Cinema Kings Highway
711 Kings Highway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11223
711 Kings Highway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11223
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 177 comments
Very cool description, McGinty. And I think it does quite well without those hideous statue-things and dreadful light fixtures in the front lobby of the Fair—which make you think you’ve just finally entered the World of SLAG!
Hey McGinty… If you can compare the three screening rooms you saw at the Kings Highway to the vintage photos of the original auditorium that Warren posted back on November 3rd, 2007, can you describe if any of the original interior remains in any of the rooms? Someone else had posted that the twin sets of stairs leading up to the original loge section were still in use… Just curious what the layout is in relation to the original space. Thanks.
The webpage for the Fair has been closed to new comments by CT administration. I guess a flame war erupted there – or perhaps the first hand accounting of some of the activity going on at the theatre became a bit too, um, colorful for CT management to condone?!? Whatever the case, the offending comments seem to have been removed.
Today I happened to find myself travelling on the Belt Pkwy, so I visited the Cinema Kings Hwy for the first time.
As I paid my $10 admission, I instantly liked the anonymity of the unadorned marquee outside, and appreciated the fact that something like this theater could enjoy a low-key existence in a residental neighborhood in 2008. There were 2 older guys drinking coffee & sitting on barstools in the lobby, as I noticed this place was already cleaner and less ominous & forbidding looking than the Fair.
In the lobby, there are 3 doors leading to different screens….I chose Door #1 first. I walked up a few steps to a brightly lit screening room with a decent sized screen & maybe about 150 or seats. There was no one there except for 2 gentlemen reading newspapers, patiently staring at a DVD screensaver for Timecop, a Jean-Claude Van Damme epic. Door # 2 led me to a dark screening room with a small screen showing an explicit gay porn film, and about 30 or so seats with about 5 occupants, just bored older gentleman. Door #3 led me to an explicit straight porn film, and also to 40 or so video booths in the back, and the usual assortment of older men walking around aimlessly.
All in all, this theater possesses a certain mellow charm. It seems like back when it was a mainstream theater, it must have been enormous. Although similar to the Fair in what they’re exhibiting, the clientele & down to the the eclectic mix of 80s & 90s movie posters in the lobby, it’s nicer, doesn’t have the cigarette smoke, has less of a security presence, & I’d generally recommend it to people seeking that type of experience. I may even go back some time….
I’ve been told that the Fair is now closed altogether. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
I doubt it, but call them before you go next time to be sure. Half the time their info is not accurate—about anything. Saw this on another site, but the Fair site doesn’t say anything. They probably don’t know themselves.
anyone know what’s happening at the Fair theatre in Queens? Went there two days ago and was told the back section with the booths was “closed for renovations” until this Tuesday. A customer outside the theatre told me the inspectors were there on Monday and did not look happy. Could this be a death knell?
xxx—one thing about this place is that it’s a very safe neighborhood, much better than the Elmhurst neighborhood of the Fair. You could go anytime, and there are far fewer actual obnoxious types here than at the Fair. On the other hand, the Fair has got a following because they have done more promotion. But the slightly further distance is negligible to me, because I don’t have to change from a train to a bus. Also, the regular screens are better quality and the big screen doesn’t show all that infernal Bollywood.
You just get off at Kings Highway and stay on it till you get there—and be sure to turn when Kings Highway does or you’ll get off the route. This is definitely a nicer place than the Fair, with MUCH bigger viewing booths. Costs $12.
Very interesting post…I’ll have to make a field trip over to Cinema Kings Hwy sometime.
This is not free in the sense of Los Angeles theaters, where I was over the holidays. There’s a theater in West Hollywood (you can find it on squirt.com) that has exactly the same scene as the old Adonis and the other wide-open theaters in New York used to have; and Giuliani’s project was just p.r., anyway, the little DVD places have relaxed since Bloomberg doesn’t do things in such a histrionic way, although those little places are not for me. Anyway, this WeHo theater was like paradise for me after not seeing anything at all like it in NYC for maybe 12 years. Still, I like Cinema Kings Highway very much, it’s extremely well-run and they need to get a website and do some promotion.
do you know who owns the place???
i hear he has another theatre in brooklyn?? the indian/pakistani staff was hilarious….
*Creative
i just want to add, i feel this place wouild have potential. and if a little money was put into t with a cretive artistic director and someone with passion i think it could be a great addtion to an otherwise dry area…
im just a dude who hates going to manhattan everytime i want to catch a decent flick!
i went in for the first time tonight becasue i wished there was a art house cinema in my hood.
reading the history and stories of Jewel’s past made me wish the owner felt the same way!
the description of the current theatre is up to date. i saw 20 minutes of a terrible japanese voiceover mutant fish film upstairs and went into some of the straight porno screens and quicky made an exit after i saw some dude wacking off. not my business but not my taste…
anyway, do you guys think this place is going to ever play 100 percent nonporn??
and it is truly nice to have a historic theatre in the area but cant even go to unless alone and up for some old man stares….
