101-688: The Valencia Theatre (formerly the Loew's Valencia Theatre ) is a church building at 165-11 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City , United States. Designed by John Eberson as a movie palace , it opened on January 11, 1929, as one of five Loew's Wonder Theatres in the New York City area. The theater has been occupied by the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People since 1977. It
202-601: A lamp ) is also known as a finial. Decorative roof-finials are a common feature of Malaysian religious and residential architecture. In Malacca , Malaysia , there are 38 mosques with traditional roof finials, with layered and crown-shaped designs, which are known as Makhota Atap Masjid . On mosques built after the 20th century, these finials have been replaced by "bulbous domes". Other terms for roof finials include: Tunjuk Langit and Buah Buton ( East Coast ) as well as Buah Gutung ( Kelantan and Terengganu ). The Makhota Atap Masjid finials are made of mixed concrete, and
303-574: A 1948 ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States , Loew's Theaters was forced to split up its film-production and film-exhibition divisions. As part of the split, Loew's Theatres was compelled to either sell the Valencia Theatre or limit the types of shows that were to be presented there. In 1953, the theater was retrofitted with a panoramic screen and a stereophonic sound system, becoming
404-613: A barometer of public taste. Many designs hark back to the Gothic and Neogothic of architectural finials, while other contemporary finials reflect minimalist , Art Nouveau , and other traditional styles of decor. The use of different materials is as wide as the range of designs with brass, stainless steel, various woods, and aluminum being employed with a variety of finishes such as 'satin steel' and 'antique brass'. The durability, strength, and machinability of modern alloys have lent themselves to increasingly intricate and dazzling designs. During
505-469: A church along a pilgrimage route, often located at the tomb of a saints , or holding icons or relics to which miraculous properties are ascribed, the site of Marian apparitions , etc. During the Middle Ages, a proprietary church was a church, abbey, or cloister built on the private grounds of a feudal lord, over which he retained proprietary interests. The architecture of evangelical places of worship
606-421: A church in the 21st century, and it sometimes hosted public tours. By the 2010s, the congregation had shrunken to 300 members, who met in the theater's basement. Though the theater's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning required $ 400,000 in upgrades, the congregation did not rent the theater out for events because of concerns that the contents of such events might conflict with their religious beliefs. When
707-801: A church, usually Catholic , Anglican , Oriental Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox , housing the seat of a bishop. The word cathedral takes its name from cathedra , or Bishop's Throne (In Latin : ecclesia cathedralis ). The term is sometimes (improperly) used to refer to any church of great size. A church with a cathedral function is not necessarily a large building. It might be as small as Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford , England, Porvoo Cathedral in Porvoo , Finland, Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, United States , or Chur Cathedral in Switzerland. However, frequently,
808-399: A church. The Valencia Theatre is located at 165-11 Jamaica Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City , United States. It consists of a narrow lobby section along Jamaica Avenue , as well as an auditorium and stage house in the rear. The "L"-shaped site wraps around another building at the northwest corner of Jamaica Avenue and Merrick Boulevard , extending half
909-582: A contemporary advertisement, the site had previously contained a wooden residence. Riccardo soon sold half of the site to Paramount-Publix, which reportedly paid $ 1 million for the site. In exchange, Paramount-Publix was required to build a theater on the site. Allied Owners Inc., which was established in 1927 to develop the Kings, Paramount , Pitkin, and Valencia theaters, took over the site at Jamaica Avenue and Merrick Road as part of an agreement with Paramount. In March 1927, Paramount-Publix announced that it would build
1010-410: A decorative ornament on the tops or ends of poles or rods such as tent-poles or curtain rods or any object such as a piece of furniture. These are frequently seen on top of bed posts or clocks. Decorative finials are also commonly used to fasten lampshades , and as an ornamental element at the end of the handles of souvenir spoons . The charm at the end of a pull chain (such as for a ceiling fan or
1111-434: A dome with an inverted lotus flower shape in between. There may also be lotus petals at the top, before the kalasha narrows to a single point, or bindu. There are two guldastas, or finials, per facade at Humayun's Tomb . Finials are decorative elements in a variety of American domestic architectural styles , including French colonial , Georgian , Victorian , and Romanesque Revival . Roof finials can be made from
