I recently saw Memoirs of a Movie Palace. Amazing film about the Kings. Watching it, you want to cry. Even more so, when thinking about the state the theater must be in today. If you get a chance, see this film. It’s at Donnell library in New York City.
No, I’m with the guy who is complaining about the projection. I mean, the movie selection is great, but have you tried seeing a movie in the “attic”? Forget about sitting in the last row. You’ll strain your neck trying to watch.
one of my favorite cinemas in all of manhattan. yes, it’s cramped. yes, the promo running before the show has not been changed in 12 years. but that’s all part of the retro charm. very well-maintained. offers the best of the old (check out the 70s architecture on the sign itself) and the new (Starbucks coffee in concessions). absolutely essential, so it will probably close soon because every good theater worth anything closes in the city eventually.
Some tricksters/PR people for a new restaurant rearranged the letters on the marquee to read “revel in fish in non glaring semen from Havana.” Passed it by a few days ago; made me want to cry, and reminded me of the last days of the old Times Square, when titles of movies were rearranged into “poetry.”
Click here http://www.hungovergourmet.com/food/deuce/ for a tiny picture of the “New” Bryant and an interesting article about the culinary options available near it. Not for those with weak stomachs.
There really are no porn theaters left in Manhattan. Just adult DVD stores/video booths where people “play.” (Most of those are not for couples, just for gay men.) In Brooklyn, there’s cinema kings highway. I don’t know how safe it is. Other commenters say the clientele is kind of creepy. In queens, there’s this one, and one more in queens, I believe, whose name escapes me. Oh, there’s the cameo in NJ and one other one I can’t think of in NJ. Shirley and Mark, you’re probably better off going to a party where you can be watched. There’s a lot of those in the city.
I saw the Russian film article too. That was a smart move, because that’s the only way to keep Kent up and running. However, have to wonder why the Oceana (Brighton Beach theater) or cinema kings highway were not converted for such use. Both areas have higher percentages of Russians than Coney Island Avenue.
when a retail space takes over a theater, there’s usually no way to tell the place was ever a theater. Not so with the Walker. You can just tell from the marquee and lobby-like interior that it was a beautiful movie palace. It’s retained much of its original architecture. Maybe someone will bring a theater back here someday.
I just saw a film at Sutton recently, and had the good luck to be in the better downstairs original theater. It was quite beautiful. Yes, they were only selling tickets inside still. I didn’t notice the hacked facade that much. I hope they keep this place open. It is one of the last of a dying breed.
There was ALWAYS a problem with the AC here, but it was charming nonetheless. Upstairs there was a concession stand that must have been used at one time, but was no longer used by the time I was there seeing films. RKO Kingsway was scary as security was not tight, particularly by the bathroon. Nice murals on the side, lovely balcony entrance (for show; not for use). A real loss to the neighborhood.
No there aren’t many theaters in the same booking zone, particularly following the closings of the Marboro and Kingsway. All we have is the mammoth UA Sheepshead Bay now and Kings Plaza theaters.
The last film I remember seeing here was “The Firm” with tom cruise, so I assumed it closed in the early 90s. It had walls that were orange with shadowed pictures of movie stars, as I recall. Rarely modernized, always looked like it was stuck in the 60s 70s. Nice marquee out front, now used to advertise shops in the shopping center.
I recently saw Memoirs of a Movie Palace. Amazing film about the Kings. Watching it, you want to cry. Even more so, when thinking about the state the theater must be in today. If you get a chance, see this film. It’s at Donnell library in New York City.
If anyone has taped this, please contact me.
No, I’m with the guy who is complaining about the projection. I mean, the movie selection is great, but have you tried seeing a movie in the “attic”? Forget about sitting in the last row. You’ll strain your neck trying to watch.
for cinema kings highway: the b or q to kings highway, then the 82 bus.
one of my favorite cinemas in all of manhattan. yes, it’s cramped. yes, the promo running before the show has not been changed in 12 years. but that’s all part of the retro charm. very well-maintained. offers the best of the old (check out the 70s architecture on the sign itself) and the new (Starbucks coffee in concessions). absolutely essential, so it will probably close soon because every good theater worth anything closes in the city eventually.
Some tricksters/PR people for a new restaurant rearranged the letters on the marquee to read “revel in fish in non glaring semen from Havana.” Passed it by a few days ago; made me want to cry, and reminded me of the last days of the old Times Square, when titles of movies were rearranged into “poetry.”
View link
http://www.picpatrol.com/category.php?category=18
Now the word is the store will be an American Apparel. Wonderful.
View link
They may turn it into a supermarket, according to a story in this week’s Bay News.
Click here http://www.hungovergourmet.com/food/deuce/ for a tiny picture of the “New” Bryant and an interesting article about the culinary options available near it. Not for those with weak stomachs.
oh, you just made me flash back. I saw one movie here before they closed in early 80s. very, very tiny theater.
There really are no porn theaters left in Manhattan. Just adult DVD stores/video booths where people “play.” (Most of those are not for couples, just for gay men.) In Brooklyn, there’s cinema kings highway. I don’t know how safe it is. Other commenters say the clientele is kind of creepy. In queens, there’s this one, and one more in queens, I believe, whose name escapes me. Oh, there’s the cameo in NJ and one other one I can’t think of in NJ. Shirley and Mark, you’re probably better off going to a party where you can be watched. There’s a lot of those in the city.
You know that scene in Gilmore Girls where that guy has a movie theater in his living room? That’s the size of the Kent.
I saw the Russian film article too. That was a smart move, because that’s the only way to keep Kent up and running. However, have to wonder why the Oceana (Brighton Beach theater) or cinema kings highway were not converted for such use. Both areas have higher percentages of Russians than Coney Island Avenue.
Interesting article about revival plans for Kings. View link
by the by, does anyone know when this closed. I seem to remember the changeover happening in the late 80s or early 90s
when a retail space takes over a theater, there’s usually no way to tell the place was ever a theater. Not so with the Walker. You can just tell from the marquee and lobby-like interior that it was a beautiful movie palace. It’s retained much of its original architecture. Maybe someone will bring a theater back here someday.
yes, the kent was used in purpple rose…I remember my uncle telling me about it at the time…
is this still up, or has it been torn down?
According to Sleazoid Express, a great book on old Times Square theaters, this cinema (ha-ha) showed a lot of gender-bender stuff, like Ed Wood, etc.
I just saw a film at Sutton recently, and had the good luck to be in the better downstairs original theater. It was quite beautiful. Yes, they were only selling tickets inside still. I didn’t notice the hacked facade that much. I hope they keep this place open. It is one of the last of a dying breed.
yeah it was. dark, forboding, sometimes dangerous.
go to cinemawarsaw.com for more info
yes, moma is using this as a temporary theater until they moved back from lic
There was ALWAYS a problem with the AC here, but it was charming nonetheless. Upstairs there was a concession stand that must have been used at one time, but was no longer used by the time I was there seeing films. RKO Kingsway was scary as security was not tight, particularly by the bathroon. Nice murals on the side, lovely balcony entrance (for show; not for use). A real loss to the neighborhood.
No there aren’t many theaters in the same booking zone, particularly following the closings of the Marboro and Kingsway. All we have is the mammoth UA Sheepshead Bay now and Kings Plaza theaters.
The last film I remember seeing here was “The Firm” with tom cruise, so I assumed it closed in the early 90s. It had walls that were orange with shadowed pictures of movie stars, as I recall. Rarely modernized, always looked like it was stuck in the 60s 70s. Nice marquee out front, now used to advertise shops in the shopping center.