Loew's Paradise Theatre
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx,
NY
10468
63 people
favorited this theater
Showing 301 - 325 of 671 comments
Is there an actual CT policy? I agree with Warren that CT always seems to display the current working theater’s name on its listings (so the Loew’s Astor Plaza is listed as the Nokia Theater), but there is some inconsistency as to which name a theater goes by if it is no longer in theatrical operations or has been demolished. It seems that the best known name prevails, but that can be a pretty subjective call and I’m not sure if that is official policy. I certainly wouldn’t want to see the Strand listed as “Warner Twin” just as surely as I wouldn’t want the Rivoli listed as “UA Twin”, but a consistent naming convention should be established. And it does make sense to use the current operating name for those theaters still in operation.
Then the Strand should be changed to the Warner Twin since that’s what it was called when it closed.
Daddy Yankee?
I guess George Steinbrenner is in concert.
ABSOLUTELY !!!!!
While I have no clue who Daddy Yankee is or what his particular claim to fame may be, I hope he doesn’t attract the type of audience that will trash the place just for the hell of it.
Warren, I disagree: the theatre is famous as “Loew’s Paradise” plus they are keeping the old sign so it should remain listed as it is. Besides, since there is no longer a theatre chain with the name Loew’s, or Loews, what can it hurt?
Yes.
Does the sign outside still say Loew’s Paradise (as shown in the picture)?
Just because a show grosses $300k doesn’t mean the theater is keeping all, or even a large part of that money… for example the theater I manage grossed over $1,000,000 in two nights when we hosted a Bruce Springsteen concert; however the rent we collected was more in the $6,000 range! On the whole, we collect around 10% of what a concert grosses, though each show is structured differently. Assuming the Paradise is doing something similar (which it may or may not) 10% of 300K is still decent money – but these old buildings, no matter how well they are renovated, are expensive to heat, air condition, staff, etc. Of course they do make money on food and beverage sales too.
I hope that events like the MTV-sponsored one help them make a name for the place. Glad to know no matter who runs it, the theater is now protected from destruction or alteration.
There is a concert listed on their website for June 4th. They must be doing OK financially as the ticket price for this show is only $2.00
Not to mention they probably hire a fair number of their staff on a per diem basis, so that the overhead is relatively low when they’re not staging an event.
Warren, they seem to average about two events per month. I agree, they could benefit from more shows, but according to the fellow from the tour I went on, they are novices to this and are still learning the ropes. However, they are making quite a bit more money than movies bring in with ticket prices up to $75 or $95. Each show brings in about $300,000.
It is indeed a pleasure to read that Complete landmark status has been given the very deserving PARADISE in the Bronx. So very few movie palaces nationwide have received this honor in their municipalities, and perhaps no others with such protection of their interiors, which especially impresses this non-New Yorker. May her years be a great many and may new generations here discover therein the ‘magic’ that such temples of the movies brought to so many of previous generations! I’m sure that John Eberson would be so proud, just as New Yorkers have a right to be!
This is great news!!! Thank you for sharing it. I am glad the Landmarks Preservation Commission didn’t disregard this theater. There are several others throughout the 5 boroughs that they have stalled on calendaring for a hearing, or refused to grant a hearing, resulting in much confusion. It is a victory to know that it is officially designated, and a piece of “paradise” will be here to stay. For the convenience of members on this site, you can follow this link:
www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/press/05_16_06.pdf
ENJOY!!!
As a side note, if anyone feels a theater or another building is landmark-worthy, please send a request for evaluation form to the LPC. They’re available on their website. Please don’t forget to stand up for what you believe in!
I am pleased to report that the interior of this magnificent theatre has finally been designated a landmark by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. The exterior has been landmarked for about a decade, but until now it was a struggle to obtain the same status for the interior. Check out NYC/Gov website and go to Landmarks, then do a search for Loew’s Paradise to read the press release.
There will be a tour this Saturday at 11:00 and again at 1:00. According to the theatre’s website, there will be no tours in May, but they do have dates listed for June. Orlando Lopes (the tour guide) informed us on the last tour that they will begin showing classic films this summer. They will begin with “West Side Story” on July 21st. There will be an afternoon matinee and an evening presentation as well. He said that depending on the response, films may become a regular thing.
Warren… When I told my father about the restoration and re-opening of the Paradise, he mentioned that there would be stiff competition from Lehman College. I intended to post that info here, but it slipped my mind. My dad was a professional musician (now retired) and was the keyboard player and arranger for Tito Puente’s band for some 17 years up to the great bandleader’s untimely death a few years ago. The surviving Puente band members are sometimes asked to play Latin jazz festivals and I figured I’d let him know about the Paradise as a potential venue. Not to mention that he grew up in the Bronx (and resides there currently) and spent a number of youthful evenings basking under the twilight sky of the great theater’s auditorium.
The original “News” item and the posting by CinemAFuchs on April 6th indicates that there will be a tour this Saturday, the 22nd, and that there will be a regular Saturday schedule throughout the year. Give a call to the theater’s number provided in that post.
Does anyone know if they are going to do another tour? I may try to sneak out of work to go to one…
I echo the previous sentiments. I attended the 11:00 tour this morning. Absolutely fantastic! The theatre never looked better. Kudos to Mr. Lopes and the Paradise for a job well done!
I had the unique opportunity today to attend the 1:00 P.M. tour of the Loew’s Paradise today and let me tell you, words cannot express how astonishing this place is, you need to see it to believe it. I would encourage anyone who is the least bit curios about the Loew’s Paradise to try to attend these tours, they are quite remarkable Mr. Lopes should be commended on his efforts for getting the tours of the Loew’s Paradise off the ground and running. Thank You Loew’s Paradise Management and Mr. Lopes for a splendid tour!
I give my heart to the owners & all parties responsible for giving a treasure of a theater, and a true icon of the Bronx, a restoration that it deserves, and for reopening it. Any attempt to demolish it would have been Bronx’s Penn Station. LONG LIVE LOEW’S PARADISE THEATRE!!!!!!! Lots of luck! – Michael
Actually, Patsy, both the Valencia in Jamaica, Queens, and the 175th Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan, are actively used and open to all as churches. With the Paradise giving it a go as a live venue and the Jersey running classic revivals, only the Rapp & Rapp Kings is left a neglected hulk, rotting and decaying in Brooklyn and in need of many millions of dollars in restoration work.
Interesting to read about the “5 Wonder Theatres” on the GTOS site. One of the them was a Rapp and Rapp designed theatre and yet another is a church.
http://www.gstos.org/wonder.htm
Thanks to an earlier post this is a good site to view and read about many aspects of the Paradise Theater. I didn’t realize this theatre was an Eberson/atmospheric so now it certainly has my interest!
Tours of the Loew’s Paradise Theater will commence on Saturday, April 8th at 11 AM and at 1 PM. Additional tours this month are planned for April 15th and April 22nd with a regular schedule following on Saturdays throughout the year. Admission is $6.00 for all, with a maximumn tour size of 30 people. Photography will not be a problem.
Those wishing to attend â€" And who wouldn’t?!!!! It’s magnificent. â€" should leave their names with the theatre at 1-800-353-8040. Please check the website www.theparadisetheater.com for future dates and updated information.
Orlando Lopes, New York Director of the Theatre Historical Society, has done an outstanding job. His support of the Paradise continues by coordinating volunteer efforts for events and by personally guiding these tours which will take about 50 minutes. Thank you.