Plaza Theatre

A news story in the June 9, 2004 issue of the weekly Queens Gazette says that conversion of the Plaza Theatre into a five-screen multiplex with adjoining retail and office space is being held up by a dispute over parking spaces in the area. Although there are 1,600 parking spaces, including a municipal lot, within a five-minute walk of the site, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall claims that they are already utilized to between 85 and 92 percent of capacity at all times, and that the addition of the theatre complex will cause traffic chaos.

I visited the site today (9/19/04) and saw no evidence that work had ever even started on turning the Plaza into a five-screen multiplex. Most of the entrance and part of the orchestra floor behind it have been turned into a Walgreen's store. A portion of the theatre entrance at the extreme right-- the width of two doors-- was retained, along with a side wall that still has poster display cases. Presumably, this was to be the new entrance for the projected multiplex. The marquee is still in place, but converted to a Walgreens display. A sign says that 22,000 square feet are available for rent as offices, but I think that refers to space that was always used for that and is not in the theatre itself.

I would love to know the real reason this is being delayed. That area could use a new theatre in it.

Could a decent five-screen multiplex even fit into the remaining space within the Plaza building and, really, just how realistic a possibility is there of that multiplex even opening at this point?

I regret to say, but this is not a neighborhood suited to supporting a multiplex. The most prevalent language spoken is Spanish, not English. The majority of residents seem to be low wage earners or on welfare. After dark, it becomes a hub for drug dealers, prostitutes and their clients. I think that the crime rate is second only to South Jamaica.

A view of the Plaza's marquee - pre-Walgreen's-engineered alterations - can be seen by clicking on the link below:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11277089/

Sorry-I posted under the wrong theatre earlier (Corona Theatre). Today's NY Post lists the Corona Plaza with "THEATRE OPENS DEC 22" in their movie clock!

I'm curious what the layout will be here. It seems there is some original orchestra space left and then all of the balconies. How ornate was this theatre originally? I was never inside.

this was a fairly ornate theater with a very detailed ceiling dome and proscenium. There were also side boxes that remained intact after the twinning and could be seen but not accessed when viewing a movie in the downstairs auditorium. The boxes had been separated from the rest of the balcony by the wall installed for the twinning. Both houses had big screens and decent seat counts.

Do any original architectural elements remain within the Walgreen's portion of the Plaza?

My understanding is that all auditoriums (I'm not sure how many it wound up being) are in the former balcony.

Oh another Coliseum job. I heard Queens Theatre Circut was having hard times that may be why this took so long and the Ridgewood has had no maintenance done to it. Hopefully this place will do well for them. I am sure when they reopen the double bills will be gone.

Nothing from the original theatre can be seen in the interior of the Walgreen's store, which has a "false" ceiling. The store is fairly deep, but I got the impression that it does not take up the entire ground floor and that something of the auditorium remains behind the store's back wall.

Maybe there will be an auditorium there?

I still have a hard time believing it will reopen. If it does, hopefully it'll remain just one screen upstairs. If it gets broken up, the divided theaters are bound to have odd, angular sightlines and keystoning as a result of the curved seating in the balcony section.

This is listed in today's (Sunday's) NY Daily News "Movie Clock" as the Plaza Twin and re-opening December 22nd, with no programs given. The telephone number is reported as 718-424-8444. I tried calling and found it in service, but with no one answering or even a recorded message. If the name "Plaza Twin" is correct, then I suspect that they have either split the balcony or are using the space behind Walgreen's for the second "screen."

This is apparently re-opening today (12/22/04), but with either only one screen in use or the same film on two screens. The premiere attraction, "Meet the Fockers," must have been a real challenge for the Spanish sub-titlers, since the movie's PG-13 rating carries an advisory of "crude and sexual humor, language and a brief drug reference." And has there ever been a movie title cruder than "Meet the Fockers?"

I finally made phone contact with the theatre. Though the woman that I spoke to was reluctant to give out information, she said that only one screen is open and that they're still working on the second. There's only one performance today of "Meet the Fockers," which has Spanish subtitles and will be shown at 7PM...I have a feeling that the neighborhood oppostion to five screens, plus the owner's limited bankroll, caused them to give up on expansion.

