Great photos ken mc. I had wanted to stop inside that theater when driving by a few times, but just never had the time to stop. It’s such a diamond in the rough, and almost waiting to be restored.
It reminds me a bit of a theater in Richmond Hill, NY, the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill Theater…used as a flea market/Bingo hall. When I first went into that theater in the early 80’s, it still had all it’s original gold leaf paint and colorful ceiling, etc. It’s since been repainted with plain beige paint, but still seems like a diamond in the rough like this one.
What ornamentation remains of the old Astoria inside?
ANd it’s nice that the marquee is still there, but it’s sort of ludicrous that the drug store moved the entrance to the corner instead of using the entrance with the arch and marquee. Here’s a street view of the theater:
Warren, I guess that means that the rumor that “Loew’s walked away from the Gates Theater after the 1977 riots” is untrue, as apparently it wasn’t operating the Gates by 1977, if it’s final years as a cinema were spent as porn. But then again, it may be a half truth, as if the operator that ran the porn there was a tenant, Loew’s could have still owned the place at the time of the 1977 blackout.
The Pilgrim Church that took over the Loews Gates (and is still there today) originally used the RKO Bushwick as their sanctuary but when the Loews Gates became available, they moved out of the Bushwick and into the Gates. The reason being that they may have been able to take ownership to the Gates if Loews walked away from it, wheras at the Bushwick they may have been a tenant.
Bwaynightowl….I remember a similar opening being made in the fire curtain of the RKO keiths in Richmond Hill. They cut a doorway into the old curtain there, currently used as a bingo/flea market.
I totally forgot about this theater. There is some ornamentation that survives on the exterior of this building in the form of terra cotta. It did at least when Strauss was on there.
Wow! When I was a teenager in the mid 80’s, we often would stop for lunch at that pizza place….I had NO idea that used to be a theater when we ate there! It finally clicked when Lost Memory posted that link….
Anyone know what the interior of this theater looks like today? Any photos?
The place looked beautiful in the photo Warren posted above. I looked on google street view and the exterior seems to be very well kept. Here’s a link:
I always wanted to see a movie at the Continental 3, but never got to it. I often went to the Continental 1 and 2 (now Brandon), but there was never usually a movie I wanted to see at the 3.
Thanks for the photos.
Great photos ken mc. I had wanted to stop inside that theater when driving by a few times, but just never had the time to stop. It’s such a diamond in the rough, and almost waiting to be restored.
It reminds me a bit of a theater in Richmond Hill, NY, the RKO Keiths Richmond Hill Theater…used as a flea market/Bingo hall. When I first went into that theater in the early 80’s, it still had all it’s original gold leaf paint and colorful ceiling, etc. It’s since been repainted with plain beige paint, but still seems like a diamond in the rough like this one.
This is such a classic looking theater. I remember passing it a few times when driving on Wilshire.
Great photos. It’s nice that this theater is at least preserved.
Here’s a street view of the Colonial Theater….
View link
A few multiplexs I know increased the amount of screens they had by cutting larger ones in half.
What ornamentation remains of the old Astoria inside?
ANd it’s nice that the marquee is still there, but it’s sort of ludicrous that the drug store moved the entrance to the corner instead of using the entrance with the arch and marquee. Here’s a street view of the theater:
View link
Here’s a street view from google of the Steinway:
View link
That is probable. They may have leased it out when they took over an interest in the Bushwick theater?
Warren, I guess that means that the rumor that “Loew’s walked away from the Gates Theater after the 1977 riots” is untrue, as apparently it wasn’t operating the Gates by 1977, if it’s final years as a cinema were spent as porn. But then again, it may be a half truth, as if the operator that ran the porn there was a tenant, Loew’s could have still owned the place at the time of the 1977 blackout.
The Pilgrim Church that took over the Loews Gates (and is still there today) originally used the RKO Bushwick as their sanctuary but when the Loews Gates became available, they moved out of the Bushwick and into the Gates. The reason being that they may have been able to take ownership to the Gates if Loews walked away from it, wheras at the Bushwick they may have been a tenant.
Bwaynightowl….I remember a similar opening being made in the fire curtain of the RKO keiths in Richmond Hill. They cut a doorway into the old curtain there, currently used as a bingo/flea market.
Thanks Jeff!! I had so many happy memories from the Continental when I was a teenager….
So what is it, a strip club? I guess anything is better than the abandoned dump it had been.
Anyone have a current photo of the exterior?
Wow, thanks! It is beautiful!
Another theater saved and restored by a church.
I totally forgot about this theater. There is some ornamentation that survives on the exterior of this building in the form of terra cotta. It did at least when Strauss was on there.
Wow! When I was a teenager in the mid 80’s, we often would stop for lunch at that pizza place….I had NO idea that used to be a theater when we ate there! It finally clicked when Lost Memory posted that link….
These american classics images are great.
Anyone know what the interior of this theater looks like today? Any photos?
The place looked beautiful in the photo Warren posted above. I looked on google street view and the exterior seems to be very well kept. Here’s a link:
View link
Wow that is a beautiful photo.
This theater is being used for live performance.
Is this theater still a church?
Just renewing the link for this theater.
Here’s a google street view of the Brandon:
View link
Great photo, to compare to the current one.
I always wanted to see a movie at the Continental 3, but never got to it. I often went to the Continental 1 and 2 (now Brandon), but there was never usually a movie I wanted to see at the 3.