Hello;
I can not make the meeting, so I am suggesting that others attend. According to an E-Mail I received the theater is under the threat of demolition.
A theater can find other uses after it closed. Many of them became houses of worship. Others became performing arts centers. In other words, the Trylon, and other theaters should not be let alone to die.
I am too young to remember being on it. Steeplechase closed when I was only three. However, I think Markowitz wants it running again as part of the revitalization of Coney Island. I just hope he gets the Kings open, and restores Coney Island back to its former glory. I may be living just on the other side of the Verrazano Bridge soon, and I am a former Brooklynite (which I am proud to say).
Passed by the Lane earlier this month. The tower may no longer be rising above New Dorp, but the facade still hasn’t lost its 1940s art deco splendor. Too bad I never saw the inside.
I think the last movie I saw there when it was a single screen was either CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, or SUPERMAN. I liked the woodwork on the sides and the stained glass exit signs.
You are all talking about the Patchogue Theater, but not about the Plaza. The Plaza may be worth it. Many people still, myself included, still think the Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn, /theaters/1360 ,is worth saving, and that has been closed since 1979. You may also want to do a keyword search on this site for the Loew’s Jersey, which was restored. Maybe the Patchogue Plaza can be saved as a movie house for fifties revival film festivals, or a performing arts center. I would like to see the blue curtains and lights shine again. They want to move me into Staten Island, but I would certainly come to see that.
By the way, I have yet to see Keyspan Park from the inside. I hope some day they will start the parachute jump again. Imagine catching a ball in that thing!
Snowshoe;
I think the Paradise in the Bronx, and the Kings were designed by the same architects, Rapp and Rapp, so they share a history other than the Loew’s Name. That is probably why it reminded you of the Paradise. Like the Paradise, it’s a Loew’s Wonder Theater. It’s also the toast of Flatbush and Tilden Avenues.
Theaterat;
I know about the Cyclones, and I really added that to get a chuckle. I went to a Cyclones Game when they played the Yankees of Staten Island. I hope your stadium is as much fun to be in as the one by the ferry.
R.H.
Give it a try. I think it should be turned into a performing arts center.
I took my video camera to Flatbush, and it does seem to be a Phoenix from the ashes. There are new stores there along side the Sears that has been there seemingly forever. These are stores you see in a shopping mall. It was great to see it rising. However, the bird still needs to brush off some of the ashes. Some of the smaller, ‘junkier’ shops were still there, and if they clean their act it will be phenomenal. I see a good future that Flatbush can be proud of.
I may not remember this group of bums (too young), or the stadium they played in, but there is another thing Brooklyn would need to do to be great. Rebuild the Field of Ebbet’s and bring back the Dodgers.
Come to New York, Luis, if you like old movie houses there are plenty, and some of the best like Radio City Music Hall. You are right, though, it’s sad to see great old buildings go.
lostmemories;
The in car speaker was not invented until the 1940s. Chances are they either had speakers next to the cars, or, as you mentioned before, two speakers by the screen. A little drive in trivia;
THE IN CAR DRIVE IN SPEAKER WAS INVENTED FOR TWO REASONS, SOUND SYNCHRONIZATION AND NOISE POLLUTION. WHEN THEY HAD TWO SPEAKERS BY THE SCREEN THEY PLAYED SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING DRIVE INS COMPLAINED OF THE NOISE. LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THEN SOUND. THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS ASKED “IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST IS THERE A SOUND?” IF YOU WERE IN THE FRONT OF THE DRIVE IN THE THUMP WOULD COME AS THE TRUNK FELL, BUT IN THE BACK YOU WOULD HEAR THE THUMP LATER THEN SEEING THE TRUNK HIT THE GROUND. IN CAR SPEAKERS WERE DESIGNED TO MAKE SOUND TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
I FIGURED THAT LITTLE PIECE OF TRIVIA COULD BE FOR EVERYONE.