What a shame they hacked the place apart and it's still just a twin.

Judging by the time schedules published in the newspapers, the Plaza is only operating full-time on weekends and holidays. The rest of the week, the single screen is giving only evening performances, probably to permit work during the daytime on the eventual second screen or whatever.

Greetings concerned citizens:

I don't mean to throw my weight around, and I am not trying to brag, but I happen to be the original architect who renovated and twinned the PLAZA theater, and I don't take kindly having my work made a mockery of. Also, I am not going to stand for it. I'm sure gifted surgeons don't stand for it, therefore, why should I. Again, not throwing my weight around, but I became a pioneer in twinning movie theaters back in the 70's. If any of you people think that was an easy thing to do, I'd like to see you try. My MAJOR accomplishments include: The RKO COLISEUM (all renovations), Loew's Paradise, RKO KEITH, RKO FORDHAM. I have not renovated theaters in quite awhile as I am frequently asked to lecture worldwide. Also, because of chains like National Amusements, they are building multiplexes from the ground up.

Lastly, it's easy to mock somebody, and it costs nothing. I am not asking for any sort of prize, just let it stand as a footnot in history.

Regards

I don't see where anyone made a mockery of your work. I think people are more confused about the present situation. The theatre was supposed to be a five-plex until the Queens Theatre Group ran out of money and now one screen is open. Why tear the place apart and only wind up with a twin anyways? And of all things the put another drugstore in there.

Has anyone been here yet?

During the past week, the Plaza went to a full, day-and-night schedule for "Meet the Fockers," probably due to the holidays. Prior to that, it was running only one evening showing at 7PM...I sent an e-mail to the editor of the Queens Gazette to request an up-date of the story they published in June about community opposition to the fiveplex. I hope that they will assign one...I suspect that that opposition forced the Plaza owners to re-consider and keep it as a twin. As such, it operated for many years without causing traffic jams or parking shortages.

The Plaza is currently being booked by Cinema Services. I don't recall their association with any theatre previously in the tri-state area or know if they're affiliated with another service, such as Creative Entertainment, Lesser, etc.

Cinema Services is apparently a Las Vegas-based company that provides Spanish sub-titling and distribution facilities for the major Hollywood production companies. It's possible that they're also moving into theatre ownership and/or management.

I am confused!!!
THIS PLACE IS CALLED Plaza Twin but it has only one screen up and running.

I talked to someone who said they were the manager when I asked to speak to a manager.

I asked why they were only playing only one movie. She said work is being done on the other theatres. I said you’re a twin right, what other theatres, you mean your working on the second screen. The lady than said that they were a quad and the other theatres would open soon. The lady seemed like she was in a rush because she acted like she was in a hurry to get off the phone.

I said if you are a quad why is it called Plaza Twin?
The lady said “We will have four theatres but will still be Plaza Twin sir, okay have a nice day”. The phone clicked and that was it.

I ask you all to help me... tell what is going on with the Plaza Twin. If it is going to be a four-screen quad why keep the name Plaza Twin that would be dumb.

That is like having Cinemas 8 and calling it Cinema 4.
Can anyone help me??

I would advise you to just have some patience and all will be revealed. Among other things, they seem to be having a public relations problem. The theatre has been dropped from "movie clock" listings in the daily newspapers, though it continues to be mentioned in advertising for "Meet the Fockers," which it's showing with Spanish sub-titles...Meanwhile, the heading for this theatre here should probably be changed to just Plaza, as Loew's dropped it in 1952 (more than half a century ago!).

The Plaza has returned to some newspaper "movie clocks," still listed as the Plaza Twin but with only one movie (apparently not on two screens since the showings are every three hours). "Meet the Fockers," the movie that re-opened the Plaza, apparently didn't prove too popular with its Spanish sub-titles. It has been replaced by "Coach Carter," also with Spanish sub-titles.

Has anyone been inside yet did they ruin the upstairs screen this theatre had descent sized screens for a present day outer borough twin theatre. I'm on vacation I'M going to visit it and post a report. the last film I saw there was "A Man Apart" in theatre 1 downstairs.

