Loew's 72nd Street Theatre

180 E. 72nd Street,
New York, NY 10021

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Loew's Inc.

Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson, Thomas White Lamb

Styles: Atmospheric, East Indian

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Loew's 72nd Street

The Loew’s 72nd Street Theatre was one of the few Atmospheric style theatres architect Thomas Lamb ever designed (in collaboration with John Eberson). Coming at the end of the picture palace boom, the Loew’s 72nd Street Theatre shared some similar touches with other Loew’s palaces but its style and heart were all its own. It was opened on February 20, 1932 with Marie Dressler in “Emma”.

Sadly, the 72nd Street Theatre only lasted 29 years and closed on December 31, 1960 with “The World of Suzie Wong”. In early-1961 the theatre was razed to build an uninspiring apartment building. This jewel of the Upper East Side was gone forever and in its place, Loews built one of many basement theatres in New York City.

An unadorned and much smaller descendent of the intricately designed, palatial 72nd Street Theatre, the newer theatre was also a single screen house.

Today, there’s no hint that on this block one of the great movie palace treasures of all time once sat here.

Contributed by Cinema Treasures

Recent comments (view all 30 comments)

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on February 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm

i just became aware of this website like a month ago. so i have
3 quick questions for devotees of the late Tower East.
none of the photo links for the old Loews 72 St. work. how
can i see photos of it?
the Tower East was built as a movie theater with no freight
entrance so how in God’s name will convert it into a super-
market?
*also while we all lament the passing of a grand old movie theater
like the Loews 72 Street we must not forget that these grand old
theaters simply became economically unfeasible. :–(

rivest266
rivest266 on September 23, 2013 at 7:28 pm

This opened on February 20th, 1932. Grand opening ad uploaded.

theatrefan
theatrefan on February 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Auditorium #1(named Loews) in the Sony/Loews Theatres Lincoln Square complex on New York’s Upper West Side is named in honor of this former Loew’s Motion Picture Palace.

BobbyS
BobbyS on February 14, 2015 at 2:51 am

Does Loews still have the large auditorium decorated in red by the front of the complex? Is there a loews company anymore? Thanks

theatrefan
theatrefan on February 14, 2015 at 1:17 pm

I believe the decorations are intact, but the original seats have been replaced. Loews Cineplex merged with AMC Entertainment in January 2006, they kept the AMC name for the combined company & they were bought by a Chinese Company named Wanda Group a few years ago. Also as they renovate the former Loews theatres they are replacing signage with the AMC nameplate, like on 84th Street.

WilliamMcQuade
WilliamMcQuade on January 7, 2020 at 7:58 pm

A duplicate of this lobby can be found in the Loews Syaracuse in NY. The auditorium is a duplicate of the Loews 175 th St in NYC. Both theaters designed by Lamb The filigree work in the auditorium is not backing asks the one in Syracuse

WilliamMcQuade
WilliamMcQuade on January 7, 2020 at 8:06 pm

A typo in my latest post. Not backing asks should read not backlit as. Sorry for the typo

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on January 8, 2020 at 9:24 am

Loew’s 72nd Street had an “atmospheric” auditorium with stars and floating clouds, but Loew’s 175th Street and the similar Syracuse site did not.

WilliamMcQuade
WilliamMcQuade on May 13, 2021 at 6:19 pm

I heard a rumor it had a small area used for patrons with dogs. Is this true?

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