Loew's Oriental Theatre
1832 86th Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11214
1832 86th Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11214
31 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 252 comments
I am sorry to see it is no longer there. In September 1959 the Oriental was the place of my first date with my first love. I think of them both with fond memories. It was a beautiful theater and he was a beautiful boy.
I can remember passing the closed Oriental on the way to class. It was about this time that I realized that nothing last forever.
The Forgotten NY article cited by TT is certainly worth checking out …… While I never visited the Benson, I did see Star Wars at the Oriental, along with my parents, when it had just come out. We caught an evening performance after having visited my aunt and uncle, who lived nearby. The only thing I recall about the visit – other than the movie – was the fact that so few people were watching what was an extremely popular movie. So, I guess the Oriental’s eventual demise was not entirely surprising.
What an astonishing heartbreak it is for me to see the Oriental occupied by Marshall’s. The last time I was in the theater was in 1980, to see “The Fan,” and other than being twinned, it was very much intact.
Thank you for your good words Bill. I finally got around to putting a Wikipedia page up for Barto and Mann , which you can see by clicking here.
Brad, those photos taken in the 1930’s are great!!!
So glad to have seen them.
For a 1930 price I would.
Nice photo Brad,and you are right YankeeMike want to buy a 1930 Chevy?
Look closely to the right of the entrance. There was a Chevrolet dealership next door to the Loews in 1930.
Click here for a photograph of the Loew’s Oriental Theatre taken in 1930 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto & Mann.
Does anyone know for a fact what is left of the inside of this theatre? Is anyone going to try and take some pictures of the interior? I am sure for a few dollars someone nice will allow pictures to be taken of the inside. I am dying to see what it looks like inside and if there is any way it can be salvaged? What about the dressing rooms and stage are they intact?
Nice old pictures and history. Keep them coming.
The “Oriental”, The “Benson” and the “Deluxe” all within a few blocks of each other. Never a problem going to the movies back in the 60’s and 70’s. I spent many an eveing at those three neighborhood theatres. Sadly all three are now history.
How sad it must be to see, like so many wonderful movie theatres. Many of us who are old enough are lucky to remember them. I have so many wonderful memories of attending the Oriental. When I moved out of Brooklyn, New York City had greatly changed and lost a lot of its charm to me.
If all else fails you might try bribery. A high school kid would likely let you upstairs for $20, provided the manager isn’t around.
It is my understanding that most of the interior remains. Whether or not you are able to access the second floor to look over the false ceiling is a crap shoot. It probably depends on who is working that day and what kind of a mood they are in.
I want to make a trip to see the inside of the Oriental by going to the Marshalls there, but before I waste my time going there, does anyone know if any of the former ornamentation of the theater is still exposed? Is it worth taking a look, or has it just been gutted and covererd up in the conversion?
I also was a Bensonhurst citizen and went to the Oriental more times that I can remember. The Oriental name is not necessarily a slam ss just a term for the East as Occidental is a term for the West. Further, if any one wants to know some more trivia Boral is for Northern and Austal is for the South.
Vic Damone, who took his mothers maiden name is originally Vito Farinola. I’m 5 years younget that him but we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same High School, Lafayette, which, by the way, was where Larry King went at the same time I did.
Vic had a sister, Teresa, who I dated as a kid but it didn’t last long as she was taller than me and I still didn’t grow to my full height until the later years. I sort of remember Vic coming back and doing a performance but I didn’t realize it was at the Oriental. That would have been the one and only live show that I knew was there. The live shows were usually at the Senate and the Walker. And as far as I can remember they were all Italian Radio shows taken to the live theater. I took my grandmother to a few even though I did not understand any Italian with the exception of usual cus words. One of the radio shows I remember was “Pasquale COD”. I kind of figures it was the Italian version of either The Life of Riley, Amos and Andy or Fiber Mcgee and Molly. In any event the crowd roared and I even began to laugh along with them as the laughter was infectionous.
Those were the days my friends.
LOL I doubt it very much. There are 10 other listings for Orientals listed. Four are demolished . 3 listed as open and the rest closed. There was even one located in Hong Kong. Demolished in 1981.
Maybe they closed it because at the time Loews was owned by Sony, who may have been offended by the politically incorrect name ‘Oriental’. And changing it to Loews Asian sounded too stupid.
I am also a home bred Brooklyn boy and Seeing the Oriental back in 2004 which was the last time I was up there made me want to break down and cry before heading back to Maryland. So many of these fine palaces have been either converted to retail, demolished or in the case of the Lowes Kings, Shore an even Ridgewood sitting empty and decaying.
The Oriental used to present live shows and concerts in its earlier years. Usually to launch a new musical, the film’s stars would often appear and perform a selection of songs from the movie; this was especially true in the 1950s. For instance, Vic Damone (who was actually from Bensonhurst)appeared at the Oriental when his film KISMET opened there. The great Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson were there for THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS. However, being 54, this was before my time.
Like many of the people on this thread, I was born and raised in Bensonhurst. The Oriental was indeed a special place…I miss it.
You’re welcome, JohnG409. Will do, and thanks again ! I hope you continue to enjoy Cinema Treasures !
Thanks Peter K – I am posting photos I took, of different theaters every month, from around the country. Please check back.
Thanks, JohnG409.
I see you also took photos of the Paris Theatre. I think I saw “The Exorcist” there on 2 April 1974. I also saw “King Lear” there in late February or early March 1972.