Curiously, today's newspaper ads for "Coach Carter" have it showing at both the Plaza Twin in Corona and the Jackson Triplex in Jackson Heights, neither with any mention of Spanish sub-titles. And no management is given for the Plaza Twin. Last week, it was advertised as operated by Cinema Services.

Sorry! I erred. The current ads for "Coach Carter" say Plaza Theatre, not Plaza Twin. Perhaps "Plaza Twin" caused too much confusion for the public.

Plaza Theatre 2 will join Plaza Theatre 1 this summer.
Hopefully Plaza Theatre 2 will open in time for
the summer movie kickoff in May.

Will these two theatres be showing the movies with Spanish sub-titles? And if so, will the same policy of Spanish sub-titles continue at the Jackson Triplex in nearby Jackson Heights?

According to CinemaDayton's posting of this past January 7th, the Plaza is to eventually become a quad. I wonder if that's still the case and what's causing the delay in opening the other screen(s).

The trouble with making The Plaza Theatre a quad is 2 of the theaters would have only seated 65 in one theatre and 90 seats in the other.

Warren as far as movies with Spanish subtitles showing here and if they would continue to show
in Jackson Heights is really up in the air.

I believe there is a big enough market for both
theater to show Spanish subtitle features.

However is there enough prints to go around is another question when the “big hits” are released.

What about the many people who reside in Jackson Heights, Corona and surrounding areas who don't require Spanish subtitles? Why must they suffer through them just to make it easier for those who don't speak English? I don't see this happening at other theatres in Greater New York area with Hispanic patronage.

Both the Plaza and the Jackson are presenting "Hitch" beginning today with Spanish subtitles, so the borough of Queens now has two theaters serving the needs of the Corona and Jackson Heights communities.

The above post above about a quad having one theatre with 90 seats and another with 65 confuses me. This place was a barn, where did all the space go?

Much of the downstairs space is occupied by a large Walgreen's store, so I guess there's not enough room for more than one screen. For the moment, the Plaza seems to be just using the balcony as a single screen. I suppose the balcony could be divided in two, but that would mean closing down during re-construction.

The Plaza is showing The Ring 2 with a co-feature that is not listed in the paper.

A return to the way the Plaza used to advertise in the various newspaper movie clocks; curious to know what the second feature is...

Is the Plaza still operating in any form? I can't find it listed in any newspaper "Movie Clocks" or in individual advertising for films.

It is, Warren; according to its display ad in today's NY Post, the remake of 'The Amityville Horror' is currently playing there (at the Plaza 'Twin', natch).

O K here's the deal...... I have been in the theater, my friend did the booth install, and I did a service call there last week. The only part of the theater is left is a small hallway in the back of the lower lobby that goes to the original stairs that goes to the balcony theater, witch was theater 2 when it was the 'Plaza Twin',
every other space is being used for retail, at this time they are running single features only.

Does the one auditorium occupy the entire balcony, movieman007? Any signs of ongoing construction or division of the balcony into additional screens?

One more question - does the Plaza still have any kind of marquee? An earlier post on this page mentioned it was being entirely used for Walgreens signage.

Movieman007

What was the purpose of this? Why did they give up the orchestra?

They gave up the orchestra so it could be used for retail space. Small portions remain, but possibly not enough for even one "screen." When I passed on the #7 train several weeks ago, the marquee was being shared. Walgreen's had its emblems all over, but the section with changeable letters gave the program for the Plaza. If you didn't know what was going on, you might think that the theatre was actually named Walgreen's.

Warren? The small portion that remains would you know what part of the building it's at and if it anyway that it can be acced or glanced at through a peep whole or somthing I used to go to this theatre as a twin and I liked the moldings and the details of the downstairs cinema.

