Dear American Theater,
This week you will close after about 74 years of providing entertainment to thousands of Parkchester residents. I’m not going to lie and say that I have always loved you, because I haven’t. During countless summer camp trips we visited you and I spent the majority of my time using my full strength to free my foot from the sticky trap that was your floor. Even at a mere 11 years old, I knew that you had fallen from grace. I saw the glimmers of glamour you once must have proudly shown off. Sometimes it wasn’t your fault. Sometimes your patrons sullied your reputation – bringing their shrieking infants to R-rated films, littering, and believing it was okay to provide commentary on the films. But lately, I noticed you tried to clean up your act. Last weekend, I saw that the carpets were clean and the wood polished. I even took note of the artwork on the ceiling in theater five. And the floors were not nearly as sticky as they had been before. I left happy, knowing you were making strides to improve. (Even though the film was so blurry, I felt like I was watching a bootleg.) Your dedication to keeping your prices reasonable always made you a viable destination for the money-conscious, especially in the wake of the recession. I’d hoped that with the closing of Whitestone , you’d pick up more visitors. But, alas, your lease is up, and for some reason, it seems like people aren’t fighting for you like they should. Today, I will fill out a request for evaluation form and send it to the Landmark Preservation Commission. The Bronx has so much forgotten and overlooked history, I would hate for you to become a part of that.
Sincerely,
The Bronx Socialite
I was sad to here this was happening, and hope someone is able to save it. It is a landmark that should be preserved.