Loew's 46th Street Theatre

The Universal Theatre was the first atmospheric in the Greater New York area and was designed by John Eberson. It was supposed to be part of a national circuit owned by Universal Pictures, which unfortunately couldn't get product other than its own and after just a year sold the theatre to the Loew's circuit, which re-named it the 46th Street Theatre. As both the Universal and Loew's 46th, it housed vaudeville + movies until the introduction of talkies, when it started showing movies only.

In its final XXX days, this theater also offered concerts as Banana Fish Park. Billy Joel, among others, played here. ABC television used to present a rock concert series taped here.

As a venue for rock concerts in the 1970's, this theater was called The 46th Street Rock Palace.

The old Loew's 46th Street Theatre is located at 4515 New Utrecht Ave..

Loew's 46th Street theatre (formely The Universal) was originally
called "The theatre of delightful surprises." Even after showing continuous movies after sound films, it did have stage shows & concerts.(Ex:Loew's "West-End vaudeville circuit, concert recitals-including the great Jewish cantor Yosel Rosenblatt.) During the early 1950's, The Brooklyn Dodgers sponsered Happy Felton's talent shows for neighborhood children on Saturday mornings. Local dance studios had shows there as well. After Loew's sold it in the 1960's, many famous stars appeared there & it became known as the theatre of stars. (During weekday afternoons, Bingo was played.) The manager
told me the theatre was doing well, so I was surprised when it closed in 1973.





told me the theatre was doing well, so I was surprised when it
closed in 1973.

I have been told that the building was recently bought by another furniture store. The marquee has been removed and new alterations have been made to accommodate the store.

I was in the former Loews 46th Street tonight with a fellow theater buff. The marquee has NOT been removed. The furniture store takes up the lobby, auditorium up to the end of the balcony and upper mezzanine. Quite a bit of this theater remains and a trip to buy furniture is well worth it. I asked the manager if we could see beyond the wall and while she does not allow people in there, she made an exception. Here is what we found: The entire main floor has been leveled and tiled. It is used as a storeroom for the furniture store. No seats remain. All plasterwork and statues are still there. All of the balcony seats remain as well. Overall while this theater is I'd say 90% intact, It would need A LOT of work. There is quite a bit of water damage in many areas of the ceiling. I am going back soon with my camera and will provide a link to the pictures. If anybody has any questions, Feel free to email me.

-Mark

I am glad to hear the marquee is still there. The information was told to me by someone passing by. I have moved from the neighborhood and have not seen the place in 4 years. I think it is doubtful that the building will be restored to a theatre. The majority of Boro Park would not approve because of religous convictions.

Loew's, like it did to many of its theatres, neglected the 46th Street. By the early 1950's the twinkling lights & clouds were not working, the stage curtains needed cleaning & repair, and the place
could have used a good paint job. While still beautiful, much of Eberson's effects were lost due to this neglect. I remember performing here as a child in a "Knot Hole Gang" Saturday morning talent show (sponsored by the Brooklyn Dodgers). One of the acoustical problems of the theatre was that you could hear the elevated trains go by as they passed in front of the theatre.

Here are links to three images that show Loew's 46th Street Theater, located at 46th Street and New Utrecht Avenue :

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4809
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2532
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1926

In all three images the 46th Street Theater is clearly visible above the train, near the vanishing point. In at least one image the name is visible in large white letters on the building.

"The French Connection" chase was not filmed under the New Utrecht Avenue el. so neither the 46th Street or Boro Park Theatres will appear in the movie. What you do see is the 86TH Street el is the Loew's Oriental from the train shots and street shots. Because of the edit job, the building seems to appear, be in the distance, then close and far again. If you focus on the theatre building on the left of the screen, you will see this. This blockbuster film is emblazaoned in any usher's mind that played the picture during it 16 week initial first run in 1971.,

What year did this open?

The Universal first opened on the evening of October 9, 1927, with "Alias the Deacon" on screen and a stage show, "Giggles of 1927," with Eva Puck & Sam White as headliners. By the following spring, Universal had spilled too much red ink and sold the theatre to Loew's, which closed it for the summer and re-opened it in the fall as Loew's 46th Street.

Did they ever have concerts at this theatre?

Yes, concerts were peformed here, if you read some of the above postings.

Listing should read Loew's 46th Street as this was the Universal for less then a year.

Mark, did you ever get into the 46th Street theater to get some photos, as you mentioned you may do above? I would love to see them if you did! I only discovered the theater on this past weekend's BU gate car MOD trip, and of course chose Fort Hamilton Parkway station to get off for the one photo runby I got off the train for because of the theater.
Here's a link to a photo taken Saturday:

http://www.transitgallery.com/data/02e74f10e0327ad868d138f2b4fdd6f0/full_47_p16554.jpg

http://www.transitgallery.com/data/02e74f10e0327ad868d138f2b4fdd6f0/full_47_p16555.jpg

Brooklyn Public Library link

The picture in the Brooklyn Public Library link shows the Garden Theatre-
which was built before Loew's 46th Street. It stood next top it, across the street. (See Garden theatre on this web site.)

The picture in the Brooklyn Public Library link shows the Garden Theatre-
which was built before Loew's 46th Street. It stood next to it, across the street. (See Garden theatre on this web site.)

I have not gone back. I plan to sometime soon. I was, however in another closed Brooklyn theatre recently and got shots. Those will be posted soon.

I don't know where to ask this, and since this is along the same subway line, I figured i'd ask here in the 46th St section.
Does anyone know the name of this theater I took a photo of back in July? It's somewhere along the West End El (D train el).

I don't remember where along the el I took this photo:

Click here for Mystery Theater Photo

Bway, it looks like the Loew's Oriental.

There is a shot of the marquee in the special features section of this week's DVD release of "The Bellboy".

The photo is definitely of the ex-Loew's Oriental. See the listing for that theatre for further discussions of its partial conversion into a Marshall's store.

Already the place is crapped up.

I saw the special features part on "The Bellboy" DVD and the Loew's 46th St. marquee they show is very simillar to the one the Loew's Oriental had, except for the shape. By the looks of things I think the 46th St marquee is still there, underneath the furniture store sign. On a related note the arrangement of lights underneath the marquee of the 46th ST. is also the same way that the lights were at the Loew's Oriental on 86th St.

I attended a Greatful Dead concert on 11/11/1970 held in the 46th St. theater. While not on any mood enhancing drugs, I have little recall for the content of the concert. What I do recall is the theater. It had a blue domed ceiling. There were Grecian statues between columns around the orchestra section of the theater. There may have been clouds painted on the ceiling. I also recall that the combined sound of the band and the trains rumbling outside made plaster dust fall from the ceiling. I left the show early - the house was oversold, the noise was too much and I was convinced the building would collapse. It didn't.

Loew's 46th Street originally had twinkling lights and projected clouds on the ceiling, as well as mechanical birds that "flew" across. These features were not in working order by the late 1940's.

So, P.S. 152, the Grateful Dead literally did NOT bring the house down ! ERD, the mechanical birds reads one better than the Loew's Valencia !

This was my neighborhood theatre growing up and saw many many films in the 50's and early 60's there. Recently a few years now) went back and was amazed at all the detail that still remained. It seemed smaller to me now of course than as a child, and recall thinking it a magic castle.

From 1955 to 1969 I lived at 4615 New Utrecht Ave across the street from the Loews 46th. I remember seeing the first James Bond films and some of the Elvis Presley films from the early and mid 60's. I also remember long lines of people going to see live performers like Jerry Vale. Before we moved away from Boro Park in 1969, the owners of the theater had stopped showing films and were only opening for live performances. Today I live in Atlanta and all of the old movie palaces except for the Fox Theater have been demolished or converted into retail spaces, victims of changing economics and urban renewal. Fortunately there are many examples of movie palaces being renovated and saved.

posted by mike m. on March 20, 2005

Knoxville Tennessee recently completed a $23 million restoration of it's vintage TENNESSEE THEATER (The beautiful Tennessee Theatre is a jewel of historic Knoxville, located in the heart of Downtown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and honored as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee, "Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace" has something for everyone: classical music, vintage films, dance, theater, and stellar performances by today's hottest musicians.)http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/default.aspx?typeid=6&main=main_news It now rivals the Fox Theater in Atlanta. A second jewel, the Bijou is moribund awaiting underwriting for rennovations as well. Since the Tennessee Theater reopened it has hosted The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Earl Scruggs, and a sold out Valentine's Day screening of Casablanca! If you are ever in town - check out this beautiful Moorish theater.

P.S. 152, why have you posted info about the Tennessee Theatre with that of Loew's 46th?

The Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta are good examples of what it would take to renovate and restore the old movie palaces like the Loew's 46th to their original glory. I remember in the 60's the Loew's 46th street theater was still a very elegant theater although as kids we didn't appreciate our neighborhood movie house very much considering all the popcorn and coke that usually wound up on the floor and the chewing gum balls that usually wound up under the seat. From what I have read above, the Loew's 46th street is a prime candidate for restoration, if it can be run profitably by operators who are dedicated to maintaining it as it was in the late 1920's. I have seen how the area around the Fox Theater in Atlanta was revitalized after a concerted effort to preserve the Theater as it was in 1929 was made.

I agree with Mike M. Knoxville and Atlanta have worked hard to show that jewelslike the Lowes 46th Street theater can be reborn. If the solid bones are still in place it takes artisans, passionate supporters and money to put it in place. Then it takes innovative managment to assure bookings that will draw a steady stream of admirers for what is shown on the screen/stage and the theater itself.

When I was 13, I became fascinated by movie theaters and I tried to visit as many as I could to see what they were like inside.The beautiful 46 th. st. soon became one of my favoriter. The outside was done in an Italian Renaisance style and had two small towers at each end of the front.The marquee resembled that of the Oriental wich was about 2 miles away by the elevated subway on New Utrecht Av. The lobby had the usual marble stairway to the mezzanine where the restrooms were. The mezzanine was square in shape and you could walk all around it. There were also the stairways to the balcony here.If memory serves, I remember that there was a long passageway behind a wall at the top level of the balcony. The interior featured a lot of statuary work that was back lit in red or orange. The prosceniun had 3 blocks of seate seperated by 4 aisles. I believe there were 2 more stairways at the back end of the orchestra that led to the balcony. There was a seperate entrance from the orchestra to the lobby.It kind of resembled the Oriental inside, but a few different features made it unique. I saw film here that included Doctor Zhivago,A re release of the 10 Commandments(the perfect theater for this movie) Batman-( 1966 quickee wade to capitalize on the then hot tv show)A Man For All Seasons, and Howard Hughes fave Ice Station Zebra.The theater stopped showing movies in the early 70s. After that they had rock and roll concerts. but I never went to one. The building is now a furniture store. I was there very recently. The entire lobby and mezzanine is intact. I also believe the balcony still has it seats. One of the employees said if I ask the manager to let me see the balcony,he would probably say yes if I make a good case. He was not in that day. I will get back to to you if I have any sucess.

