Monday

Derelict Movie Palace (Lowes Kings, Flatbush)








“A teenage Barbra Streisand worked as an usher here. After the 3,000 seat theater closed in 1977 the city bought it to prevent its demolition.”

Source: Walking Brooklyn

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5 comments:

  1. InsOutsofLife1/2/10, 12:17 PM

    What is going on with it now and whom may be contacted on interest to purchase and restore?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ACruz2/8/10, 7:42 AM

    I just saw a news item regarding the upcoming renovation and restoration of the Loews Kings Theater (scheduled to be completed in 2014). I am thrilled to hear that it is not going to be demolished but that it is coming back! I have never been inside the structure but I can imagine the splendor it must be inside - just by looking at the marvelous facade and sculptural work on the outside. As a Brooklyn based artist and sculptor who lives just a few short blocks away from the theater I am excited about the news of its restoration. This will definitely be a shot in the arm for the borough of Brooklyn and for all Brooklynites!

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  3. jgraif4/10/10, 9:01 PM

    as a displaced new yorker who now lives in virginia, i am elated to learn that the theater remains intact. this was one of five loews "wonder theaters" that were built during the silent film era. there was one in every borough of new york city except richmond. the fifth was located in jersey city. they contained identical robert morton theatre pipe organs which were appropriately dubbed "wonder mortons". interestingly enough, three of the theaters are extant today. the valencia in queens and the paradise in the bronx are, unfortunately, long gone. however, the jersey city, the 175th street in manhattan and the kings in brooklyn remain. the jersey city has been renovated and is nothing less than gorgeous. the 175th street was renovated in the 1960's by reverend ike but has again fallen into disrepair. the 175th still has its original wonder morton. the instrument served for many, many memorable concerts throughout the 70's and 80's. however, it was damaged several years ago and remains unplayable. the jerey city now contains the organ that was originally in the paradise in the bronx. so, it's almost original. nonetheless, it speaks with its original thunder and beauty.

    it is very important that an organ be found for the kings so that silent films might be screened and a new concert venue created for theatre organists and their fans.

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  4. Anonymous8/23/10, 1:19 PM

    There is a expert Organ builder in the Eugene Or area you might find through PBS.ORG [public broadcasting] or the UofO music department. It's a dying art itself apparently and if you could not find a suitable organ or did but it needed repair, He would be well worth the search. I am glad to see this happining there and wish more effort was made to restore silent films decaying away before it's too late, Good Luck!

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  5. Anonymous1/24/11, 7:48 PM

    The Kings was the shooting location for the 1991 music video for the Goo Goo Dolls' song "I'm Awake Now". It's available on YouTube and shows some nice shots of the interior.

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