Landmarks Preservation Commission December 14, 2010, Designation List 436 LP-2408 CONEY ISLAND THEATER (LATER SHORE THEATER) BUILDING, 1301 Surf Avenue (aka 2932-2952 Stillwell Avenue), Brooklyn. Built 1925; Reilly & Hall, architects. Landmark Site: Borough of Brooklyn Tax Map Block 7064, Lot 16. On March 23, 2010 the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the proposed designation as a Landmark of the (former) Coney Island Theater Building, later Shore Theater at 1301 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, and the proposed designation of the related Landmark Site (Item No. 6). The hearing had been duly advertised in accordance with the provisions of law. There were nine speakers in favor of designation including representatives of Councilmember Recchia, the Historic Districts Council, the Municipal Art Society, the Landmarks Conservancy, Coney Island USA, Save Coney Island, and the Coney Island History Project. Summary The seven-story theater and office building recently known as the Shore Theater and originally known as the Coney Island Theater is one of the largest, most substantial structures in Coney Island in Brooklyn and, when it was constructed in 1925, represented the optimistic attitude of that period for the successful year-round development of Coney Island as a premier entertainment district. Seeking to change the atmosphere of the resort from the somewhat seedy aura it had developed in the 19th century into an area of wholesome family amusement, the city constructed the Boardwalk and extended subway service to Stillwell Avenue while private developers built enclosed amusement parks, restaurants and hotels. The Coney Island Theater was part of this redevelopment effort and featured live performances as well as motion picture screenings. The neo Renaissance Revival style building was constructed and owned by the Chanin Construction Company and leased to the prominent Loew’s theater chain. This large building contained stores, a theater and offices, originally intended for businesses related to the theater industry. Faced with brick and terra-cotta and highlighted by stone and terra-cotta details this structure presents a grand and substantial counterpoint to Coney Island’s more modest one- and two-story buildings. The architects, Reilly & Hall, were leading theater architects of the day. Their selection for the design of the building is indicative of the desire, on the part of Coney Island’s civic and business leaders, to confer legitimacy, grandeur, and elegance on Coney Island. The building is organized in a tri-partite configuration, with a rusticated base, a buff brick shaft and a crown featuring a central arcade and balcony. The Shore Theater Building is a remarkably intact survivor of the early 20th century period when Coney Island was New York City’s playground, and was striving to become a year-round entertainment district for the entire city.

DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS Coney Island1 Although the western end of Coney Island had achieved some popularity as a rustic seaside resort early in the 19th century, it also gained an unsavory reputation for its gambling, pick- pockets and prostitution. The real growth of Coney Island as a resort came about in the 1870s when five new railroads were constructed to connect the island with the rest of Brooklyn. These lines were built by businessmen and entrepreneurs who developed large hotels on the eastern end of the island and wanted to provide easy access to Brooklyn and Manhattan to attract a higher- end clientele than those who frequented the west side. The Manhattan Beach Hotel was opened in 1877 on the far eastern end of Coney Island, served by the New York and Manhattan Beach Railway with direct connections to lower Manhattan. Just to the west of this was the huge Brighton Beach Hotel opened in 1878, primarily drawing its clientele from Brooklyn’s middle- class business community. Between Brighton Beach and the less savory environs of the far western point lay We

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