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#17328527868121212-558: A new policy wherein stage shows from the Capitol Theatre were successively sent to the Loew's Paradise, Kings, Valencia, and Jersey City theaters. Additionally, the orchestras at the Valencia and Loew's other theaters began performing at alternating Loew's theaters. By 1930, the theater's managers were operating bus routes to nearby neighborhoods to attract customers. At the time, it was one of
1313-416: A place of pilgrimage. The vast majority of parish churches do not however enjoy such privileges. In addition to a parish church, each parish may maintain auxiliary organizations and their facilities such as a rectory , parish hall , parochial school , or convent , frequently located on the same campus or adjacent to the church. A pilgrimage church is a church to which pilgrimages are regularly made, or
1414-522: A regional monopoly on the first runs of films. The live shows were discontinued within five years of the theater's opening. The theater slowly declined after World War II, and it closed in June 1977 due to high costs and low attendance. The Tabernacle of Prayer took over the theater for a nominal fee and spent $ 250,000 on renovations, moving into the theater in October 1977. Since then, the Valencia has functioned as
1515-450: A reorganization plan in 1934, and a federal judge approved the plan in March 1935, allowing Allied to transfer ownership of the Kings, Pitkin, and Valencia theaters to Loew's once the debt on these three theaters had been paid off. Allied Owners agreed to sell the three theaters to Loew's for $ 12,875,000, which would be paid out over 25 years. As part of the agreement, Loew's would pay $ 500,000 for
1616-412: A separate room for baptisms by immersion . Worship services take on impressive proportions in the megachurches (churches where more than 2,000 people gather every Sunday). In some of these megachurches, more than 10,000 people gather every Sunday. The term gigachurch is sometimes used. For example, Lakewood Church (United States) or Yoido Full Gospel Church (South Korea). In some countries of
1717-453: A set of arches and a vaulted ceiling . The foyer was illuminated by soft blue lamps and also had a carpet. There was also a goldfish pond in the foyer. The auditorium itself seats around 3,500 people and is decorated to resemble a Spanish garden. The seats are split across an orchestra level and a balcony, with 2,500 seats on the orchestra level. The auditorium walls are adorned with statues, parapets and towers, asymmetrically arranged while
1818-563: A small number of operators were involved in the construction of movie palaces. Relatively few architects were responsible for these theaters' designs, including legitimate theater architects Thomas Lamb , C. Howard Crane , and John Eberson . By the late 1920s, numerous movie palaces were being developed in outlying neighborhoods in New York City; previously, the city's movie palaces had been concentrated in Midtown Manhattan . The five Wonder Theatres were developed by Loew's Inc., which at
1919-449: A theater at Jamaica Avenue and Merrick Road. The Jamaica theater was planned to cost $ 2.25 million with about 2,500 seats. The theater was one of nine that Paramount-Publix planned to develop in outlying New York City neighborhoods, though the company later dropped plans for four of the other theaters. Riccardo also hired Rapp and Rapp to develop a six-story commercial building abutting the theater. Paramount-Publix reassigned its leases of
2020-419: A variety of materials including clay , metal , or wood . A folklore tradition in the eastern United States portrays finials as discouraging witches on broomsticks from landing locally. A "ball-style" finial is often mounted to the top of a stationary flagpole . The United States Army , Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard employ a variety of different finials depending on the flag in question,
2121-576: Is a New York City designated landmark . The Valencia Theatre occupies an L-shaped site and is divided into two sections: the lobby section and the auditorium. The lobby section, decorated in a Spanish and Mexican Baroque style, has an elaborate brick-and- terracotta facade with a marquee and ornate finials . The entrance leads to a lobby and foyer, which are also decorated in Spanish styles. The auditorium has 3,500 seats on two levels, with an elaborately decorated proscenium arch , walls, and ceilings. Like
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#17328527868122222-519: Is a building used for Christian worship services and other Christian religious activities. The earliest identified Christian church is a house church founded between 233 and 256. Sometimes, the word church is used by analogy and for simplicity to refer to the buildings of other religions , such as mosques and synagogues . Church is also used to describe a body or an assembly of Christian believers , while "the Church" may be used to refer to
