United Palace
Loew's 175th Street Theatre
Address4140 Broadway
between West 175th and West 176th Streets
Washington Heights, Manhattan
New York City
Coordinates40°50′47″N 73°56′17″W / 40.846412°N 73.938193°W / 40.846412; -73.938193
OwnerUnited Palace of Spiritual Arts[1]
Capacity3,350
Current usechurch, concert hall/performing arts center, cinema (classic movies)
Construction
Opened1930
ArchitectThomas W. Lamb
Website
www.unitedpalace.org

The United Palace (originally Loew's 175th Street Theatre) is a theater at 4140 Broadway in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The theater, occupying a full city block bounded by Broadway, Wadsworth Avenue, and West 175th and 176th Streets, functions both as a spiritual center and as a nonprofit cultural and performing arts center. Architect Thomas W. Lamb designed the theater as a movie palace, which opened in 1930 as one of five Loew's Wonder Theatres in the New York City area. The theater's lavishly eclectic interior decor was supervised by Harold Rambusch, who also designed the interior of the Roxy Theatre and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.[2]

The theater was the first in Washington Heights built specifically to show films,[3] although it also presented live vaudeville.[4][5][6][7] The theater operated continuously until it was closed by Loew's in 1969. That same year it was purchased by the United Christian Evangelistic Association, headed by the television evangelist Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, better known as Reverend Ike. The theater became the headquarters of his United Church Science of Living Institute and was renamed the United Palace.[8]

The building was designated a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2016. As of 2018, the church is called the United Palace of Spiritual Arts, and offers performing arts events through the United Palace of Cultural Arts.[9] The facility is available for rental to outside event producers and promoters.

Architecture

The proscenium and stage of the United Palace; the stage is set up for an orchestral performance
A look at the inside of what has been called a "delirious masterpiece"[5]

The architectural style of the terra-cotta-faced theater has been described as "Byzantine-Romanesque-Indo-Hindu-Sino-Moorish-Persian-Eclectic-Rococo-Deco" by David W. Dunlap of the New York Times,[10] who wrote later that Lamb borrowed from "the Alhambra in Spain, the Kailasa rock-cut shrine in India, and the Wat Phra Keo temple in Thailand, adding Buddhas, bodhisattvas, elephants, and honeycomb stonework in an Islamic pattern known as muqarnas."[7] The AIA Guide to New York City calls it "Cambodian neo-Classical" and invites a comparison to Lamb's Loew's Pitkin Theatre in Brownsville, Brooklyn,[11] while New York Times reporter Nathaniel Adams called it simply a "kitchen-sink masterpiece." Lamb himself wrote that "Exotic ornaments, colors and scenes are particularly effective in creating an atmosphere in which the mind is free to frolic and becomes receptive to entertainment."[5]

The interior of the building features a "palatial" staircase.[8] and reflects the western obsession with exotic lands and cultures that was fashionable in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The interior is decorated with filigreed walls and ceilings, illuminated with indirect, recessed lighting from within and behind the walls. The rich decor is enhanced by reproductions of authentic Louis XV and XVI furnishings.[12]

The theater still looks very much as it did when it first opened; the only major change that Rev. Ike made was adding in the 1970s a cupola or prayer tower on the building's northeast corner, at Wadsworth Avenue and West 176th Street, topped by a "Miracle Star of Faith," visible from the George Washington Bridge and New Jersey.

History

Theater

Loew's 175th Street Theatre was built as one of the Loew's Wonder Theatres, the company's five extravagant and spacious flagships throughout the New York City area. The other four theaters are Loew's Jersey in Jersey City (1929) and Loew's Kings in Brooklyn (1929), both now used as performing arts centers;[13][14] and Loew's Paradise in the Bronx (1929) and Loew's Valencia in Queens (1929), both now used as churches.[15]

