Loew's Triboro Theatre
2804 Steinway Street,
Astoria,
NY
11103
2804 Steinway Street,
Astoria,
NY
11103
10 people
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Showing 1 - 25 of 122 comments found
All of those images of Astoria theatres have been posted here before, either in the Photos Section or linked in the comments pages.
1935 pic
http://astoriahistory.smugmug.com/keyword/steinway/431342741_vTTmkQ7#!i=431342741&k=vTTmkQ7&lb=1&s=A
I was trying to recall what movies I saw at the Triboro, and could remember Dangerous When Wet (Esther Williams), The Caddy (Martin and Lewis), War of the Worlds (with great surround stereo sound), Fort Ti (in 3D) and, perhaps, Becket. I know I saw at least one vaudeville show when Loew’s tried to revive live entertainment in the late 50s. The theater was fantastic, always a treat to visit, even though it was a bus ride from my neighborhood in Jackson Heights.
Like so many other CT listings, STATUS needs to be changed from “Closed” to “Demolished.” Anyone going here expecting to find a closed theatre will be disappointed.
Holten’s had great shakes. They were so full of ice cream that the machine had to strain to liquify the mass. Sitting on a stool here I watched them take down the original vertical that said Loews Triboro to ones which just proclaimed Loews.
This theater was like a palace inside….velvet drapes, statues, lighting effects…it was like a magical place at the end of a busy shopping street. Went there in the 50’s and 60’s when I was a child. How was this ever torn down!!! Holten’s was the luncheonette up the block.
> There are likely thousands of photo links on this site that no longer work. Has anyone found a solution?
I too have found the broken links on Cinema Treasures frustrating, michael22b. Clicking here will take you to the Wayback Machine, an internet archive. Almost magically, it brings back to life most dead links. Given current events, it’s interesting to note that the Internet archive at the New Library of Alexandria, Egypt mirrors the Wayback Machine.
This photograph of the Loew’s Triboro Theatre was taken in 1931 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto and Mann.
There are likely thousands of photo links on this site that no longer work. Has anyone found a solution? Can’t photos be uploaded to this site and stored here?
Many or 99% of Warren’s photo links no longer work. They stopped working over a year ago.
“THE GREEN SLIME” played there.You Can’t make it up.
Loved those old pictures wish I could have been there.
Here is a street view of the Triboro. (From the Greater Astoria Historical Society – great website) Judging from the traffic light and the no parking sign, I would guess It was taken later on in the theatre’s life. View link
Here’s a new link to a 1974 view of the corner entrance. Loew’s had never bothered to change the original marquee display system, using frosted white letters against a black background:
View link
Here is another photo from the same source:
http://tinyurl.com/d4hg8t
Here is a photo circa 1943:
http://tinyurl.com/cftc5e
Here is a 1969 photo.
Yeah, I had to stare at it for a minute. But I spotted the speaker boxes. Aside from that the theatre looked to be quite original.
The photo shows that the theatre was equipped to run 4-Track Magnetic Stereo films. You can see in that photo four of the surround speakers mounted on the left side of the auditorium wall. Most of the main installs happened during the mid 50’s will CinemaScope.
Ah. I think I figured it out. Still interested in your response, however.
I don’t doubt your claim William. But how can you tell?
That photo would date from mid 1950’s on.
Here’s a new link to an exterior photo of Loew’s Triboro on opening day in 1931: View link
I remember when they installed the new vertical in the late 50’s. Traffic really stopped on Steinway street. As far as it being more economical, per a prior posting, it was large, even tho it only said LOEWS. The letters were five or more neon lights in depth and could be illumated one at a time (top to bottom) or all together.
I do not believe that this building (32-62) was ever anything else but retail. It was a toy store named Valco’s from (at least) the 60’s/ early 70’s to 1991 when it closed. I used to work here as a teenager and the first and second floors (second used as storage) appeared original, with old wood plank floors and pressed tin ceilings. Also there were no rear or side fire exits.