2323-516: Is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons , which may be presided over by a dean or provost . Collegiate churches were often supported by extensive lands held by the church, or by tithe income from appropriated benefices . They commonly provide distinct spaces for congregational worship and for the choir offices of their clerical community. A conventual church (in Eastern Orthodoxy katholikon )
2424-776: Is home to eight churches , with two additional churches located south of the Antarctic Convergence . Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical, national, cultural , and architectural significance, with several recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . According to the Catholic Encyclopedia the Cenacle (the site of the Last Supper ) in Jerusalem was the "first Christian church". The Dura-Europos church in Syria
2525-426: Is mainly characterized by its sobriety. The Latin cross is a well known Christian symbol that can usually be seen on the building of an evangelical church and that identifies the place's belonging. Some services take place in theaters, schools or multipurpose rooms, rented for Sunday only. There is usually a baptistery at the front of the church (in what is known as the chancel in historic traditions) or in
2626-434: Is the main church in a Christian monastery , known variously as an abbey, a priory, a convent, a friary, or a preceptory. A parish church is a church built to meet the needs of people localised in a geographical area called a parish. The vast majority of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran church buildings fall into this category. A parish church may also be a basilica, a cathedral, a conventual or collegiate church, or
2727-489: Is the oldest surviving church building in the world. Several authors have cited the Etchmiadzin Cathedral ( Armenia 's mother church) as the oldest cathedral in the world. Finial A finial (from Latin : finis , end) or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture, it is a small decorative device, employed to emphasize
2828-523: The Buah Buton are made of wood. In Japanese architecture , chigi are finials that were used atop Shinto shrines in Ise and Izumo and the imperial palace . In Java and Bali , a rooftop finial is known as mustaka or kemuncak . In Thailand finials feature on domestic and religious buildings . Hti is a kind of finial found on Burmese Buddhist temples and pagodas . On Buddhist stupas ,
2929-481: The Churrigueresque style. Statues of nude figures are placed high above the walls. On either side of the proscenium is an organ loft. The rear walls of the organ loft are painted blue to resemble the sky, and the ceiling is mostly painted blue, giving the impression that the auditorium is open-air. The ceiling also has painted stars. There was also a cloud machine, which generated cloud-like mists that moved across
3030-757: The Mogadishu Cathedral , along with the Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Somaliland . Other countries with a limited number of churches include Bhutan and Western Sahara . In contrast, some estimates suggest that the United States has the highest number of churches in the world, with around 380,000, followed by Brazil and Italy . According to the Future for Religious Heritage, there are over 500,000 churches across Europe . Several cities are commonly known as
3131-634: The Proto-Germanic kirika word . This was probably borrowed via the Gothic from the Greek kyriake (oikia) , kyriakon doma , 'the Lord's (house)', from kyrios , 'ruler, lord'. Kyrios in turn comes from the Proto-Indo-European language root *keue meaning 'to swell'. The Greek kyriakon , 'of the Lord', was used of houses of Christian worship since c. AD 300 , especially in
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3232-528: The Renaissance was extremely exaggerated. Domes and capitals were decorated with moulding, and the former stucco sculptures were replaced by fresco paintings on the ceilings. For the first time, churches were seen as one connected work of art, and consistent artistic concepts were developed. Instead of long buildings, more central-plan buildings were created. The sprawling decoration with floral ornamentation and mythological motives lasted until about 1720 in
3333-658: The Robert Morton Organ Company of Van Nuys, California . The organ featured a console with four manuals and 23 ranks of pipes. The organ was disassembled in the 1960s and relocated to the Balboa Theatre in San Diego , where it was restored and debuted in 2009. Movie palaces became common in the 1920s between the end of World War I and the beginning of the Great Depression. In the New York City area, only
3434-480: The Rococo era. The Protestant parishes preferred lateral churches, in which all the visitors could be as close as possible to the pulpit and the altar . A common trait of the architecture of many churches is the shape of a cross (a long central rectangle, with side rectangles and a rectangle in front for the altar space or sanctuary). These churches also often have a dome or other large vaulted space in
3535-737: The San Francesco d’Assisi in Palermo , the Salisbury Cathedral and Wool Church in England, and Santhome Church in Chennai , India , show the elaborate stylings characteristic of Gothic cathedrals. Some of the most well-known gothic churches remained unfinished for centuries after the style fell out of popularity. One such example is the construction of the Cologne Cathedral , which began in 1248,
