the 1960s, according to Charlie Denson, author of “Coney Island Lost and Found,” But a seedier fate awaited the stalwart.

In Coney Island’s darker days in the 1970s, it was an X-rated movie house.

By the time Bullard acquired the building in 1978, it no longer showed smut. Bullard briefly operated a branch of his Kansas Fried Chicken chain there, though it’s been boarded up for decades and the auditorium’s seat have been ripped out and replaced by concrete slabs.

Denson said that despite the neglect, the Shore represents a key piece of Coney Island’s legacy and should be salvaged.

“All those buildings that went up in the 1920s have a major symbolic value because that is the last time Coney Island had a major redevelopment,” said Denson.

Yet the city’s apparent willingness to save pieces of Coney Island’s glory days, also including a likely designation for Coney Island USA’s home on Surf Avenue, may not extend to the beloved Nathan’s Famous stand opposite the Shore Theater at the intersection of Stillwell and Surf avenues.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission has yet to wrap up its analysis of the classic fast-food joint, even though it was part of the application submitted by Coney Island USA earlier this decade.

Although Nathan’s neon light and unmistakable signage are beloved, the squat building might not have the architectural or historical clout to make it onto the list of local protected sites that also include the Cyclone roller coaster, Deno’s Wonder Wheel ride and the Childs restaurant building, now the Dreamland skating rink.

Indeed, the existing Nathan’s days may be numbered, thanks to the mayor’s redevelopment plan.

A report from the Department of City Planning released in January said the frankfurter Mecca, which dates back to 1916, could be replaced by a hotel, retail or new amusement.

Its possible demolition unleashed an online petition drive on Sunday to save it from the wrecking ball. The petition’s organizers want to obtain 50,000 Internet signatures, though through Tuesday, they had 128.

The future is uncertain for the Shore Theater, too. Once, it was part of the core amusement area, but now it’s in the area targeted for potentially lucrative residential development. If it’s deemed a landmark, its upper floors could be converted to apartments, but the exterior would be unalterable and the theater would be restored.

A landmarks commission spokeswoman said that no hearing is scheduled for the Shore or Coney Island USA buildings, but said the city is interested in conserving both.

Just to correct another commenter, this was not known as the Gayway. There was a Gayway Bar + Grill next door.

Renewing link.

here's a photo i took on a gorgeous sunny December day in 2005
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/73320719/sizes/o/
and from the beach in the background behind the wonder wheel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/73322825/sizes/o/

Does anyone know the square footage of the building or where I can get a floorplan?

According to OASISNYC, the total building area is 115,667 sf.

Hi none of the links work to the interior pictures. Almost every time I click on the photobucket links they never ever work. Maybe there is a better website to post pictures on? Also does anyone know what the theatre looks like inside now? Are the dressin rooms intact as well as the stage? There has to be a better way to post there pictures though. Also has anyone made a video of the interior as well? And what exactly is left inside as far as the original decor?

newyork, About 4 years ago the owner asked the person that posted pictures to have them removed from the site. On Warren's photobucket picture links, from time to time he would pull a picture from his bucket account and replace it. So many of the links for pictures are dead. What I remember about those earlier pictures was that the theatre had water damage to the ceiling.

Correct, it's not photobucket, those photos were removed. I remember seeing them, and The entire ceiling above the proscenium has collapsed to the floor, severe water damage on the right side of the stage, also plaster destroyed. All the seats gone. Severe water damage throughout....and those photos were a number of years old....the place couldn't have gotten better.

That really is a shame all of these theatres were just left to rot and be gutted. Every one of these theatres should have been landmarked and taken care of. Does anyone have pictures of what it did look like inside when it was running? And was this a theatre with a stage for vaudville? Was it multiplexed? And why did the new owner let it go into disrepair? When did he buy the place?

newyork, Warren at one time had afew pictures of the auditorium posted. Yes, it has a stage that was once used for a film/vaudville policy. No it was not multplexed. People buy property like this in areas that are in disrepair and hope to make a killing if the area goes into a turn around. Coney Island will come back to life in the future.

Landmark Designation hearing on 2/9/10
http://amusingthezillion.com/2010/02/06/feb-9-first-step-in-landmark-designation-of-coney-islands-shore-theater/

Thank you so much for posting that jimvid. I wish I could go but I have work that day. I would have loved to have been there. Does anyone know what is left in this theatre I mean what is intact? dressing rooms, auditorium, seating? Anything at all? And why is the owner so against posting pictures of his theatre? Also I am aware of his plan for a coney island of the future I saw it in the coney island book. It looked like an amazing place and wish it would have come true. Hoarace Bullard I think his name is. Just wish he was more open to showing his theatre. I would even pay to see it inside now.

Horace Bullard - the founder of Kansas Fried Chicken - owns several properties around Coney Island, including the Shore. In the 1970's and 1980's, he had grand plans of building a new Steeplechase Park, but it was squashed for a variety of reasons and he was eventually shut out by the construction of the Brooklyn Cyclones stadium on that property. In 2000, the city bulldozed the Thunderbolt roller coaster on his property which set off years of lawsuits along with major issues of unpaid back taxes. He has been very bitter about any dealings with the city and I believe he is waiting for a top dollar offer before making any moves.

I've heard mixed stories about that the state of the Shore theater - my impression is that there is water damage and a lot of pigeon damage, but nothing that couldn't be remedied. The building has had some issues with falling terra cotta in the last 5 years and has been surrounded by a safety awning. From the few people I know that have been in the building in the last couple of years - they felt that it was a viable property for a live concert venue - something that could work well as part of Coney's revitalization.