Commodore Cinemas
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
22 people
favorited this theater
Showing 226 - 250 of 304 comments
What are the owners trying to do now? Do they want to sell or lease the space?
I am sure they could too. The problem is the owners of the Commodore do not want to turn it into a live theater. So that is not going to happen unless someone buys it who does. They own it, and the current owners cannot be forced, to keep it as a theater.
If the area is going to improve that much I am sure they could support a live type theatre as a use for the Commodore?
With Rezoning of Northside it is Rumored a Multiplex will be built on the Northside!
Well everyone I am sure you have heard that the rezoning has been approved and luxury lofts and two 40 story buildings on each side of the new state park that will have an NYU stadium has been approved. The plan is for 40,000 new apartments on the Northside and Greenpoint. 40,000! So at least 40,000 new people will be moving to the Northside and I heard rumors of an Old Navy and Barnes and Noble. I am happy that finally all those empty building for rent that the landlords would not rent will be converted and these 40,000 new tenants will all have loft like condos. That is what people want these days, loft like condos. With development like this you can expect the building of a multiplex. It is sad in a way that Williamsburg will now be like parkslope, or modeled after Battery Park City, Jersey City or Hoboken. The area East of the BQE will untouched because it is already zoned for residential, the area around the Lorimer and Graham stops. I am sure now, with this kind construction we will once again have a movie theater, maybe even a multiplex. The Commodore is gone for good it seems, and soon we might have a theater that will not have rumbling trains going by from the EL. I believe the kind of multiplex will be like the Kaufman Astoria multiplex in Astoria.
Do some this is bad news, to others good. I have mix feeling about this. I believe building parkland on the waterfront and now allowing conversion of all the industrial buildings to residential will beautify the neighborhood. It would be nice to have an esplanade that the governor and the mayor want to stretch from Greenpoint to Bayride. However, Williamsburg does not need a 40 story building, and two is too much. It seems those buildings are to be modeled after that giant building in Long Island City that we can see in the skyline near the other tall building in Long Island City, the Citibank building.
Rezoning areas like Williamsburg have been a mandate for Bloomberg. By rezoning, his people believe it will beautify neighborhoods, from Billburg to Redhook. Even Brooklyn Heights which already has the beautiful promenade will once again have access to the waterfront as the abandoned docks below the promenade will be turned into parkland.
I know some are you against the Yuppifying of Williamsburg, and now with Barnes and Noble, Old Navy and possibly a multiplex will more than likely bring what we all think as the ultimate evil, Starbucks. The Williamsburg Warrior group tried to stop this and even protested. But the fight is over. On May 11th the city council voted for rezoning that land owners from the those in small houses to big warehouse owners have fought for. Even the Communnity Board to a point contributed to this rezoning when the threat of a power plant coming to the waterfront, they sent recommendations and their own studies of rezoning to the City as the plan 197a. There is even animation and models online for all to look at which I will post below.
I am very sad about the Commodore because I did try to save it as you can see from my past posts and even talked to the Katherine Oliver the film commissioner about making it a landmark. But as we thought and dreamed about the Commodore, maybe we should have looked more at the big picture.
The one thing I all want you to consider though is what past industry before more strict dumping laws came into affect. Within the last six months, when rezoning was being debated I cut out an article with a map of the burg and Greenpoint. This map got me very upset. My mother was born at the former Wiliamsburg Maternity Hospital on Humboldt and Baptize at the Ukranian Catholic Church on North 6th Street. To me coming back to burg, was a “return” because this area was the place my Grandparents moved to after living briefly in Pennsylvannia to pursue the American dream. This inspired me to live here, and remain here, hope to buy a house eventually, and raise a family here. I attended NYU in the early 1990’s and lived in the East Village when it was still a war zone, and was part of the crowd to gentrify it. After college I moved to Los Angeles for 5 years to get my masters from UCLA. I returned and was very upset that the area no one wanted to live in , that I took a chance on, was no longer affordable, and young artist and young people started out were pushed into the sea. I was happy though to be part of the people gentrifying Williamsburg and vowed never to leave the neighborhood, I “helped to rebuild” However this map in the Post was shocking. And upfront I would like to say it was not a right wing attempt to push through rezoning because of the Post’s politics. My area, the one where I had roots from 60 years ago and now wanted to live and raise an family, is badly contaminated, especially the most expensive section the Northside. Because the area was working class, and then minorities without political clout, company’s began dumping toxic and harmful chemicals, in their basements and illegally dumping in empty lots in the neighborhood. These companies have left, but there damage remains.