All five theaters featured identical "Wonder Morton" theatre pipe organs manufactured by the Robert Morton Organ Company of Van Nuys, California. Each organ featured a four-manual console and 23 ranks of pipes. The organ in the United Palace was restored c.1970 after almost 25 years of disuse, and was utilized by the church in its services. It remains in the theater but is not currently functioning due to water damage.[8] Events featuring "Live Organ" accompaniment used an electronic organ.[8] In October 2016 the New York Theater Organ Society began restoration of the organ[15] but its progress was last updated in 2018.[16]

Loew's 175th Street Theatre seated over 3,400 people and opened on February 22, 1930. The first program included the MGM film Their Own Desire. starring Norma Shearer, and Pearls, a live musical stage revue starring vaudevillians Shaw and Lee (Al Shaw and Sam Lee). Hollywood stars who appeared at the theatre to host films included Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.[3] Loew's closed the theater in March 1969, 39 years after it opened, with a showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey.[8]

Church

In 1969, as the era of grand movie palaces was coming to an end, the theatre was purchased by the United Christian Evangelistic Association, headed by televangelist Rev. Ike, who renamed the building the United Palace.[17] The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) considered designating the theater as a landmark in 1970. However, United Palace objected to the proposal, and the landmark status was not enacted at that time.[3][18]

The church has since become an all-inclusive, non-denominational spiritual arts community.[19] In 2017, the Eikerenkoetter family "retired from all [United Palace] and [United Palace of Cultural Arts] operations".[20] As of 2018, the church is named the United Palace of Spiritual Arts.[21]

Classic cinema and live performance venue

Musical performers since 2007 include Vampire Weekend, Eddie Vedder, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Bloc Party, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Adele, The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, Sigur Rós, Jackson Browne, Alex Campos, Björk, Allman Brothers Band,[6] Iggy and the Stooges,[6] Modest Mouse,[10] The Black Crowes, Bryan Ferry, Lenny Kravitz, Mumford & Sons, Bad Bunny, Aventura, Arcade Fire, Becky G and Kraftwerk.

In 2007, Sir Simon Rattle appeared at the theater conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring danced by public school students and choreographed by Royston Maldoom.[6] The following year, a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Mass was given as part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of that composer's birth.[22] In addition, recitals, classes and lectures have also been presented at the theatre.

The non-profit United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) was founded by Reverend Ike's son Xavier Eikerenkoetter in 2012 and functions as a community arts center. UPCA currently works to produce performances for youth arts organizations through grants and fundraisers.[23]

In 2013, local benefactor Lin-Manuel Miranda launched successful campaigns to raise money for a new 52-foot screen and digital projection system in the theatre. The monthly film series that followed pairs classic titles with live pre-show entertainment, in an effort to "reinvent going to the movies" as audiences experienced in the golden age of Hollywood. The first film presented in the new format was the 1942 Warner Bros classic Casablanca.[24]

In late 2015, the LPC hosted a public hearing on whether to designate the United Palace as a city landmark. This was part of a review of 95 listings that had been calendared by the LPC for several decades but never approved as city landmarks.[25][26] The building was designated a New York City landmark on December 13, 2016.[27][28] The church opposed the landmark designation citing the added cost and time to do any work on the building, use restrictions, and their fifty-year history of preserving the theater entirely with private funds.[29] The church attempted to have the designation overturned[30][31] but later withdrew their objections.[32]

On April 7, 2019, the United Palace of Spiritual Arts celebrated its 50th anniversary in the venue with a special screening of the sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey (the last movie shown at Loew's 175th before it closed as a commercial movie house in 1969).[33][34]

Film and TV shoot location

The United Palace has served as a location in film and television, including John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,[35] the NBC TV series Smash, the Netflix series Luke Cage episode "Blowin' Up the Spot," and the HBO series Crashing episode 2.4 "Porter Got HBO." It was also used in the FX TV series Pose,[36][37] and in the third season of the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building.[38]

