Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
1027 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
86 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,401 - 1,425 of 1,564 comments
Hello Bruce! I’m so glad to hear Dorothy is still alive! Is there some way I can confidentially get my contact info to you? That way you can give it to her, and she can be in control as to whether she wants to contact me or not. I would be amazed if she still remembered me, but I would love the chance to tell her hello.
Bob Vila hasn’t been associated with ‘This Old House’ for several years. He has his own show now called ‘Home Again’ which is mostly sponsored by Sear’s, with a heavy emphasis on using Craftsman tools on many of the projects, in addition to the commercials. Nevertheless, the idea of Vila and Sears, with the possibility of Sear’s lending it’s name to the project, could be a good one.
Dear Warren.
You’re idea about Streisand doing an outdoor concert in a nearby parking lot—has merit! It so happens that there is a 750 car parking lot, right behind the Loew’s Kings and it is adjacent to Sear’s lot. The Borough President could easily arrange for the stage, sound system and lighting.
If I could only think of who has the long term lease on that parking lot? Oh yeah! It’s Bruce Ratner, developer of the Nets Arena Complex at Flatbush & Atlantic. Maybe we could start a massive letter writing campaign to Mr. Ratner? After all, he bought the Jersey NETS, maybe he’d buy one night with Barbra?
Sear’s Flatbush is behind the Loew’s Kings. As you all know, Sears has been taken over by KMART money. Remember the old Bob Vila commercials? Why not suggest to Sears that they rebuilt this OLD HOUSE?? Then it could become the Sear’s Center for the Performing Arts. Couldn’t Sears —– donate paint, Craftsmen Tools, whatever? They’ve been there since 1934, isn’t it about time they gave something back to the community?
Dear Ziggy,
Dorothy is alive and well, but out of courtesy, I will ask permission before giving out her #.
Bruce
Bruce1, am I to understand that Dorothy Panzica is still alive!? Can you tell me how to contact her? My parents, my great aunt, and I visited the Kings in the early 70’s just because I wanted to see the building. Dorothy caught me prowling around and gave me a personal top to bottom tour. I thought she was a terrific lady. I would love to write to her and tell her I’ve never forgotten her. Please tell me where she is and how she’s doing!
Dear Movie Palace:
I have featured the Loew’s Kings, the Loew’s Paradise, the Loew’s Pitkin, the RKO Bushwick and other vaudeville/movie palaces, complete with interior footage on various episodes of my show, but as far as when or which will be repeated, such decisions must still be made.
‘That’s Brooklyn’ can be seen on the following schedule:
BROOKLYN
Tues. 11 AM & 7 PM, Time Warner Ch. 56/Cablevision Ch.69
INTERNET REAL TIME: www.bcat.tv/bcat – See Channel 3
QUEENS
12:30 PM – Time Warner Ch. 34 and 9:30 PM – Ch. 35
MANHATTAN
07:00 PM – Time Warner Ch. 56 AND RCN Ch. 108
INTERNET REAL TIME: www.mnn.org
Every week, a different episode airs in each borough!
As far as the docomentary, ‘Memoirs Of A Movie Palace’ — if you can find it, this tape is worth watching. It features Harold Rambusch who did the decorative design for the Loew’s Kings, Brooklyn Paramount, The Roxy and some work on the Music Hall. The program also features Dorothy Solomon Panzica, manager of Loew’s Kings 1961-75, a board member of ‘Save The Kings’ and a personal friend!
As far as Neil Diamond and Miss Babs, we don’t expect their money, but their moral support and star power could help to bring the right attention to saving this cathedral of the ornate. Barbara has talked ‘glowingly’ about her days as a King’s usherette, but has not responded to my letter— which was hand delivered by her agent.
A special page has been added to the New York Nostalgia Buff Website. It is about the Kings. the url address is http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/awaseniu/loews.htm and any suggestions can be written here.
Vincent, Neil Diamond is from Brooklyn.
Divinity, my store is called Movie Place. We are located at 237 W 105th Street just off of Broadway in Manhattan. The photo exhibit will go up probably right after the New Year. I am still waiting for pictures of Loew’s 83rd, The New Yorker and the Olympia. I have picures of the Riverside, Riviera, Schyler, Arden (the exterior was an art deco masterpiece)The Nemo and the Carlton which was on Broadway between 99th & 100th streets. It is now ironically occupied by the Griestedes (I forgot how to spell that particular form of hell) that was rumored to be eventually occupying the Metro Twin across Broadway. In addition I do have 2 slides of the interiors of the Riverside and Riviera, which are from very early in their existence. I have slides that were taken by Michael Miller much later. I am thinking about enlarging the older black & white slides. I just want to show people what we once had on the upper westside, what we have lost. Of course I would plug Cinema Treasures as well as the T.H.S.O.A. within the exhibit.
Movie Place,
What is your store called? And where is it located?
Now that Barbra has another concert tour planned for the summer maybe she should kick it off at the Kings. And if it’s with Neil Daimond isn’t he from NY as well? Now I know this can only happen in our dreams(these people insist that the logistics of these things be overwhelming and arcane) but it sure is a hell of an idea.