3636-408: The apex of a dome , spire , tower , roof, or gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. A finial is typically carved in stone. Where there are several such elements they may be called pinnacles . The very top of a finial can be a floral or foliated element called a bouquet. Smaller finials in materials such as metal or wood are used as
3737-564: The first run of a film was being shown at the Valencia Theatre, the theater had a regional monopoly on that film for seven days; during that time, the film could not be shown in any other Loew's theater as far east as Bay Shore, New York . The theater became known as the "Showplace of Long Island". It was one of three large theaters in Queens, along with the now-demolished Loew's Triboro and RKO Keith's Flushing theaters, both of which were also atmospheric theaters. In September 1929, Loew's implemented
3838-464: The layered umbrella (Skt. chhatra ; Pali: chhatta ) tiers have cosmological significance as representing the realms of heavens or the trunk of a cosmic tree. Even the stupa itself (comparatively smaller) can be a finial to a Stupa or other Buddhist religious structure . The kalasha is a finial on Hindu temples . In the Dravidian style of temple architecture , the kalasha is placed on top of
3939-501: The " City of Churches " due to their abundance of churches. These cities include Adelaide , Ani , Ayacucho , Kraków , Moscow , Montreal , Naples , Ohrid , Prague , Puebla , Querétaro , Rome , Salzburg , and Vilnius . Notably, Rome and New York City are home to the highest number of churches of any city in the world. Although building churches is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, which has around 1.5 million Christians,
4040-411: The 1940s and that the inexpensive tickets belied the theater's elaborate design. Arnow also recalled that the theater was particularly popular on weekends, with patrons coming from all over Long Island. The New York Times wrote that the Valencia was "the hottest spot in town" on Saturdays. In 1942, the theater's heating plant was converted from an oil-burning to a coal-burning plant. The following June,
4141-540: The East, although it was less common in this sense than ekklesia or basilike . The earliest archeologically identified Christian church is a house church ( domus ecclesiae ), the Dura-Europos church , founded between 233 and 256. In the second half of the third century AD, the first purpose-built halls for Christian worship ( aula ecclesiae ) began to be constructed. Although many of these were destroyed early in
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4242-526: The Kings, Pitkin, and Valencia theaters to Loew's in November 1927. Loew's took over the site in February 1928, after the blueprints had been approved. Loew's was still required to develop the site as a theater. For the theater's construction, Loew's Inc. agreed to pay Allied Owners Inc. $ 19,000 a month for 181 months, in exchange for receiving financing from Allied Owners Inc., and Paramount-Publix agreed to guarantee
4343-593: The Maldives, which has approximately 1,400 Christians, building churches is prohibited. However, only foreign Christian workers are allowed to practice their religion privately. Despite the prohibition on church construction, both countries have secret home churches . Christianity is the world's largest and most widespread religion, with over 2.3 billion followers. Churches are found across all seven continents , which are Asia , Africa , North America , South America , Antarctica , Europe , and Oceania . Antarctica
4444-562: The Marines and Coast Guard deferring to the Navy's protocols. Public garden (park) railings often end in finials, and wooden posts tend to have turned wood finials. Turned wood finials are used on various pieces of furniture. While the purpose of finials on bed posts is mostly decorative, they serve a purpose on curtain rods, providing a way to keep a curtain from slipping off the end of a straight rod. Curtain rod finials can be seen to act much like
4545-715: The New York City area, along with the Loew's Jersey in Jersey City , the Loew's 175th Street in Manhattan , the Loew's Paradise in the Bronx , and the Loew's Kings in Brooklyn . Similarly to the Paradise Theatre (which Eberson also designed), the Paradise is decorated in a Spanish style. The brick-and-terracotta facade is decorated in a Spanish and Mexican Baroque style, similarly to
4646-516: The Romanesque church include circular arches , round or octagonal towers, and cushion capitals on pillars. In the early Romanesque era, coffering on the ceiling was fashionable, while later in the same era, groined vaults gained popularity. Interiors widened, and the motifs of sculptures took on more epic traits and themes. The Gothic style emerged around 1140 in Île-de-France and subsequently spread throughout Europe. Gothic churches lost