The Plaza when it was reopened back in December of 2004 with Meet Fockers was a single screener. The large downstairs area is used for retail. However plans were for the Plaza to be a quad. A small theater downstairs, yes downstairs. They had plans to use mirror projection for the theatre. The seating was between 35 and 50 seats! That is a right 35 and 50 seats. The upstairs balcony was to be cut into three smaller theaters. After the downstairs theatre was opened they were going to close the upstairs to cut the balcony into three, giving The Plaza a total of four screens. The trouble was first only having 35 to 50 seats for customers while they cut the balcony up. The Plaza is losing money and they would have killed the Plaza by doing this. They are working on trying to get the downstairs ready and try to close the upstairs for what they said “A Few Days” to put a wall up and put together at least one upstairs theatre and work on the other two at night after they close and in the daytime before they opens at 3:00. They make it sound easier than it is but that way they would have two and not just one theatre. This is why they are trying to keep Plaza Twin in the paper and not Plaza Theatre. Although they want to be Plaza Four and they answer the phone Plaza Theatre. Confused?

Thanks for all that info, FoxTheatres - makes sense, at least in how you described it. Too bad they didn't have another investor with deeper pockets who could have ensured the preservation of the entire downstairs space. I'll try to make a point of checking out the space in person. (Just out of curiosity to you - or anyone else who can answer this: what is 'mirror projection' and why would a theatre owner - or, perhaps more specifically, the owner of the Plaza - opt to use it?)

Mirror Projection is used when a theatre/hall is so small there is no room for a projection booth. They put a projector upstairs most likely next the the "big theatres" projector and play it to mirrors.
The mirror than projectors the image to the downstairs mirror on to the screen. This is what alot of drive-ins use also

I started going to this theatre since 1999. It was the best theater for screens. I know it has been actively running since 1983, when they had 1990: Bronx Warriors in one theater and totally Spanish films in the other. I grew up in Bayside between 1969 and 1980, and as many times I rode the 7 train, I never saw the Plaza until one day I was standing up and saw it. Never new theater existed.

My question is did this theater show American double features in the 70's, or was it all Spanish. Thanks.

The Plaza was built by the Loew's circuit and first opened in 1927. In its first few years, it presented vaudeville with a feature movie, then switched to double features that were first run for Corona, Jackson Heights, and surrounding area. Loew's was forced to "divest" in 1952, when the Plaza switched to Century management, but with the same type of double feature programs. I believe that Century gave up when the neighborhood started to decay, after which there was period of "porno" presentations. I think the theatre was closed for a time, and then new operators started with a policy of showing the latest Hollywood releases with Spanish subtitles. That management eventually failed and theatre closed again, with partial conversion to retail. The current management has only been operating for six months, at most.

As far as I can recall. At one time it showed spanish movies around the late 60's early 70's , then going to spanish movies on one screen and inglish movies with spanish subtitles on the other until spanish movies faded in the mid 80's when then they continue to show inglish movies with spanish subtitles. Had lost track of it for a while until recently.

I had an opportunity to check out most of what remains of the Plaza 'Twin' this past Saturday. The first sense one gets is what a tragedy it was that the orchestra was separated for retail; the portion of the building still being used for cinema space is huge and I could only imagine, based upon that, just how considerable it must have been.

The entrance and the altered marquee gives one the odd, divided sense of the treasure the Plaza still is, even in its truncated form, but also that it's become something of an afterthought.

The hallway leading to the Plaza's lobby is literally lined on both facing walls with movie posters (or one-sheets) of coming attractions, films which had recent engagements at the Plaza, or films out of release which never screened at the Plaza; none are in display cases but merely affixed with tacks, Scotch tape, or some other adhesive. Above the entrance to the lobby is at least a portion of a banner display ad for the film 'Be Cool'.

As one enters the lobby, the box office is to the left and is very unglamorous; it reminded me of a windowed receptionist's office one might find within a doctor's office. Straight ahead is the stairway leading to the balcony (or the one, currently existing auditorium), upon which a woman was sitting on one of the steps; her presence made me reluctant to take photos. Above her and above everything on the ground level was a very high ceiling and what a ceiling... wow! It's a medium-to-dark blue with a hanging light fixture; the immense nature of it (and primarily the ceiling itself and what I saw of the balcony) gave me a sense of how much of a 'cinema treasure' this theatre still is in its truncated form, and what a treasure it must have been, even as a twin and before Walgreen's moved in.

It sounds like a hovel, what was the auditorium like?

