Loew's Paradise Theatre

ridethectrain on September 16, 2023 at 10:15 pm

Please update, when the theatre closed as a quad, total seats 2778 Theatre 1 810, Theatre 2 845, Theatre 3 574 and Theatre4 549. Source NYC DOB records

Joseph on February 7, 2021 at 10:56 am

Drove by the Bronx Paradise recently and noticed the building covered in scaffolding. Does anyone know what’s being done? Also noticed large signage offering office space.

Mike (saps) on July 11, 2017 at 2:03 pm

This is now the World Changers Church, where the funeral of the assassinated police officer Miosotis Familia is being held. Link to NY Daily News article about sprucing up the venue in preparation for the funeral.

Text: Headline: NYPD employees add fresh coat of paint to church in preparation of slain cop’s funeral

Article: NYPD employees touched up the exterior of a Bronx church Sunday in preparation for the wake and funeral for Officer Miosotis Familia.

The civilian workers in the NYPD’s Building Maintenance Section added a fresh coat of gold paint to decorations outside the World Changers Church on the Grand Concourse — a small show of appreciation for the mother of three killed last week in the line of duty.

The employees said they were honored to contribute to Familia’s wake, which will be held Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Her funeral will follow on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

“It’s just so sad,” said paint shop supervisor Robert Cherrick, 46. “She was just doing her job.”

Parishioners also said they were eager to help however they could at the church — which was once the majestic Loew’s Paradise Theater. It has a capacity of around 4,000.

Officials anticipate over 20,000 will attend the funeral.

A mentally ill cop-hating assassin shot Familia, 48, as she sat inside an NYPD mobile command unit at Creston Ave. and E. 183rd St. around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. The 34-year-old killer was shot to death by police a block from the murder scene in Fordham Heights.

stevenj on April 20, 2017 at 4:40 pm

Named after the founder Marcus Loew (pronounced low). So “Lows”. Or NYers of a certain age might say, Low-eze.

Ed Baxter on March 28, 2017 at 11:30 pm

My father worked in the Bronx and in 1977 he would bring my brother and to see the original Star Wars there on Wednesday’s when our Catholic grammar school would let out early to allow for religious instruction for public school students. I was only seven years old, but I remember the theater being huge and beautiful.

Gabi Gonzalez on March 27, 2017 at 10:22 am

Hello fellow movie theater lovers,

I’m doing a project for my photojournalism class at NYU about closed down independent movie theaters in New York. I hope to gain information about people’s past experiences at these movie theaters, recollections of favorite memories or not so great experiences, perhaps economical insight, contacts with owners/managers, etc. On a larger level, I hope my project is able to show the significance of the role that these establishments play in our city and the importance of keeping them afloat.

If anyone would be willing to answer a few questions via email about your personal memories at the theater, please let me know! It could be as simple as recounting a favorite movie you remember seeing back when it was open. I would greatly appreciate your insight.

You can contact me at:

Thanks,
Gabi

stang119 on January 1, 2016 at 6:31 am

I was in the area yesterday and I was graciously allowed to go in. All my youth memories came back. What a beautiful restoration. And with lights on you can see all the glory of this beautiful house. No more stars but nonetheless everything else was perfect. I asked if I could take pictures but there was a small service going on but they said maybe another time.

theatrefan on June 2, 2015 at 3:46 pm

This Loew’s Wonder Theatre seemed to last the longest as an actual regular movie theatre finally being closed by Loews (Sony at the time) in January of 1994. I’m sure being a quad at the time helped extend it’s run.

theatrefan on February 12, 2015 at 9:56 am

Auditorium #7 in the Sony/Loews Theatres Lincoln Square complex on New York’s Upper West Side is named in honor of this former Loew’s Motion Picture Palace.

stang119 on February 12, 2015 at 6:37 am

As per my older posts, I grew up at the Paradise. But only went a few times after the initial twinning but only once after the quadding (I almost cried). A new projection booth was built in the rear of the orchestra for the downstairs screens. Obviously some back rows were lost but worse the projection angle made viewing headache inducing.

DaveM on February 11, 2015 at 9:23 pm

theatrefan — I had the same question as to where the theater 1 booth was. I doubt it was on the orchestra floor. It might have been at the front of the balcony, or the old booth projecting over or maybe even between 2 and 3, if there was a space between the theaters. I just don’t remember.

movieguy — I didn’t find the church people unfriendly at all — maybe just a little surprised anyone wanted to see the building. I would have liked to have seen the balcony, but I’m sure they had their reasons for keeping it off limits, like insurance. Any reluctance I had to wander the orchestra was out of respect for people there for church, not because I was stopped by anyone. I wouldn’t say the theater is “unused”. The church is using the space, which means keeping it heated and keeping the roof intact. Because of this, the theater will survive. We wouldn’t have the 175th Street if it weren’t for the late Rev. Ike.

theatrefan on February 11, 2015 at 8:52 am

DaveM & Markp, If the balcony was walled off at that point, I wonder how they projected the films on the orchestra screen. Did they have to add another projection room downstairs like the Jersey did? When they finally created a quad, they must have split the lower level into two, I wonder if it was only the section of seats directly underneath the balcony section like had been done at the Jersey. Multiplexing these two Wonder theatres did help them survive a bit longer than the other three, which never had been cut up. I believe the Paradise was closed by Loews in January of 1994, a few months before they changed the name to Sony Theatres.