4747-486: The Tabernacle of Prayer moved into the theater in October 1977. The Valencia was one of several movie houses in eastern Queens that were converted into churches. The theater could accommodate crowds of at least 2,500 people each Sunday, and it also hosted tours. Initially, only the orchestra level was open to the public; it accommodated 3,000 worshippers simultaneously by the 1980s. The Tabernacle of Prayer contained to maintain
4848-553: The Tabernacle of Prayer, a Brooklyn –based congregation, which paid Loew's a nominal fee of $ 1. The congregation had decided to acquire the Valencia Theatre after a failed attempt to buy the Kings Theatre. Johnnie Washington, the congregation's pastor, described the theater as "a miracle, a gift from God", and Jennifer Raab (who later served as the LPC's chairwoman) said that Loew's had received "a special message from above" when it donated
4949-576: The UK include a former tram power station, a former bus garage , a former cinema and bingo hall, a former Territorial Army drill hall, and a former synagogue . HMS Tees served as a floating church for mariners at Liverpool from 1827 until she sank in 1872. A windmill has also been converted into a church at Reigate Heath . There have been increased partnerships between church management and private real estate companies to redevelop church properties into mixed uses. While it has garnered criticism,
5050-579: The Valencia "compares favorably with the largest New York City houses". By the 1970s, Newsday described the theater as "reminiscent of "an earlier, gaudier page of motion pictures", while The New York Times called it "a fading memory of what movie houses were all about in the days when they reflected the splendor that was Hollywood". When the theater was converted into a church, theatrical critic Elliott Stein criticized its new chandelier as "a 'nouveau riche' chandelier that dangles inappropriately from Eberson's sky", and theatrical historian David Naylor called
5151-401: The Valencia Theatre's construction. Loew's Inc. was to have taken ownership of the property in 1945, once the bonds had been paid off. The Thompson-Starrett Company began erecting the theater in June 1928. John Eberson's son Drew, who assisted in the theater's construction, sketched out the stars on the auditorium's ceiling by copying an issue of National Geographic magazine. By that August,
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#17328527868125252-649: The Valencia Theatre's history in 1979, and the theater was also depicted in a 2004 exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image . In addition, when Sony built a multiplex movie theater in Lincoln Square, Manhattan , in 1995, one of the multiplex's screens was named for the Valencia Theatre. 40°42′23″N 73°47′41″W / 40.706268°N 73.794625°W / 40.706268; -73.794625 Church (building) A church , church building , or church house
5353-426: The Valencia. Washington's administration assistant Cynthia Hedgepeth noted that the auditorium was full of litter and grime. The Tabernacle of Prayer subsequently restored the theater and hired George Exarchou to carry out the work. A chandelier was installed on the auditorium's ceiling, and the auditorium's nude statues were converted into winged angels with robes. The congregation replaced decaying plaster and repainted
5454-412: The architecture and location often provide for attractive homes or city centre entertainment venues. On the other hand, many newer churches have decided to host meetings in public buildings such as schools, universities, cinemas or theatres. There is another trend to convert old buildings for worship rather than face the construction costs and planning difficulties of a new build. Unusual venues in
5555-553: The balcony had been shuttered for several years and that the Valencia no longer had a monopoly on first runs of films. Despite its decline, the Valencia was one of the few remaining movie palaces in New York City. In 1976, amid rumors of the theater's imminent closure, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) began considering designating the Valencia Theatre as a city landmark. The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, which supported
5656-439: The cathedral, along with some of the abbey churches, was the largest building in any region. Cathedrals tend to display a higher level of contemporary architectural style and the work of accomplished craftsmen, and occupy a status both ecclesiastical and social that an ordinary parish church rarely has. Such churches are generally among the finest buildings locally and a source of national and regional pride, and many are among
5757-477: The ceiling remains unadorned, like a sky above. The proscenium arch is decorated in a Spanish style and is topped by a large niche with a sculpture inside. There are smaller backlit arches on either side of the central niche above the proscenium. The side walls have decorations such as windows, railings, balconies, and turrets , which were intended to give the appearance of 17th-century Spanish buildings. The decorations are arranged in sloped tiers and are designed in
5858-402: The ceiling was flat, while the sides of the ceiling were splayed outward, with trusses made of iron and wood. Pieces of Spanish pottery were placed in niches on either side of the lobby. A marble-and- wrought iron staircase ascended from the lobby, and there was a stone fountain with multicolored tiles next to the stair. Next to the lobby was a two-story foyer with Spanish-style columns supporting
