Loew’s Kings Theatre
Auditorium of the Loews Kings
Loew’s Kings Theatre opened on September 7, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY, and was designed by the architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp (also known for the Paramount Theater in Times Square) and decorated by Harold W. Rambush. It was operated by the Loew’s theaters chain, and, along with the Loew’s Jersey Theatre, Loew’s Paradise Theatre, the Loew’s Valencia Theatre and the Loew’s 175th Street Theatre, it was one of the five “Loew’s Wonder Theaters” in the New York metropolitan area.
The lobby of the Loews Kings Theatre
The Kings introduced a few well known stars to their future craft. Many celebrities who grew up in Brooklyn worked as ushers in the 3,676 seat theater, including Sylvester Stallone, and Henry Winkler.
Loew’s dropped the Kings in August 1977 due to low attendance and high maintenance costs, as well as the decline of the surrounding neighborhood. The Kings was passed over for many 1970s blockbusters, including Jaws and Star Wars. Instead, it showed mostly kung-fu and B-horror movies, films that were incapable of pulling in the massive audiences needed to sustain the theater. Already visibly deteriorating, the theater was sold in 1979 and later seized by the city for back taxes owed by the purchasing company.
Hand carved mahogany adorns an exit to the lobby
Numerous restoration proposals have been presented over the years – including one that would have turned part of the lobby into a wax museum – but only recently have any plans been made official. On February 2, 2010, the City of New York announced a $70 million renovation in partnership with ACE Theatrical Group of Houston to restore the Kings Theatre for use as a performing arts center by 2015.
View of the theater from the balcony.
The current plans call for the Kings’ interior spaces to be restored to their original 1929 splendor. Once reopened, the theater will be the third largest in New York City.
One of the entrances to the auditorium
One of the exits from the balcony
Ornate chandeliers decorated the lobby
Loew’s Kings Projector room
Trackbacks
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beautiful! You should try to make your way to Connecticut and check out The Majestic Theater in Bridgeport. It’s been closed for ages, but the inside is in tact and pretty amazing.
I recently photographed both the Palace and Majestic Theaters in Bridgeport. The first post is up now. http://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2011/10/13/loews-palace-theatre/
Such an amazing piece of history. Beautifully captured.
Brings back memories. Thanks…
These photos are amazing. Very cool.
One of these palaces is still open and operating on a semi-regular basis. The Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City. They have themed weekend showings like old horror films, or Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy.
http://www.loewsjersey.org 201-798-6055 for info on schedule
Easy to get to on PATH!
There were 4 theaters along Flatbush Avenue – the Astor, the Albemarle, the Loew’s Kings, and the Rialto. The Kings was just majestic, standing out among all the others, and showing ‘first-run’ films when they came to Brooklyn. Many a Saturday during the ’60′s, I would go to watch as many as 10 cartoons, a newsreel, and a double feature, plus Coming Attractions. Those were great times.
Enjoyed your images and background. Have you thought of doing some HDRs of the theaters? I know it would look great.
Thanks. To be honest, I’m not a fan of HDR and never really considered it.
What a fantastic set of pictures. I grew up in Manhattan but I went to Brooklyn College. I have wanted to get in there for 30 years, especially after i saw “Memoirs of a Movie Palace” (it was shown on PBS once). Are the Orchestra and Organ lifts still there? It appears that the stage elevators have collapsed. Is that the case. Thank you again for the great pictures.
Thanks! The orchestra lift is still there, but the organ lift is not. I think it was sealed up when the organ was removed in 1974. The curtain collapsed on to the stage, if there was any stage elevators on the stage, they’re probably under that.
Hey!
Just stumbled upon your blog through a post of 75 abandonded theatres. Would really like to go check this out. Is it open to get in or did you have to find your own way in?
Awesome photos!
The Kings is currently being restored, and no one is allowed inside.
That looks like a beautiful theater, both inside and out! Good luck to all you New Yorkers, and enjoy the new theater when it re-opens!
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was entirely right. I love historic theaters.
Great Pictures. I remember sitting in the children’s section. They had matrons there to watch all the kids that were there unattended.
Every time me and my parents would pass King’s theatre, I’d ask them what it was but they could never tell me. I would always try to imagine what was inside and this is way more than I expected. I’m in awe of your photos. It’s like I’ve stepped back in time!
Used to be usher there in1962 holy crap!! Anyone remember mrs solomen