The empty lot on North 12th and Bedford, has been empty for as long as I have lived in the burg, 6 years. I asked many people why, and few could say, because they were also new residence. I finally investigated on my own, searching through the library and asking older residence. That empty lot was a paint factory, and full of toxic waste. That is why not only is it an empty lot but also locked and chained up. The plan for that empty lot which we all most know is valuable land, right on the main drag of Bedford Ave and next to the park was suppose to become a shopping center that would included a small multiplex or at least a new movie theater. A theater similar to the Angelika I was told, but the rumor about the movie theater is hearsay. But what I did find out is the reason it has remained idle is a legal battle over who should clean up the hazardous waste, the former owners or the new owners. Cleaning up this waste is expensive with the workers needing to wear protective clothing and gloves similar to those used by workers who clean asbestos another lie we were told just like the hazardous waste. What gets me is, if this stuff is dangerous, and the land of the northside contaminated, why will workers touching that soil be protected, but yet, anyone walking around Bedford Ave is not even notified of the hazards. I am sure on a hot and humid summer day, pedestrians wearing very little clothing such as t-shirts, shorts and sandals, walk by the site all the time, probably being exposed to it, as the hot humid day might even cause the hazardous waste seep upwards. Or even think about this, wearing you summer attire and playing ball across the street and rolling around in the soil and grass of McCarren Park or the dogs digging and sniffing in the Dog Run on North 12 and Driggs near by, rolling around, digging, and possibly ingesting soil.
This is not the only area as this Post indicated. All over the Northside is toxic waste dumped into the ground. The N 12th empty lot is right next to McCarren Park. How much toxic waste has seeped in there where we play ball, our dogs play in the dog run nearby and our children or soon to be children will play. This map was such an eye opener that if something did not change or get cleaned up, Williamsburg which I love, and have roots in dating back 60 years, is not a place I want to raise children, have my dog play, or even play ball. Luckily, I live near the Lorimer stop, which was always residential, and very few industry, so at least at the present time, where I live is not affected. But it is not a big enough place to raise a family and even if it were, I am sure my kids would have friends on the the Northside. How could I endanger them by allowing them to play over there without knowing where they are playing or how badly the toxic waste and pollution have spread because the dumping begain 40 years ago. Even thinking about it now, I am sure my kids would think I am horrible dad for not letting them play with their friends in the neighborhood.
Although I am not happy with 40 story building and some of the plan of redevelopment, I am very happy the city council passed the plan and the immediate rezoning and redevelopment will begin ASAP. Why? Because as part of the plan, the toxic and hazardous waste will be required to be cleaned and the city would assist with money to do so. Which ever place you stand or rezoning and redevelopment, no one liberal, conservative, activist, silent majority, whatever label you might consider yourself should have themselves or their families whether living now or future plans be exposed to the mess of big business. Who knows, I had a friend who had a small vegetable garden in her backyard on the Northside and would often give me things from her garden. I did tell her about the possible hazards of the soil, but she did not take me seriously. But to not to be inpolite on a few occasions, I accepted some veggies from her garden, which I immediately threw out. Not only have we all be exposed, but, the though of eating from gardens in the burg is unsettling. For those of you wanting families in the future and staying in the burg, could the current problem become a problem for the health of our future offspring, not living in the area I am talking development in the womb. I do not buy the argument that was in a local paper when a baby store opened on Bedford Ave that one young resident stated, “If you want to have kids, you should move to Park Slope.” If you agree or disagree about this statement, either way, you should be allowed to have a family anywhere, without fear of some ignorant 20 year old, but have exposure to toxins.
So to conclude this view on getting a movie theater in the Burg. It looks like with a redevelopment like this, no company like UA, Loews, Clearview or AMC, would allow redevelopment in an area with young, educated and cultured people pass them by. As far as chains like Old Navy or Barne and Noble, I honestly believe that a movie theater company if one but all, would bid to build a multiplex and could lead to the Burg/Greenpoint once again having just as many screens as it did in the glory days when single screen theaters were the standard. It is unfortunate, the Commodore cannot be saved or every other theater in the 11211 area that closed over the past 20 years. But one thing is for sure, no matter how many screens we have, at least we can live in the burg knowing, our health is not in danger.