On December 13, 2022, it was announced that the United Palace would be the venue for the 76th Tony Awards, which took place on June 11, 2023.[39][40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "4140 Broadway, Manhattan" New York City Geographic Information Services map. Accessed: June 1, 2014
  2. ↑ Staff (ndg) "United Palace: Reawaken Wonder" (tour brochure) United Palace. Accessed: August 18, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Caratzas, Michael (December 13, 2016) "United Palace Designation Report", New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
  4. ↑ Adams, Nathaniel (January 15, 2015). "Across the New York Area, Restoring 'Wonder Theater' Movie Palaces to Glory". The New York Times.
  5. 1 2 3 Dunlap, David W. (April 13, 2001), "Xanadus Rise to a Higher Calling", The New York Times
  6. 1 2 3 4 Atamian, Christopher (November 11, 2007). "'Rite of Spring' as Rite of Passage". The New York Times.
  7. 1 2 Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p. 286
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "United Church: 'The Palace Cathedral'" in New York City Organ Project New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
  9. ↑ United Palace of Cultural Arts website
  10. 1 2 Dwyer, Jim (May 2, 2007), "With Indie Rock on 175th St., City's Reinvention Rolls Uptown", The New York Times
  11. ↑ White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 568. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
  12. ↑ "United Palace Theatre History". United Palace Theatre website.
  13. ↑ Alberts, Hana R. (May 28, 2014). "See the Amazing Restoration of Flatbush's 1920s Movie Palace". CurbedNYC. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kings Theatre website
  15. 1 2 Krefft, Jason R. Bryan & Roe, Ken. "Loew's Valencia Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Restoring the Wonder - Restoration Progress". Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ Diamond, Bruce (May 11, 2012). "United Palace Cathedral may see new life as community arts center". New York Daily News.
  18. ↑ Benitez, Juan Manuel (April 7, 2017). "Effort to Landmark 'Palace' in the Heights Years in the Making". Spectrum News NY1 New York City. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ "United Palace House of Inspiration". United Palace House of Inspiration website.
  20. ↑ "About" United Palace of Cultural Arts website. Accessed: August 14, 2018
  21. ↑ "About" United Palace of Spiritual Arts website. Accessed: August 14, 2018
  22. ↑ Tommasini, Anthony (October 26, 2008). "Bernstein Mass Project, Youthful Choristers Imparting New Life". The New York Times.
  23. ↑ United Palace of Cultural Arts website
  24. ↑ "Success! $49K Raised to return film to the Palace". United Palace. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  25. ↑ Matua, Angela (February 24, 2016). "Pepsi-Cola sign in LIC may become an official landmark by the end of 2016". QNS.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  26. ↑ Kimmelman, Michael (February 17, 2016). "Big Risks as Landmarks Preservation Commission Moves to Prune Proposed Gems". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ Staff (December 13, 2016) "LPC Backlog Initiative Results in 27 New Landmarks" (press release). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
  28. ↑ Chaban, Matt A. V. (December 14, 2016). "10 New York Sites Get Landmark Status as Panel Clears Backlog". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Subcommittee Delays Action on Three Landmark Designations - CityLand". CityLand. March 9, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  30. ↑ Walker, Ameena (January 28, 2017). "Owner of landmarked Washington Heights theater wants the designation overturned". Curbed NY. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  31. ↑ Pichardo, Carolina (January 27, 2017). "United Palace Owners 'Seeking to Overturn' Landmark Designation". DNAinfo New York. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  32. ↑ Staff (March 29, 2017) "Iconic theater slated for landmark designation". Manhattan Times
  33. ↑ "Film Festival Event: Tour of the United Palace |". Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Untapped Cities Insider Events in NYC for April 2019". Untapped New York. March 26, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Where Was John Wick 3 Filmed? Guide to All the Filming Locations". Atlas of Wonders. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Where is Pose Filmed?". May 2021.
  37. ↑ "'Pose' Star Says Show is 'Art Mirroring Reality': 'I Was Broke'". July 19, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Filming Locations for Only Murders in the Building, Season 3". August 8, 2023.
  39. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "The Tony Awards Are Getting a New Home in 2023". Playbill. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Tony Awards To Be Broadcast Live From Washington Heights, Miles From Times Square; Date Set". Retrieved December 13, 2022.
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