The fact that the RKO Keith’s is still standing today is truely amazing to me. After all the years and all the drama, this grand lady refuses to give up…..
Loew’s Kings mighty wurlitizer is sitting in an Oklahoma warehouse. It is waiting for its new/old home..According to its former owner, not one thing has been done to the Kings as of November 2012.
Tinseltoes, you and your boxoffice magazine are the best!!! A light comedy for “ANNE FRANK” WOW!! I can’t see it as a comedy…..First time in Palace was for Liza in a tribute show to her father and the “WILL ROGERS FOLLIES” which was a perfect show for that wonderful vaudville theater…
The Fox must have had a larger stage then the King’s and was used much more often which in turn created $$$$$. Probably if more thought was given, Loew’s would have only built the Paradise in the Bronx since they had the Met and other screens in Brookyln. Maybe ACE looked at the profits of the newly re-opened Paradise and had second thoughts especially after the Barclays debut. But not to mention the Kings in that article about Brooklyn in the dailynews leads me to believe it never did very well profitwise.
I believe Tinseltoes is right. The oringal people involved were Lowell Thomas, Mike Todd, and the inventor of this process and the money people (could have been Warner’s). When they mentioned the Broadway Theater I thought the Warners on Broadway. It was not. Warners was not on Broadway. Hence the Broadway is where it opened. I wonder why Leow’s was late coming on board? Since they controlled a majority of movie houses in NY.
Was the Capitol Theater called Loew’s Cinerama in the 50’s. I saw a bio of Cinerama recently and they mentioned the Warner theater was where it was first shown and played two years “This is Cinerama”? A theater called LOEW’S CINERAMA was also mentioned in Ny as showing this process.
True. Parking is free after 9pm where there is a paybox. What is insane is they have to be fed on Sunday. No wonder so many vacant storefronts on city streets. Why pay when suburbs are so easily gotten too. Sorry Rahm, this should have been overturned.
Enjoyed your essay so much Anita… We could be relatives! I was there when Jack & Bobby were downtown and what a day that was. The sun hitting JFK’s head and I remember how handsome he was. When I started to go downtown the streetcars were still running. I loved when they pulled up to the Marbro for I could lean over and read the marquee. I always sat on the left side to do this. Such excitement for a west side kid. You are a very very good writer Anita.
This is just like the serials that I am sure played at this theater in the 1930’s Saturday after Saturday always with"to be continued" theme. Finacing problems seems to be the problem in many start-up projects, especially entertainment venues. This “poor theater” has gone through so much in the last 30 years.
Also she mentioned how wonderful the ice cream treats were at the Kings. Many flavors and generous portions. How great would it be if she did a first night benfit for continued preservation of this glorious movie palace!
On the other hand, Jam Productions here in Chicago have everything ready to start on the Uptown Theater. Parking,
traffic flow,alcohol license,design teams(the seats on the main floor will be removed for a dance floor).What is NOT in place is the $70 million funds which they predict will happen next year with an opening date in 2015. They would never have bought the building to let it sit for years and had plenty of time to “iron out” the details. Its not that we are pessimists, but is there even a sign outside the Kings announcing the project? Does Ace actually own the building and have title?
On the other hand, one would think the city/state would “grease” the way for a prompt easying of bureaucratic rules to get this project up & running. It will be 2013 in three months. A delay would only hurt the investors I would think. I think I will go with Scott on this one..
On the other hand, one would think the city/state would “grease” the way for a prompt easying of bureaucratic rules to get this project up & running. It will be 2013 in three months. A delay would only hurt the investors I would think. I think I will go with Scott on this one..
I don’t want to believe Tinseltoes posting the need for the King’s existing due to the new Barclays opening and the small theater created for smaller shows. I wonder what tax breaks the Barclays received from the city/state and if any public funds were used in that massive project. Is The King’s to be funded by ACE entirely? I thought the city manager had a hand in it. You might be on to something Scott….
How far was the Loew’s Pitkin to Loew’s Kings? I didn’t realize Brooklyn was so large. 1929 was sure an important year for the Loew’s chain wasn’t it? If only they could see the depression around the corner, these pleasure palaces might never have been built.
BRAVO !! amoswald…A wonderful story. I enjoyed it very much and related to almost everything you wrote about, even the green river drinks. Almost every child in that glorious neighborhood did the same thing on saturdays. The Marbro movie was the highlight. My parents did the same routine going twice or more a week. Loved the story how your sister was born. It was a hoot !!! Thanks for sharing your memories with us all.
Tinseltoes, you did it again !! Many thanks for the wonderful link. B&K removed those glass doors prior to demolition and re-installed them in the Portage Theater on the northwest side of Chicago where they hang today in the open mode in the outer lobby. Also bits & pieces of the flashing marquee were salvaged and used for the Portage marquee modernization. Looking so forward to your piece amoswald..
I couldn’t agree more !!! I am more hopeful for the return of the beautiful Uptown in Chicago, another Rapp & Rapp treasure.
HURRAH HURRAH !!! Thanks Matt
The fact that the RKO Keith’s is still standing today is truely amazing to me. After all the years and all the drama, this grand lady refuses to give up…..