However, I should add that I agree with rlvjr on one thing. The city is now back to being a tourist mecca. (Yes, even after that fateful and depressing day in September, 2001) It was in the doldrums for a while. They should rebuild and restore theaters. New York is known for arts and artistry. The Loew’s Wonder Theaters could be real cathedrals of the performing arts. In the 1970s, New York was known for things like “ladies of the evening”, and other forms of vice. Today it’s known for arts, and family attractions. Restore some theaters for family attractions like concerts, plays, and movies.
No, no, no;
I would say that it was the drop in attendance, and a threatened tax on movies. When the Kings closed the VCR, had just hit the home, and HBO started on television. People did not want to go to the local theater because in a few months the movie would be on television, or on tape. People also did not go to theaters out here on Long Island because of the technology. Also, the mayor wanted a tax on all theaters. I remember riding through Queens about that time and seeing one theater marquis with perhaps the words “Don’t Support the Movie Tax”. It was not bad press about New York City, it was a drop in attendance that was caused by technology, and the threatened city tax.
I just read the description above. That is incorrect. The Loew’s State was twinned in the late 60s. The first two features were Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Oliver.
I think I saw Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison, and Around the World in 80 Days with David Niven at this theater.
Maybe I should say that I plan to call him in the next few weeks. We should be visiting Staten Island soon, which is closed to the Kings then my town of Holtsville, Long Island.
I am also planning on speaking with the Loew’s Jersey, a restored thater in Jersey City. I want to tape inside the building for the documentary so I can show what a restored theater looks like. That should fire the imagination.
Hello;
I can not make the meeting, so I am suggesting that others attend. According to an E-Mail I received the theater is under the threat of demolition.
A theater can find other uses after it closed. Many of them became houses of worship. Others became performing arts centers. In other words, the Trylon, and other theaters should not be let alone to die.
Right, Mr Noble. Then again, so could the Loew’s Jersey. That’s another one of the Loew’s Wonders.
I am too young to remember being on it. Steeplechase closed when I was only three. However, I think Markowitz wants it running again as part of the revitalization of Coney Island. I just hope he gets the Kings open, and restores Coney Island back to its former glory. I may be living just on the other side of the Verrazano Bridge soon, and I am a former Brooklynite (which I am proud to say).
Passed by the Lane earlier this month. The tower may no longer be rising above New Dorp, but the facade still hasn’t lost its 1940s art deco splendor. Too bad I never saw the inside.
I think the last movie I saw there when it was a single screen was either CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, or SUPERMAN. I liked the woodwork on the sides and the stained glass exit signs.
That’s right;
The wife said that she would not get in the lifeboat without her husband, so she died with him when the Titanic went down.
Ziggy;
I just checked this sight, and you are right! I though all Loew’s Wonder Theaters were designed by the same team, my mistake.
Does anyone on this site know that A&S stood for Abrham and Strauss, and Strauss owned part of Macy’s.
You are all talking about the Patchogue Theater, but not about the Plaza. The Plaza may be worth it. Many people still, myself included, still think the Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn, /theaters/1360 ,is worth saving, and that has been closed since 1979. You may also want to do a keyword search on this site for the Loew’s Jersey, which was restored. Maybe the Patchogue Plaza can be saved as a movie house for fifties revival film festivals, or a performing arts center. I would like to see the blue curtains and lights shine again. They want to move me into Staten Island, but I would certainly come to see that.
By the way, I have yet to see Keyspan Park from the inside. I hope some day they will start the parachute jump again. Imagine catching a ball in that thing!
Snowshoe;
I think the Paradise in the Bronx, and the Kings were designed by the same architects, Rapp and Rapp, so they share a history other than the Loew’s Name. That is probably why it reminded you of the Paradise. Like the Paradise, it’s a Loew’s Wonder Theater. It’s also the toast of Flatbush and Tilden Avenues.
Luis;
I can’t take you personally, but I know that myself and the rest of the town will be glad to see you.
Orlando;
When will they be installed at the Babylon? I live on Long Island.
I remember those souvenir booklets. I must have been to those roadshow pictures not knowing what they are.