5959-406: The ceiling, but the machine had broken down by the 1970s. Three chandeliers were hung from the ceiling. Another chandelier with 360 lights, measuring 15 feet (4.6 m) across and 18.5 feet (5.6 m) high, was installed in the 1970s; this chandelier was imported from Greece. Like the other Wonder Theaters, the Loew's Kings Theatre featured a "Wonder Morton" theater pipe organ manufactured by
6060-494: The chandelier a "startling addition" while noting that the theater largely retained its "magical Venetian-Spanish baroque quality". The Globe and Mail wrote in the 1980s that the theater had a "stage facade repeating the glories of the Alhambra ", and Christopher Gray of The New York Times wrote that the auditorium's Spanish decorations "will make even the most jaded architectural pilgrim gasp, or even kneel". Newsday wrote that
6161-506: The compact qualities of the Romanesque era, and decorations often contained symbolic and allegorical features. The first pointed arches , rib vaults , and buttresses began to appear, all possessing geometric properties that reduced the need for large, rigid walls to ensure structural stability. This also permitted the size of windows to increase, producing brighter and lighter interiors. Nave ceilings rose, and pillars and steeples heightened. Many architects used these developments to push
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#17328527868126262-583: The country contains the remnants of a historic church known as the Jubail Church , which dates back to the fourth century and was affiliated with the Church of the East . Discovered in 1986, the site was excavated by the Saudi Antiquities Department in 1987. As of 2008, the findings from this excavation had not been published, reflecting sensitivities regarding artifacts from non-Islamic religions. In
6363-583: The decade, but other Loew's theaters had been subdivided, partially closed, or even demolished. In the early 1960s, the theater's lobby was repainted to promote the film Barabbas . The Valencia also hosted events such as women-only film screenings, televised boxing matches, and circus acts during the 1960s and 1970s. A Newsday reporter wrote in 1971 that the theater's cloud machine had broken down several years previously without being repaired. The backstage area, once used for stage shows, had long since been converted to storage space. Variety noted in 1973 that
6464-414: The designation, suggested converting the Valencia into a cultural center. However, Loew's opposed the landmark designation, which was not granted at that time. Loew's closed the theater permanently on June 15, 1977, citing declining business and a declining supply of suitable movies. The Valencia's last film was The Greatest featuring Muhammad Ali . In July 1977, Loew's decided to donate the building to
6565-464: The eleventh through the fourteenth centuries, there was a wave of church construction in Western Europe . Many churches worldwide are of considerable historical , national, cultural , and architectural significance, with several recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The word church is derived from Old English cirice word, 'place of assemblage set aside for Christian worship', from
6666-683: The facades of the Indiana Theatre in Indianapolis and the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio . The metal-and-glass doors are recessed slightly from the facade, and an octagonal ticket booth protrudes from the middle of the entrance. The booth has with cast metal columns topped by finials , as well as a fret motif near the bottom. The doors are flanked by volutes , which support a metal panel with foliate decorations on its soffit , though both
6767-413: The few Loew's theaters in New York City that still hosted both vaudeville and film. Loew's defaulted on the theater's mortgage loan in June 1933, and the Valencia's owner, Allied Owners, filed for bankruptcy protection that November. Manufacturers Trust also moved to foreclose on a $ 9 million mortgage that it had placed on the Valencia and four other Allied theaters. Allied Owners subsequently presented
6868-574: The first ten years and $ 525,000 for the next fifteen years. Through the 1930s, the theater hosted both live shows and movies. For example, winners of the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show's contest would appear there every Monday night, and actors and singers like Ginger Rogers and Kate Smith also performed there. Loew's decided to stop hosting vaudeville shows at the Valencia starting in September 1935, switching to an all-film program; at
6969-401: The first theater in Queens with these features. During the 1950s, in addition to screening films, the Valencia hosted events such as opera performances, jazz concerts, homemaking contests, and televised boxing matches. By the 1960s, Loew's Theaters Inc. had begun to struggle financially, and the chain closed some of its larger theaters due to high expenses. The Valencia continued to operate during
