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R.I.P. Loews State |
The Loews State cinema, the last cinema on Broadway and the biggest Bollywood theater in Manhattan, closed last Friday, a victim of the AMC-Loews merger. This Times Square theater was so central that it showed up in movies ranging from Kal Ho Naa Ho to Phone Booth. As far as I know, the much smaller ImaginAsian is now the only theater on the island regularly playing Bollywood flicks. Where will I go to get my regular phixx?
I loved and hated you, my State. From playing telephone with the non-Hindi-speaking ticket window to watching tripe masquerading as film, you brought me the best and the worst on giant screens. You brought me up with Parineeta and down with Deewane Huye Paagal, up with Mangal Pandey / The Rising and down with Bluff Master; you brought me sold-out crowds (for Pandey) and a hall to myself (for everything else). Not three weeks ago, I ran backward down your escalator to retrieve a scarf and met two cuties doing the same. In recent years you were a second-run theater, but watching desi flicks at the center of the world was its own distinct thrill. And your location in the Virgin Megastore was so Bolly-apropos 
When I lived in S.F., a friend of mine hosted stylish, witty desi parties for the mid-20s to mid-30s set. She had a baby, the parties stopped, and everyone felt the loss. Some things are as much community services as profit-making ventures. The Bollyrun at the Loews State was such a creature.
Fifty years ago, the neighborhood was the world’s largest showcase for cinema — the area housed over a dozen grand movie palaces, including the Paramount, Roxy, Capitol, Strand, Warner, Rivoli and the National. In late 2004, the Loews Astor Place closed on 44th Street (it is now a concert venue, the Nokia Theatre), and a few years before, the area lost the Embassy two-plex and the Criterion Center. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of increased rents for commercial space, the recent AMC-Loews merger, and the flourishing new multiplexes on 42nd Street near Port Authority, the AMC Empire 25 and the Loews E-Walk. [Link – NSFW]
One commenter speculated about the fate of this huge but poorly-promoted basement theater:
[I] would not be surprised if the whole lower level is turned into another high-priced theme eatery for the tourists that frequent Times Square. [Link]
Another Bolly-ignorant commenter snarked:
Check out this all-hit line-up. No wonder this place is ready to become a Dunkin’ Donuts, or whatever.
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya…
My Date With Drew
The Rising
Viruddhposted by Don Rosen [Link]
Yes, Don, and here’s the lineup of winners at the Hollyplex:
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Big Momma’s House 2
Cheaper By the Dozen 2
Last Holiday
Related posts: ImaginAsian showing Bollyflicks, Let’s play telephone, ‘Yuva’S
Look at it this way: The ImaginAsian is a much better theatre than the State. (Frankly, they both are mediocre, but the State was totally lousy.)
BTW, have you (or anyone) seen Rang De Basanti? Good? Bad?
What disappointing news — especially since films tend stay at ImaginAsian for such short runs. Let’s hope that where there is a vacuum it will be filled — and soon!
Rani – I saw Rang De Basanti over the weekend at ImaginAsian. Loved it! Really rich film — fun, funny, interesting, thought-provoking.
Awww Manish didn’t know this. What a shame. It’s down the block from my office. I’ve taken field trips from the office to catch desi flicks down there. 🙁
Artier, but I liked the State’s large screens.
AK,
I wanted to check out RDB in the theatres, but I guess I missed my (tiny) window of opportunity. I’ll just have to wait until it’s on DVD.
(I am so behind on my Bollywood these days – I miss them in the theatre and my husband is lukewarm about them so I don’t even have anyone to go with – that one day, I just need to rent 8 films and watch them back to back.)
RDB is at the ImaginAsian right now.
RDB is still playing at Bombay Theatre in Queens, a few places in NJ, and at the ImaginAsian for at least another week. Just beware the lines at ImaginAsian, as every desi on the island and from nearby boroughs is trying to cram in.
Yes, the Loews was annoying but the theatres were huge (and clean!), the screens were large, and it was pretty comfy– having suffered a 3 hour bollywood film on an un-comfy seat, I can say this is a priority. When I first moved to NYC and was looking for a job, one of my rewards to keep the unemployed blues at bay was to treat myself to a desi movie at the Loews State, after a hard morning of interviewing and tromping around the city. Of course, this was back when they had afternoon screenings; I suppose it heralded the beginning of the end, when the theatre cut back on shows before 6pm. It was such a treat to see the movies on a proper “big” screen, instead of renting from the guy who sold 220 appliances. Before moving here I lived in a town that had only 1 1/2 desi video stores and absolutely no theatres showing desi movies. I used to imagine living somewhere that desi movies were shown in theatres– that would be the official Welcome To BrownTown, in my book.
