Restore the Loew's Kings

Old and Historic

The Loew's Kings Theater is one of Brooklyn's Treasures. This "picture palace" and vaudeville house was constructed by Marcus Loew in 1929. It is one of the five Loew's "wonder theaters" that dot the northeast. Other wonder theaters include the Loew's Valencia (Now the Temple of Faith) in Astoria, Queens, the Loew's Paradise (Now under restoration) in the Bronx, the Loew's 175th Street (Now a church) in Manhattan, and the Loew's Jersey (Restored and open) in Jersey City, New Jersey. Loew, a king in the movie and penny arcade industry, opened his first movie theater in the back of an arcade he owned. In addition to movies, he presented ballerinas, jugglers, and other performers in his theaters.

Star power off the screen

Face facts, all movies have stars that show on the screen. How many theaters had stars seat you before they were set for the their first time on it? This was the case with the Loew's Kings. In the 1950s and 1960s your ticket may have been taken by Barbra Streisand, Henry Winkler, or Slyvester Stallone. Ben Vereen's Mother worked at the theater, and he danced on the stage as a small boy. One of the main reasons for this was the proximity to Erasmus High School. Many of these stars graduated from the school.

Noted Architecural Firm Designed it

The Loew's Kings was designed by the firm of C.W. Rapp and George Rapp, whom were also behind both the Brooklyn and New York Paramount Theaters. Their other buildings include the Warner Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Orpheum Building in Sioux City, Iowa, the Ambassador Building in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Emporis Building in Chicago, Illinois. They have several theaters on the National Register, including the Shea Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, and the Uptown Theater in Chicago, Illinois. In short, the Kings was built by noted and historic architects who are nationally recognized.

The Stage

The stage at the Kings, which still exists, had every technology available at the time of its opening in September of 1929. There is a fly loft above the stage so flats can be lowered for view on the other side of the proscenium (the arch of the stage for theater laymen). This loft makes scene changes quicker during a production. There are also several traps below the stage so flats and other props could be raised from below. These elements are still used on Broadway and many professional houses throughout the world. They are still part of many contemporary houses. "We sell tickets to theaters", Marcus Loew once said,"not movies".

Loew's Kings Cops and Orphans

On December 9, 1930, as a Christmas Gift from the police, 8,000 Orphans were invited to picture palaces in Brooklyn. The children crowded the Kings and the Albemarle (Now a Jehovah's Witness Hall) to capacity. Santa Claus was there giving presents.

Phoenix in the ashes

The Kings closed in the 1970s though the theater is, mostly, intact today. According to rumor, a fire broke out in the projection room, during a showing of Blazing Saddles. However, this may not be so, for the projector is in the Loew's Jersey. Maybe the theater, like others, was a victim of the video screen. This was the time that cable television started showing movies, and video recorders began seeing time in the home. Many large, single screen theater, like the Kings, closed, or were multiplexed. The Loew's Kings was never multiplexed, though it was considered for conversion into such an operation by Magic Johnson Theaters. Obviously, that plan faultered.

Bird may Rise

A committee has been formed to restore and reopen the Kings as a performing arts center. With seating for more than 3,000 people it will be the third largest concert venue in New York City after Radio City Music Hall, and the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The head of the committee is Bruce Friedman, who has a Cable Access Show called That's Brooklyn. With the gentrification of Flatbush, where the theater is located, this will be welcome sight to the people in the area which has seen hardship in the past thirty years. The building is owned by the city, which wants the restoration. Mister Friedman has worked with past administrations on the project. Tours of the theater are possible, but difficult after the World Trade Center Attack. Nevertheless, the committee is still being formed. Also on the committee is Joe Franklin, who interviewed many celebrities on channel 9. Though the roof has been fixed, and some of the electrical work is still operable, it is in need of repair.

Join the effort

As writer of the Unofficial New York Nostalgia Buff Website, I am involved with the committee for the effort. I urge others to join by sending a letter to Mister Friedman at thats.brooklyn@verizon.net It would be a shame to lose this treasure, though it does not face the wrecking ball. This is an architectural wonder, and a piece of Brooklyn and Hollywood nostalgia that should be reopened for those to enjoy.

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