Thanks Life’s Too Short for link. I hope the Portage makes it. Wonderful programing!
Loew’s Kings mighty wurlitizer is sitting in an Oklahoma warehouse. It is waiting for its new/old home..According to its former owner, not one thing has been done to the Kings as of November 2012.
Tinseltoes, you and your boxoffice magazine are the best!!! A light comedy for “ANNE FRANK” WOW!! I can’t see it as a comedy…..First time in Palace was for Liza in a tribute show to her father and the “WILL ROGERS FOLLIES” which was a perfect show for that wonderful vaudville theater…
The Fox must have had a larger stage then the King’s and was used much more often which in turn created $$$$$. Probably if more thought was given, Loew’s would have only built the Paradise in the Bronx since they had the Met and other screens in Brookyln. Maybe ACE looked at the profits of the newly re-opened Paradise and had second thoughts especially after the Barclays debut. But not to mention the Kings in that article about Brooklyn in the dailynews leads me to believe it never did very well profitwise.
Amazing !! Not even the words “Loew’s Kings” mentioned past or present.. I am afraid Scott might be right..
I believe Tinseltoes is right. The oringal people involved were Lowell Thomas, Mike Todd, and the inventor of this process and the money people (could have been Warner’s). When they mentioned the Broadway Theater I thought the Warners on Broadway. It was not. Warners was not on Broadway. Hence the Broadway is where it opened. I wonder why Leow’s was late coming on board? Since they controlled a majority of movie houses in NY.
Was the Capitol Theater called Loew’s Cinerama in the 50’s. I saw a bio of Cinerama recently and they mentioned the Warner theater was where it was first shown and played two years “This is Cinerama”? A theater called LOEW’S CINERAMA was also mentioned in Ny as showing this process.
It will be interesting to see what she says this week during her show at the Barclays concerning her days visiting the Loew’s Kings.
True. Parking is free after 9pm where there is a paybox. What is insane is they have to be fed on Sunday. No wonder so many vacant storefronts on city streets. Why pay when suburbs are so easily gotten too. Sorry Rahm, this should have been overturned.
Enjoyed your essay so much Anita… We could be relatives! I was there when Jack & Bobby were downtown and what a day that was. The sun hitting JFK’s head and I remember how handsome he was. When I started to go downtown the streetcars were still running. I loved when they pulled up to the Marbro for I could lean over and read the marquee. I always sat on the left side to do this. Such excitement for a west side kid. You are a very very good writer Anita.
This is just like the serials that I am sure played at this theater in the 1930’s Saturday after Saturday always with"to be continued" theme. Finacing problems seems to be the problem in many start-up projects, especially entertainment venues. This “poor theater” has gone through so much in the last 30 years.
Is this theater still standing? Or has the wrecking ball begun to swing?
Also she mentioned how wonderful the ice cream treats were at the Kings. Many flavors and generous portions. How great would it be if she did a first night benfit for continued preservation of this glorious movie palace!
That is a great thought Tinseltoes. I also wonder if she will request a tour of her “old haunt”.
I too will shut up and just be patient!
On the other hand, Jam Productions here in Chicago have everything ready to start on the Uptown Theater. Parking, traffic flow,alcohol license,design teams(the seats on the main floor will be removed for a dance floor).What is NOT in place is the $70 million funds which they predict will happen next year with an opening date in 2015. They would never have bought the building to let it sit for years and had plenty of time to “iron out” the details. Its not that we are pessimists, but is there even a sign outside the Kings announcing the project? Does Ace actually own the building and have title?
On the other hand, one would think the city/state would “grease” the way for a prompt easying of bureaucratic rules to get this project up & running. It will be 2013 in three months. A delay would only hurt the investors I would think. I think I will go with Scott on this one..
On the other hand, one would think the city/state would “grease” the way for a prompt easying of bureaucratic rules to get this project up & running. It will be 2013 in three months. A delay would only hurt the investors I would think. I think I will go with Scott on this one..
I don’t want to believe Tinseltoes posting the need for the King’s existing due to the new Barclays opening and the small theater created for smaller shows. I wonder what tax breaks the Barclays received from the city/state and if any public funds were used in that massive project. Is The King’s to be funded by ACE entirely? I thought the city manager had a hand in it. You might be on to something Scott….
How far was the Loew’s Pitkin to Loew’s Kings? I didn’t realize Brooklyn was so large. 1929 was sure an important year for the Loew’s chain wasn’t it? If only they could see the depression around the corner, these pleasure palaces might never have been built.
BRAVO !! amoswald…A wonderful story. I enjoyed it very much and related to almost everything you wrote about, even the green river drinks. Almost every child in that glorious neighborhood did the same thing on saturdays. The Marbro movie was the highlight. My parents did the same routine going twice or more a week. Loved the story how your sister was born. It was a hoot !!! Thanks for sharing your memories with us all.
Tinseltoes, you did it again !! Many thanks for the wonderful link. B&K removed those glass doors prior to demolition and re-installed them in the Portage Theater on the northwest side of Chicago where they hang today in the open mode in the outer lobby. Also bits & pieces of the flashing marquee were salvaged and used for the Portage marquee modernization. Looking so forward to your piece amoswald..