Just as the Great Depression was hitting in the last century, the Loew's Theater chain opened five "Wonder Theaters" in New York, so-called because the lavishly overdone theaters were meant to be the preeminent movie houses of their day. And for a brief moment, they were. All five are still standing, but only one (in Jersey) currently shows any movies (two are churches, two host live entertainment and the last was completely abandoned). Come 2013, that changes when, after more than three decades of being unused and abused, the Loew's Kings Theater on Flatbush is expected to reopen courtesy of a massive, $70 million refurbishment from a company called ACE Theatrical. The only problem? The reopening may bring a touch of traffic.
A recent study of the project has found that if the 3,000-seat theater brings in the crowds it is expected to bring in—and, if it looks this good falling apart, they will come— it could be a real headache for drivers on the all-ready congested nearby streets. Not that there is anything the developer can do about it. “It is what it is,” said David Anderson of ACE said regarding the traffic problem.
The city, however, can do something about it and is looking into preemptively tweaking things like how long stop lights stay red to ease the problem.
Meanwhile, the neighbors don't seem too worried. One sounded positively giddy about the prospect of a revitalized Kings Theater: “The benefits derived from the theater are going to be exponentially greater than the inconvenience of the traffic. I think it will do wonders for the neighborhood because it will help to revitalize Flatbush Avenue. It’s totally positive.”
And we totally agree. Is it 2013, yet?
