Shore Theatre
1301 Surf Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11224
1301 Surf Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11224
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 165 comments
From photos I have seen in the past, the interior of the theater has severe water damage. Parts of the ceiling above the proscenium have even come down. I assume it is restorable, but it would take big bucks to bring the interior back.
As the city fights with Joe Sitt over the future of Coney Island, one thing is for sure…….This property will get more and more valuable. While the economy is now a shambles, it is fair to assume that a major new amusement park with new retail and possibly housing will rise in the “New” Coney Island. What this will mean to Loews Coney Island is anyone’s guess. Is there enough demand for a movie theater in this part of town? Can it support a performing arts center? (p.s. the City has just announced construction of a spectacular amphitheater by the Boardwalk) What other use can this old theater serve while still retaining its architectural detail?
Is it better to just tear the building down and sell the land to the highest bidder? These are the questions that will be asked.
I hate to see any old theater destroyed, but I am not hopeful that this one can and will be saved. I truly hope that I am mistaken.
Thanks Bryan, the place looks better than it had been looking.
I guess the theater is still in shambles. I wonder if there are any plans for the theater in the rebuilding of Coney Island plan that is taking place.
Shifrins Hebrew National when I was growing up was the site of Murry Zarrats Animal Nursey and the Play Races was A Faber’s Fascination location. Another community that has faced a major decline.
Thanks Lost
Here is one taken from the beach
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9694295@N08/?saved=1
Well “Duchess of Idaho” was released in July 14th. 1950. And “Mystery Street” was released on July 28th. 1950. So maybe August of 1950.
A recent (July 2007) picture of the Shore.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001/705610946/
I know what you mean about signing up too.
It’s funny they don’t remember that the city owns the Loews Kings Theatre.
Here and here are recent photo of the Shore I found online….
Thanks, Warren.
If anyone has any info on the owner. Preferably an email address Id love to have it. I have an idea for the place and rather have my idea be shot down instead of sitting here dreaming. I have the contacts and the help just wish I had the money to do something with it. Any info please email me:
The one bit of good news, Bway, would be that Coney Island is looking up and may have a considerable amount of potential for cash return on investment. The Cyclones have already proved a big hit since they opened their first season at Key Span Park in 2001 and future development might only mean bigger and brighter days lie ahead for real estate investors. Of course, in the end, the little guy will be pushed out. I’m pretty sure Nathan’s will stay at all costs and I’m sure the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel will be entertaining the children in all of us for many years to come even if they are absorbed into some larger glitzier amusement complex of the future. Let’s just hope proprieterships like Gargiulo’s Restaurant and Totonno’s Pizza can weather the sure-to-be-increasing rents and remain profitable. And let’s also hope some person or persons of means and vision find a worthy cause in the reclamation of the Shore Theater.
The real problem with the Shore is that it appears to have suffered MAJOR interior damage from neglect and water damage. There is a lot of plaster that has fallen to the ground from the ceiling, especially near the procenium arch, and where the juliet balconies used to be. Unfortunately, that may mean that other sections of ceiling, even though still currently up, may not be in the best of shape, and ready to go too.
Unfortunately, each year the place falls further and further. The cost to restore the interior has got to be staggering.
There was an article in yesterday’s NY Times Real Estate section about “Living In Coney Island”. No mention of the Shore, but the article does say that a gentleman by the last name of Sitt owns a number of parcels in the amusement park area that he plans on clearing for a multi-purpose amusement facility and possible condo/hotel complex. I wonder where the Shore fits in relation to those plans. Of course, a number of folks have announced big amusement park plans for Coney Island over the years, only to see nothing come of them.
Anyone know what the immediate future holds for the former theater? The last permit activity noted on the NYC Building Dept site is a permit from earlier this year to erect the construction shedding that now surrounds the ground floor. According to the permit, the shedding is for “remedial repairs” with no change to occupancy or ingress/egress proposed.
The final C/O for this theater is dated July 15th, 1926 (a full year after its opening) and states “theater seating 2421 people” – I only point that out because C/O’s usually cite maximum capacity per fire codes rather than seat counts. This information is handwritten and may also include standing room and allowances for staff, despite inclusion of the word “seating.” The C/O also lists a ballroom on the 2nd floor with offices in the upper floors.
A subsequent C/O, issued August 8th, 1967, breaks the building down to “theater portion” and “business portion.” The theater occupancy is cited as follows:
Orchestra 1314 seats, stores, lobby, stage, dressing rooms.
Mezzanine 336 seats, lounge, toilets, dressing rooms.
Balcony 650 seats, projection booth, dressing room.
The “theater lobby” is also noted on the 1st floor of the “business portion” of the building. All floors above are now offices (no ballroom), a nursery for the “head start” New York City program and a janitor’s apartment on the penthouse level.
Finally, on March 2nd, 1973, another C/O shows the orchestra level as a “banquet hall (bingo)” with capacity of 850 persons, the mezzanine for “accessory storage” and toilets and the balcony “to remain vacant.”
Sorry about that, Mark. I’ve removed the links, per your request.
Attention Webmaster, Please remove the pictures posted by “Warren” on Sep 30, 2006 at 8:58am. They are my pictures and I removed them from my server when asked by the owner of the theatre.
I never gave permission for them to be alered or reposted. Thanks.
I took the OHNY tour yesterday morning and was incredibly disappointed to learn that the tour was of the exterior only. In fact, the tour was mostly of empty lots where famous theatres once stood. Does anyone know who owns the Shore Theatre currently? I’d love to contact him/her and ask if I could take some photos of the interior.
Here’s a link. Apparently this weekend there’s a tour of old COney Island Theater, and the tour starts at the Shore Theater, I wonder if it will be opened to see inside. If anyone goes, please report back here.
Here’s the link:
View link
Old Theatres of Coney Island
program name: OHNY tours
program type: Architecture/Design, Cultural/Museum/Gallery, Theatre/Performing
borough: Brooklyn
event date: Oct 7, 2006
hours: 11:30 am
Take a stroll along Coney Islandâ€\s show biz past when it was home to numerous cabarets, variety halls and movie showsâ€"a training ground for a generation of legendary performers. Organized by the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment.
reservation instructions:
logisitical meeting information: Meet outside the Shore Theatre at Sillwell and Surf Aves, Coney Island
program status: available
Bway is right, guys.
If you can’t stay on-topic and be friendly with each other, we may be forced to take action. So please keep things civil, ok?
Man, something needs to be done, from the looks of the exterior the theatre looks fine but the interior is completely the opposite. I hope this gem is going to be fixed soon before its deemed unsafe like the thunderbolt rollercoaster which was torn down.
Jeez, everyone needs to stop nitpicking and attacking eachother. This is going on on both sides. Take it to email if you have a problem with another poster, it’s getting tiring reading everyone’s laundry here.
(This is not directed at any particular poster, just everyone that’s constantly nitpicking eachother).
Repeats are your new forte' aren’t they fella. Do you have permission to alter these photos? Perhaps the photos are copyrighted or someone’s intellectual property and should not be tampered with.