PS 152 and Mike M It is nice to dream. It would really be fantastic if the 46th.st. would re open again. This will never happen for several reasons. First,theres the neighborhood itself. Largely Hassidic and now with an emerging Mexican and Slavic community, it is doubtful that the new residents would patronize the theater. The then growing Hassidic community put pressure on the 46th.st and the old Boro Park to close on Sabbath back in the late sixties. This might happen again today. Second is the lack of parking-both public and municipal. The Boro Park area is the hardest neighborhood in Brooklyn to park. Many private houses have driveways for their owners in the front,so that almost eliminates street parking.There is no municipal parking either. One can make an argument for mass transit- the subway stops near the theater, but are people from the rest of Brooklyn or the so called outer boros willing to use the subway- especially at night? Third this would be the enormous cost of renovating the theater to its former glory.Where would the money come from? Would it be eligable for public funding? would the city council or other politicos approve such a project?Maybe a private benefactor can be found. I know that if I had this kind of money I would support it, but I do not.One can look at the Loews Jersey renovation project in Jersey city as a point of reference.Wether this approach would work in Brooklyn cannot be said for sure. I am sure that a group of volunteers would come foward to help out with things. The last point is would the current owners of the furniture store be willing to give up their business? I can go on and on, but I hate to be pessimistic.We all have fond memories of the 46th.st. Lets remember it the way it was. They cannot take that away from us....at least not yet.

Another possible approach would be to have the theater designated as a historical landmark. This would at least keep the building from further "improvements" and help avoid demolition. I'm sure the present owners might object - but that would be where folks like you Theaterat could be very helpful! By the way, your description of the area and accessability issues does not sound at all different than back in November of 1970! The biggest difference might be the influx of Hispanics and folks from Eastern Europe. These folks might have more interest in a community based theater than the more insular Hassidic community...then again 2nd Avenue in NYC used to boast that it was the Yiddish Gay White way in the 1920's. But that is another story!

Yes ! Leo Fuchs, Theodore Bikel, Molly Picon, Minasha Skulnick, where are you now ?

and Martha Schlamme...

Indeed !

PS 152...This is years before my time. Sounds fascinating. Please tell me more whenever it is conveinent for you. Thanks.

(from http://www.answers.com/topic/yiddish-theatre)
Between 1890 and 1940, there were over 200 Yiddish theaters or touring Yiddish theater troupes in the United States. At many times, a dozen Yiddish theatre groups existed in New York City alone, with a theater district centered on Second Avenue that often rivaled Broadway in scale and quality. At the time the U.S. entered World War I, there were 22 Yiddish theaters and 2 Yiddish vaudeville houses in New York City alone. [Adler, 1999, 370 (commentary)] Original plays, musicals, and even translations of Hamlet and Richard Wagner's operas were performed, both in the United States and Eastern Europe during this period.

Yiddish theatre is said to have two artistic golden ages, the first in the realistic plays produced in New York City in the late 1800s, and the second in the political and artistic plays written and performed in Russia and New York in the 1920s. Professional Yiddish theater in New York began in 1882 with a troupe founded by Boris Tomashefsky. At the time of Goldfaden's funeral in 1908, the New York Times wrote, "The dense Jewish population on the lower east side of Manhattan shows in its appreciation of its own humble Yiddish poetry and the drama much the same spirit that controlled the rough audiences of the Elizabethan theater. There, as in the London of the sixteenth century, is a veritable intellectual renascence."

At the time of the opening of the Grand Theater in New York (1903), New York's first purpose-built Yiddish theater, the New York Times noted, "That the Yiddish population is composed of confirmed theatergoers has been evident for a long time, and for many years at least three theaters, which had served their day of uefulness for the English dramas, have been pressed into service, providing amusement for the people of the Ghetto." (For more on the Grand Theater, see Sophia Karp.)

(from http://www.milkenarchive.org/articles/articles.taf?function=detail&ID=20)
Walking down Second Avenue on the lower east side of Manhattan, it is hard to believe that the neighborhood was once dominated by Yiddish theater.

Hardly a trace remains of the thriving center of popular entertainment that once flourished in this area during the early to mid-20th century. It was there that highly popular, charismatic stars such as Aaron Lebedeff, Jennie Goldstein and Molly Picon performed to sold-out audiences in shows ranging from light musical comedies to melodramas, with titles such as Der berditchever khosn (The Bridegroom from Berditchev) and Der dishvasher (The Dishwasher).

Music halls were filled with Yiddish vaudeville acts, entertaining audiences with a variety of songs, revues, skits and one-act sketches. Yiddish films such as Yidl mitn fidl (Yidl with His Fiddle) played to packed houses in Second Avenue cinemas and Yiddish songs poured out of the radio, some taken from the shows being performed in the theaters, some written exclusively for broadcast or recordings.

Today the only visible evidence of that glorious past in lower Manhattan is a series of plaques featuring the names of Yiddish theater celebrities that adorn the sidewalk outside the Second Avenue Deli. None of the old theaters remain. Even the famous Yiddish Art Theater, which provided more sophisticated, literate dramatic works than the light entertainment of the popular Yiddish theater, is now an East Village cineplex.

The theaters are not the only elements of Yiddish theater's heyday that no longer exist; much of the music is also gone. While recordings and sheet music of individual songs associated with the Yiddish theater remain, there exist no complete or authoritative orchestrations of Yiddish theater or vaudeville songs.

############################################
So my friend, there might still be a place in Boro Park for a gloriously restored theater! Be well.

It seems like the original Loew's Marquee might be hidden under all that metal sheeting that is currently covering it up. The way the light bulbs are arranged underneath is exactly in the same type of pattern as the Loew's Oriental on 86th Street. The only difference is the 46th street marquee was in the shape of a trapezoid and the Oriental was a rectangle.

P.S. 152, what about the Yiddish Theater scene in Brooklyn : Brownsville ("The Prince Of Pitkin Avenue"), Williamsburg, Boro Park ?

I no longer live in NYC. If there is a new Yiddish theater scene - I'm delighted to know about it. I was not aware of one in the past. Thanks for the note.

You're welcome. Yes, I meant the past, in Bklyn, about a century ago.

PS152...Thanks for your informative and insightful reply on the Yiddish theater.This fascinating facet of NY culture really piqued my interest. I am not Jewish, but I do intend to research this subject.By the way, my mother and her family lived on the Lower East Side not too far away from this area.She was born in 1627 and her ramily and her emigrated to the Mapleton area of Brooklyn in the mid 1930s. She remembers the neighborhood theaters fairly well.

Typo above! The year should be 1927. She is not THAT old!

Hey Theaterat...I think you and I are about the same age. I remember seeing Batman (the Movie) in 1966 when I was 10. I lived 1/2 block from the 46th street movie house at 4615 New Utrecht from 1955-1969. Did you live in this neighborhood?

Mike M ..I am about 3 years older than you. My neighborhood was Dyker Park section on Shore Parkway. As I said in my first entry cincerning the 46th. st. is that I became fascinated by theaters when I was 13. We lived not too far from the Oriental, Benson and Deluxe(qv).My mother would drive me and whomever I went to the movies with back and forth with the familys 1959 Chevy. We were good kids who loved to go to the movies, and the theaters were just as important to us as the movies.I would rather see a movie like the 10 commandments at a beautiful theater rather than a dump.Bet you went to the 46th.st and the Boro Park all the time. You were lucky to live so close!

I grew up in Flatbush - within walking distance of the RKO on Church Av. and the Rialto and Lowes on Flatbush Ave. There were others in the area, one small theater very close to "the junction" of Flatbush and Nostrand Aves called the College Theater and another north of the junction on Flatbush near Farragut Road. This latter theater was converted into a bowling alley and was right next to Cohen's bike shop. The RKO sat directly accross the street from the "Peter Styversant Church" one of the oldest in the borough. It had an equally aged cemetary behind it. I saw the 3-D version of Thirteen Ghosts at the old RKO - at night for a 9 year old's birthday party. At the end of the film - there wasn't a stop watch fast enough to have timed us running to the safety of the old Plymouth!

Seems like we had a great selection of theaters back in the day (1950's - 1970) Now we have DVDs and tapes and Limewire and Napster and so on. What a loss to us all!

P.S. 152, how old are you, and when did you move out of Flatbush ? I estimate your age as about 53 years, from you being nine when "Thirteen Ghosts" was in theaters.

I am from Ridgewood, Queens, and am 49 years of age.

According to my dad, and people of his generation (he was born in 1919) television seems to have done away with many small neighborhood movie theaters. That, too : what a loss to us all !

P. S. 152, you appear to have taken your handle from P. S. 152 in Brooklyn, on Glenwood Road, three blocks east of Ocean Avenue, just west of Midwood High School and just north of Brooklyn College.

Are you familiar with "The Junction Bar" at Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues ? If so, do you know a heavy-set, red-haired folk singer of Irish descent, named Sue Byrne ?

I did indeed take my handle from "The Glenwood School" (supposedly the original name of P.S. 152. I am also familiar with the Junction Bar...but never was a patron of said saloon. I believe that my younger brother met his wife there though! Can't say that I knew Sue Byrne and I'm sorry that I missed hearing her play. I am 52 years old...and was guessing at my approximate age when I saw 13 Ghosts!

I left Brooklyn for college in Vermont in 1970. After college I lived in Manhattan for several years. I moved out of NYC in 1978...and now live in the Southeast.

Thanks for the info, P.S. 152. Sue Byrne sang : she had a pure, angelic voice. I last saw her in May or June of 1975. She had just moved to Avenue D and East 49th St. a month or two earlier, in April 1975.

