Loew’s DeKalb and the Casino are one in the same. I have photos of the DeKalb and it is the same structure as the Casino which i was in before the conversion. There were two entrances and a long narrow lobby that connected them in the front of the building. The interior auditorium still had the rake that was being leveled out. I had my camera but didn’t take the pictures of the dilapidated interior as I did with the Bushwick. Sorry I didn’t but got photos of the painted exterior walls showing the vaudeville and casino wording.
The Marine closed to be sold to the bank on the corner for a parking lot, not because of insurance. Century still had the Brook around the corner. I remember seeing this theatre being demolished. The sun streamed into the salmon colored auditorium walls as it was razed. The two store fronts survived the demolition and the lobby was rebuilt into another storefront.
Loew’s gave up the theatre in 1966/7, the same time it gave the 46th Street to Brandt’s for a short while. I remember being bused to Shallow J.H.S. 1967-70 and passing the 46th Street and Boro Park along New Utrecht Ave. This was after Loew’s was out of the picture. I remember “Boom!” on the marquee with Elizabeth Taylor on the Boro Park marquee.
Any news of the Tivoli, Cineart and other long lost Lisbon theatres? My mother who was born there tells me stories of the old Lisbon Theatres. Any books on the subject?
To Clearview King,
Come to the Babylon Historical Society and learn about the history of Babylon’s theatres. This theatre is not the original Babylon Theatre. The original was on Deer Park Avenue and operated from 1912 to the very early 1930’s. It was up the block from the Alhambra Theatre which was the Odd Fellow’s Hall. The Alkhambra operated as a live theatre with stock companies before going to photoplays. The Capitol opened in 1922 and took over the “Babylon” name when the Deer Park Avenue “Babylon” closed. The facade of the Capitol/Babylon Theatre burned in the late 1930’s, early ‘40’s. The entire interior was also redone and doesn’t resemble the original “Capitol” interior. The current theatre has none of the original “Capitol” decor only the remodeling it recieved in the 1950’s. I guess the Clearview’s Kings crown has been mis-informed.
Yes, I saw the Golden Gloves boxing match last year in the original auditorium orchestra space. Some of the exterior is the same, the box-office removed within the past three years. The lobby marble has been removed and redone, the coved ceiling intact. I believe the balcony is now the Millenium Theatre and must have been de-multiplexed even though that staircase was closed to the public that night. It was funny because the Daily News did an item on the theatre that I was quoted to have worked there. In addition, when I asked the manager/owner about the changes to the building, she told me it was a landmark and couldn’t be changed (however many changes did occur). Some of the theatre’s features are noticeable but you have to know ehere to look. Thi person obviously didn’t know much about the origins of her building.
P.S. The seating is also incorrect as the theatre seated slightly over a thousand seats. This was the second Amityville Theatre to operate and the seating capacity listed is for the other Amityville Theatre.
This was opened as a Prudential (UA) house and was taken overby Almi in 1980, twinned and became a Almi-Century theatre. When RKO was added to the fold, this was closed in 1986. This was a modern 1960’s theatre and was hardly “crumbling”. It was stigmatized as a “black house” and the bookings catered to that clientele. They had lounge chairs in the balcony. It was well run by the managers who cared and the owners who didn’t. The building survives as an office complex with retail on the main level.
The Oceana was sold to an independent theatre owner in late 1973, He also had run the Granada, Highway and Rugby Theatres. The Rugby was first to go to Golden (who had the Quad and Olympia in Manhattan and the Graham on Whitney & Knapp Street and the Benson in Brooklyn). The Granada entered the Golden fold in 1974 followed by the Oceana in 1976. The balcony was sealed off from the public and only the upstairs restrooms were accessible. I worked the Oceana in 1975 for a while. It’s auditorium was large and two blue backlit decorative grilles were on each side of the screen. A former Century matron, Gloria, now at the candy counter use to call the theatre a big barn. I was not there for the Golden-transformation thank God. I remember “Hester Street” played an exclusive run here for 4 to 5 weeks before the “Golden” rule. On the second level outside the ladies' room was a bust of the goddess Oceana that was also lit. Milton was there when I worked there and was a doorman. We also had a problem with the seniors who parked thier sun chairs all along Brighton Beach Avenue and had to be asked not to block the theatre entrance. I remember seeing “The Wind And The Lion” here. Century had not gone bankrupt at this or any other time. They just sold off thier buildings as neighborhoods changed and money was needed for them to continue. The Century Circuit was taken over by the Almi Group in 1981 and that’s when Almi let go off all the unprofitable Brooklyn houses as well as the Long Island leased properties. I worked for Almi and that’s the way it happened.