Dear Bruce 1,
what cable system and what channel does your show appear on? I would love to see your shows about the Kings. I have RCN in Manhattan, so if your show is on anything related to Time Warner I won’t get it. I have been trying to get a copy of the documentary about the Kings Memoirs of a Movie Palace. Ziggy said there was one for sale on ebay but I could not find it. I own a video store in Manhattan and I would transfer the VHS of this film to DVD and loan it out free to my customers. I would also make it available to T.H.S.O.A. members as well as Cinema treasures.org members. I saw this film years ago and have been trying to get it for now 20 years.
I will be doing a photo exhibit in my store called “movie theatres of the Upper Westside” very soon. I have some great and not so great pictures from the municipal archives of theatres long and not so long gone. But all missed.
Thank you,
Movie Place NYC
(LOL)!Of Course we will Alan. :)
Would you all please forget I put my name there
Bruce 1;
Have you had any volunteers from any Long Island Colleges yet?
Sincerely
Alan G. Wasenius
My graduation from Lafayette High School in 1966 was held at the Loew’s Kings which never made much sense to me being that Lafayette is in Bensonhurst. But for some reason, many high schools in Brooklyn had their graduation there. Interesting though, my wife’s graduation in 1968 from Erasmus Hall High School, which is right down the street, was not held there, but rather on the school campus.
The Loew’s Kings has been closed since 1979 and at the present time, the NYC Economic Development Corporation will allow no visitors. They will issue an RFP (Request For Proposal) very shortly. Most recently, they authorized an asbestos-lead abatement study and were most happy to learn that this was not a problem!
As far as working electric, there’s enough for illumination but it could hardly be described as complete. The building has not been heated for years and it is colder inside than outside!! So it doesn’t matter what time of year, it’s still cold inside!
I do a weekly Cable TV show and have done several episodes about and inside the Loew’s Kings. Along with interior footage, I have interviewed restoration specialists, theatrical producers, etc. I am very glad that my enthusiasm is shared by so many of you and hope that our collective effort will eventually get this place restored and reopened as a Center for the performing arts.
As far as the Loew’s Paradise, I have taken an extensive tour and found the theater ready for use and that was a year ago! Unfortunately, the operator spent all that money and then lost his lease. Since then, really nothing has progressed.
How wonderful that you have wings to fly us around Warren.
However I think that it is more interesting to travel as worldly and sophicisticated pedestrians rather than being crampped up in a tourbus like a bunch of gawking tourists. There may be wonderful suprises that will come up as we wander through the city.
Who will provide our transportation?
Saps,
I am sure that there are taxis near the subway and public busses as you mentioned. It seems ideal.
Exactly how many blocks is the theatre from the subway?
For the record, Cinema Treasures harbors no “ill will” towards the Theatre Historical Society of America whatsoever and heartily suggests any researcher, historian, or enthusiast contact them for any projects, etc.
By the way, another tremendous resource is the B'hend and Kaufmann collection at the Margaret Herrick Library (part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences) in Beverly Hills.
I know that the Theatre Historical Soc. has a number of photos from opening day as well as later years; you would do well to ask them via their E-mail of the Ex. Director given on the bottom of their front page at: www.HistoricTheatres.org (DO NOT mention Cinema Treasures since there is some ill will at present, it appears. Don’t ask me why or how; I only perceive this and could be wrong.)
I was from Brooklyn and I think this place is in the middle of nowhere, unless you are taking the bus or driving. The nearest subway lines are several blocks awaw, either on East 16th Street or on Nostrand Avenue; no subway line runs along that part of Flatbush Avenue. So unless you’re really devoted it could be a chore to get there.
The Unofficial New York Nostalgia Buff Webpage may be placing a page on the site where people can help the Kings reopen. The address of the site is http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/awaseniu The site is already online. The author, Alan G. Wasenius, first has to check to see if he has enough webspace. He is not a Computer Major at SUNY Stony Brook, but a Theater Major. He will be checking with the head of the organization trying to ensure accuracy. He would appreciate it if any of you can tell him where there are any public domain/ fair use photographs of the Kings in its 1960s prime.
Warren
Does the Kings still have electric service? I was only in the theatre one time to see “The Way We Were” and would love to see it again.
I’m sure the nice folks at Loew’s Jersey would welcome a volunteer crew with open arms! Just bring some work clothes, and they’ll let you visit any area of the theater. They’re very receptive to anybody that wants to do volunteer work for them.
The owners of the paradise will not allow official tours until construction is complete. It is still a hard hat area. From what I saw last month, the interior should take no more than six to eight months for it to be safe.
I would love to tour the kings (Great idea Vincent!).
Perhaps we can wait until construction is done with at the paradise so that we can tour all five wonder theatres. We can schedule it on a weekend that Loews Jersey is presenting a film so that we can enjoy a film in an operating movie palace after the tour. If we arrive early we can get a tour of the Stanley Theatre across the street.
I dont think that we will need a bus since all theatres are accessible by mass transit.