Loew's Paradise Theatre

2413 Grand Concourse,
Bronx, NY 10468

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Showing 551 - 575 of 671 comments

beardbear31
beardbear31 on November 16, 2004 at 6:24 pm

Well I suppose the hole could represent the hole in the ozone layer….. :–)

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek on November 15, 2004 at 6:31 am

So much for it’s atmospheric qualities…

Divinity
Divinity on November 14, 2004 at 2:54 pm

No Warren, I dont believe heavenly spirits would roam a theatre that is adorned with pagan statuary.

Divinity
Divinity on November 13, 2004 at 11:01 pm

The hole in the ceiling has not been covered, although it is not as large as I thought it would be. The restoration of the auditorium is breathtaking and if one sits in the balcony, it shouldnt be a distraction.

Divinity
Divinity on November 6, 2004 at 9:06 pm

I agree beardbear. If you know of any groups planning to restore our sister movie palace, please tell us. I would love to contribute!

beardbear31
beardbear31 on November 6, 2004 at 8:59 pm

Great news, Divinity!! Now we should concentrate on the only “Wonder Theatre” that isn’t being saved, the Loew’s Kings. Let’s try and keep all 5 of these incredible theatres standing for future generations.

Divinity
Divinity on November 6, 2004 at 8:19 pm

Fabulous news everyone!
As I was driving down the Grand Concourse today I stopped at a red light by the Paradise and noticed that the scaffolding was put up again. The workers already have steam cleaned a section of the building to the right of the clock. It looks wonderful, and it is very interesting to compare the clean verses the dirty side. Honestly speaking, most of of the ballustrades, urns, and other adornment on the exterior are actually highlighted by the accumulated soot on the exterior. I will almost miss the aged European look although the terra cotta is starting to shine again. Overall, progress continues!!!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek on October 22, 2004 at 9:30 am

Does anyone know if they’ve repaired the hole cut into the atmospheric ceiling by the previous owner?

I certainly hope so. That would totally ruin the atmospheric qualities.

Ziggy
Ziggy on October 22, 2004 at 9:10 am

I realize that this is only my opinion, and there may be plenty who disagree with me. BUT, in my opinion (with no disrepect meant to the Jersey, the Kings, the various Fox theatres, and all those other magnificent theatres out there that we love)Loew’s Paradise is, architecturally speaking, the best movie palace remaining in the United States. I can’t wait until my summer vacation so I can see it, restored, in person.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 20, 2004 at 8:21 am

There is a great collection of recent photographs of the Loew’s Paradise showing what is being done in the current restoration. Check out the CinemaTour web site. http://www.cinematour.com

Divinity
Divinity on October 20, 2004 at 7:20 am

Hello RKG,
Today I will be at the LuEster T. Mertz Library atthe New York Botanical Garden working on a school project about the Paradise. There is a book there written about the movie palace which I will be xeroxing. Perhaps we can help each other out. I need to find a magazine article on the theater today. Feel free to call my office at 718 817 8868 so that we can meet. Ask for Eric. I will put the book on the reserve shelf today.

rkgproductions
rkgproductions on October 20, 2004 at 6:51 am

Divinty, I would love to get in contact with you. I am writing a newspaper article for the Bronx Journal about the Lowes Paradise. I am in the process of doing research, why don’t you contact me? You can email me at I am open for suggestions, pictures any type of memorabilia out there. I grew up in the Bronx but I am of the way after Paradise generation and am facinated to learn all that I can. Please get in touch with me ASAP.

Divinity
Divinity on October 19, 2004 at 12:21 pm

I believe the Last time I visited the theater was when Sleeping Beauty was released again in the eighties. I was probably five years old but I dont remember the walls being painted green. I do remember the mysterious dark shadows being cast on the statues, pilasters and other ornaments. My eyes wandered everywhere fascinated by this gem even though it had seen better days before the multiplexing. I was interrupted a few times by my mother who kept on reminding me that when she was around my age, my grandmother also took her there to see double features and that her highschool graduation ceremony was also held there (Walton 1968). After that we headed over to the lovely Dollar Savings Bank to get some money to spend at Alexanders across the street. Later on we stopped off at Woolworth to pick up some school supplies and when the popcorn went down, it was over to Annie’s Franks and Fries for those delicious hot dogs they sold.
It was all in a days work on Fordham Road.
Ahhh. The good old days.
Im just sorry that Krums Ice cream parlor was before my time. I’ve heard that the sundae’s were delicious.

Ziggy
Ziggy on October 19, 2004 at 10:11 am

I agree with you Jim. Given the (apparently) wonderful job done in other parts of the theatre, I’m not going to fault the man for putting the concession stand where it is. I’m overjoyed that someone has taken the Paradise under their wing. I would be even more overjoyed if the concession stand had been put into one of the vacant storefronts with a new entranced formed from inside the theatre (other theatre renovations have done similar things). As it is, I’m glad the future of the Paradise is looking good, and (as I said) I’m sure not going to quibble over the location of a snack food stand.