P.S. This is one of Loew’s original theatres celebrating it’s 82nd year in business in it’s original new owners' hands albeit tne name changes. A Loew’s single theatre until 1982 and then “Golden”-divided, 1988 “Cineplex-Odeon” face lifted, “Loew’s-Cineplex” whenever that happened, who cares?, and now Onex. This of all thier Brooklyn holdings at the time of the “100th anniversary of Loews” campaign should be taken care of, moneywise. Without the Alpine and other Loew’s houses no longer around, the contributions these Loew’s made to the company should not be overlooked. When theatre stockrooms are fumigated for vermin, the inventory of stock within is vulnerable to foriegn odors of the pesticide sprayed. All should be cautious!! The profits that the concession stands make lead them to sell everything but the traditional movie snacks and sometimes proper food handling is not being adhered to. My rule of thumb with popcorn, if it is not being popped at the counter as you are buying it, don’t buy it. For the high popcorn prices charged, 3.85 plus tax (prices at Clearview Cinemas) for one ounce of raw corn popped is highway robbery and no real butter either!
This theatre just made the CBS-TV survey listing of unsanitary food handling conditions this past week based on the last year’s inspectitions. Shame on you, Onex!
I still remember all the neon and marquees lit up during the Christmas holiday season shopping trips to all the major shopping stores. This would have been between 1959 and 1972. I also remember the Fox being torn down and the Nevins Street entrance to train under scaffolding for some time. I was to young (thank God!) to feel the impact older generations might have had. The Albee’s marquee was the best since I can’t remember the Paramount’s.
What avenues was theatre situated between? I saw a theatre building about four years ago from 116th Street but the 116th entrance wasn’t evident. A possible entrance on the uptown side exterior of the large building could have been in use as the new entrance.
Warren,
It’s not a crazy conclusion, an error only. Since you know so much about every theatre, why don’t you right a book instead of being a teacher and correcting everyone’s comment. I guess you haven’t anything better to do but think you are the expert in motion picture theatres and that nobody but you is the extreme authority. Cinema Treasures doesn’t check facts prior to listings leaving most of thier listings incorrect until they are corrected by site visitors. It doesn’t seem to bother them as much as it bothers you.
I think you are mistaken here in regard to the Rock n Roll shows. They started in 1955 and lasted through April 1966 when the Fox was opened for one last engagement that Easter. The Fox had closed the first week of February with “Where The Spies Are”. There were about four to five shows per year during that 12 year period. The engagements in the earlier days lasted 10 days. Some shows were held in the N.Y. Paramount as well. The grosses for these 10 day engagements reached $180,000 (crushing even the best of Broadway grosses for these weeks. I don’t believe any of the film engagements for those years at the two Brooklyn houses ever grossed more than $30,000-$40,000 a week. So that’s why the rock n roll shows are remembered fondly. 12 to 15 singers/groups performed 5 times a day for 10 days (with some “acts” they came in for a few days at a time). I doubt any of today’s recording stars would be able to fill the shoes of or have that much stamina for that kind of a grind show. The Fox was demolished in 1971/2 shortly after the filming of the George C. Scott/Joanne Woodward film “THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS” in 1971.
The theatre space was converted to a Record Store store. The lobby would have been to small for anything with the descending stairs to the concessions and ladies room on one side and the men’s and manager’s office on the other side. Correction, both restrooms and manager’s office were on the right and the candy counter on the left.
I think it closed in ‘85/86.
That’s what I like about Cinema Treasures, some people take everything that is written so personally as if one can’t make a statement without always being corrected or attacked.
The owner had plans with Walgreen’s for the property. Walgreens probably would have payed for the demolition of the theatre, the erection of a Walgreen’s Drugstore and the landlord (theatre owner)would collect rent from Walgreen’s in a lease agreement. If Walgreen’s is willing to pay $12,000 or more in monthly rent, it would be wise for him not to sell for $800,000 to the church. He would also still own the property with Walgreen’s and not with the church. Taxes for the theatre were 2,500 village, 6,000 county tax for the year that I know of when it closed in 2002. He is looking for $1.3 or 1.4 million. That’s 150% more than the $550,000 that was paid to U.A. in 1998. The Village, Town, and elected officials have pledged up to 50,000 per year for their terms in office. Volunteerism will get the job done in about 3 months time with local businessman providing the materials and labor for the different aspects of renovations. Fundraisers and other efforts would follow. The renovation costs could be kept in tow.
There once was two theatres on Driggs Street a long time ago, could this be one of them?
The Cinema Kings Highway never played Star Wars first run, it played the Century’s Avalon in ‘77/78.
This was the American Theatre.