It seems to me that all of us who are members of cinematreasures are all "theater rats" to some extent. It's obvious that all of us love the old movie palaces and based on all the messages I've read on just this page, we all have wonderful memories of going to the movies at a real movie palace and not the blackbox big screen rooms they build now. I have enjoyed reading the messages of members who are my age and those members who remember the movie viewing experience of the 1920's through the 1950's. It has been very educational. The Loews 46th was the one place besides PS 131 and the candy store that was on the corner of 45th street that my mother would let me walk to by myself until I was almost 13 years old. Thank goodness for TCM, AMC, and Starz Western Channel which still broadcast the old movies. Otherwise I wouldn't watch TV at all. I have been living in Atlanta since 1980 and enjoy going to the few remaining movie palaces like the Rialto and the Fox Theater which still show movies along with live performances. The other day I found out about another old movie palace being restored in my area to its 1930's splendor after being neglected since 1978. I'm still optimistic that the Loew's 46th may still one day show movies and live acts again. As long as there are people like us who still remember.

Well said, Mike M. Keep the faith !

Keep the faith!

Is it me, or is the quality of movies in general just getting worse?Not too long ago there were movies that were worth seeing. Up to about six years ago I would go quite frequently, but in the last 3 years I have only gon a grand total of 6 times...not including classic screenings at revival houses. As long as Hollywood keeps giving us fare such as Miss Congeniality II, The Pacifier, The Ring I and II,Son of the Mask,The Boogeyman,not to mention endless sequels to movies that were bad and unnecessary remakes like Flight of the Phoenix, Amityville Horror, and The Night of the Living Dead ,they lost me as a moviegoer. I would rather rent a classic movie on DVD or video and enjoy it at home rather than go to some faceless multiplex. Prehaps I am living in the past, but I liked that better.

Personally, believe it or not, I just kinda love old buildings in general, but of course that would make me interested in old theaters too, so that's why I'm here. That coupled with enjoying movies too (and yes, especially in an old theater) makes this an interesting site for me.
I have to admidt though (and please keep the rocks small when you all start throwing them at me), I do enjoy some of the newer theaters too, especially when built in the style of a theater like The AMC Pleasure Island near Orlando or Island 16 in Holtsville I do admidt that I love the stadium seating, the comfortable large chairs where the armrests can go up when unbusy, and it is almost like a couch.
While nothing will compare to the old movie palaces, I can't really knock many of the newer multiplexes either. And I don't mean the junk that was built in the 70's and 80's, I mean the more "delux" ones like National Amusements and AMC have been putting up lately.

You are not alone in your feelings Theaterat. With a few exceptions the quality of movies in general has slowly declined since the early 70's. That decline in quality I think is partly due to the decline of the old studio system which prided itself on producing quality films even though it treated the actors like property. When more actors started making more money there was less money for production values. You might also notice that our greatest films came from some of our greatest novels and literary minds. With a few exceptions the quality of our literature has also declined since the early 70's and I include comic books as literature, so it's no wonder the quality of movies has gone down. To be honest it's been an up hill battle for movie theaters in the battle with television for the audience. In the old days your movie ticket would let you see two movies, a newsreel, cartoons, a short movie feature, a serial episode. Now all you get is one movie not as good as last weeks movie trailer and overpriced popcorn and soda. The Loew's movie houses were always top notch because they were owned by a big company. When movie houses were owned by independent operators the profit margins were very small so the theaters became simple no frills black boxes. That is starting to change now with larger multi-screen theaters incorporating some of the features of the old movie palaces such as better seating and retro interior design. Don't worry Bway...no rocks being thrown here.

Here's a photo of the 46th Street theater taken from street level that I found on the web.

Mike M.... You are right to a certain extent. Went to the Sheepshead multiplex recently, and the renovated plex did hace "stadium style"seating. This "feature" is kind of like a balcony with no orchestra level, and the seats were adjustable.But the theater was still very dirty and the stench from the popcorn and butter was so overwhelming, it seems to have been piped in through the air conditioning vents. Also, my idea of a good time is NOT seeing some overhyped movie based on a comic book or an old TV series.The kind of well made foreign films that Siskel and Roeper give "thumbs up" to just do not play at the plexes. Guess the owners feel they will not do good business, so films like "The Pacifier"are favored. In reality, they are not doing mature moviegoers a favor, so adult attendeace is dropping.It may be sad, but it is true.

This theater is listed as opening in the 1920's and yet the City gives a build date of 1910 for this building. Is it possible that this theater had another name before the Universal theater?

4515 New Utrecht Avenue, Borough Park, New York 11219

Block & Lot #: 05615 - 0006
Building Class: Miscellaneous Store Building (K9)
School District: 15 map/schools
City Council District: 39
Police Precinct: 66 (Crime Statistics)
Political Contributions: search
BUILDING CHARACTERISTICS
Zoning R6
Building Size (F x D): 119.00ft x 175.00ft
Lot Size (F x D): -
Building Height: -
Total Gross Area of Building:
Year Built: 1910
Historic District?: No
Corner Lot?: No
Has Garage?: No
Number of Floors: 3
# Units: 0
FAR as built: 1.59
Allowable FAR: 2.43

A document that I found lists a transfer of ownership from the Eton Amusement Corp to the 46th Street Theater Corp (no mention of Loews) on 9/14/66 for a sum of $225,000.

Why do I get a "FORBIDDEN" message when I try to access Bway's entry of 4/18/05?

Warren, I assume they don't allow me to remote post a link to an individual photo.
Anyway, here's the page I found it on, scroll down about 6 photos or so. This should work:

http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/brooklyn/boroughpark/newutrecht/index.htm

That furniture building appears to be an old building that could date back to 1910.

I hope the theater owners browse this web page theaterat. Maybe they will get the idea. Hey Bway...thanks for finding this bridgeandtunnelclub web page. I actually recognized some of the buildings in the borough park area. I was surprised that the old candy store and soda shop was still in business. The movie theater still looks pretty good. A lot of Architects would love to have that much to work with for a renovation and restoration project. The yellow brick always made the theater look like a golden palace. It's a shame to see so many empty and defaced store fronts. Lostmemory I'm impressed. Where did you get this information? I think you are correct, the building on record predates the movie theater. I believe the street numbers are assigned to the buildings based on the city water meter that serves that building. I assume that the movie theater was built on the 4515 lot and the corner lot. I may have some photographs of the 46th street theater that go back to the early 60's but it may take me a while to scan the photos.

Went back to the 46th.st yesterday.(4 27) The manager was nowhere to be found, but the person I spoke to said quote-"the manager is tired of wierdos and cultists trying to see what is left of the theater It is closed, and that is that". He did let me look around, but the area that is closed to the public was off limits to me. I tried.

In one of the earlier paragraphs on this page one of the members was able to get in and see the remnants of the old theater. I don't think too much could have changed in a year. I will be visiting New York next month to see my sister who lives in Long Island. I'm hoping she will drive us to see the old neighborhood and maybe walk around a little. I'm still looking for a good picture of the theater from the 60's. I found one photograph, but it doesn't have a real clear view of the theater. I will keep looking. I've seen some recent photos of the neighborhood along New Utrecht ave. and it seems like the area is recovering from the hard times in the 70's and 80's. A working theater would do wonders for this neighborhood, but it would have to provide entertainment that is suitable to the people that live and work there.

Mike M... That is a great idea except for......................... Anyway, you get the idea.Providing entertainment for ALL the residents of various ethnic backgrounds would be fine if somebody took an iniative and started. Nice as the 46th.st was: and it was very nice) I would rather put my efforts small as they may be in an attempt to save the even grander Loews Kings.If ypu ever were there, you know what a magnificent theater this was... and could be again

11-11-70.

On September 14th 1966, Eton Amusement Corp (A Loews subsidiary) transfered ownership of the Loews 46th Street from itself to the 46th St. Theatre Corp. There have been several transfers of ownership of this former theatre since then.

I lived in Flatbush from 1968 to 1975 and saw "Airport" at the Kenmore, "Romeo & Juliet" at the Astor, "The Anniversary" with Bette Davis at the Albemarle, "The Legend of Lylah Clare" at the glorious Kingsway, and "Mame" at the Rialto. Talk about an embarrassment of riches ! Flatbush Avenue was almost like Brooklyn's Times Square. Remember the ice cream parlors, book stores, record stores,and coffee shops ? I was a young man on my own just out of the army, and I'm glad i came in on the tale end of it. Who remembers The Circus Lounge, a gay bar on Flatbush & Foster that became Kitchen City, I believe ? frankie from Brooklyn

I fondly remember seeing "Peyton Place" and "You're a Big Boy Now" at the Loew's 46th Street just after getting out of the army. I was FREE !!! frankie from Brooklyn

It would be great if there was someone who had the money to invest in restoring these palaces however we have to remember why they closed in the first place. The community in which most of these places exist did/would not appreciate these places as much as they should be appreciated. It is sad that the community didn't do anything in the first place when these theaters first closed.

It is great that there are a handful of us that understand and appreciate these wonderful movie palaces, however in the grand scheme of things, we are too few and far between.

Lady Rigel...You are exactly right, but the reality of it is that too many people just do not give a hoot.I was greatly saddened when the Oriental closed, but when I asked people to get involved in an effort to save it nobody cared. Similiar efforts are going on with the Kings- read all the posts- but, again there seems to be nothing concrete other than a few ideas people are kicking around. There were Many great theaters in Brooklyn, but I guess the expense of operating and maintaining them was just too prohibitive. Then theres the current very sad state of the film industry itself.Just too many films are being released and too many of them are remakes, sequeld or creatively bankrupt rethreads of old TV shows ala The Honeymooners, Bewitched, and The Dukes of Hazzard.And the backlash is showing at the box officed. In the Pre DVD, VCR, Cable, and Movies on Demand days, a film had a longer "shelf life" and generally played a lot longer than todays releases. The fact of the matter is that the grand old movie palaces are an anachronism, a thing of the past. We all could get involved in an effort to save them, but in reality who really cares about them other than people like us.

Here's a 1928 image of the original marquee as the Universal Theatre. Note how the marquee was designed to fit around a pillar for the elevated subway that passes in front of the theatre:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/129-2982_IMG.jpg

That is a really wonderful picture you found Warren. Thank you for sharing that photograph. I used to live at 4615 New Utrecht about half a block from the Loew's 46th. I'm going to email my dad a link to the photo so he can see what the theater looked like when he was 2 years old. I did notice the photo was cropped at the top. I guess the photographer didn't like photographing the bottom of the EL. I'm not familiar with the silent film on the marquee, but I did recognize the actors. Rod Laroque is more well known for playing "The Shadow" and Warner Oland was the actor who portrayed Charlie Chan in the 1930's and 1940's. I also noticed there was a stage show advertised. The Universal Marquee certainly was grand. I have been trying to find a photograph of the theater from the 1960's but I haven't been able to get my hands on it. When I do I will try to share it with everyone on this page.