It just dawned on me do you think they re-opened the Plaza this way to keep the CO current? Many places do that before plexing. Remember after the Murray Hill collapse they re-opened it again as a single for 2 months then closed it to quad it.

The portions I saw, Robert, were actually in good-to-excellent shape; I was expecting something far less beforehand, but I was pleasantly surprised - and a bit saddened, too, at the same time, imagining what the space must have looked like before the orchestra was sealed off, its floor was leveled, and Walgreen's moved in. I didn't have a chance to check out the auditorium - I had just enough time before heading off to Shea for the Mets' game and picked up that vibe I wouldn't have been allowed to take much more of a look without buying a ticket. I will go there again, just to get a chance to soak in the atmosphere and do a bit more exploring, when they book another film I'm interested in seeing. (I already caught 'War of the Worlds' the night before in the city and, as entertaining as it was overall - except for that ending - I really don't have a strong desire to see it again.) My suspicion, as per FoxTheatres' post this past May 2nd, is that it's indeed inevitable the balcony will be divided into multiple auditoriums (with a smaller one on the ground level, although I saw no evidence of any construction work - prep or otherwise - being or having been done); I could tell the owners are taking an absolute bath financially and the only realistic hope they have of at least breaking even is to go the 'plex route. There was also no crowd buzz, no sense of excitement, and, in turn, few ticket buyers - pretty astonishing when you consider it was the opening weekend for a major Hollywood blockbuster and a hot summer afternoon.

Also, another note on the hallway - the left wall is of the white painted plaster variety, except for a gold/brown painted melange along the bottom half. It's a nice enough touch, but the fact that it's not of more elaborate material (marble, quality tile, etc.) only serves to remind of the tragedy of the orchestra portion being lost from the remainder of the theatre - and the current owners' limited budget... but, still, it IS a functioning theatre and with so many outer-borough theatres closing in recent years, the fact it's open for business at all is a blessing.

At least we know what's opening at the Plaza next Friday; unfortunately, that listing appeared in THIS Friday's NY Post movie clock, which noted the Ewan McGregor-Scarlett Johansson flick 'The Island' as showing there today (and tonight) - bit of an error...

Even though it's still operating, this has not been a Loew's theatre for more than half a century (53 years!), so I think that the name in the introduction should be changed to either Plaza or Plaza Twin.

I apologize for the murkiness of this 1927 newspaper image of Loew's Plaza, but it's the only one that I've ever been able to find of the theatre:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/127-2790_IMG.jpg

Here are some photos that I snapped on 9/5/05. In the last, showing the entrance lobby, only the right wall is original. The left wall is a partition erected for the adjacent Walgreen's:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3785_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3786_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3787_IMG.jpg
www.18.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3788_IMG.jpg

Are they still showing double features in the one available Walgreens Cinemas?

Sometimes, when it was a twin, the Post would list the showtimes, and it appeared that each of the two theaters had single features, yet if you called the theater or noticed a weird gap in the showtimes, you would know they were showing double bills.

I can't reach anybody there by phone. HELP!

Are they still showing double features in the one available Walgreens Cinemas?

Sometimes, when it was a twin, the Post would list the showtimes, and it appeared that each of the two theaters had single features, yet if you called the theater or noticed a weird gap in the showtimes, you would know they were showing double bills.

I can't reach anybody there by phone. HELP!

The movie clock in today's NY Daily News has "Four Brothers" listed for 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. The telephone number given is 718-424-8444. Be advised that all English-speaking movies are shown here with Spanish sub-titles.

As of Sep 23rd Flightplan is showing.
Domino may start on October 14 but they might hold out for Doom on October 21.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' should open on November 9, 2005.
As for Doom or Domino that depends how long Plaza will have have to hold the film. Plaza only wants short runs of aboyt 2 or 3 weeks at the most and studios like longer 4 or 6 week runs so it will depend on what they can work out.

Please note that all features and release dates are tentative and subject to change.

If these are being presented with Spanish sub-titles, I suspect that only the English-deficient amongst us will be interested in attending. I'm sure that the films will be showing at other Queens theatres without the distraction of sub-titles.