Loew’s DeKalb and the Casino are one in the same. I have photos of the DeKalb and it is the same structure as the Casino which i was in before the conversion. There were two entrances and a long narrow lobby that connected them in the front of the building. The interior auditorium still had the rake that was being leveled out. I had my camera but didn’t take the pictures of the dilapidated interior as I did with the Bushwick. Sorry I didn’t but got photos of the painted exterior walls showing the vaudeville and casino wording.
In the description comment above, the Lincoln was on Bedford Avenue near the Savoy not on Lincoln Place.
The Canarsie was an Interboro Theatre.
The Marine closed to be sold to the bank on the corner for a parking lot, not because of insurance. Century still had the Brook around the corner. I remember seeing this theatre being demolished. The sun streamed into the salmon colored auditorium walls as it was razed. The two store fronts survived the demolition and the lobby was rebuilt into another storefront.
Loew’s gave up the theatre in 1966/7, the same time it gave the 46th Street to Brandt’s for a short while. I remember being bused to Shallow J.H.S. 1967-70 and passing the 46th Street and Boro Park along New Utrecht Ave. This was after Loew’s was out of the picture. I remember “Boom!” on the marquee with Elizabeth Taylor on the Boro Park marquee.
I believe the Biltmore was torn down, didn’t see it on my last trip to Brooklyn. It was near Wyona Street, right?
Any news of the Tivoli, Cineart and other long lost Lisbon theatres? My mother who was born there tells me stories of the old Lisbon Theatres. Any books on the subject?
To Clearview King,
Come to the Babylon Historical Society and learn about the history of Babylon’s theatres. This theatre is not the original Babylon Theatre. The original was on Deer Park Avenue and operated from 1912 to the very early 1930’s. It was up the block from the Alhambra Theatre which was the Odd Fellow’s Hall. The Alkhambra operated as a live theatre with stock companies before going to photoplays. The Capitol opened in 1922 and took over the “Babylon” name when the Deer Park Avenue “Babylon” closed. The facade of the Capitol/Babylon Theatre burned in the late 1930’s, early ‘40’s. The entire interior was also redone and doesn’t resemble the original “Capitol” interior. The current theatre has none of the original “Capitol” decor only the remodeling it recieved in the 1950’s. I guess the Clearview’s Kings crown has been mis-informed.
Yes, I saw the Golden Gloves boxing match last year in the original auditorium orchestra space. Some of the exterior is the same, the box-office removed within the past three years. The lobby marble has been removed and redone, the coved ceiling intact. I believe the balcony is now the Millenium Theatre and must have been de-multiplexed even though that staircase was closed to the public that night. It was funny because the Daily News did an item on the theatre that I was quoted to have worked there. In addition, when I asked the manager/owner about the changes to the building, she told me it was a landmark and couldn’t be changed (however many changes did occur). Some of the theatre’s features are noticeable but you have to know ehere to look. Thi person obviously didn’t know much about the origins of her building.
P.S. The seating is also incorrect as the theatre seated slightly over a thousand seats. This was the second Amityville Theatre to operate and the seating capacity listed is for the other Amityville Theatre.
This was opened as a Prudential (UA) house and was taken overby Almi in 1980, twinned and became a Almi-Century theatre. When RKO was added to the fold, this was closed in 1986. This was a modern 1960’s theatre and was hardly “crumbling”. It was stigmatized as a “black house” and the bookings catered to that clientele. They had lounge chairs in the balcony. It was well run by the managers who cared and the owners who didn’t. The building survives as an office complex with retail on the main level.
The Oceana was sold to an independent theatre owner in late 1973, He also had run the Granada, Highway and Rugby Theatres. The Rugby was first to go to Golden (who had the Quad and Olympia in Manhattan and the Graham on Whitney & Knapp Street and the Benson in Brooklyn). The Granada entered the Golden fold in 1974 followed by the Oceana in 1976. The balcony was sealed off from the public and only the upstairs restrooms were accessible. I worked the Oceana in 1975 for a while. It’s auditorium was large and two blue backlit decorative grilles were on each side of the screen. A former Century matron, Gloria, now at the candy counter use to call the theatre a big barn. I was not there for the Golden-transformation thank God. I remember “Hester Street” played an exclusive run here for 4 to 5 weeks before the “Golden” rule. On the second level outside the ladies' room was a bust of the goddess Oceana that was also lit. Milton was there when I worked there and was a doorman. We also had a problem with the seniors who parked thier sun chairs all along Brighton Beach Avenue and had to be asked not to block the theatre entrance. I remember seeing “The Wind And The Lion” here. Century had not gone bankrupt at this or any other time. They just sold off thier buildings as neighborhoods changed and money was needed for them to continue. The Century Circuit was taken over by the Almi Group in 1981 and that’s when Almi let go off all the unprofitable Brooklyn houses as well as the Long Island leased properties. I worked for Almi and that’s the way it happened.