Cinema Kings Highway is excellent, I prefer it to the Fair by a long shot, except it takes longer to get to. Very clean, the management very courteous—I was very surprised, as I thought it would be dingy and slummy. It’s terrific.
Those two staircases are still there and in use.
Thanks, Warren. Interesting balcony configuration in that one enters via stairs that are open to the auditorium and lead up to the first row. From the first shot I wasn’t entirely sure that it was a separate balcony as opposed to raised loge – even though it seemed far too high for that. I know that much older theatres often had balcony stairs at the very back of the auditorium, but I’ve never seen it designed quite this way before.
Being in the area, I am a frequent visitor.
Other than transportation info which was already posted,
here is some additional info:
Hours: 10am til midnight (2am Fri/Sat nights)
Admission: $12
Although this adult movie theater was renovated a few years ago,
it is still fairly clean by porn theater standards.
There are 3 rooms of movies, You’ll be interested in the porn
theater #2. There’s a couple of movie screens in the front
(left side gay, right side straight) with many video booths in the
back. (left 2 rows gay, right 2 rows straight) These
booths do not require money being pumped into them, but
rather plays movies continuously. They are also big
enough for 2 (3?) people. Of course nothing happens out
in the open, but anyone wishing to ‘relieve’ themselves or
wish to ‘hook-up’ takes their thing back to the booths.
There are ‘monitors’ who make sure nothing happens out
in the open and are generally cool, it seems the only rule they enforce is that if you are in the booth, you must close & lock the door.
There are lockers on the premesis, 75 cents.
Update: The porn screens in theater #2 have upgraded from
playing tapes (VHS) to DVD’s so the porn has improved some.
If you have any questions, please ask away, I probably
will be able to answer them.
I forgot to mention that this is a safe neighborhood so if you decide to drive, there is no need to worry about your car getting jacked!
I grew up in Gravesend, 4 blocks from this theater. I has always amazed me that this theater has remained opened despite the public school up the block (PS 238 on E 8th St bet. Quentin Rd & Ave P). The outside of the theater has always been in need of a makeover. I have never been inside but I am surprised this theater remains open in a time when UA/ Regal Sheepshead Bay dominates in this part of Brooklyn. However, this is an “adult entertainment” theater. This theater must have lots of loyal regulars attending. An upside, if any, to having this XXX theater in the neighborhood is that it seems well maintained and does not advertise its “XXX” theme. Although it is not my thing, this is a good theater if you do not mind whacking off in a semi-public place. Hell, it may be what some people are looking for. Some posts have asked for directions:
DIRECTIONS TO THEATER:
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: -B/Q train to Kings Highway. Xfer to WESTBOUND B82 bus to East 8th Street -OR- walk WEST 8 blocks to East 7th Street. ( It’s not a far walk).
-F train to Kings Highway. Xfer to an EASTBOUND B82 bus to East 7th Street -OR- walk EAST 6 blocks to East 7th Street. (Again, it’s not a far walk).
DRIVING: FROM BELT PARKWAY: Belt Parkway to Exit 7B Ocean Parkway- North. Ocean Parkway to Kings Highway (about 1 mile). Right on Kings Highway for 1 block to E 7th St. Theater is on drivers side (can’t miss it!).
FROM MANHATTAN: West Side Expressway or FDR Drive to Brooklyn Bridge or Brooklyn- Battery Tunnel. Once in Brooklyn, merge onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Take BQE to Prospect Expressway (Exit 24). Take Prospect Expressway to the end where it becomes Ocean Parkway. From Ocean Pkwy, drive South to Kings Highway (about 2.5 miles). Left on Kings Highway for 1 block. Theater is on the drivers side.(can’t miss it!).
Since everyone seems to be waxing nostalgic lately about grindhouses and porn theaters…a brief yet hilarious feature article regarding this topic and this cinema, “House of Whacksâ€, just appeared in Time Out New York (issue 600) online â€" read it here: View link
If the Fair in Queens ends up going entirely “Bollywoodâ€, this place will indeed hold the dubious distinction of being the last remaining adult movie house within New York City limits.
I haven’t been there either, and I have decided to go out and take a look too, probably this week.
At first I was kidding around about the prospect of checking out the Cinema Kings Hwy, but since it’s the last remaining genuine porn theater in NYC, I have to admit I’m a little intrigued.
I just got through to them, you can use the F, Q or B, get off at Kings Highway and walk to 711 Kings Hwy., where the show is.
why not just put the directions on the board for subway to Manhattan? I’d like to know too, and couldn’t get through to them by phone. Can probably figure it out from a subway map though.
Mark700…This neighborhood{wich is predominately Syrian Jewish and Russian is a safe neighborhood. I would not worry about my car over here.