Here is the animation section of the City Planning Commission rendition of what the Northside will look like from different “drives” through the rezoning area. For those of you like me who love the burg now, this can be shocking to see so prepare yourself because the debate has passed and the City has approved the rezoning. So there is very little to be done. The one thing that most on the City Council agreed upon was that if the waterfront was not rezoned, more than likely, a power plant or a “Garbage Station” would once again be considered for the burg and probably pass. To the City Council and local leaders this was their only chance to clean up the waste, and save the burg and Greenpoint from any talk of a power plant or a “garbage station” Without rezoning these two environmental evils would be put back on table and this time, no matter how protested, it would not be defeated again.
So below are the plans for the Burg, with the Animaton link first. I know some of you might find this upsetting, but please, I am onl y the messenger.
Animation of the Waterfront-
View link
The entire plan and proposal approved by the City:
View link
And finally the website of the “Williamsburg Warriors” who should be commended for putting up a good fight and organizing protests and petitions. Though I believe there link for sigining a petition is outdated. They have very good links to websites such as Marty M’s proposed changes to the plans, such as rejection of the 40 story Building.
www.williamsburgwarriors.org
I hope you all agree with me that the Commodore is a tragedy. But at least a mulitplex might be better than nothing. And again, I am just informing you all that such a theater is rumored to be in works. So please, don’t shoot the messenger!
I was wondering if anyone out there knows the name of the 2nd theater that was near the Commodore,that was on Marcy Avenue,They closed it down in the early 80’s?? and if you have a picture of the old theater?? i want to see what it looked like,and I was so young..
Thank you..
Anybody noticed that there is crazy work going on at the Commodore this week? I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but they are tearing out walls and lugging debris to the curb. They were also bringing new drywall inside. I was sort of able to glance inside because they had the side door open. It was a real mess inside.
Guys,
Once again, I suggest we go out for drinks or something or maybe get a room at the Willimsburg Historical Society and brain storm. As I said, we can get a move theater in Williamsburg maybe not the Commodore though. As I said before, during the 1910’s through 1930’s there were vaudville theaters on almost every corner in Williamsburg. I know from experience, sometimes behind these warehouse are places that were once something “glorious”. Because everyone is waiting for rezoning, maybe besides trying the save the Commodore, maybe behind what we think are just warehouses are empty theaters with seats taken out, but just used as a warehouse and the paint is chipping and the chandaliers are gone. If I remember correctly, the Commodore was in pretty bad shape before it closed. Noise from the elevated train etc. If can find one of these vaudville theaters I think we might have a case to stop that building from being rezoned, much to the chagrin of the owner.
I think we definitely need a theater in Wiliamburg, both a mainstream cinema and also a Sunshine type theater. That kind of theater can be not for profit like the Angelica was up until 10 years ago. If you like the Sunshine theater, think about where it came from why it is located where it is located. They did not build that theater from scratch, I think they got a lot of money from the state and city historical redevelopment funds, plus tax abatements etc. I do not remember what was there before, but I now it was not a theater. Maybe a large storefront or a warehouse. But that place was really and old Jewish Vaudville theaer that Sunshine found and restored to a movie theater. I am sure this is true in Williamsburg, there are buildings like this used for just warehousing etc. Even next to the Broadway Diner, there is an old German vaudville theater that was cut in half but Robert Moses’s BQE. It might be nice to renovate but for a business sense both that place and the Commodore are bad locations.
If we can all meet and brainstorm, and study the history of the neighborhood, find addresses of old theaters, knock on doors, talk to those at the senior center, I think we have a very very good chance to find a place like this.
I have been on this website for about three years, have tried to set up tentative meetings but always seems to fall through because I get busy or others get busy or others just like to claim about evil capitalism and how Williamsburg is being “destroyed”. The latter are the people I hate the most because they are the first to complain but are the ones with no action.
So guys, is anyone interested in doing this? I would be happy to organize the first meeting. But I cannot do all this alone. I even took the information to Katherine Oliver the film commissioner about saving it and she told me she could help only if we find the actualy architect. Well is you scroll back, I said, this is not my area and can someone find these things out for me. But all I got were suggestions, comments and criticism on finding the architect and what I did wrong which I felt was not fair. I had hoped that someone in this area would take the next step and get the information for me. After all, I did take some action, but instead of people stepping forward, all people wanted to do was tell people what to do, instead of doing it themselves and helping me and the cause. As I said, I am busy too, and I am not a total innocent in that I have gotten busy and had to cancel appointments with people and then they get busy etc etc.
