For a theatre that’s been closed for almost thirty years, it still looks remarkably well preserved. They must be taking very good care of the roof on this former Bensonhurst movie palace.
MARKW, Thank you for these photo’s, it’s great to see just how much of the Walker theatre still is intact even after the UA Quading, NBO-AnnieSez-Mandee alterations. Also great to see you back on the site as well. Too bad we could not save the Marboro.
Here is the official Obituary for Dorothy Solomon Panzica, Regal Queen of the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn:
Dorothy Solomon Panzica September 13th 1913 – August 23rd 2017
WELLSVILLE – Dorothy Solomon Panzica, 103, of 4192B Bolivar Road, passed away on Wednesday (Aug. 23, 2017) at Manor Hills. She was born on Sept. 13, 1913, in Summerville, Mass., the daughter of William and Sarah (Schneider) Rose. She was predeceased by two husbands, Benjamin Solomon and Charles Panzica.
Dorothy was raised in Brooklyn and was employed by Loew’s Theaters throughout her career, beginning as an usherette, and retiring as the General Manager of the Loew’s Kings Theater in Brooklyn. She and Charles moved to Elm Valley in the mid 1970’s and after Charles passed away, she moved to Cummings Circle in Wellsville, where she resided for many years before moving to Manor Hills in 2011.
Dorothy was well known in the downtown Wellsville area for her kindness and generosity, and for giving away dollar bills folded like shirts to almost everyone she met.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Frances Rose of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and several nieces and nephews, including Jerry and Sonya Goodman of Pikesville, Md.
She will be buried next to her beloved husband, Charles, in the Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island. Please consider memorial donations to the Hart Comfort House, 141 E. State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.
Published in Wellsville Daily Reporter on Aug. 24, 2017
No other Famous Players complex had quite the true “street of theatres” look like this one did, but the ones still around and in current operation are the Kildonan Place Cinemas in Winnipeg and the Esplanade 6 in North Vancouver. The stadium seating craze in the late nineties unfortunately rendered a lot of these cinemas obsolete well before their time.
This location was also one of the first to feature CDS or the Cinema Digital Sound system, circa 90/91. I wonder if there is a also a list of DTS & SDDS initial installations for their launch in 93 & 94 respectively?
In between Loews Corporation & Tristar Pictures there was another owner that operated under Loews Theatre Management – Here is the New York Times Story –
July 11, 1985 Loews Unit Sold
The Loews Corporation has completed the sale of its movie theater division to a group headed by A. Jerrold Perenchio, the former co-owner of Embassy Communications.
A source close to the negotiations put the price at $160 million. Bernard Myerson, who is a partner in the acquisition, will continue to serve as the chief executive of the theater chain. Mr. Myerson will also serve as chairman and president of the parent company, the Loews Theater Management Corporation. In 1984 the Loews Theater division accounted for 1.4 percent of the Loews Corporation’s revenues. It reported income of $20.3 million, up from $15 million a year earlier.
Multiplex popcorn can be hit or miss, depends on how they make it. I always like to see them popping it right in front of me, otherwise who knows how long its been sitting around.
The partnership was dissolved some time ago, with AMC solely in charge of any remaining Magic Theatre locations. Magic Johnson has nothing to do with the running of any locations that remain, so one can assume they will be re-branded to AMC. Another sub brand that Loews Cineplex used was Star Theatres in the Michigan market, those are all goners too with the re-branding.
The three chains mentioned were Cinemex, Landmark & CineMark, there is also another Landmark location planned for the far west 50’s I believe. Have not heard of any theatres for Hudson Yards planned.
You forgot about Regal I believe they have stopped masking in certain locations as well. Anybody here know what ever happened to the planned Cineplex Odeon project in the Wall Street area from the mid nineties that never came to fruition? I suppose the financial difficulties they were having during that era put the brakes on it.
Thanks for the detailed description TonyV, I really liked the RKO Zig-Zag style with all of the chaser bulbs in yellow & white. The Kenmore Theatre in Brooklyn used those type of letters you described on it’s marquee until it closed in 1999, wonder if it was the last one in the city to still have that style.
Yes, such a prime location could be better put to use than just storage. It’s a shame the Back Lot was not commercially successful, perhaps a Loews Club would have done better back in early days.
AMC should really donate one of the neon Loews signs its in the process of getting rid of to The Museum Of The Moving Image in Astoria Queens for preservation purposes.
How are those big glass vaulted ceilings holding up over the years? Do they ever leak when it rains? Loews took this design and ran with it all throughout the nineties all over the country.
Also it has a great art-deco inspired vertical, very simple but elegant at the same time. Lincoln Square could have used one like this, I hope they don’t get rid of it completely. What every took over what used to be the “Back Lot” in this venue?
Another story here: https://ny.curbed.com/2019/6/19/18691756/nyc-movies-paris-theater-closing
For a theatre that’s been closed for almost thirty years, it still looks remarkably well preserved. They must be taking very good care of the roof on this former Bensonhurst movie palace.
It looks like most of the upper part is still intact thankfully, thanks for the photo MARKW.
MARKW, Thank you for these photo’s, it’s great to see just how much of the Walker theatre still is intact even after the UA Quading, NBO-AnnieSez-Mandee alterations. Also great to see you back on the site as well. Too bad we could not save the Marboro.