Here are two interior images. The first shows the entrance lobby, which has been incorporated into the current furniture showroom. The auditorium is used as a warehouse, with all of the seating removed from the ground floor:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3065_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3061_IMG.jpg

Great, Warren! Where did you get these photos from?

When going to Loew's 46th Street, I seem to recall a large statue on top of the proscenium. I do not notice it in Warren's picture. Did Loew's do some decorative changes when it bought the Universal? Also, unlike the Oriental and Fortway, I don't think Loew's 46th Street or Loew's Boro Park had an organ.

A large piece of statuary was on the right side wall of the auditorium, a bit too far back to make it into the image that I posted. The statuary was still there when I visited the site about five or six years ago, but it might be gone by now. It would be quite valuable to collectors of such kitsch.

I would like to thank Warren for his expertise information & contributions he has given to this site. It is greatly appreciated.

Warren, did you take any photos inside when you were in there?

In the center of this image is an ad for the grand opening of the Boro Park Universal. Keeney's Theatre, advertised to the left, would later become Loew's Melba:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/132-3258_IMG.jpg

Wow, I was only 10 when the dead played,I wish I was there,what a treasure !! Steve

The night the Dead played was truly remarkable. The house was packed and people stood "armpit to armpit!" There was a sense of awe and excitement that the Greatful Dead had come to Brooklyn and to Boropark no less! Garcia's piercing solos, the visceral base riffs and the songs we all knew... oh what an affirmation. We were part of a bigger world and the world knew we were here. Our ears rang for a week afterwards. Then it was a good thing. Now we call it tinnitus.

I have an interesting story regarding this theater. I was on a cruise vacation to Bermuda recently. There was an elderly couple I met who were from Toronto, Canada.We got to talking, and the gentleman said he was originally from Brooklyn, bur moved to Canada some 15 years ago whedn he retired.Afyer much talk about ?the old neighborhoods" somehow the conversation came to movie theaters. He asked me how many were left in Brooklyn, and I told him about 9 or 10. Then he asked me if I remembered the 46th. St.I told him vividly. It seems that this fellow, who worked in real estate sales was attempting to re-open the 46th.st with a few friends back in 1975.The plan was to re=furbish the then recently closed theater and bring movies and other events back to Boro Park. The plan sounded great and was almost a go until 3 banks turned them down. Part of the plan was to have an "unemployment special" where if you showed your unemployment card, you got a discount! They also planned to have Saturday kids matinees like in the "old days".Also on the agenda were Yiddish shows for the Hassidic community, and concerts or opera music. There was also talk about screening the big screen epics such as < Lawrence of Arabia"," Around the World in 80 Days", "The 10 Commandments", "Sparticus", " Doctor Zhivago" and others. I must admit, this was a great idea. Obviously he thought so too.This was at the dawn of the multiplex era, but he said to cut up and gut this theater would be a tragedy.He asked me if I am a moviegoer. I told him that I used to be, but the overall lousy quality of todays movies,and the equally bad multiplexes we have to see them at is keeping me away. He agreed on that! I told him about this website, and he sounded interested in it! Too bad he doesn`t have a computer!

Too bad it didn'thappen.
As for the "evils" of cutting up an old theater into a "multiplex", it's a two sided street. What's worse, take for example the Ridgewood Theatre in Ridgewood. It was cut up into 5 screens (two in the orchestra and three in the balcony). However, it is STILL puttering on, and showing movies after all these years, long after most theaters have been closed, altered, or worse, demolished. Is that worse than the fate of the 46th St, that never was cut up, but is rotting before their eyes being used as a warehouse? Or worse, like the RKO Madison, still existing, never cut up for multiplexing, but compltetely gutted? It's a tough question. Multiplexing "may" have allowed the theater to survive, and still show movies like it's supposed to....but then again, the glory of the interior would be altered and harmed. Hard to say what's worse....
For me, I much rather see the Ridgewood cut up, but still showing movies, rather than being used as a furniture store warehouse.....

Many religous groups of Borough Park did not want any theatres when they moved into the neighborhood. They had and have political influence. The nearby Boro Park theatre had riots outside when it showed Yiddish shows on Saturday.(The Sabbath).The theatre shortly closed (after showing "X" rated films in retaliation) I am sure the banks were aware of this.

The manager (who is religous)of the now furniture-warehouse of former Loew's 46th theatre is extremely negative and insulting when it has anything to do with the history of the building. He said, (See Theatrerat's post of April 28th,2005)
"I am tired of wierdos and cultists trying to see what is left of the theatre. It is closed, and that is that!"

Bway and EDR... It`s REALLY too bad that this did not happen. It would have been nice though.I guess it is good to dream, but reality is quite another subject. I have never been to the Ridgewood, but I quess that it is a miracle that it still can survive. Prehaps some day I will get there.

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

I used to go to movies at the 46th st in the 60's and then later on in the early 70's i got to see the Gratful Dead along with the New Riders of the Purple Sage with Jerry Garcia playing pedal steel for NRPS. I m et Micky Hearts grandmother who had baked a batch of Alice B Tokeless brownies and also met Allison Steele The Night bird from WNEW FM 102.7. I have fund memories of that show. I also wound up doing some stage work at the time Don Kirshners "Rock Concert" was being taped there.

Thank you, East Coast Rocker ! I, too, remember Allison Steele The Night bird from WNEW FM 102.7. I saw her at a Janis Ian concert at the Wollman Rink in Central Park in July 1976.

I liked Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert" on Channel 5, starting with its debut in mid-September 1973, however much I thought Kirshner himself, Mr. "I Dream Of Jeannie" music, being touted as a "rock impresario", was ridiculous.

I think I saw Billy Crystal for the first time on Kirshner's show in January 1977. Either that or SNL. He was really up, saying, "I feel great, my nipples are hard", jogging in place, then he did his parody of high school drug scare movies, "Johnny : IT HAPPENED TO HIM ! IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU !", starting with the kid jogging around the track, saying "Scholarship" to himself over and over.

Kirshner was also the man behind The Monkees! I remember the Rock Concert show. I recall it from the late '70's mostly. If I'm not mistaken, it competed with a show called "Midnight Special" on WNBC channel 4 that featured Wolfman Jack as announcer and a variety of rotating guest hosts (I recall folks as diverse as Helen Reddy and Todd Rundgren taking turns). Both of these shows lasted until the very early '80's - when the rising popularity of MTV probably took whatever remained of the wind out of their sails.

I forget which show it was, but one of them advertised that it would have the Grateful Dead on the following week - I was a burgeoning young Dead-Head at the time - and when I tuned in, it was merely some clips from the upcoming Grateful Dead movie that were shown. I’m trying to remember what the time slots were... I’m thinking Saturday nights, but then... channel 4 would have had Saturday Night Live on from 11:30 to 1am. Did they run on Friday night? I don’t think so...

Anyway... did Kirshner's "Rock Concerts" always originate from the Loew's 46th Street?

Hi Ed. No. DK's "Rock Concert" did about 8 or so shows at the 46th street in a period of 4 weeks. They would tape 2 shows a week with different acts. PKoch "Rock Concert" was shown in NYC on Ch 7 WABC not WNEW Ch5 as it was known back then. Also the last time i was near the place it called Rosenbergs Furnature and when i asked if I could have a look around I was also given the brush off even after i told them I used to do work there.

Last night while i was getting nastalgic looking up places I used to go to as a kid or saw boarded up made me realize that the day of the "Super Theatre" is long gone and just about over with certain exceptions. The mentality these days is that if they have that kind of space they will turn it in to a multiplex. It is sad for i love old theatres and most should be declared landmarks and preserved.

East Coast... a history of hostility towards theater buffs on the part of the furniture store owner/manager has been noted in comments above. Thanks for the info. Yeah, I thought that Kirschner was on ABC, but I wasn't 100% sure. I thought that maybe David Susskind's interview show was on Channel 5 during that time slot, but I think Susskind's show was on Sunday nights at 11:30. I'm still fuzzy on which show ran on which night. I'm thinking "Midnight Special" was Friday nights on NBC and "Rock Concert" was Saturdays on ABC.

ABC tried a show called "In Concert" for a while during the '90's. I think they might have even had it on prime time at some point. And NBC used to carry an excellent and eclectic series on late nights called "Later" that was hosted by the former Squeeze keyboardist Jooles Holland. I recall that show mostly in the '80's with David Sanborn as a co-host, but I have recently seen more recent episodes (featuring bands like Foo Fighters, Wilco and Coldplay) airing on the cable station Ovation. I think the show has been running in Britain for some time and only breifly made it on American network TV.

Wow!...I can`t believe it was 40 years ago- almost to this day- that I went with my mother to see "Doctor Zhivago" at the 46Th. ST.A great film at an equally great theater. For some reason, I remember it like it was only a few weeks ago.Flashback to today, and I`m hard pressed to find even one movie that is worth seeing.Bring back the old days and the great theaters!

"In Concert" was on ABC Fridays at 11:30 PM starting in 1972 or 1973.
"The Midnight Special" was on NBC Saturdays from 1 to 2:30 a.m., "Friday Night". Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was on WNEW Channel 5 Saturdays starting 11:30 PM in mid-September 1973. The debut show featured Earth, Wind and Fire, The Doobie Brothers, Cross Country, and special guest stars .... THE ROLLING STONES !!!! (dubbed promotion videos for "Angie", two of them, the first one, by itself, the second, with Jagger in a Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, following dubbed videos of "Silver Train" and "Dancing With Mr. D".)

The "Angie" videos had Mick Taylor sitting at the piano, with the string backing deleted from the soundtrack. All the videos had different vocals, and slightly different lead guitar, than the original backing tracks from "Goats Head Soup", their then-latest album.

David Sanborn had a late-night talk show in 1989. I taped it on Sept. 3rd when he had Lou Reed and Mike Rathke with him and the holuse band doing "Dirty Blvd." and "the national anthem", "Walk On The Wild Side", also Lou Reed and John Cale doing two "Songs For Drella" : "You've Got The Style It Takes" and "Nobody But You", about the late Andy Warhol.

I subsequently saw Reed and Cale do "Nobody But You" on David Letterman's show, but the performance was better on Sanborn's.

I also saw Sanborn's show when he had bassist and James Brown band alumnus Bootsie Collins as a guest, urging, "Dave, get ready to roll, Dave get ready to roll !"

Sanborn also played sax on the track "Pretty Beat Up" from the Stones' fall 1983 album "Under Cover".