So everyone, if you want to do this, and save things, not just the Commodore because it could be too late, but save other theaters behind the metal gates, lets meet and start an advocacy group and preservation group. In a year, after the hood is rezoned, condos and high rises will be going up unopposed. Now I am all free business and enterprise, but when it has to do with our neighborhood, we should at least need a say it how it is done. That is why this area, one to three stops from the subway took so long to gentrify. Some of it was the warehouse and the stench, others was the contamination. You know, I was even told that, that empty lot, along Bedford right before McCarren Park was suppose to be a mini mall including a small multiplex. The reason it never happened? The land is contaminated from the old paint factory and there is not a fight as to who is responsible to pay for clean up, the new owner, old owner, the city, insurance companies etc. So sorry to say guys and I am sure you have heard this before, but the land west of the BQE, the most trendy part, is a victim of toxic dumping. I know there is a group against a power station, but with today’s laws, whether it goes up or not, it is not going to contaminate the land for future generations.
So we seem to have this long conversation lasting 4 years starting April 23rd. Lets finally all get together, and find everyone’s expertise to try to save to Commodore or some behind the scenes old vaudville house, or finding someone to open a theater in Williamsburg. I know that a lot of you would be against a Loews or AMC, but there are theaters that maybe chains, but they are franchised and are mostly small business owners. Being that it would be locally owned by some franshee like that, we can talk to him about the type of films to show etc. I am very tired of the Commodore issue, and as we talk, property value has more than doubled. This neighborhood has changed and is getting better and better. A theater here would be a smashing success, as there are so many young people in the burg and the surround areas who most pay $10 for a movies plus, deal with the subway and travel to Manhattan or Brooklyn heights to see a movies. Open a theater here, will keep our money in the burg, and circulated back into out local economy. Some of you might ask, why have the chains and places like Loews not opened here yet? I can tell you the answers from an MBA point of view. The 2000 census. Though alot of lived here during the last census, the real explosion of Williamsburg happened after 2000. There were no real condos and home ownership among the 18-34 crowd as well as incomes were lower. So if you pull the 2000 census, you would not believe what you see. It says the area is like 90% hispanic, and a very high number of residents and I am not saying just hispanics or singling them out, are on public assistance. So the average income with assets etc, is not worth it for a national company to invest in such an area. It is the local contracters who see the potential and building the condos and other things making the neighborhood attractive in the 2010 census. So if not before then, by 2010, you will see an explosion of investment and national chains arriving. So lets try to save to Commodore another secret theater or try to find investors to open our own movie theater here in the burg, before it gets out of our hands. I am not talking a radical, or liberal, or tree hugging organization. I think we should have a committee or organization that is all inclusive whose goal is to do the things I explained above. I would consider it a Theater advocate/historical preserving/ and alternative committee to the community board, which if you have been to a meeting is a mess. Works very slowly, and really does not represent or have representatives from the “new” Williamsburg.
So here is the deal. After reading this, and please excuse the grammar and spelling as I am in a hurry. I will check off notification. If you are all interested in starting a group and breaking all our talents down to different committees to either save the Commodore or find other theaters etc… Please just leave a message on the website that you are in. Then I will leave an e-mail address you can all e-mail your personal information and when I have a head count, I will set up a time and a place to meet. We are all passionate about a Williamsburg and our neighborhood. So instead of hiding between a website to complain or give good ideas and expect others to do them, lets work together after 5 years of discussion. I hope his letter will empower everyone to get involved. Even if you are busy, first off, it is one meeting, and second, any time you can give or even help with contacts and connections if you are too busy, that would work. But whether it is complaining, having ideas, or attempts to find information, whether you have been negative or positive, the ultimate bottom live is we all have a love of the Commodore, a movie theater in Williamsburg and our hood. So lets all meet at least once, just to see if we can move from page to action or at least have drinks with people you have corresponding with and putting a face with a name and comment.
Ligg
Why is it that kids in NYC feel compelled to put graffiti everywhere? Though not unheard of, it’s not as bad in other cities. I didn’t grow up here and don’t get it…..
