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Loew’s Kings Theatre to be saved
posted by
William
on
October 18, 2006 at 5:00 am
BROOKLYN, NY — The city’s Economic Development Corp. is seeking proposals from developers interested in reviving the 77 year old theater.
A legendary but long-shuttered Brooklyn performance palace – which in its heyday saw the likes of Bob Hope and Milton Berle take the stage – has been saved from the wrecking ball.
The majestic Loew’s Kings theater on Flatbush Avenue had been in danger of being demolished by City Hall bulldozers before community groups and Borough President Marty Markowitz jumped in with calls for the iconic venue’s revival.
For more on this story, visit theNY Post.
Comments (6)
one problem. The neighborhood is unthinkable.
Many neighborhoods are “unthinkable”, however, if the theatre is brought back, think of all the stores that can reopen. New and old businesses would gain by the theatre’s restoration.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Anything is possible. And I am all for it. But this is a big order. A lot of pieces would have to come together far beyond the piece of the Kings theatre.
I made the above-post because I was there last night, roughly at 10:30pm. (My daughter last night had a wedding to attend nearby, so I took the opportunity to finally get to see this fine edifice.) The whole neighborhood is depressed in a variety of ways. The homes are dingy. The current population is not the demographic for such a service. Currently, what could it be a venue for? Rap concerts? Who is gonna underwrite and insure that? The shift in demographics might be too much to bear. When a neighborhood is a “daylight-only neighborhood”, you kinda know what you are dealing with. Now, if the whole neighborhood underwent a change, multi-dimentional changes, the theater could be part of it. But costly-overhead theatre —grand palacial theatre— does not lend its to the values of the prevailing and current inhabitants. I know i sound negative, but there is truth in my commentary; after all, The kings did close for a reason. Going home is not easy; usually it’s impossible. Yes, neighborhoods do undergo changes, often “unthinkable” vast changes too. Maybe it could happen here. But, before someone throws his capital into the Kings, these questions will have to be addressed. This is my humble opinion.
But last night —standing before the Kings, desolate and cold— was like a real nightmare; and a long ways off from home. Unthinkable it was.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Anything is possible. And I am all for it. But this is a big order. A lot of pieces would have to come together far beyond the piece of the Kings theatre.
I made the above-post because I was there last night, roughly at 10:30pm. (My daughter last night had a wedding to attend nearby, so I took the opportunity to finally get to see this fine edifice.) The whole neighborhood is depressed in a variety of ways. The homes are dingy. The current population is not the demographic for such a service. Currently, what could it be a venue for? Rap concerts? Who is gonna underwrite and insure that? The shift in demographics might be too much to bear. When a neighborhood is a “daylight-only neighborhood”, you kinda know what you are dealing with. Now, if the whole neighborhood underwent a change, multi-dimentional changes, the theater could be part of it. But costly-overhead theatre —grand palacial theatre— does not lend its to the values of the prevailing and current inhabitants. I know i sound negative, but there is truth in my commentary; after all, The kings did close for a reason. Going home is not easy; usually it’s impossible. Yes, neighborhoods do undergo changes, often “unthinkable” vast changes too. Maybe it could happen here. But, before someone throws his capital into the Kings, these questions will have to be addressed. This is my humble opinion.
But last night —standing before the Kings, desolate and cold— was like a real nightmare; and a long ways off from home. Unthinkable it was.
The King was featured in the 1995 film Sleepers, which was coincidentally filmed in my neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
The black gangster who was helping Brad Pitt and his friends convict the ex-detentional facility guards, who raped them as minors.
Its awesome that they saved The King…I can’t wait to jump on the bus and check out a flick or two….I miss the Commodore more and more each day=-I would totally be there every weekend for $6 a
double-feature.(RIP Commodore Theatre-2001)
Kudos to The King,
Greenpoint!
Good to see that it is going to be redone.