Yes... PKoch... I'm getting my shows mixed up. It was Sanborn's show that I'm thinking of on NBC late nights. Jools Holland was part of the show... was it called "Night Music"? I think it started on Sunday nights but was then moved to weeknights. One show had the band Bongwater, Screaming Jay Hawkins, the Modern Jazz Quartet and Bob Weir in acoustic duet with bassist Rob Wasserman. At the end, all these musicians (or folks from each band) got together and jammed. Quite a bunch. And a great house band that included, if I recall, Omar Hakim on drums and Hiram Bullock on guitar (both of whom had been in Letterman's original band when his late night talk show debuted on NBC in '82).

Anyway... I'm confusing that show with the show that Jools Holland did on his own in the '90's. I think when I saw it recently on cable, it reminded me of the Sanborn show and resulted in my mistaking it for an offshoot or updating.

Not sure about the "In Concert" from '72 and '73, but there was definitely an identically named show in the '90's on ABC. One episode featured footage from Grateful Dead concerts at Giants Stadium in NJ with a theme centered around the Dead's efforts to conserve the Rainforest.

Pkoch you are wrong. Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was on ABC back then. It was a NETWORK show and back then Ch 5 was still an independant channel showing syndicated reruns.

I doubt that any network could produce a show with that kind of quality music that was out back when Rock Concert was taped.

No, East Coast Rocker, I distinctly remember Don Kirshner's Rock Concert as being on WNEW Channel 5 from its inception. Go check a TV website if you don't believe me, or to produce evidence to refute me.

Just to make sure we are not arguing at cross purposes mis-informed, I remember Don Kirshner's Rock Concert being broadcast on WNEW Channel 5 in New York City, starting mid-September 1973.

A few memories of "In Concert" :

Focus, performing their Top Twenty hit, "Hocus Pocus", Friday April 13, 1973. In retrospect, the lead vocalist reminded me of Robert "Waddy" Wachtel, but I don't know if it was him.

Chuck Berry, about two weeks later. He performed "Carol" and "My Ding-A-Ling", referring to the audience as "all my children".

"The Midnight Special", 1-2:30 AM, Saturday November 17, 1973 with David Bowie, Marianne Faithfull, and the 1980 "floor" show. A high point of slapstick was Bowie wearing false breasts with hands reaching around from behind.

but you guys do digress.

Just to digress even further... I don't know if there is a website that details history of local TV listings, but the imdb.com site lists ABC as distributor in the production credits for Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. That would support East Coast's assertion that the show was on WABC-TV channel 7 in New York. It's possible, but doubtful, that the New York affiliate - which is owned by the network - wouldn't carry its own production and allow it to compete on an independent station like Metromedia's WNEW-TV channel 5.

Here's the {url=http://imdb.com/title/tt0252784/combined]imdb page[/url].

Ouch... here's the working link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0252784/combined

One more thought... Could ABC have picked this up after it aired on WNEW the first year?

If I recall properly, "In Concert" was an ABC show. When it went off the air, "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" started up as a replacement, but was syndicated rather than network.

Of all the places I looked up for info who would have thought i would have found it on www.humptheshark.com
Where it says slot really meant late Saturday night

Don Kirshner's Rock Concert

First Show 1973
Last Show 1981
Genre Music
Network ABC
Slot Day Sunday
Slot Time 1 am

http://www.jumptheshark.com/d/donkirshner.htm

And so it is finally settled. So what was on channel 5 Saturday nights? Anyone remember "Creature Features" with its host "The Creep"? I think that may have been on Saturday mornings or early afternoon. I remember loving it as a kid but in retrospect, the movies were never really that scary ("The Crawling Eye" with Forrest Tucker? I mean come on...) and "The Creep" was just some middle age guy in a black turtleneck and big dark sunglasses with a monotone delivery. I preferred the six-fingered claymation hand that rose out of the swamp in those WPIX channel 11 "Chiller Theater" openers to set the mood for a good ole bad horror movie! "Frankenstein's Bloody Terror!"

But.. what does this have to do with the Loew's 46th Street? No more digression from me...

LOL Ed sometimes the threads tend to drift when you think about old memories. Speaking of Chiller Theater i was looking at a web site the other day from Zackely. Remember him from WNEW FM and a few other stations as well as Ch 9, 11 and Discoteen on Ch 47 before it went spanish

I have vague memories of Zacherly's radio and TV hosting chores. While I was too young to have attended any of those shows, I have a Grateful Dead CD from the Fillmore East where the band is introduced by Zacherly - apparently in full macabre regalia as Phil Lesh is heard in the background saying "Nice to see you, Count Dracula" in an exaggerated Lugosi-like accent!

I still remember Don Kirshner's Rock Concert being on WNEW Channel 5, 1973-1974, in NYC, and will need to see pages from the TV Guides of those years to convince me otherwise. I also remember "Creature Features" on Saturday night, 8:30 - 10:00, on WNEW Channel 5, 1969-1970, and Zacherle hosting the six-fingered hand Chiller Theater on WPIX Saturdays 7:30-9:00 PM, sort of a pre MST 3000, for example, showing the audience a piece of paper with "2 + 2 = 5" written on it, at the point in "Killers From Space" in which the bug-eyed zombies from space are showing the Peter Graves character their advanced equations.

Like I said, PKoch... ABC might have picked up Rock Concert after that first season. You're probably right about Creature Features' time slot, but I think that show bumped around a lot. I clearly remember watching a Creature Feature presentation of Christopher Lee in "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave" one Saturday afternoon when I was about 10 or 11. As for Chiller Theater, I mostly remember that after Zacherle's departure when the intro was only the 6-fingered hand and that creepy music in the background - then that eerie voice saying "Chil-ler" - man, that really set the mood for one of those old fright flicks. WOR channel 9 had something called Fright Night which featured a skull with smoke coming out of its eyes and WABC channel 7 had the voice of John Carradine introducing their late night horror movies under the title Haunted Hollywood. Now I'm thinking that Vincent Price might have had a voice over on one of these kind of shows... but I can't quite nail it down.

Sheesh... quite an addictive thing, this digression stuff!!! Can't seem to stop it...

Zacherley- the "Cool Ghoul" did host a horror show in the early 60s. It was probably on channel 9, but I did remember it was on a Saturday night. The horror films he showed were absolutely terrible, but he somehow made them worth watching.One film he showed- I can`t remember the title contained a scene I`ll never rforget. When the detective investigating the case goes to the coroner`s morgue, he looks at the corpse. Then the coroner takes his lunch out of the case with the corpse and starts to eat it! Creepy, to say the least. Also remember Zacherley playinmg classic rock and roll on the old WPLJ in the late 70s and early 80s before that station went pop- top 40. Of course, Zacherley ALWAYS did the Halloween show on the old pre top 40 WPLJ.

sorry... typos above.

EdSolero and Theaterat, thanks for sharing your movie and TV memories !

I remember Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on WNEW Channel 5 as recently as January 1977. IF ABC Channel 7 had two rock TV shows on in a row, "In Concert" on Friday night and Kirshner on Saturday night, I would have remembered it.

The last two "In Concert" shows I remember were late April or early May 1975 : Keith Richards with Rod Stewart and the Faces, including Tetsu, their then-new bass player, and Alice Cooper's "Welcome To My Nightmare".

I thought Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was on WNBC TV. I believe it followed Saturday Night Live in the late 1970's.

No, in NYC and vicinity, Saturday Night Live remained on NBC in its 11:30 PM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday time slot from its fall 1975 premiere to the present. Kirshner ran in the same time slot on WNEW Channel 5 from mid-September 1973 to at least January 1977.

Hope all the above entries settle the Don Kershner Rock Concert AND the In Concert controversey. I DO remember some kind of rock concert show that aired on FRIDAY nights in the year of 1973, but I`m not gonna go nuts trying to remember the name or network.Also remember at about this same time a group called Mother Earth with a singer called Tracy Nelson played a show at the 46th.st.A friend who had a few extra tickets wanted me to go, but I had a date that night.

It's already settled in my mind, Theaterat. On the way to lunch yesterday, I discussed this with a friend from work, who commented that the TV network that distributes the program is not necessarily the one that broadcasts it.

I suppose fascimiles of the broadcast logs of the TV stations in question, rather than the TV Guide of those days, would be needed to settle the issue.

Thanks for helping to get this page back on topic.

How was your date that night ?

Just to make sure we stay on topic (not!) I have to dig around my box of old magazines and such, where I believe I have a couple of local 1970's TV Guides - inlcuding, I think, the 1975 or 76 Fall Preview issue. Unfortunately, that will necessitate me negotiating with my ex-wife to get at them!

P Koch.... One of THE WORST of my life! We had absolutely nothing in common and we both knew it.Then, to make matters even worse, I got a flat tire on the front of my `64 Pontiac convertible! It was absolutely hell to get that tire off, not to mention the fact that I had my dress pants, shirt and jacket on. Definately should have gone to the show! It was only a short subway ride away. And we could have gone to Miller`s restauranr { remember that? } after the show.Guess I can laugh about it some 30 years later, but a fun night it definately was not.

I am pretty sure I watched Don Kirchner's Rock Concert at 1 AM after Saturday Night Live ended. It could have been on channel 5 but it was on after SNL was over.

I am pretty sure I watched Don Kirchner's Rock Concert at 1 AM after Saturday Night Live ended. It could have been on channel 5 but it was on after SNL was over.

I am pretty sure I watched Don Kirchner's Rock Concert at 1 AM after Saturday Night Live ended. It could have been on channel 5 but it was on after SNL was over.

As this page gets longer, like others on "Cinema Treasures," people should not take advantage and waste space with information that has nothing to do with the theatre.

Hey ERD just like any other forums there is a thing that is called "Thread Drift". It happens and there is not much can really do or say about it. If you are refering to the Don Kirshner post it does relate to the 46th Street because about 8 shows were taped there. And some times you have to post something so others will be reminded that this thread is still active.`

Long live the Lowes 46th St

(Bananafish Garden)Where ever that name came from. They even renamed a local park that was called Satilitte Park to Bananafish Park.

The spelling was always "Loew" after founder Marcus Loew, not "Lowe." The corporate name was originally "Loew's," and later corrupted to "Loews". "Loew" is pronounced like "low," as in low prices.

It is also NOT pronounced as LOW-EEES.

Hey Rat I always knew it as Low Eeez... :P

I grew up in Boro Park, and the Loew's 46th street and the boro park theatre were my neighborhood movie palaces. A few years back me and my friend who also grew up there went into the furniture show that now occupies the theatre and had a good look around making believe we were looking for furniture. A lot remained including the upstairs lounge and men's room and the lobby. Of course it all looked smaller than I remember it. I moved to Manhattan in 1967 but now I'm back in Brooklyn. The photos of the theatre and the neighborhood surrounding it were heartbreaking. The area was never beautiful but now it really looks horrible. My father owned a luncheonette on 43th and New Utrecht ave.