The Plaza was a very beautiful theatre in its heyday. Every year the ninth grade class from J H S 16 would have its graduation exercises there and all the girls wore movie star type prom gowns I graduated 9th grade in 1957. It was a very regal theatre, all carpeted with beautiful staircase. There were loge seats along the sides of the balcony but it was more expensive and no one ever sat there. I saw Gone With the wind there. What wonderful memories this site brought back to me. Thanks

That marquee has to be the stupidist thing I have ever seen, it looks like the Walgreens Cinema.

Does anyone know if the Plaza is currently being converted - or should I say reconverted? - into a multi-screen cinema or did the people who ran it since it reopened last year pull out altogether?

Several exterior photos of the Plaza can be seen in the new feature article about Corona at www.forgotten-ny.com

Has the theatre closed? For several weeks, it was listed in the NY Daily News time clock as "Please call theatre for further information," but it's now not listed at all. Unfortunately, I neglected to make note of the phone number, so I can't call.

Number is (718)424-8444.

Thanks, Christina Marie. I tried calling the number, but it just rang and rang, and then started making high-pitched noises, so I just hung up...Since I posted yesterday, I got the phone number of the adjacent Walgreens drugstore. A clerk told me that the theatre has closed, but declined to give further information. I suppose it's posible that closure is only temporary due to "pre-Christmas doldrums."

The Plaza is closed and most likely for good now. The people operating since last December were losing money hand over fist. The plans to make the Plaza a multiplex cinema fell through with the lack of money. The pervious owners (who have the Jackson Triplex and Ridgewood Theatre) also wanted to multiplex the Plaza before they closed it. EL VACILON I believe was the last movie.I have not called the Plaza number lately but the nose when you call is most likely the fax machine.
I know when I called it trying to talk to someone a few days after the show times started to not appear in the paper that is what I heard.

Someone could make the upstairs 4 screens.

I suppose the balcony will now be stripped of its ornamentation and converted to office space as yet another gilded theater is completely lost to history. I never saw a movie here, despite having lived in the neighborhood and played in Linden Park just behind the building as a young boy. I remember that "The Towering Inferno" played here in the mid '70's with Spanish subtitles. I think it might have still been a single screener at that time. In my memory, the marquee was big and boxy with the word "PLAZA" in red neon-lit block letters.

This has to be the most asinine butchering of a theater I've ever read about. Walgreens Cinema.

Here's the marquee before the Walgreens renovation. The blank space on the front once said "Century's," and before that "Loew's." I believe that the white glass background was installed around 1945-46. The flashing neon borders had also been removed by the time of this photo and replaced by chrome or stainless steel: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/plmarquee.jpg

Hey guys was in the neighborhood the other night and saw that the Plaza had closed its doors. On the marquee reads a message saying office space available. I saw a lot of double bills here for twenty some odd years while I lived in Elmhurst. Sorry to see it go, it was a cheap price and good afternoon killer on my days off.

Corona once had one of the largest Italian-American populations in the NYC area. Loew's Plaza sometimes ran Italian-dubbed versions of MGM oldies. This performance was held at midnight on Columbus Day, 1947. One wonders how many people turned out at that hour, though the national holiday fell on a Sunday that year and perhaps some didn't have to go to work the next day:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/plazaitaliano.jpg

Is this the Corona Theater that also owns the Jackson Triplex and the Ridgewood Theater?
Anyone know of any interior photos of the place before being turned over to Walgreens?

What I meant to say above, which came out sounding strange is that does the same owners own all three theaters?
Apparently someone also mentioned the Corona Plaza has closed it's doors, even in what was left of the balcony?

The Plaza is closed, at least temporarily if not permanently. I believe that the final management was NOT the same as the Jackson and Ridgewood. If you scan the earlier messages above, you should find the name of the Plaza's management company. They originally intended to add more screens, but were stymied by community concerns about parking facilities, as well as by poor attendance at the single screen that they did operate.