Sad indeed; I’m curious to know what shape the interior is in, as per sparkle’s October 20, 2004 comment about having seen seats being removed from the property. That being said, it’s a bit shocking to see just how fast the outside of the building deteriorated; wonder why (or how) that happened in such a short period of time…
Yes, actually, here is a crop of that photo that shows the old vintage doors all messed up. These doors amazingly lasted right to the end, and now all the glass is broken in many of them.
Click here for cropped photo of the one above showing doors
Very sad
Here’s a photo of the Commodore taken yesterday. Sad how quickly it deteriorated:
Click here for photo
I’d double Bway’s comment, chance. Property values in Williamsburg are skyrocketing, commensurate with the hot spots at the Bedford Avenue L stop (to use just one example) and the steady outburst of upscale condos and luxury apartments throughout Billburg. If you’re able to or have arranged the likely amount of financing needed to purchase the Commodore and have a solid business plan, you could find yourself sitting on a gold mine, in more ways than one.
The prices have gone way up in Williamsburg. The area is gentrifying.
Ligg,
Can you please explain you comments about property values in williamsburg. are they overpriced or underpriced in williamsburg?
Maybe the Commodore can be Tarantino’s retirement theater….
Tarantino: I’m not directing next Jason movie
Note to New Line: Don’t take Jason Voorhees' hockey mask off the shelf just yet. Last week, according to the Hollywood Reporter, the studio was said to be in talks with Quentin Tarantino to write and direct The Ultimate Jason Voorhees Movie, which would mark the 12th installment of the Friday the 13th franchise, as well as the director’s first job for a studio other than Miramax. But the report was premature, Tarantino said over the weekend. The Kill Bill filmmaker was in London to accept the Icon of the Decade award from Empire, the British movie magazine, and he told Empire that, while New Line had spoken to him about a Jason movie, he was not planning to make one.
‘'Whats happening with Friday The 13th? Nothing at all! Its a complete lie,’‘ he told Empire, whose awards were chosen by a poll of 12,000 readers. ’‘I like Jason and everything, but Ive no intention of directing a movie! New Line talked to me about it, but it was a complete fabrication, that article. I would love to do a horror film. Im just saying its not going to be Friday the 13th.’'
Tarantino said his next project would probably be his long-gestating World War II drama Inglorious Bastards, though he said he had yet to compile the scenes he’s written into a shooting script. ‘'I hope to give you at least 15 more years of movies,’‘ said the 41-year-old, who added that he would then quit filmmaking and Hollywood altogether. ’‘I’m not going to be this old guy that keeps cranking them out. My plan is to have a theater by that time in some small town and I will be the manager — this crazy old movie guy,’‘ the former video store clerk said. ’‘I’ve made enough money that nobody even needs to show up at the theater. It’s just having something to do.’'
Copyright 2005
The Commodore is for sale? They are trying to unload it? Does anyone know the price they were asking, because what things are worth on paper in tax records is not usually the price in Williamsburg
do any of you live in this neighborhood. i realize that it is really up and coming. i live in manhattan and am spending time near there are every weekend to get a feel of the demographic. restaurants in the area like MOTO seem to have a very hip, artistic clientele. does this statement seem fair?
I think this theatre stands a good chance of making it with good bookings and management. It’s a free booking zone and can play anything.
The Commodore is up for sale? Wow, what a pleasant surprise, given the current ownership’s seemingly hellbent plans to either demolish or gut the property.
Best of luck to you, chance, on your pursuit…
well, it seems that it is very much for sale. i have contacted two brokers working with the owner of the property. he is ready to sell. i am preparign a proposal with a twist on the idea of a williamsburg theatre.
As much as it kills me to feel this way, chance, it looks as if any attempt to save or buy the Commodore is a lost cause; see the series of postings dated this past October 20th for more details.
i have a great proposal to rejuvinate this great theater. can someone please give me the contact information for the owners of the property.
Thanks.
Oh, and I forgot to comment! Notice how the market value is going down as opposed to up on the building. That could have something to do the fact that the theater has become vacant, but maybe the owbers did “play” with it’s status (such as the incorrect seating, etc). Someone mentioned in this thread that they observed seats being removed from the building.
Interesting.
The theater had 1400 seats, maybe they revised that to get the taxes down, because it says “less than 400 seats”?
Also, I believe the Commodore is on a corner, but maybe I am wrong.
And didn’t the COmmodore have a balcony? Or do they not consider a balcony a “2nd floor”?
But anyway, it’s NYC, I’m sure there are mistakes everywhere in their records.
I really wish that someone could save this theater before it’s too late.