The area surrounding Loew's 46th Street and Loew's Boro Park was very nice through the mid 1950's- then families began moving out to the suburbs, etc. As the Hasidic community moved into the area,and the older generation died off, the physical appearance of Brough Park began changing as well- part of this was the closing of The 46th Street and Boro Park.

I remember the name, Bananafish Gardens, from 1973 or so. It made perfect sense to me, and I knew exactly where it came from, because the previous Fall of 1972, I had studied the J.D. Salinger short story, "A Perfect Day For Bananafish", the first of J.D. Salinger's "Nine Stories", in senior English class.

The story culminates in the suicide of Seymour Glass in a Florida Gold Coast hotel while honeymooning with his vain, shallow wife. Bananafish are a metaphor for innocent children being corrupted by the obligatory shallow materialistic garbage of adult life, a theme also to be found in Salinger's novel, "The Catcher In The Rye".

I take pride in being a member of Cinema Treasures and find most of the other contributing members are intelligent and courteous. Posting irrelevant comments is selfish misleading, and wastes space; Calling it "thread drift" still doesn't change the situation.

I, too, take pride in being a member of Cinema Treasures, have contributed much to it, and consider myself to be intelligent and courteous.

I merely answered East Coast Rocker's question about the origin of the name Bananafish Gardens.

I will leave it to the management to decide, and act upon, what it considers to be irrelevant.

What more did you want to say about Loew's 46th Street Theatre in Nrooklyn, NY ?

PKoch has been a tremendously valuable member here at CT, and I enjoy his comments. The truth is, how much can anyone say about the bricks and walls of the "Loews 46th St" [or place any other theater name there]. After a while it's said that, done that. These sort of comments keep the theaters alive. A theater is more than just bricks and plaster, it's also all the memories that were in these buildings, and many of the memories are the movies or performances that were within their walls. Talking about them is just as much on topic to the theater as a conversation about the procenium arch is.

I am expressing my own personal opinion- Comments should be directly related to the theatre. Some of the comments completely go off into another direction. I also wold be interested in knowing what Mr. Crowley or Mr.Melnick feel, and if they have any suggested guidelines.

I understand when the conversation goes off in very far directions (The Ridgewood theater's section has done that, and now it takes forever for the theater to load because there are so many comments).
It did keep the theater quite active and alove though.
Perhaps maybe there should be a section on this site for general coneversation (theater/movie/etc related), but perhaps not directly related to the theater itself. Such as if someone finds a photo of a building that looks like a theater, and wants to ask questions about it, neighborhood memories around a theater, or conversation such as had progressed above. It doesn't bother me in the theater sections, but perhaps it would be more productive in it's own section of the site under a "general discussion". Most of the people here have formed a internet freindship, started from theater conversation, but sometimes you have a little more to say, that may not necessarily pertain to the actual plaster and bricks of a particular theater.

Thanks, Bway.

Loew's 46th Street had a fairly large stage and high fly. (As mentioned in a former post, I performed on it as one of the acts of a Saturday morning talent show sponsored by the Dodger's Knot Hole Gang)The theatre needed a lot of renovations even by the mid fifties.
I vaguely remember at that time there was a woman manager who was very proud of the theatre.

Hey Bwy I just cought up on the Ridgewood site last night. Interesting reading about that and the Madison. I am not trying to stir up a hornets nest either but both you and PKoch are so right when saying there is only so much you can say about the almost long gone 46th street. I run a Nascar forum on Delphi and believe me we have topics about everything.

Ok here is a revilation. When I was there and saw the Dead playing it was the first time I ever found out what pot smelled like and also participated in the festivities. Yes this was at the 46th street.

Erd don't take this the wrong way but sometimes going off topic can be a way to get to know the others who post here. For example I post on the NY Academy of Music page. Hust by dumb luck or what ever you may want to call it I started talking to a woman on there who asked me if I knew her dad. Low and behold because of this it turns out that yes I knew her dad back in the 70's. Going off topic has put me back in touch with someone from my past that I had no idea how to contact. All this thanks to CT.

ERD, like Bway, I definitely understand your point about drifting too far off topic for too long and cluttering this space with unrelated content. However, as East Coast Rocker and others have pointed out, there is only so much one can say about the brick and mortar of a particular theater. While Cinema Treasures might have started out as a place to celebrate the architectural splendor of the great American Movie Palaces of old, once the decision was made by Ross and Patrick to allow members to add theaters and post comments (in essence, this is a site of our own making) CT became more than just an appreciation of form and function or design and ornamentation. It is, above all else, a place for folks like us (who share this common interest - indeed, obsession!) to connect with one another.

We are a community, for better or worse (I think for better) and certain theater pages here have become forums for folks to reminisce and share with each other the more ephemeral aspects of movie theater appreciation - and those conversations have definitely involved serious "thread drift." Each page is a collaborative effort on the part of CT membership. And each poster has their own unique personality and M.O. That means not everyone will agree with or appreciate all the comments, but if a topic doesn't interest you, move on to the next. Continue to contribute with your own voice, and as long as we can all remember to remain civil and tolerant of one another, I doubt seriously that Patrick or Ross will have much of a problem with threads weaving in and out of the nominal topic.

I will now stand down from my soap box.

any dead heads out there ??

You got one right here, Coney. But I was too young for the fun of the Fillmore and Anderson and 46th Street Rock Palace. I caught the tail end of the Palladium/Capitol Theater days and saw most of my shows in the '80's and '90's when they routinely played arenas. Many Jerry Garcia shows, however, at smaller venues in the '80's.

Guess that the 46th.st AND the Boro Park theaters could have existed as they did.Even though Boro Park was a predominately Jewish{ non Hasidic} neighborhood back then, it was the influx of the ultra religious Hasidics that put pressure on BOTH of these theaters to close on the Sabbath and not to have Rock `n roll concerts either.I really do not want to get off on a tangent here, but I always thought that there was supposed to be a seperation of Religion and state- or in this case private business in America.Religion should be a private matter between the believer and God {in whatever form He exists } for that person. Although I condider myself to be a Christian, I never foist my religious values upon others. And, by the same token, I do not want them to be foisted upon me.I am not saying that these issues closed these theaters, but the sad fact is that they never will return.

Yep, thats me too...Palladium & Capitol.....& LunFontaine theatre on Bdway, did you catch those shows ?? Oh sweet Jerry ! I miss him !!
Does the Pirates Ball out of battery park ring a bell ?......

By the way---Whats the Anderson ??.. I have no clue & where was it ?? Coney

Saw Jerry everywhere from the Ritz on E. 11th (now Webster Hall), the Beacon, Capitol, Calderone and Palladium to the Nassau Coliseum, Garden and, yes, a few of those October '87 shows at the Lunt-Fontanne. That theater has a page here (under Globe Theater) as well. Even saw Jerry at a skating rink on Long Island in the early '80's (Good Skates in East Setauket). I heard of the Pirates Ball. Wasn't that a Hell's Angels gig? It might be featured in the movie "Hells Angels Forever" which is the last film I ever saw at the great RKO Keiths in Flushing.

The Anderson Theater was another Lower East Side venue on 2nd Avenue a few blocks south of the larger Fillmore East. It was always a place for live performance and theater and never for movies, so it is not listed on this site.

Very well said, Theatrerat.

I have seen the Dead at least a dozen or so times. Mostly working the shows when they played the Academy of Music. However to keep on track the first time I saw them was at the former Loews 46th street in Boro Park Brooklyn.

Hey Coney are you in or are from Coney? I grew up in Coney. I live in Maryland now.

Hey Rat my best friend lived in Boro Park but due to the Hasidic invasion his family moved to S.I It is a shame that religion has to interfier with life. I remember that it was Hasidics east of New Utrecht and the Italians on the west of it. How i wish I could go back to those days knowing then what I know now. But I’d trade all of my tomorrows, for one single yesterday. You know how it goes.

Borough Park also had a large Italian population. When Loew's 46th Street had a one time showing of THE GREAT CARUSO as an anniversary retrospective of MGM in 1964, the auditorium was packed; And this was on a weekday at 6:30 P.M.! (It was a double feature,the other film was SHOWBOAT) The ambiance of this beautiful movie palace added so much to the enjoyment of viewing this film.

East Coast and EDR...One thing is for sure. This is a changed neighborhood and it will never be like the ' old days' again.Guess they will live on as long as we have our memories. I can say the same thing about ny current neighborhood. At one time largely Italian and Jewish, it is currently a mecca {if that word can be used} for a growing Russian community as the shop signs in Cyrillic along 86th. St will bear out. The Benson, the Deluxe, the Oriental, the Marboro and the Walker are long gone. It`s a shame. The nearest theater to me is the alpine and it is a dump. There is also the Sheepshead, but I`d rather not comment on that.Guess you really don`t know what you had until you lose it.

You guys have to remember though that this "change" in the people of the neighborhoods have little to with the closure of all these great theaters. This phenomena is happening all over the country, not just in the neighborhoods you have described. It's the dawn of television, video cassettes, DVDs, multiplexes that did all the old great theaters in, not changes in demographics.
These single theaters would have folded even had all the same exact people remained in the neighborhoods.

There was political pressure from the religous sector at the time of Loew's 46th Street & the Boro Park. As I mentioned in an above post, I spoke with the manager of Loew's 46th Street shortly before it closed, and he told me the theatre was doing well and there were plans to refurbish it- (That was the time they were having concerts and bingo during the morning or day)then it suddenly closed. Of course with the changing times these type of theatres eventually would have closed as movie theatres, but may have survived as an arts center-given the right neighborhood support. Those type of people-many cultured and interested in the arts- had moved. Where I live now, many theatres in the regio have been saved are used as cultural centers-Proctors' theatre in Schenectady, The Palace in Albany, and the GLove in Gloversville.

Correction for above post, last sentence. : Where I live now, many theatres in the Upstate NY region have been saved and are used as cultutal centers; Proctor's theatre in Schenectady, the Palace in Albany, and the Glove in Gloversville.

Wow of all places I have never been in to was the Alpine. I have always past by there but never in it. Does anyone remember a theater on 4th ave in the 90's not the year but the streets. The turned it in to some fur store and a gym? Was that the Fort Hamiton theatre?

There was some talk years ago about building a multiplex somewhere near Bay Ridge blvd or by the area of the old 69th st pier.

