Shore Theatre

1301 Surf Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11224

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Loew's Coney Island Theatre exterior

Viewing: Photo | Street View

The Loew’s Coney Island Theatre seated 2,472 when it opened on June 17, 1925 with Blanche Sweet and Ronald Colman in “The Sporting Venus” . It was taken over by the Brandt Theatres circuit in May 1964 and was renamed Shore Theatre. In early-1966, film use had ceased and live theatre was presented, but this was a short lived venture, and films returned.

By 1971, the Shore Theatre had begun running X-Rated Adult movies and was possibly closed around March 1973. It has remained unused and empty ever since.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 179 comments)

Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan on November 17, 2010 at 3:54 am

Well if you ever find them, I would love to see them.

AmusingTheZillion
AmusingTheZillion on December 14, 2010 at 6:16 am

GOOD NEWS! The Shore Theater will be landmarked today!
Once the building is landmarked, the City’s Demolition by Neglect laws could come into play. I would not be surprised if the City ended up acquiring the building
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LuisV
LuisV on December 14, 2010 at 6:44 am

WooHoo! Excellent news! I still wonder about the true condition of the interior.

saps
saps on December 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

Per New York Post 12/16/10

Coney theater landmarked

A long-shuttered 85-year-old Coney Island theater that once hosted Al Jolson will be preserved as part of the city’s amusement-district revamp.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission yesterday unanimously approved designating the 2,500-seat, seven-story Coney Island Theatre building on Surf Avenue — renamed the “Shore Theater” in 1964 — a city landmark.

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bazookadave
bazookadave on December 20, 2010 at 6:11 pm

Thank goodness it has been saved.

AmusingTheZillion
AmusingTheZillion on December 22, 2010 at 11:44 pm

The building is for sale for $12 Million! The broker says there are prospective buyers.

Only the exterior is landmarked at this time. Elisabeth de Bourbon of the Landmarks Preservation Commission told ATZ that by law the commission may consider only those buildings which are “customarily open to the public” for interior designation.
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btw

Bway
Bway on December 23, 2010 at 9:59 am

The interior is in pretty bad shape. I have seen photos that were taken over 6-10 years ago, and back then it was already in pretty dire shape. Part of the plaster ceiling collapsed on one side of the proscenium for sure, and who knows how much more. Also, I am sure it hasn’t gotten better in the last 10 years either.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on December 27, 2010 at 9:01 am

The Landmarks Commission’s report in support of the Shore’s designation has just been put on line and is linked below. (If the link does not work, you can access it via the Commission’s web site in NYC.GOV.)

Congratulations to all involved.

View link

Tinseltoes
Tinseltoes on February 1, 2011 at 1:14 pm

Here’s a link to a 1954 postcard view of the annual Mardi Gras Parade, with Loew’s Coney Island in the right background: View link CONEY ISLAND 102

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 5, 2011 at 3:12 pm

Nice shot of the Loews Coney Island, Tinseltoes.

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