Diana Ross Kicks Off Kings Theatre's Grand Reopening With Sold-Out Show
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Diana Ross headlined Tuesday's grand reopening of the 3,200-seat Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
After a two-year, $95 million renovation, Kings is now the biggest theater in the borough.
The 86-year-old venue, its decor inspired by France's Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera, was one of the five Loew's "Wonder Theatres'' in New York and New Jersey -- sumptuous homes to a budding movie culture.
Diana Ross Kicks Off Kings Theatre's Grand Reopening With Sold-Out Show
Barbra Streisand, Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone worked as ushers at the old Loew's Kings Theatre. The venue hosted major acts including Bob Hope and Milton Berle, beauty pageants in the 1940s and the Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston boxing match in 1964.
The movie palace fell into disrepair after shutting down in 1977 and was seized by the city for back taxes in 1980.
Now, every detail from its 1929 jazz age incarnation has returned amid computerized sound and LED lighting.
Future programs will feature Gladys Knight, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Sarah McLachlan -- the first of about 200 live annual events being planned.
Tuesday night's concert is sold out.
"Huge Diana Ross fan, I love her," said Tiffany White. "No tickets, I'm really mad at myself that I didn't get any tickets."
Despite no tickets for White, she said she's thrilled to see the old theater come back to life, 1010 WINS' Derricke Dennis reported.
"Well I'm glad they did this for the neighborhood, we need it," she said.
On Feb. 7, Kings will open its doors for free tours.
For more information, visit kingstheatre.com.
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