The theatre you are mentioning, East Coast Rocker, was the Harbor theatre located at 9215 4th Avenue, Brooklyn. More information about it can be found on this site.

Someone mentioned the Anderson Theater on the lower east side. I actually went there with my mother around 1970 to see a stage revival of Kurt Weill's "Mahagonny." Yes, I guess all these theaters would have closed anyway, but what a heart-breaker that the 46th Street is almost intact,but is now a furniture store ! I would definitely go to the movies there if it re-opened. I'm just a few subway stops away.

I hereby promise that if I win either the Powerball or Mega Millions Lotto with a jackpot of over $100 Mil I will kick the furnature store out and also do what I can for the Kings on Flatbush.

You are exactly right Rocker!My very own sentiments indeed. With all that money- more than I probably spend in a lifetime, I would buy a theater, refurbish it and show classic films and have other events. Of cMy mother can take tickets, my brother can help to paint and restore, my sister-in-law can sell candy, etc. etc, etc.ourse, I would have to take care of my family and friends too!

Accidently came across this web page. WOW, what memories. I used to go to the "Lowees" (that's how we pronounced it) 46th Street theater. Usually as a kid I would first go to Berlon's Kosher Delicatessen on Fort Hamilton Parkway to have a pastrami sandwich on club bread (anyone remember club bread?) with a potato knish and Dr. Brown's Celery Tonic. After lunch I would walk passed the Okay Bookstore and Wings Chinese Restaurant on my way to that glorious movie house. Remember when you went to a matinee and came out with the sun shining brightly? It took awhile for your eyes to adjust. I also frequented the 46th on Tuesday nights for vaudeville. At about 8:00 p.m. after the movie, they had five live acts together with a five piece band and an emcee. I remember seeing Ed Sullivan be the emcee on many occasions.

I vaguely remember the vaudeville, as a I was very young. Would love to get more info. Those were the days when Borough Park was at its best.

It's a shame that the owner of this building is so uncooperative or uninterested in the building's history. It would be nice to see some interior views of what the theater looks like inside.

I recently made a brief visit to my old neighborhood of Borough Park. Any trace of the once beautiful homes are replaced by 5 story walk ups. It has become very crowded, catering almost exclusively to a religous sect which frowns upon theatres. If Loew's 46th Street building was not functioning as a furniture store & warehouse, it would be torn down since land is so valuable in that area.

I recently made a brief visit to my old neighborhood of Borough Park. Any trace of the once beautiful homes are replaced by 5 story walk ups. It has become very crowded, catering almost exclusively to a religous sect which frowns upon theatres. If Loew's 46th Street building was not functioning as a furniture store & warehouse, it would be torn down since land is so valuable in that area.

Sad

I've removed an opening day ad for the Universal that I posted on 8/10/05 and moved it here to display along with one for Loew's 46th Street. The Universal was closed during the summer of 1928 so that Loew's could update the theatre with the latest in sound equipment:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/uniopener.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/46opener.jpg

We have gained much in this century, yet have also lost many former attributes-as this site attests to.

So true, ERD, as this site attests. It's also true of the NYC subway and el system. We still suffer the lack of the 2nd and 3rd Avenue els in Manhattan, as well as several BMT elevated lines in Brooklyn.

The building project was first announced to the public on September 5, 1926, in a story in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle headlined "BORO PARK TO HAVE NEW $1,000,000 MOVIE THEATER." Here are some excerpts from the report: "Boro Park is to have a motion picture theater which will involve an expenditure of close to $1,000,000. It will be the first house in the new Universal Motion Picture Company chain and will be built at New Utrecht Ave. and 46th St. in the heart of the Boro Park section. Ground was broken for the project last Thursday. The theater will have a seating capacity of 3,500...The theater is being projected by the Laemmle Building Corporation, a combination of several prominent Brooklyn real estate operators, and the Universal Chain Theatrical Enterprises, a theater holding corporation connected with the Universal Pictures Corporation. The directors are [to save time, I am skipping over the long list of names]...The theater will be devoted mainly to the presentation of Universal pictures, and was designed by John Eberson. It will be in the Italian rose garden style. The interior will be constructed with ceiling and walls tinted to give a sky and horizon effect, and in front of the walls the Italian garden effects will be built in, actually forming a silhouette against the sky and giving a perfect illusion of out-of-doors...Mr. Eberson describes the projected theater as follows: 'The two sides of the auditorium will not be symmetric in design. On one side there will be the dignified facade of an Italian palace, on the other side the balustrade, the fountains and wall gates of a hillside green. All will be set under a moonlit sky with stars twinkling and with clouds rolling by, giving a perfect illusion. The garden walls, garden houses and palatial facades will be executed in stone and embellished with the carvings and statuary typical of the Roman gardens. The style of auditorium creates an atmosphere of utmost comfort. The foyers and lobbies of the theater will be consistently treated in antique Italian style, and an intricate lighting system will be used to give the side walls and the ceiling the effect of dignified age. The subdued lights gleaming from antique lanters and torcheres make one forget the world outside, and places one back in the romantic times of the Middle Ages and into the Mediterranean country.'"

The theatre had 725 seats less than the article mentions-according to
Cinema Treasure's facts.

I think that the word should be used with quotes around it as "facts." We could argue until doomsday about the seating capacities of theatres. I don't know of any source that is 100% correct about seating capacities, which were often wildly exaggerated by the owners of the theatres. In this case, the Universal Theatre hadn't even built yet, so it's possible that it was originally planned for 3,500 and later scaled down.

I think most likely it was scaled down. Thanks for the information, Warren.

Here is an architect's sketch that ran with the 9/25/26 article in the Brooklyn Eagle. Unfortunately, the microfilm is very dark, and I was unable to improve the image very much, but at least it shows that Eberson apparently kept to the original exterior plans. Please compare it to the color photo in the introduction:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/uni46.jpg

Thank you Warren. Great research.The drawing speaks for itself.

Ditto, Warren. Thanks for posting the link to the sketch. The sketch and the color photo seem very similar. A bit hard to tell, because the view in the color photo is so skewed.

The sketch failed to show the elevated subway line that passed in front of the Universal Theatre. The marquee had to be specially designed to fit around the pillars that supported the "el."

Warren, do you have any idea why the sketch omitted details of the elevated subway line ? How much of an error is this in accurately portraying the marquee ?

Why is probably because you can't get a good idea of what the building would look like without the el in front. I have often seen photos or sketches of the Valencia also without the el. The marquee sketch doesn't appear to be intricate enough to show a cut out for the el pillar.

Thanks, Bway.

The original marquee can be seen via my post above dated 7/29/05 at 8:30 AM. The link is still active.

Thanks, Warren.

Under the balcony were ornate glass pannels with blue lights hidden in them- I guess to represent the sky. The theatre was elegant, but unfortuantely not that well maintained by Loew's throughout the years.

All the dreamers (including me) who would like to see the 46th become a theater again, consider that in that neighborhood, from 42nd to 62nd streets, 9th to 20th avenues, there is not ONE dvd/video rental store anymore. The one's on 8th avenue are chinese languuge DVDs. If there aren't enough people in the area to support a single dvd store, forget about keeping a theater going, even a yiddish theater. The hasidim are very anti any sort of public entertainment. Even when yiddish was a living language and culture, here and in europe, their feelings towards yiddish theater, culture, etc, were on a level with the puritans who banned shakespeare and public concerts. (This can clearly be seen in the astoundingly negative attitude the manager of the furniture store. Like the very idea of being in an old theatre buidling is somehow treif).
The fact is, this area went through a sea change, culturally,in the mid-sixties, when the types of jobs that had employed people for generations (longshoremen, factories, the army base) all disappeared at the same time. Families moved to where the jobs were, there was suddenly a housing glut, property values sank. The leaders of the hasidic communities in other area saw an opportunity and took it. For non-hasidic jews(like me), and non-jews, especially kids, it was like an invasion. It suddenly wasn't our neighborhood any more, all our friends were moving away, everything was shutting down. For older members of the community, it was something of a salvation, in that, unlike in other areas, (even as close as sunset park, until new immigrants moved in and renovated it) because of the hasidim, the area didn't decline physically, and the streets were safe. But boring. Very, very boring.
A quick note regarding the French Connection chase: Though most of the footage does show the 86th street area, as noted, if you watch closely, you see New Utrecth Avenue as far north as 51st street, what used to be a bicycle shop, and a few other quickly glimsped places. I always found it amusing that, because of how the scene was edited, popeye doyle is driving in bensonhurst, then boro park, the bensonhurst, without ever turning around.
Another quick note: I didn't think anyone else on the planet remebered 13 Ghosts. I also saw it, in 3-d, at that same flatbush theatre. I held on to those 3-d glasses until they disintegrated. Another movie tie-in: that flatbush cemetery mentioned above was shown, briefly, in Arsenic and Old Lace, which took place in that neighborhood.

Brief discussion an photos on forgotten-ny.com, with emphasis on its incarnation as the 46th Street Rock Palace.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SLICES/alben.square/alben.html

I didn't know where else to post this, but since this theater's cross street is Fort Hamilton Parkway, I figured I would ask here.
Does anyone know what this building in the link from forgotten NY was before the roller rink? It sure looks like an old theater, but don't know where to begin to look for it. It is at the intersection of Fort Hamilton Parkway and 60th.

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/lief/04.united.skates.jpg

Here's the description the forgotten NY site gives:

In my youth I would take hundreds of bus rides on the B16 (Fort Hamilton Pkway) route and would always pass this building on FHP and 60th Street. In the 60s, and prior, it was home to the Rogers car dealership and later, in the 1980s, United Skates of America had a franchise here (Brooklyn's last roller rink, Bed-Stuy's Empire, closed in April 2007). Currently, the building houses a couple of wholesalers.
Was the building ever a theater?

It doesn't look to me like it was ever a theatre. It could have originally been a car dealership. Some of them were quite elaborate in "the old days."

I believe it might have been the B'klyn headquarters of Borden's Dairy.

I of course it doesn't mean that it was ever a theater....however, I can't believe this building was built for a "car dealership"....

I'm no expert on this, but the Queens car dealerships I am most familiar with are the ones at the Ridgewood - Maspeth - Middle Village nexus centered around the intersection of Fresh Pond Road, and Metropolitan and Eliot Avenues, near the Oasis Theater, and Lawrence Chevrolet, formerly Luby Chevrolet, near Queens and Yellowstone Blvds. in Forest Hills, between the Trylon and that "movie complex" that once centered around Queens Blvd, Continental Avenue and Austin Street (Midway, Forest Hills and Continental 1, 2, 3 Cinemas).

