Loew's Royal Theatre
15 Willoughby Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
15 Willoughby Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
1 person
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The Royal Theatre was the very first Loew’s theatre in Brooklyn and one of the circuit’s earliest anywhere. It started life in 1903 as Watson’s Cozy Corner, which included a vaudeville theatre and a downstairs drinking saloon. It rapidly deteriorated into a notorious burlesque house and place for gents to meet hookers.
In 1907, Marcus Loew wanted to expand into Brooklyn and found the Cozy Corner’s downtown location ideal for his purposes. He purchased it cheaply, renovated the interior, increased the seating capcity to about 2,000 seats, and re-named it the Royal Theatre. Because of the site’s bad reputation, Loew feared that “nice people” might stay away, so he first leased the theatre to an Italian opera company for a short season. It opened in October, 1907, as Teatro Italiano Royal, featuring a company of 25 under the management of Antonio Maiori. In those three months, the theatre became regarded as classy and respectable.
In January, 1908, it emerged as Loew’s Royal Theatre, with so-called “family vaudeville” and movies at a ten-cent admission. In its first year, the Royal Theatre earned $60,000 in profits and helped Marcus Loew to expand rapidly in Brooklyn.
In 1922, Loew’s Royal Theatre had out-lived its usefulness and was closed forever, eventually to be demolished.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Royal is a common name for theatres, so it’s very possible that one existed in downtown Brooklyn before Loew’s Royal…During Mae West’s lifetime, it was often rumored that she was really a man and that the truth would be revealed after she died. Did that ever happen?
Mae West born Brooklyn, NY 1893 Died in California 1980
Jimmy Durante born Brooklyn, NY 1893 Died in California 1980
Coincidence? You be the judge!
Don’t write me any nasty messages, I’m just joking.
Leider also points out that in ‘28 “Diamond Lil” opened at the Royale Theater on W. 45 Street. MW likely had a penchant for theaters of that name. (Apologies for my typos in the preceding squib.)
A link for the Loew’s Royal theater:
http://pages.zdnet.com/kinema/id117.html
January 22, 1902
Watson’s New Theater
“Work to begin at once and the house to open in August. Plans for W.B. Watson’s new theater at the corner of Willoughby and Pearl streets, have been approved by the building department and work of construction will begin at once, the lots being already cleared. Louis Lesser, Mr. Watson’s agent, says that the house will be completed in June to open in August. It will seat 1,200 people and have a large floor space for standing room as well as a rathskeller in the basement. The idea, according to Mr. Lesser is to run a Weber and Fields style of show with burlesques especially written for the house, some good vaudeville, comedians, and a large and attractive chorus. Mr. Watson will be in charge himself and he does not intend to play combinations”.
Mae herself again mention the Royal in the new Charlotte Chandler interview-type bio of Mae: “She Always Knew How.” Mae also mentions the Gorham. Anyone know about that one ?
Was the Gorham Theater located in New York? The only Gorham Theater listed on this site was located in Maine.
Here is a photo, circa 1915:
http://tinyurl.com/pqasbv
Nice street photo.
Nice picture I love LOEWS old signs.Too bad that they don,t make them like that anymore!!!!