Here is the official Obituary for Dorothy Solomon Panzica, Regal Queen of the Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn:
Dorothy Solomon Panzica September 13th 1913 – August 23rd 2017
WELLSVILLE – Dorothy Solomon Panzica, 103, of 4192B Bolivar Road, passed away on Wednesday (Aug. 23, 2017) at Manor Hills. She was born on Sept. 13, 1913, in Summerville, Mass., the daughter of William and Sarah (Schneider) Rose. She was predeceased by two husbands, Benjamin Solomon and Charles Panzica.
Dorothy was raised in Brooklyn and was employed by Loew’s Theaters throughout her career, beginning as an usherette, and retiring as the General Manager of the Loew’s Kings Theater in Brooklyn. She and Charles moved to Elm Valley in the mid 1970’s and after Charles passed away, she moved to Cummings Circle in Wellsville, where she resided for many years before moving to Manor Hills in 2011.
Dorothy was well known in the downtown Wellsville area for her kindness and generosity, and for giving away dollar bills folded like shirts to almost everyone she met.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Frances Rose of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and several nieces and nephews, including Jerry and Sonya Goodman of Pikesville, Md.
She will be buried next to her beloved husband, Charles, in the Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island. Please consider memorial donations to the Hart Comfort House, 141 E. State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com. Published in Wellsville Daily Reporter on Aug. 24, 2017
No other Famous Players complex had quite the true “street of theatres” look like this one did, but the ones still around and in current operation are the Kildonan Place Cinemas in Winnipeg and the Esplanade 6 in North Vancouver. The stadium seating craze in the late nineties unfortunately rendered a lot of these cinemas obsolete well before their time.
This location was also one of the first to feature CDS or the Cinema Digital Sound system, circa 90/91. I wonder if there is a also a list of DTS & SDDS initial installations for their launch in 93 & 94 respectively?
Auditorium #3 used to also be THX certified, I wonder if this was the same one they installed Dolby Digital sound in?
Yes folks, the Sunshine Cinema is a goner unfortunately, it’s slated to close in January 2018 –
http://nypost.com/2017/05/18/lower-east-sides-landmark-sunshine-cinema-to-close/
In between Loews Corporation & Tristar Pictures there was another owner that operated under Loews Theatre Management – Here is the New York Times Story –
July 11, 1985
Loews Unit Sold
The Loews Corporation has completed the sale of its movie theater division to a group headed by A. Jerrold Perenchio, the former co-owner of Embassy Communications.
A source close to the negotiations put the price at $160 million. Bernard Myerson, who is a partner in the acquisition, will continue to serve as the chief executive of the theater chain. Mr. Myerson will also serve as chairman and president of the parent company, the Loews Theater Management Corporation. In 1984 the Loews Theater division accounted for 1.4 percent of the Loews Corporation’s revenues. It reported income of $20.3 million, up from $15 million a year earlier.
When Loew’s lost the apostrophe from it’s name it was never quite the same, just part of some giant conglomerate unfortunately.
Those sure were the good old days!
You are welcome!
Multiplex popcorn can be hit or miss, depends on how they make it. I always like to see them popping it right in front of me, otherwise who knows how long its been sitting around.
The partnership was dissolved some time ago, with AMC solely in charge of any remaining Magic Theatre locations. Magic Johnson has nothing to do with the running of any locations that remain, so one can assume they will be re-branded to AMC. Another sub brand that Loews Cineplex used was Star Theatres in the Michigan market, those are all goners too with the re-branding.
The three chains mentioned were Cinemex, Landmark & CineMark, there is also another Landmark location planned for the far west 50’s I believe. Have not heard of any theatres for Hudson Yards planned.
Regal also has one that is called Cinebarre but it’s only in 7 of their locations so far.
You forgot about Regal I believe they have stopped masking in certain locations as well. Anybody here know what ever happened to the planned Cineplex Odeon project in the Wall Street area from the mid nineties that never came to fruition? I suppose the financial difficulties they were having during that era put the brakes on it.
They were a bit ahead of the times, because nowadays having a bar in your theatre is very in vogue with chains like Alamo Drafthouse and such.
Thanks for the detailed description TonyV, I really liked the RKO Zig-Zag style with all of the chaser bulbs in yellow & white. The Kenmore Theatre in Brooklyn used those type of letters you described on it’s marquee until it closed in 1999, wonder if it was the last one in the city to still have that style.
The vertical on the E-Walk was a great example of an LED simulation that was supposed to resemble the old neon style of days gone by.
Yes, such a prime location could be better put to use than just storage. It’s a shame the Back Lot was not commercially successful, perhaps a Loews Club would have done better back in early days.
AMC should really donate one of the neon Loews signs its in the process of getting rid of to The Museum Of The Moving Image in Astoria Queens for preservation purposes.
How are those big glass vaulted ceilings holding up over the years? Do they ever leak when it rains? Loews took this design and ran with it all throughout the nineties all over the country.
Also it has a great art-deco inspired vertical, very simple but elegant at the same time. Lincoln Square could have used one like this, I hope they don’t get rid of it completely. What every took over what used to be the “Back Lot” in this venue?