My dad remembers car dealerships on Bushwick Avenue from Gates Avenue to Eastern Pkwy. Now, there's only that used car lot at Bushwick and Eastern Pkwy.

Most of the elaborate buildings on the corners of 57th Street and Broadway in Manhattan were originally car dealerships. I'm sure that Brooklyn had some as well. In the early decades of automobiles, the manufacturers spent millions building showrooms to display their latest models to the public.

The building on 60th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway was made for Rogers car dealership(who first sold Pontiacs). It was never a theatre.

Thanks, Warren and ERD. The Bushwick section of Brooklyn most certainly had its share of auto dealerships. I think the one at Bushwick Avenue and Decatur Street had a signboard outside displaying info from World Series baseball games.

I'm not sure about the relationship between car dealerships and theatres, however : if one was ever used as the other.

If I recall correctly, the Claremont in upper Manhattan was converted into an auto dealership after closing as a theatre.

Thanks, Warren. Would that have been on or near Claremont Avenue, north of 116th Street, between Bway and Riverside Drive, near Columbia University ? Do you recall when the change occurred ? Does the Claremont have its own page on Cinema Treasures ?

All of the details about the Claremont can be found at www.cinematreasures.org/theater/14665/

Thanks, Warren. Interesting that it's 10 to 7 blocks uptown of Claremont Avenue on Broadway, adjacent to CCNY, rather than Columbia.

Here is a wonderful recent photo of auditorium used as a furniture storeroom. It looks relatively intact, minus lower lever seats, definitely looks like it could be restored. The photo is not dated, and doesn't give a date, hope it will remain on the site a while, after reading the postings about it, I was consumed with curiosity about what it looked like now. Hope you enjoy!

http://reliques.online.fr/civilian06.html

I noticed the statues and many of the orniments(Vases, etc.) on the side were gone. The auditorium's condition looks very sad. As I mentioned in earlier posts,the religous sector who control the neighborhood will never allow this theatre to be restored. Property is very expensive in this area, and I believe they will eventually rip down this building and put something up that will make a profit.
I thank 55 TBird for letting us see this picture.

Many thanks for posting the link to that photo. I visited the site about ten years ago (before I owned a camera), but it looks pretty much as I remember it. But I don't recall the spotlights strung across the front of the ceiling, which suggest that the auditorium floor is now used as part of the showroom and open to customers. When I visited, the auditorium was used only as a warehouse, but the owner agreed to show me around in exchange for some historical information about the theatre that I'd brought with me.

Yes, 55 TBird, many thanks for posting your photo. From your photo's balcony viewpoint, it looks like it's still a theater, with a play taking place on the larger-than-usual stage, a play that makes use of lots of furniture, maybe a play that takes place in the furniture dept. of a large department store.

It looks as much like it's still a theater as does the RKO Keith's Richmond Hill, much more so than the former RKO Madison, in which the most prominent former theater feature still visible, is the curve of the front of the balcony, as a change in elevation of the drop ceiling.

Thanks for the link, 55tbird. A nice christmas present. Seeing that photo is sort of like suddenly remembering a dream long forgotten, or seeing a ghost.

I know what you mean, bkj.

Nicely expressed, bkj.

New direct links to vintage images as the Universal Theatre:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/129-2982_IMG.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3061_IMG.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3065_IMG.jpg

Much thanks for the photos, Warren. Would you know what years those photos were taken, and when the marguee shown was changed to the one that is still partly in place today? Also, could you tell us the source of those photos? Is it a book that's available on the market?
Thanks again.
BKJ

The interiors were taken when the Universal first opened in October, 1927. The marquee photo dates to April or May, 1928. At the time of its 1927 opening, the Universal was reported to be the first John Eberson atmospheric in the northeastern USA...The photos were copied from trade journals of the time. I've never seen any of them published in books.

Thanks for the info, Warren.

I saw a few concerts at the 46th St. Rock Palace back in the 70's. For some reason, I can't remember too much about them, it might have something to do with alcohol and illegal substances. Inexplicably, I do remember J.F. Murphy and Salt playing there. And I do remember being at a taping of Don Kirschner's Rock Concert.

Good for you, Sheepshead Tony ! Welcome to CT !

Whom did you see at the taping of Don Kirschner's Rock Concert ?

As I said, I can't recall. Everything is kind of a blur. I just remember having a good time.

Good for you, SheepsheadTony. Rock on !

I saw Jay and the Americans there I think in the 70's. I remember the crowd was unruly. I think we weren't use to having concerts in the neighborhood. Anyhow I recall seeing Jay walking up the steps with holding a gun half in and half out of his pants pocket. Scary. Thats the thing that stands out in my memory about the concert.

A gun half-in, half-out, of the performer's pocket ! Sort of an Altamont-in-reverse, Staten Island Ellie !

I kid you not I saw him on the stairs and this is like 30 years ago and he had his hand on the gun in his right pants pocket. i wouldnt know if it was real or not but what he was doing on stairs in the middle of the crowd is beyond me and again thats the only memory i have of the entire concert. i guess it really stuck in my mind. and he was the only one id recognize in the band. luckily there was no problems. i cant even remember who i went with. but i think thats the only event i attended at the 46th street because they had concerts. as for movies i lived closer to the beverly. another story-the big stain on the screen hahahahaha but walking distance and movies for $1 and the planet of the apes marathon all 5 in one day amazing.

Thanks, Staten Island Ellie ! Please tell us about the big stain on the screen !

Big stain on the screen of the beverly for YEARS everyone in the neighborhood knew it and still remember it 35 years later looked like someone threw an egg at it. it dripped down and no one ever cleaned it and depending on the scene you'd see the stain on someones face or whatever was going on in the movie at the time hilarious.

Thanks, Ellie !

A great shot when Jerry Lewis made an appearance.

The 46th St had a really nice marquee.

Is it now possible to display photos directly at Cinema Treasures? I thought it could only be done through links. If this is a new procedure, it eliminates the need for some of us to maintain scrapbooks. Could the webmaster please comment?

Thanks for letting us see the photo, RobertR. It brings back lots of memories.

Great Photo!!! Does anyone have a photo of Loew's Boro Park.

After all this time I found something connecting Don Kirshner's Rock Concert to ABC

The hall, renamed Banana Fish Garden for the rock concerts put on by a local promoter, was also used for a few tapings of the ABC Don Kirshner's Rock Concert show. I can recall seeing Jerry Lee Lewis there, putting a pair of panties tossed at him by one of his fans on his face and inhaling deeply (needless to say, it did not make the air cut of the concert). Also saw Hot Tuna there, their show delayed for some time while they haggled with ABC to leave a faux marijuana plant on the stage (it got the axe). Oddly enough, members of Hot Tuna came by to jam with the Dead one of the four nights in Brooklyn...it was quite a good night too. John Lightning, archive.org



Also Warren all your links prior to April 2008 ar not working as well as 55 T-Birds. I also didn't know you could paste a picture in here

I renewed some photo links above on 4/7/08 at 11:05am that are still working.

Don Kirshner's Rock Concert debuted in September 1973, and remained on, WNEW Channel 5, until it went off the air. I have yet to see a TV Guide page fascimile posted on this thread to prove it was on Channel 7 WABC.

Peter I have looked all over and can not find anything that said it was on Ch 5 either.

Then it's my memory vs. yours, with no objective proof, which has nothing to do with the Loew's 46th Street Theater. I'm willing to drop it if you are.

lol No problem. However the shows that I worked on that was taped at th4 46th street the TV cameras had the ABC logo on them. I was working for the sound company that was hired to do 4 shows.

Thanks for mentioning this, ECR. I remember Bananafish Gardens.

New link to above modern interior photo:

http://reliques.online.fr/theaters/theaters05.html

Thanks !

It looks like a play is about to take place within all that furniture onstage, like the Twilight Zone episode, "The After Hours", all those dept. store mannequins whispering "Marcia !"

Thanks LTS. That was really some great pictures. What I am a little puzzeld about is that others who said they managed to see the main auditorium said that the theatre looked as it was. They never said anything about furnature bing stored or displayed

For thirty-six years the auditorium has been a storage area for furniture. The orchestra was leveled, and the ceiling is in bad shape, as are the surrounding ornaments. Remembering the theatre's appearance when I was young, this photo makes me very sad. As I mentioned before, the real estate is valuable in this area. Someday the building will be razed. This ultra-religious community will never allow it to become a theatre again. The people once supported such cultural things(including myself)have all moved away.

ERD from previous posts in here it was my understanding that the orchestra section was walled off and that area was not used as well as the stage that was said to have been left in tact. Next time I come up to NYC I will have to set aside some time to take a trip back in time. I did notice however the fire exit doors leading down from the balcony has been bricked over. I saw that much from Google Maps street level view.

The year given for this photo is 1968.

When did the 46th St operate as a concert venue?

The orchestra floor was leveled and the seats removed so furniture could be stored there. The 46th Street had concerts there in its last few years before closing in 1973.

I just returned from Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Conservancy is central in making the community aware of the need to preserve the old vaudeville and movie houses theaters on Broadway in LA. Is there any such organization in Brooklyn or New York that does this? Some of these LA theaters show classic films on designated evenings. Other theaters are privately owned and rented out for various functions and/or location shootings for commercials, etc. Some are being used as churches, and others still have their exteriors, but the interior floor space is used for commercial use.
Some are in great shape, and others are in varying states of deterioration. As a former Boro Park resident and one who went every Sat. in the 1950's and early 60's to the Lowes 46th Street, I am so saddened that as New Yorkers we have abandoned our treasures. At least can we organize or work with an organization to get landmark status so what remains is not demolished and lost to us and future generations?

The Commodore Theater in a Hasidim community in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) was destroyed after trying to sell it at an insanely large price, thinking that a group would buy it just to save it. Well, history perhaps may repeat itself sometime soon!!

Oh no! Is the 46th St in danger now? I was sick when the Commodore was purposely destroyed.
The interior of the 46th St is widely intact, as seen in this recent 2007 photo:

http://www.marchandmeffre.com/theaters/index05.html

The 46th Street interior would cost a fortune to restore. With the neighborhood extremely Hasidic. To be realistic,the former theatre will never reopen as an entertainment edifice. That,unfortunately, is definitely a thing of the past.

Great color shot of the 46th marquee Jerry Lewis visit. First time I have seen pictures on the post without going to other links to find then. Very cool.

Great picture Bway, may not be in great shape but at least is has not been torn down.