7070-733: The front altar. Often, the altar will not be oriented due east but toward the sunrise. This tradition originated in Byzantium in the fourth century and became prevalent in the West in the eighth and ninth centuries. The old Roman custom of having the altar at the west end and the entrance at the east was sometimes followed as late as the eleventh century, even in areas of northern Europe under Frankish rule, as seen in Petershausen (Constance) , Bamberg Cathedral , Augsburg Cathedral , Regensburg Cathedral , and Hildesheim Cathedral . The Latin word basilica
7171-422: The interior to represent or draw attention to the heavens. Other common shapes for churches include a circle, to represent eternity, or an octagon or similar star shape, to represent the church's bringing light to the world. Another common feature is the spire , a tall tower at the "west" end of the church or over the crossing . Another common feature of many Christian churches is the eastwards orientation of
7272-402: The interiors, while the projection room became a tower of prayer. In addition, a choir loft and pulpit were constructed, and the original interior decorations were restored. The congregation added a "wall of crutches" to the foyer, signifying those who had been "healed" there. The fish pond was emptied and used as a wedding-picture backdrop. The renovations ultimately cost about $ 250,000, and
7373-499: The lawsuit was settled the same year. Loew's was sued again in 1944 by a theater operator in Bay Shore, who claimed that the Valencia was violating U.S. antitrust laws because no other theater in the region could screen first-run films. This lawsuit was dropped the next year for unspecified reasons. To attract customers in the late 1940s, Loew's offered free tickets to residents of the then-new Fresh Meadows housing development. Following
7474-414: The length of the block toward 89th Avenue. The building has a frontage of 39.4 feet (12.0 m) on Jamaica Avenue to the south and 210 feet (64 m) on Merrick Boulevard to the east. The theater abuts the 165th Street Bus Terminal immediately to the north. The Valencia Theatre is one of several atmospheric theaters designed by John Eberson . The theater was one of five Loew's Wonder Theatres in
7575-696: The limits of structural possibility, an inclination that resulted in the collapse of several towers whose designs that had unwittingly exceeded the boundaries of soundness. In Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, it became popular to build hall churches , a style in which every vault would be built to the same height. Gothic cathedrals were lavishly designed, as in the Romanesque era, and many share Romanesque traits. However, several also exhibit unprecedented degrees of detail and complexity in decoration. The Notre-Dame de Paris and Notre-Dame de Reims in France, as well as
7676-518: The next century during the Diocletianic Persecution . Even larger and more elaborate churches began to appear during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great . From the eleventh through the fourteenth centuries, a wave of cathedral building and the construction of smaller parish churches occurred across Western Europe . Besides serving as a place of worship , the cathedral or parish church
7777-463: The operators of the nearby Savoy Theatre sued Loew's and several other theatrical operators and distributors, claiming that Loew's Valencia and Hillside theaters were violating U.S. antitrust laws. At the time, the Valencia and Hillside were the only theaters in Jamaica that were allowed to screen first runs of films, while all other theaters in the area had to wait one week before screening the same films;
7878-485: The other Wonder Theaters, the Valencia Theatre featured a "Wonder Morton" theater pipe organ manufactured by the Robert Morton Organ Company , though the organ has since been removed. In December 1926, the builder Ralph Riccardo acquired the site and leased it to Paramount-Publix . Allied Owners Inc. took over the theater site and developed it starting in 1928, leasing the venue to Loew's Theatres . The Valencia Theatre originally presented films and live shows, and it had
7979-553: The outer bays, the bricks are laid in a diaper pattern , with protruding bricks that form diagonal lines; there are lighter-colored bricks where the diagonal lines intersect. There are also lancet windows in the outer bays at the second story. The center bay has a large opening with a terracotta frame, which is divided into a central window measuring five panes wide and a pair of outer windows each measuring two panes wide. The terracotta pilasters on either side contain decorations like swags , cherubs' heads, volutes, and half-shells. Above
8080-439: The outer windows are spiral volutes, which in turn flank a central window with a curved gable . The gable is topped by terracotta panels with floral motifs and sphinxes. At the top of the facade is an elaborate curving parapet , with three finials above the center bay and a single finial above each of the outer bays. A vertical sign is also attached to the facade. The Merrick Boulevard and northern elevations are also visible from
