Loew's 46th Street Theatre
4515 New Utrecht Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11219
4515 New Utrecht Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11219
17 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 280 comments
For those complaining about no photos having been uploaded, there are 23 photos that I took of the exterior AND interior of the theater when it was a furniture store, on September 12, 2013. I didn’t get up into the balcony, but there are photos taken from the orchestra floor, as well as shots of the former lobby, which was then serving as the furniture showroom. If you haven’t looked through the entire gallery, stop complaining.
Mike (saps): Some things should be remembered for what they were and I am not upload saavy or own a computer. I have no use for it, but look at it this way… I don’t have to upload the photos of the way it looks now… no one should have to view this rape of a building again dot, dot, dot! Sorry for the delayed response. (Five months late).
I had to go to Boro Park yesterday and “Guess What?” While no one was watching the facade of this theatre was stripped of its' beautiful terra cotta arch windows, two lions' crests and roofline glazed terra cotta (in color) as well as all the brick work. Landlords always get away with anything they want instead of working it into the scheme of things. But then again this is Boro Park and that community is known for its' history or how to preserve it for they care not. Now the facade is plain grey and charcoal stripes. Horrendous and nauseating at the same time. At least in East New York they knew how to spare the four exterior walls and have some nostolgia for the former Loew’s Pitkin which leads into the shopping area. The former Loew’s 46th could have followed that example but did not. the “4515” shopping complex and apartment/condos lead the New Utrecht Avenue to the sleazy stores that line it from 45th St to 60th St. This area now looks worse than Pitkin Avenue in the 1970’s. No class in Boro Park. I will never look at or go there as long as I live. As the owner said “It’s only plaster inside”… and I’ll add “it’s only brick and mortar on the outside” Goodbye 46th Street Theatre, you will only live here at Cinema Treasures!
Photo added to gallery, Loew’s 46th Street Theater, circa 1940.
We saw some incredible live concerts at this place in the 1970’s.
Why no uploading, Orlando?
What an absolute crime that this theater, in such decent condition, was not restored to join the success of other restored palace theaters in the NYC area, shameful.
I also got pictures (over one hundred) of the reliefs behind the furniture store walls were taken out. They were in great shape as well as the interior exit doors and signs. All the exit doors were differently decorated plaster works of art. Unfortunately, there will be no book or uploading of the photos. Sorry.
This theatre was not torn down, it was gutted andthe facadestill exists. The 47th Street fire escapes have been removed and storefronts and above that apartment windows exist. I repeat the facade and original 4 wall and roof exist. The discription should be changed to Gutted and it is now the 46th Street Apartments or Condos. I’ll let you know soon.
It’s a shame this once beautiful theater has been torn down. Even though I never saw a movie in this theater I did see a number of rock concerts and they were all good concerts. MY favorite was the band Rare Earth back in 1973. At first I couldn’t believe my favorite band was playing in Brooklyn several miles away from my home. Man, those were the days I tell you.
Thanks to Will Ellis for uploading these graphic photos of the interior of Loew’s 46th Street before the wreckers moved in. Click here to view
Orlando, were that you had also lobbied for retention of the facade on the Lynbrook. The rendering of the new looks worse than the current Shore.
People in this neighborhood won’t care.
Thanks to my heroic efforts, I was able to get the NYC Dept of Buildings to come down and declare the front facade of the Universal/Loew’s 46th a landmark, therefore part of this structure is going to remain intact and be incorporated into the new building on this site. At least the facade of this magnificent palace will survive for all future generations to see.
The Universal Theatre, as it was originally known, was the first atmospheric designed by John Eberson in the Greater New York area. Two of the later ones, Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx, and Loew’s Valencia in Queens, are now used as churches and seem to be “safe” from demolition.
There are still “atmospheric” theatres by Eberson that look similar to Loew’s 46th Street theatre. He used a basic design then varied it.
This theatre really had some great historical details left inside before it was completely gutted inside, it’s a shame that we live in such a disposable society that there is no value in preserving such an architectural treasures such as this and it just winds up inside a dumpster to be carted away. John Eberson would be turning in his grave for sure.
What a shame…:(
Orlando is correct. There are plenty (unfortunately more than we can count) theaters which are gutted inside (converted to some other use, etc), yet the exterior remains. They are not demolished either, even if gutted and not a theater anymore. That said, this really was a theater that was fully restorable. A shame.
The building is guttered. To be realistic, demolished or not,the structure is no longer a theatre. If you are familiar with the neighborhood as it is now, you would know they are not interested in having any theatres.
To above, the four walls and roof are still there. True it will be demolished in a short time, but it is NOT demolished yet. It is demolished when the interior steelwork walls and all are gone and is a vacant lot. When a friend mine told me it was demolished, I told him it was a figment of someone’s imagination having seen it this past Monday 8-22-2016. Let’s not rush and put demolished in the heading, some may still want to see the facade. Adios, for now.
The owner was just trying to avoid an argument. Few people of the old neighborhood are left who would care. Profit is the main goal and having a theatre now would lose money.
Really, atmos? After all the assurances by owner to passers-by that this would not happen? Sad.
Theatre has been demolished.
Luckily I was in it a number of times over the years when the furniture store was there. A shame another theater has to go but what else would one expect from our throwaway society. Looking forward to see how the Brooklyn Paramount renovation turns out.
The former theatre is NOT being demolished nor has the building been sold. I was lucky today to meet the owner and he said a lot of the historical elements will be saved and incorporated into the structure once it is converted to stores on the main floor and apartments. The grand staircase was sold as were the plaster fountain at stage right. I was also allowed to take photos of the main entance (with exposed poster cases for the first time!) and of other details in the auditorium. (92 pictures in all) for prosperity and for the owner. When he left, he told me that I would be the last person allowed into the building. It still felt grand with all original floor tilework intact and without all the furniture. Some orchestra seats were covered over. The building turned 88 years old October 9th of this year and I turn 59 at 10:42 PM tonight. What a wonderful gift to see this building once more and the exterior on New Utrecht Avenue will remain intact.
P.S. Someone bought all the marquee letters two weeks ago and someone has bought all the remaining plaster work to save. As the owner said, “It’s only plaster.”