Too bad.
Interesting how "parking" was a concern, and if I am not mistaken, there's even a parking lot near by. If yout ake a theater like the Ridgewood, which has been 5plexed since the 80's, and there isn't a parking lot anywhere even remotely close to the theater, and they never had a problem.
Too bad they couldn't get the Corona to work.
The last few remaining older theaters are beginning to drop like flies now. Hopefully the Ridgewood will be able to pull it off, and stay open (but now they are on an evening only schedule weekdays, like the Corona was doing according to the upper part of this comment page). In Forest Hills there is the Midway (although completely altered), and I think whatever the old Continental is running as, and then the Fresh Meadows, the Jackson, and the Cinemart, and a few others here and there, but we can almost count the theaters left in Queens (or Brooklyn too for that matter) on our two hands.

I'm sorry, I meant the "Plaza" above when I said "Corona". I always considered this the Corona Plaza. Sorry for the mix-up.

Any current status for what's left of the theater? From the above posts it looks like they were planning to reopen further auditoriums but never did? Are any still open?

I frequented this theatre a couple of times in the '90's, notably for 1994's "Street Fighter (what a dud). From the little I recall of it it seemed quite elegant inside. Sad to see that little by little it was being chopped down until there was nothing left. I passed by it recently and the Walgreens marquee made me sick. *sigh*, another classic theatre bites the dust.........and the area seemingly isn't getting any better either.

Here are two 1985 ads from the Spanish language publication El Diario:
El Carro de la Muerte 9/20/85
Peliculas en Ingles con titulos en Espanol 9/20/85

Here's a neighborhood movie guide from El Diario, geared towards its Spanish speaking and bilingual readers:
Carteleras Cinematografica 9/20/85

Prior to the construction of Walgreens, the theater was called Teatro Plaza. Judging from the marks left on the marquee from old letters, it was also once called Los Plaza, accomplished by removing the E and W from LOEWS and moving the S to the left.

I was inside shortly after Teatro Plaza shut down and the marquee announced the construction of "5 modern theaters." The partition between the entrance and what is now Walgreens was already there; the hallway was exactly as br91975 described, and there was a folding table set up right inside the door for ticket sales. Some demo work for the Walgreens had already begun, though there was no indication that it was being converted to retail. The mezzanine level wrapped around the lower lobby, similar to the Loew's Jersey, and there was a small concession area and a couple of arcade games upstairs. Everything had been painted solid blue, but the ornamental plaster still appeared to be in very good condition. I didn't venture into the auditoriums.

A classic Loew's circuit ad from the World War II era:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/loews43.jpg

When I last passed by the Plaza, on a Tuesday and then a Monday night in mid-September, the lights were on in the entrance hallway and the lobby; perhaps there are some redevelopment/re-opening/renovation plans in the works?

Perhaps they are lighted for safety reasons, or just because someone forgot to turn them off. I found a similar situation at the Polk Theatre, which is awaiting demolition.

I believe similar reports were at the Marboro too a few times, before demolition began.

Perhap's someone was taking pictures. It could also be a theatre burglar.

There are permits issued for this address, so work is being done. No demolition permits:

EXPIRATION DATE

10/31/2006-FILING HEREWITH TO RENOVATE MOVIE THEATER.

12/23/2006-CREATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOM WITH RELATED HVAC ON SECOND FLOOR. RELATED CONDENSER ON FIRST FLOOR. RELATED ANTENNAS ON ROOF.

05/10/2007-INSTALLATION OF NON LOAD BEARING PARTITIONS, DOORS AND RELATED FINISHES. MECH/HVAC MODIFICATIONS TO HVAC DUCTWORK, INSTALLATION OF ROOFTOP A/C UNITS AND INSTALLATION OF PLUMBING FIXTURES AS PER PLANS FILED HEREWITH.

Interesting; thanks for digging up that information, Lost Memory, and thanks to everyone else for their quick responses. This week is bad for me in finding time to head out to the Plaza and gauge firsthand exactly what's happening, but hopefully I can make a trip there before long and be able to provide a formal update.

I stopped by the Plaza this weekend and found it's being used as a Spanish-language church (with services Sundays at 10 am and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm). The only architectural changes I could see the church made was painting the left wall of the entrance hallway an off-white, with a gold-orange stripe across and about 60% down from the ceiling and two wooden doors (more appropriate for a church than a movie theater) at the end; also, the one-sheet display cases on the exterior right have been boarded up and covered with banners listing information about the church services. There's also a likewise banner on the front of the marquee, while the left and right sides contain lettering mentioning the office space for lease (albeit with no square footage; previously, 10,000 s.f. were listed as being available) and, at the bottom, the name of the church.

