Loew's 46th Street Theatre
4515 New Utrecht Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11219
4515 New Utrecht Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11219
17 people
favorited this theater
Showing 251 - 275 of 280 comments
I agree with Mike M. Knoxville and Atlanta have worked hard to show that jewelslike the Lowes 46th Street theater can be reborn. If the solid bones are still in place it takes artisans, passionate supporters and money to put it in place. Then it takes innovative managment to assure bookings that will draw a steady stream of admirers for what is shown on the screen/stage and the theater itself.
The Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta are good examples of what it would take to renovate and restore the old movie palaces like the Loew’s 46th to their original glory. I remember in the 60’s the Loew’s 46th street theater was still a very elegant theater although as kids we didn’t appreciate our neighborhood movie house very much considering all the popcorn and coke that usually wound up on the floor and the chewing gum balls that usually wound up under the seat. From what I have read above, the Loew’s 46th street is a prime candidate for restoration, if it can be run profitably by operators who are dedicated to maintaining it as it was in the late 1920’s. I have seen how the area around the Fox Theater in Atlanta was revitalized after a concerted effort to preserve the Theater as it was in 1929 was made.
Knoxville Tennessee recently completed a $23 million restoration of it’s vintage TENNESSEE THEATER (The beautiful Tennessee Theatre is a jewel of historic Knoxville, located in the heart of Downtown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and honored as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee, “Knoxville’s Grand Entertainment Palace” has something for everyone: classical music, vintage films, dance, theater, and stellar performances by today’s hottest musicians.)http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/default.aspx?typeid=6&main=main_news It now rivals the Fox Theater in Atlanta. A second jewel, the Bijou is moribund awaiting underwriting for rennovations as well. Since the Tennessee Theater reopened it has hosted The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Earl Scruggs, and a sold out Valentine’s Day screening of Casablanca! If you are ever in town – check out this beautiful Moorish theater.
From 1955 to 1969 I lived at 4615 New Utrecht Ave across the street from the Loews 46th. I remember seeing the first James Bond films and some of the Elvis Presley films from the early and mid 60’s. I also remember long lines of people going to see live performers like Jerry Vale. Before we moved away from Boro Park in 1969, the owners of the theater had stopped showing films and were only opening for live performances. Today I live in Atlanta and all of the old movie palaces except for the Fox Theater have been demolished or converted into retail spaces, victims of changing economics and urban renewal. Fortunately there are many examples of movie palaces being renovated and saved.
posted by mike m. on March 20, 2005
This was my neighborhood theatre growing up and saw many many films in the 50’s and early 60’s there. Recently a few years now) went back and was amazed at all the detail that still remained. It seemed smaller to me now of course than as a child, and recall thinking it a magic castle.
So, P.S. 152, the Grateful Dead literally did NOT bring the house down ! ERD, the mechanical birds reads one better than the Loew’s Valencia !
Loew’s 46th Street originally had twinkling lights and projected clouds on the ceiling, as well as mechanical birds that “flew” across. These features were not in working order by the late 1940’s.
I attended a Greatful Dead concert on 11/11/1970 held in the 46th St. theater. While not on any mood enhancing drugs, I have little recall for the content of the concert. What I do recall is the theater. It had a blue domed ceiling. There were Grecian statues between columns around the orchestra section of the theater. There may have been clouds painted on the ceiling. I also recall that the combined sound of the band and the trains rumbling outside made plaster dust fall from the ceiling. I left the show early – the house was oversold, the noise was too much and I was convinced the building would collapse. It didn’t.
I saw the special features part on “The Bellboy” DVD and the Loew’s 46th St. marquee they show is very simillar to the one the Loew’s Oriental had, except for the shape. By the looks of things I think the 46th St marquee is still there, underneath the furniture store sign. On a related note the arrangement of lights underneath the marquee of the 46th ST. is also the same way that the lights were at the Loew’s Oriental on 86th St.
Already the place is crapped up.
There is a shot of the marquee in the special features section of this week’s DVD release of “The Bellboy”.
I don’t know where to ask this, and since this is along the same subway line, I figured i’d ask here in the 46th St section.
Does anyone know the name of this theater I took a photo of back in July? It’s somewhere along the West End El (D train el).
I don’t remember where along the el I took this photo:
Click here for Mystery Theater Photo
I have not gone back. I plan to sometime soon. I was, however in another closed Brooklyn theatre recently and got shots. Those will be posted soon.
The picture in the Brooklyn Public Library link shows the Garden Theatre-
which was built before Loew’s 46th Street. It stood next to it, across the street. (See Garden theatre on this web site.)
The picture in the Brooklyn Public Library link shows the Garden Theatre-
which was built before Loew’s 46th Street. It stood next top it, across the street. (See Garden theatre on this web site.)
Brooklyn Public Library link
Mark, did you ever get into the 46th Street theater to get some photos, as you mentioned you may do above? I would love to see them if you did! I only discovered the theater on this past weekend’s BU gate car MOD trip, and of course chose Fort Hamilton Parkway station to get off for the one photo runby I got off the train for because of the theater.
Here’s a link to a photo taken Saturday:
View link
View link
Listing should read Loew’s 46th Street as this was the Universal for less then a year.
Did they ever have concerts at this theatre?
What year did this open?
“The French Connection” chase was not filmed under the New Utrecht Avenue el. so neither the 46th Street or Boro Park Theatres will appear in the movie. What you do see is the 86TH Street el is the Loew’s Oriental from the train shots and street shots. Because of the edit job, the building seems to appear, be in the distance, then close and far again. If you focus on the theatre building on the left of the screen, you will see this. This blockbuster film is emblazaoned in any usher’s mind that played the picture during it 16 week initial first run in 1971.,
Here are links to three images that show Loew’s 46th Street Theater, located at 46th Street and New Utrecht Avenue :
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4809
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2532
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1926
In all three images the 46th Street Theater is clearly visible above the train, near the vanishing point. In at least one image the name is visible in large white letters on the building.
Loew’s, like it did to many of its theatres, neglected the 46th Street. By the early 1950’s the twinkling lights & clouds were not working, the stage curtains needed cleaning & repair, and the place
could have used a good paint job. While still beautiful, much of Eberson’s effects were lost due to this neglect. I remember performing here as a child in a “Knot Hole Gang” Saturday morning talent show (sponsored by the Brooklyn Dodgers). One of the acoustical problems of the theatre was that you could hear the elevated trains go by as they passed in front of the theatre.
I am glad to hear the marquee is still there. The information was told to me by someone passing by. I have moved from the neighborhood and have not seen the place in 4 years. I think it is doubtful that the building will be restored to a theatre. The majority of Boro Park would not approve because of religous convictions.
I was in the former Loews 46th Street tonight with a fellow theater buff. The marquee has NOT been removed. The furniture store takes up the lobby, auditorium up to the end of the balcony and upper mezzanine. Quite a bit of this theater remains and a trip to buy furniture is well worth it. I asked the manager if we could see beyond the wall and while she does not allow people in there, she made an exception. Here is what we found: The entire main floor has been leveled and tiled. It is used as a storeroom for the furniture store. No seats remain. All plasterwork and statues are still there. All of the balcony seats remain as well. Overall while this theater is I’d say 90% intact, It would need A LOT of work. There is quite a bit of water damage in many areas of the ceiling. I am going back soon with my camera and will provide a link to the pictures. If anybody has any questions, Feel free to email me.
-Mark