Theaterat;
I know about the Cyclones, and I really added that to get a chuckle. I went to a Cyclones Game when they played the Yankees of Staten Island. I hope your stadium is as much fun to be in as the one by the ferry.
R.H.
Give it a try. I think it should be turned into a performing arts center.
R.H.
There is a committee formed to open the Kings. If you would like to help, you can reach them through this website
Http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/awaseniu/loews.htm
R.H.
There is a committee formed to open the Kings. If you would like to help, you can reach them through this website
Http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/awaseniu/loews.htm
I took my video camera to Flatbush, and it does seem to be a Phoenix from the ashes. There are new stores there along side the Sears that has been there seemingly forever. These are stores you see in a shopping mall. It was great to see it rising. However, the bird still needs to brush off some of the ashes. Some of the smaller, ‘junkier’ shops were still there, and if they clean their act it will be phenomenal. I see a good future that Flatbush can be proud of.
I may not remember this group of bums (too young), or the stadium they played in, but there is another thing Brooklyn would need to do to be great. Rebuild the Field of Ebbet’s and bring back the Dodgers.
What was “Roadshow”?
Come to New York, Luis, if you like old movie houses there are plenty, and some of the best like Radio City Music Hall. You are right, though, it’s sad to see great old buildings go.
lostmemories;
The in car speaker was not invented until the 1940s. Chances are they either had speakers next to the cars, or, as you mentioned before, two speakers by the screen. A little drive in trivia;
THE IN CAR DRIVE IN SPEAKER WAS INVENTED FOR TWO REASONS, SOUND SYNCHRONIZATION AND NOISE POLLUTION. WHEN THEY HAD TWO SPEAKERS BY THE SCREEN THEY PLAYED SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING DRIVE INS COMPLAINED OF THE NOISE. LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THEN SOUND. THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS ASKED “IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST IS THERE A SOUND?” IF YOU WERE IN THE FRONT OF THE DRIVE IN THE THUMP WOULD COME AS THE TRUNK FELL, BUT IN THE BACK YOU WOULD HEAR THE THUMP LATER THEN SEEING THE TRUNK HIT THE GROUND. IN CAR SPEAKERS WERE DESIGNED TO MAKE SOUND TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
I FIGURED THAT LITTLE PIECE OF TRIVIA COULD BE FOR EVERYONE.
However, I should add that I agree with rlvjr on one thing. The city is now back to being a tourist mecca. (Yes, even after that fateful and depressing day in September, 2001) It was in the doldrums for a while. They should rebuild and restore theaters. New York is known for arts and artistry. The Loew’s Wonder Theaters could be real cathedrals of the performing arts. In the 1970s, New York was known for things like “ladies of the evening”, and other forms of vice. Today it’s known for arts, and family attractions. Restore some theaters for family attractions like concerts, plays, and movies.
No, no, no;
I would say that it was the drop in attendance, and a threatened tax on movies. When the Kings closed the VCR, had just hit the home, and HBO started on television. People did not want to go to the local theater because in a few months the movie would be on television, or on tape. People also did not go to theaters out here on Long Island because of the technology. Also, the mayor wanted a tax on all theaters. I remember riding through Queens about that time and seeing one theater marquis with perhaps the words “Don’t Support the Movie Tax”. It was not bad press about New York City, it was a drop in attendance that was caused by technology, and the threatened city tax.
I just read the description above. That is incorrect. The Loew’s State was twinned in the late 60s. The first two features were Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Oliver.
I think I saw Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison, and Around the World in 80 Days with David Niven at this theater.
Maybe I should say that I plan to call him in the next few weeks. We should be visiting Staten Island soon, which is closed to the Kings then my town of Holtsville, Long Island.
I am also planning on speaking with the Loew’s Jersey, a restored thater in Jersey City. I want to tape inside the building for the documentary so I can show what a restored theater looks like. That should fire the imagination.
I planned on meeting with Bruce 1, but that has to be placed on hold for a few weeks. One of my family is in the hospital.