P.S. This is one of Loew’s original theatres celebrating it’s 82nd year in business in it’s original new owners' hands albeit tne name changes. A Loew’s single theatre until 1982 and then “Golden”-divided, 1988 “Cineplex-Odeon” face lifted, “Loew’s-Cineplex” whenever that happened, who cares?, and now Onex. This of all thier Brooklyn holdings at the time of the “100th anniversary of Loews” campaign should be taken care of, moneywise. Without the Alpine and other Loew’s houses no longer around, the contributions these Loew’s made to the company should not be overlooked. When theatre stockrooms are fumigated for vermin, the inventory of stock within is vulnerable to foriegn odors of the pesticide sprayed. All should be cautious!! The profits that the concession stands make lead them to sell everything but the traditional movie snacks and sometimes proper food handling is not being adhered to. My rule of thumb with popcorn, if it is not being popped at the counter as you are buying it, don’t buy it. For the high popcorn prices charged, 3.85 plus tax (prices at Clearview Cinemas) for one ounce of raw corn popped is highway robbery and no real butter either!
This theatre just made the CBS-TV survey listing of unsanitary food handling conditions this past week based on the last year’s inspectitions. Shame on you, Onex!
This building has been demolished, anyone know of any photos?
I still remember all the neon and marquees lit up during the Christmas holiday season shopping trips to all the major shopping stores. This would have been between 1959 and 1972. I also remember the Fox being torn down and the Nevins Street entrance to train under scaffolding for some time. I was to young (thank God!) to feel the impact older generations might have had. The Albee’s marquee was the best since I can’t remember the Paramount’s.
What avenues was theatre situated between? I saw a theatre building about four years ago from 116th Street but the 116th entrance wasn’t evident. A possible entrance on the uptown side exterior of the large building could have been in use as the new entrance.
Warren,
It’s not a crazy conclusion, an error only. Since you know so much about every theatre, why don’t you right a book instead of being a teacher and correcting everyone’s comment. I guess you haven’t anything better to do but think you are the expert in motion picture theatres and that nobody but you is the extreme authority. Cinema Treasures doesn’t check facts prior to listings leaving most of thier listings incorrect until they are corrected by site visitors. It doesn’t seem to bother them as much as it bothers you.
I think you are mistaken here in regard to the Rock n Roll shows. They started in 1955 and lasted through April 1966 when the Fox was opened for one last engagement that Easter. The Fox had closed the first week of February with “Where The Spies Are”. There were about four to five shows per year during that 12 year period. The engagements in the earlier days lasted 10 days. Some shows were held in the N.Y. Paramount as well. The grosses for these 10 day engagements reached $180,000 (crushing even the best of Broadway grosses for these weeks. I don’t believe any of the film engagements for those years at the two Brooklyn houses ever grossed more than $30,000-$40,000 a week. So that’s why the rock n roll shows are remembered fondly. 12 to 15 singers/groups performed 5 times a day for 10 days (with some “acts” they came in for a few days at a time). I doubt any of today’s recording stars would be able to fill the shoes of or have that much stamina for that kind of a grind show. The Fox was demolished in 1971/2 shortly after the filming of the George C. Scott/Joanne Woodward film “THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS” in 1971.
The theatre space was converted to a Record Store store. The lobby would have been to small for anything with the descending stairs to the concessions and ladies room on one side and the men’s and manager’s office on the other side. Correction, both restrooms and manager’s office were on the right and the candy counter on the left.
I think it closed in ‘85/86.
That’s what I like about Cinema Treasures, some people take everything that is written so personally as if one can’t make a statement without always being corrected or attacked.
The owner had plans with Walgreen’s for the property. Walgreens probably would have payed for the demolition of the theatre, the erection of a Walgreen’s Drugstore and the landlord (theatre owner)would collect rent from Walgreen’s in a lease agreement. If Walgreen’s is willing to pay $12,000 or more in monthly rent, it would be wise for him not to sell for $800,000 to the church. He would also still own the property with Walgreen’s and not with the church. Taxes for the theatre were 2,500 village, 6,000 county tax for the year that I know of when it closed in 2002. He is looking for $1.3 or 1.4 million. That’s 150% more than the $550,000 that was paid to U.A. in 1998. The Village, Town, and elected officials have pledged up to 50,000 per year for their terms in office. Volunteerism will get the job done in about 3 months time with local businessman providing the materials and labor for the different aspects of renovations. Fundraisers and other efforts would follow. The renovation costs could be kept in tow.