Brooklyn Paramount Theatre
385 Flatbush Avenue Extension,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
385 Flatbush Avenue Extension,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
39 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 329 comments
You can now take a video tour of the 4/26 Wurlitzer Organ that is still there on UTube at: http://youtu.be/_PygQbt2ios
There was a silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” done with the organ which went over very well except that it was the day before Sandy came and that kept people away but quite a few did show up. The last concert that was open to the public was I don’t even know how many years ago. It is hoped that a concert and 2 or 3 silent movies will be put on each year. Let’s see.
This sounds like fun. Can anyone here report on earlier organ recitals at this theater?
Do you want to hear the Mighty Wurlitzer at LIU Brooklyn, (The Brooklyn Paramount)? On Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. An evening of pops, show tues, and light classical will be performed by Theatre Organist Jelani Eddington. For more information go to www.nytos.org
Maybe not anytime soon but you can still come and hear the mighty Wurlitzer roar. An organ concert is being planned for the middle of February. More details latter.
My hunch is that the Paramount will not be restored anytime soon. I think the University will probably continue using it for a variety of purposes. Even if they have a new gymnasium for official basketball games, this one can have other uses. When I was at U. of Illinois in Champaign there were several gyms around campus which were used for all sorts of things.
Aside from the fact that I believe the building is still viable for LIU, unless the Trustees are blind they must be aware of the growing likelihood of the Loews Kings restoration. They must also be aware of the Bronx Paradise recently being leased to a church. While these are not the only considerations with regard to restoration, any governing body with the capacity for thoughtful decision would have to take these things into account.
The Brooklyn Paramount reached its 84th birthday on November 24th. I’ve posted a Grand Opening Ad in the Photos Section. Much of the theatre is still intact, and the BP may eventually be restored to its original glory. Let us all pray for that.
Here’s some news!! The New York Theatre Organ Society will present the 1925 Horror Movie Classic “The Phantom of the Opera” Starring Lon Chaney at the Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 3PM. The Brooklyn Paramount Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ will be played with the movie. General Admission will be $10.00. $8.00 for Seniors.
Here are details of the Clavilux System that could be used to create special color effects throughout the BP’s auditorium whenever the organ was played: archive
Here is a link to a larger photo.
http://gothamist.com/2011/07/15/flashback_the_paramount_theater_in.php#photo-21
Here’s a link to that Life Magazine issue. When you open it, just close the pop-up that asks about membership. The photo of the Paramount is on page 60, but the article (on classic movie palaces) begins on page 56. There’s a text box below the date of the magazine (which is February 19, 1971) where you can type the page # and hit “enter” on your keyboard.
To Adam S, there is one photo some place on the internet which does show a small piece of the first mezzanine. It was in Life magazzine right after the first conversion. The photo shows a student jumping over a gym horse and you can just make out part of the mezz. You’ll have to do a web. search to find it. It’s the only photo I ever saw which has the mezz. in it.
I spoke to someone who goes there and he said they are using it as a dining hall now.
I am researching this theater and am looking for interior elevation photos, particularly of the mezzanine that was cut off for the basketball court. Do any of you have or know of any?
Thanks!
Thank you so much Kong1911 for the info. As I have stated in prior posts, I believe there is a bright future for the Brooklyn Paramount. Downtown Brooklyn continues to thrive and improve and BAM is also expanding. With Atlantic Yards will come even more development. The Brooklyn Paramount is in pretty good shape overall. The organ is intact and working! And there would be a big to do if LIU tried to gut the theater. They have already moved the gym to a new facility several years ago but it doesn’t appear like they have done anything else with the space. The only choice for them is to redevelop it. With al of the city’s “theater resources” now dedicated to the Loew’s Kings (and rightly so) LIU will need to come up with a private partner to do something creative with the space. As the economy continues its rebound I am very hopeful of a full restoration.
I don’t know if that discussion will take place. As far as I know there is no talk of restoring it back to a theatre. All I can tell you is to come. All the powers that be will be there so you can ask them. I plan on being there for the whole thing. I think it is going to be very interesting and informative. Not to mention they now have a small museum for the Brooklyn Paramount. Photos, Uniforms, etc.
If it stays the way it is, we will be very lucky. If a school did not take it over, it would have went the way of the Fox a long time ago.
Will there be any discussion about the future of the Brooklyn Paramount (if it has one)? Will it be restored to use as a theatre or performing arts center, or converted to offices or classrooms?
Brooklyn Paramount fans, now is your chance!!! There will be “A one credit course/ conference at the old Brooklyn Paramount on Friday, April 15, 2011. This will be free and open to the public. From 9 am to 5 pm. Lunch will be provided only for those paying for the credit course. The schedule as it stands now will be panels in the morning session from Joe Baskin (Rebeilious Laughter) Mary Favia (Palace Theatre Veteran) Joe Franklin (Memory Lane) David Harmon (Harmony Productions) Dr. Sue Horowitz (Women in Vaudeville) Ron Hurchinson (The Vitaphone Project) Craig Morrison (Brooklyn Theatre History) Richie "O” (Producer, “The Joe Franklin Show”) Don K. Reed (The Doo-Wop Shop -WCBS FM) Ron Schweiger (Brooklyn Borough Historian) Norman Steinberg (Blazing Saddles) Travis Stewart (Vaudeville Historian) Peter Tymus (Architecture & Theatre Engineering). Performers will include: A short concert showing off the Mighty Wurlitzer. Sammy Sax and the MD’s will perform songs from the old Alan Freed shows, Travis Stewart will bring you back to the Vaudeville days, The Giacomo Gates Quintet (feturing Sam Newsone) Greg Lewis, Carlo de Rosa & suprise guests will also perform.
The Brooklyn Paramount’s two roof signs can be seen in reverse on the right side of this view of DeKalb Avenue looking towards Flatbush Avenue Extension:
View link
Brad, that’s a toughie. As in some of your other photos, this might not show the main entrance to the theatre. It seems unusually narrow, and might be a secondary entrance on a side street. That might explain why the vertical sign says “Vaudeville” (which I think it does). There could have been another verical sign with the theatre name above the main entrance. Amongst all your photos, might you also have a list of Barto & Mann bookings for that period? Failing that, you might be able to find the booking reported in Variety or Billboard around the time of the release of the movie on the marquee.
Thanks for the suggestions, Tinseltoes and J.F. Lundy. I’ve posted the photograph here. I looked for “Loew’s Vodeville,” but couldn’t find anything.
Try Loew’s “Vodeville”.
Brad, I would suggest that you post the photo here or at some other listing and someone will probably be able to identify it. I agree that the word was probably “vaudeville,” which suggests the theatre was one of the early Loew’s built when vaudeville was still king.
As always, Tinseltoes, thank you for your good, informative and helpful comments. I have an unrelated question for you (and others who may be reading this comment). I have a marquee photograph, probably taken in the late ‘20s or early '30s, of a clearly identified Loew’s theater and a blade sign that ends just above the entrance with the letters “…deville,” which I assume is the end of the word “vaudeville.” After a couple of hours searching this site and the Internet, I’ve come up empty. Any suggestions?