Goodbye Loews. We’ve had some great times over the years. (Yes, I’ve forgiven you for that crap-ass “Shabd”)
DD, Manish,
Thanks much. I think I will go and check it out tomorrow night.
If you go on a weekend, buy the ticket in advance. It sold out everywhere last weekend.
Oh man I did not know that!! 🙁 Thanks for sharing the info Manish! That explains why they didnt have RDB listed for the weekend….I was wondering what happened?!
Btw…RDB is really good! And yeah…please buy the ticket before going!
Will buy a ticket right now. Thanks, everyone. I can’t wait–I am already in love with the music.
Rani, you’ll love it even more after seeing it picturized in the movie 🙂
RDB should definitely be seen on a big screen, at least the first half warrants that.
And easy access to Bollywood movies (and Tollywood even!) at a massive multiplex that serves vada pau no less, is one perk of living just across the Hudson in NJ.
Ann On, if you’re talking about Bergen Cinema, you need a car– and that one shut down (and moved) last week too.
Eagle Theatre in Jackson Heist is still open rite? Been awhile, last saw Chalte Chalte there. Uncomfortable seats but atleast there’s better food options than Times Square.
well rani… how about you tell him there are some strapping young studs in the SM neighborhood who would be more than happy to take you for a desi night on the town.
Oy!
My husband is an SM reader, too :).
And anyways, how do know I am not insufferably boring or shrill and annoying or…
They started showing Bollywood and Malaylam films at the Douglaston Mall theater(a much better than theater than Eagle, but nothing to brag about) in Queens. If you are on LI a Mid Island multiplex in Bethpage also screens Bollywood flicks. R.I.P Loews state, you had such a lousy management, ghetto ass rude employees, bad presentations, but I enjoyed watching films there.
Hey, you can catch RDB at Novi Town Center 8. That’s “Michigan’s first Indian movie theater”, everyone… I think. So come on down and take advantage of Detroit while it is still ‘clean’ and ‘safe’ for all of our Superbowl guests!
http://www.detroitindia.com/detroitindia/entertainment/movies.asp
tut tut rani… league of brown men are a gallant bunch… all you have to do is send out the signal into the night and a desi ranjha will leap to your rescue in a spandex langoti
Update: looks like AMC/Loews is compensating for closing the State by playing Hindi films at other theatres. At least one film at one theatre, and for now — though that may be just because RDB has been doing so well at the box office….
AK, The Imaginasian Theatre isn’t owned by Sony/Loews/AMC/Regal or any of the major chains. But yes, rumor has it that the 34th St Loews will pick up the slack in the area of brown-films, now that the State has closed. Even better, they’ll have shows before 6pm during the week (something State did away with about a year back)
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) a time for old, a time for new
noo!!!!!!!!! i want it back….i loved loews…i have so many unfinished plans (and memories) there…to see so many movies with my boyfriend in the romantic hindi-movie environment!! i can’t get over it…..anything we can do to win them back, my fellows desi peeps?
Hi there-
I’m in charge of The ImaginAsian theater, and although I will admit I caught my first Bollywood movie (KHNH) at the State a few years back, and will miss it a little bit, we’re going to do our best to make sure we deliver all the filmi fans the best experience in town. We recently installed a brand new Dolby Digital EX sound system (even the big AMCs and Loews theaters don’t have those, as anyone who saw RDB at 34th Street can attest) and a pastry warmer so we can serve up hot samosas and pastries for the show. We’re putting in new seats later this year, and are going to keep concession and ticket prices lower than the other big theaters, so you get even more value for your money! Right now you can catch a evening screening of Omkara, relax and have a samosa before the show, and use our free lobby internet for less than the price a ticket to a Times Square theater.
We’re going to do our best to play Hindi movies as long as possible, though it’s hard to play something too long with only one screen. It can get crowded (RDB made me wish we had another 300 seats!), but we have an online ticketing system where you can buy tickets weeks in advance.
If you have any requests, comments, or concerns, you can send us an email through our website, and we’ll always get back to you. We want to know how we can make The ImaginAsian the best theater in town!