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Confirmed – Beekman Theatre To Close In June
posted by
Ross Melnick
on
January 5, 2005 at 5:02 am
NEW YORK, NY — Clearview Cinemas has confirmed that the owner of the Beekman Theatre, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, plans to end the exhibitor’s lease at the end of June 2005.
For an impassioned commentary on the plight of the Beekman and historic movie houses around New York City, please read New York Post Chief Film Critic Lou Lumenick’s commentary in today’s New York Post.
The Beekman is not only a landmark movie house, but a symbol of the city. It must be saved.
Comments (8)
Great article. Something tells me things are going to be different this time and, with the lead time we have and with Lou Lumenick giving this situation a voice in print in a major newspaper at such an early date (optimism… imagine that, coming from a New Yorker and a Mets fan, to boot :–), we CAN save the Beekman. I am busy with work and other side projects but anything I can do to help the cause, I’m willing to do…
Is the entire theatre landmarked or just the facade/marquee area? Because the owner could close the theatre and gut the auditorium for other uses. It’s been done before with the Embassy Times Square, LeReina Theatre (Sherman Oaks, Ca.), Studio City Theatre (Studio City, Ca.), Loyola Theatre (Los Angeles, Ca. and the soon to be retail store in the Times Square Theatre on 42nd Street and the recently razed Henry Miller Theatre on 43rd. Street (only the facade remains standing).
Neither the interior or the exterior of the Beekman is landmarked, William; any related references at this point are essentially rhetorical.
The article which accompanied Lumenick’s commentary piece (also penned by Lumenick) can be found here: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/37683.htm
Is there no way that the hospital could build above the theatre instead of tearing it down?
I’m not sure if that possibility entered their thinking, Ron, or the consideration of, if necessary, negotiating a height variance with the city which would allow them to build their hospital as is, in terms of overall interior square footage, while still preserving the Beekman.
All concerned people should contact the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to express outrage over the potential loss of the Beekman Theater. Request the LPC to designate the Beekman Theater as a New York City landmark. Landmark status will prevent demolition of the building and still allow for a potential expansion of the hospital over the theater. Every letter or email helps.
Robert B. Tierney, Chair
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Centre Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10007
F: 212-669-7955
.gov
Please contact Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts for more information.
Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts
20 East 60th Street, #4B
NY, NY 10021
www.friends-ues.org
212-535-2526
Nice jabbering on this message board, but no grass roots action. It’s time. The neighboorhood should get more vocal to prevent the Beekman from closing. Anyone interested?