Just before Christmas, 1952, Century Theatres took over the Plaza and Prospect from Loew's, which was forced to divest the two theatres in compliance with the federal anti-trust action against the company. The Plaza continued to play the same movies that it would have under Loew's, but only for four days of the week. On the other three days, the Plaza ran programs off the RKO circuit, but a week after they'd finished their runs at the RKO leaders in the borough (including nearby Keith's Flushing):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/century1952.jpg

The Plaza was designed in the so-called "Pompeian" style by the prolific team of R. Thomas Short & William Rau, according to an article in the June 28, 1928 issue of the Long Island Daily Star. "There are approximately 2,200 seats in all, those on the main floor upholstered in red morrocoline, and the upstairs in gold and black tapestry, which lends a delightful contrast," says the article.
"A double staircase leads to the mezzanine floor. At the top landing, there is a beautiful open well made of the finest marble. Comfortable divans are to be seen on this floor, which is lavishly furnished. The lighting fixtures throughout the theatre are very unusual and harmonize with the Pompeian design. Exquisite wall hangings lend a note of richness to the house." Copied from microfilm is this rare image of the Plaza's auditorium, which had six boxes of seats on each side wall. Note the oval dome in the ceiling and the shadow cast by the crystal chandelier:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/audplaza.jpg

The architect's credit needs to be updated so that R. Thomas Short gets his proper due. I think this gives him 15 theatres so far, and there are probably more. Prior to specializing in theatres, Short had an architectural partnership with Herbert S. Harde from 1901-15. Their most famous collaboration is the majestic apartment building, Alwyn Court, on the SE corner of Seventh Avenue & 58th Street. Part of the ground floor is now occupied by the gourmet restaurant, Petrossian.

One of the most popular novelty "acts" to play the Loew's vaudeville houses arrived at the Plaza in July, 1928 for a four-day booking with the feature movie, "A Night of Mystery." Billed as a "Special Added Attraction" to four other acts on the bill, "A Night at Coney Island" presented "weird folks" from Coney sideshows, including "Albert/Alberta" (half man, half woman), "The Fattest Woman on Earth" (642 pounds),"The Legless Wonder," "The Spider Boy," "The Human Skeleton" (57 pounds), and "The Smallest Mother in the World" (a midget with two full-grown daughters). Here are an ad and photo copied from the Long Island Daily Star:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/coneynight1.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/coneynight2.jpg

www.

I just started working in the neighborhood and am sorry to see this is closed. I came here once or twice when I lived in Flushing over 20 years ago.

Maybe I'll check out the church; all are welcome, right?

I'm sure that the church will welcome you, provided that services are going on at the time you visit. Do you happen to know the days and times that services are held?

So, the church conducts services upstairs in the former balcony? A post above states that services are held 10 am on Sundays and 7:30 pm on Wednesdays.

Here are new direct links to vintage images of Loew's Plaza Theatre:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/audplaza.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/127-2790_IMG.jpg

Here are several images of the auditorium in the 1970s. The walls had been re-painted in a shade of blue that might have been on bargain sale at Pergament at the time. The dome seems to have been left untouched except for installation of air-conditioning ducts. Compare these photos to the first one that I posted above on 4/19/08:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/corplaza01.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/corplaza02.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/corplaza03.jpg

The colors of course may be inappropriate, but the place was in really good condition yet in the 70's. Shall we say....much better than what they have done to the place now.... too bad, it's been destroyed inside.

Just re-registering for alerts with this photo link: http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=corona&catpagesize=25&ProductID=30740

Wow that is a lot of information on that marquee!

(also reregistering for alerts at the same time)

When you have a chance, Warren, could you re-post to your Photobucket profile the images you provided links to on April 19th and July 25th of last year? Many advance thanks!

The marquee appears to have changed very little since the '70's, as it was retained well into the 1990's, when I first saw the theater. I recently passed by the location........almost unrecognizable. You wouldn't have known a theater was there.