JimRankin
JimRankin on October 19, 2004 at 7:12 am

While it is a shame to have to have a concession stand in the first place, there is a bright side to it: it is not causing the removal of ornament or fixtures from a wall, which is where they would otherwise have had to put it. Being in the middle, it will dominate the room, but then one can still walk around it with his back to it, and take in the restored ornate walls without having to keep the new stand in his mental picture. We must also be realistic about the traffic patterns encountered in the room, since the merchant who eventually uses it will want maximum traffic at all sides of the stand for fastest service as well as to maximize profits. Recall that it is food/refreshments that now really pay for a venue, not what is on a screen, sad to say. Also, there may be practical problems regarding utility feeds (water, sewer, electrical, beverage piping, etc.) that may require the location mid-floor for best access with least significant damage though the floor from basement storage area. There might even be a goods/cartons elevator hidden in the middle of the stand through a new opening in the floor so as to restock in a convenient way, and this too may be better than damaging the ornate plaster walls.

Ziggy
Ziggy on October 19, 2004 at 6:58 am

Roger Katz’s photos are great! As far as the comments regarding lack of carpeting, and areas painted white, remember that these are mid-renovation photos. It’s doubtful that carpeting would be in place until the painting is done, and scaffolding is removed. The white areas might actually be marbleized (it’s hard to tell from a photo). If you look at the fourth row of pics, there’s a shot of the lobby looking in through an archway. It show’s that the statue of the cupids and dolphin for the fountain is still in place, only the basin in missing. I agree about the concession stand, there’s got to be a better place than right in the middle of the lobby. Maybe the basement lounge, or any place less obtrusive. Still, I’m not going to quibble.

br91975
br91975 on October 18, 2004 at 6:28 pm

I read in the mid-90s somewhere that some part of the interior of the Paradise (the lobby and/or what were then the four theatre auditoriums) had been painted green. Looking at Roger’s photographs, that seems unlikely; can anyone confirm or refute this?

br91975
br91975 on October 18, 2004 at 6:23 pm

Unless the ‘new’ Paradise falls flat on its face – and, if it’s handled and appreciated well, it won’t – big-box retail use seems like something of a distant possibility at this point.

FoxFan
FoxFan on October 18, 2004 at 6:09 pm

Acknowledging the historical value of the site, Mr. Lieblich said his first choice would be to reopen it as an entertainment venue, though not as a single-screen movie theater; people don’t see movies in 4,000-seat theaters these days. Mr. Lieblich mentioned concerts, live shows, plays, dancing and comedy as some possible uses. And he is promising not to touch anything of historical value. “We’re treating it like it’s a piece of gold,‘’ he said. "It’s gorgeous, irreplaceable.”

Still, Mr. Lieblich did not reject the possibility that the theater might be used for big-box retail space, a move that would require covering, though not destroying, much of the interior décor.

joemasher
joemasher on October 18, 2004 at 6:08 pm

I took Roger into the building to photograph. The owner is seeking to do a true restoration, and I’ve given him some materials from the Theatre Historical Society (I’m the NYC Area Director) to use as reference. The large bar in the middle of the lobby will serve as a bar/concession area. Such things are necessary these days. The goldfish fountain should be restored.

Divinity
Divinity on October 18, 2004 at 6:05 pm

The theater was originally to be constructed a few blocks south near the old Ascot Theater. It was to be called the Venetian and its facade was to be of the same atyle but because of zoning restrictions and design changes it was built at the current site.

Divinity
Divinity on October 18, 2004 at 5:56 pm

I am extremely pleased with the progress of our beloved movie palace (Thank you br91975 for the photos) although some features have been dramatically altered. The lush fabric that lined some of the halls and corridors seem to have been removed as well as the carpet and some areas have been painted white. I dont remember anything painted white in the Paradise.Although the lobby is in excellent shape I am disappointed with the oversized concession stand bei
+ng built in the center. What about the goldfish fountain that was to be replaced? Overall the theater has had extensive renovation work done to it and it looks wonderful. All this has excited me. I cannot wait for opening night! Hopefully there will be birdcages filled with singing canaries hanging from the ceilings as there were on its first opening night.

RobertR
RobertR on October 18, 2004 at 5:29 pm

br91975
Those pictures are awesome, the place still looked great. Cinema Tours claims this theatre was also known as The Venetian, I never heard this before?

br91975
br91975 on October 18, 2004 at 5:19 pm

One of the films booked into the Paradise at the time of its closing in December of 1994 was the Clint Eastwood-Kevin Costner flick ‘A Perfect World’.