8181-564: The partnership allows congregations to increase revenue while preserving the property. With the exception of Saudi Arabia and the Maldives , all sovereign states and dependent territories worldwide have church buildings. Afghanistan has the fewest churches globally, featuring only one official church: the Our Lady of Divine Providence Chapel in Kabul . Somalia follows closely, having once housed
8282-575: The proclamation of God's Word is of particular importance, the visitor's line of sight is directed towards the pulpit . The Baroque style was first used in Italy around 1575. From there, it spread to the rest of Europe and the European colonies. The building industry increased heavily during the Baroque era. Buildings, even churches, were used to indicate wealth, authority, and influence. The use of forms known from
8383-458: The service annex protrudes from the bottom of the northern elevation. There is a water tower atop the building, which is visible from the north. The interior is adorned in Spanish Colonial and pre–Columbian styles, with a gold, ruby, cobalt, and turquoise color scheme. The main lobby measured 50 by 100 feet (15 by 30 m) across, and its ceiling was nearly four stories high. The center of
8484-514: The south end of the facade. At ground level, the middle of the Merrick Boulevard facade contains a brick niche with a grate leading to a sidewalk vault ; three rectangular blind openings; and two more emergency-exit doors. The northern end of the Merrick Boulevard facade has two archways, as well as a two-story service annex with a garage door and windows. The northern elevation is also covered in red and brown brick, with rectangular brick panels;
8585-445: The street. On Merrick Boulevard, the facade is made mostly of red and black brick, although the water table at the bottom of the facade is made of stone. Some of the bricks are laid so that their header surfaces face outward; these bricks are stacked vertically to give the impression of rectangular brick panels. There is a fire stair leading from the balcony level, as well as an emergency-exit doorway with six doors at ground level near
8686-601: The structure had been renovated. In 1998, the Tabernacle of Prayer asked the LPC to again consider designating the theater as a landmark; the congregation also wanted the theater to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The LPC designated the Valencia as an exterior landmark on May 25, 1999, making it the second theater in Queens with city-landmark status, after the RKO Keith's in Flushing. The theater's pastor at
8787-534: The theater was built, official press releases called it a "Spanish patio garden in gay regalia for a moonlit festival". One newspaper described the main entrance as "very striking" and the main auditorium as being so elaborate as to be "almost beyond description". After the Valencia's completion, the Queens Chamber of Commerce's Queensborough Magazine described the Valencia as one of Queens's "outstanding improvements" during 1928, while Architecture and Building said
8888-582: The theater was known as the Valencia; this name, derived from Spanish, was chosen because it sounded exotic. The theater was to be Long Island 's largest cinema with 4,000 seats. A furniture store, Ludwig Baumann & Co., leased the neighboring commercial building. The Valencia opened on January 12, 1929, and was the first of the five Wonder Theaters to be completed. Its first-ever patron, one "Miss Helen Trascey of Ferndale Avenue", had waited several hours to buy her ticket. Loew's invited officials from every town and reporters from every newspaper on Long Island to
8989-558: The theater's architecture "created the impression of a Spanish plaza, complete with a starlit ceiling, niches and exotic decoration". Another writer for the New York Daily News said that the Valencia was "a spectacle in itself". The architect and writer Robert A. M. Stern regarded the Valencia as one of Eberson's "more modest designs", especially as compared with Loew's Paradise and 72nd Street theaters. The Wantagh Preservation Society of Wantagh, New York , hosted an exhibit about
9090-605: The theater's dedication. The first film to screened there was White Shadows in the South Seas featuring Monte Blue and Raquel Torres , accompanied by vaudeville performances on stage. Initially, the Valencia hosted stage shows and films that had been shown at Manhattan's Capitol Theatre , which cost between 25 and 65 cents a ticket. The theater accommodated 17,000 patrons on opening day and 33,000 in its first week. The theater quickly became an attraction for people in not only Jamaica, but other parts of Queens and Long Island. If
9191-527: The theater, keeping it in good condition. A 1998 article from the New York Daily News stated that the Tabernacle of Prayer had spent $ 200,000 painting the theater and $ 100,000 on various other fixes. Though the exterior remained unchanged, the marquee had been covered in a protective wrap due to deterioration. By then, the theater hosted between 1,200 and 1,500 congregants on Sundays and 2,100 for Easter services. A congregational elder estimated that 95% of
9292-604: The time was competing with Paramount-Publix . In 1927, Loew's president Nicholas Schenck agreed to take over five sites from Paramount-Publix, in exchange for agreeing not to build competing theaters in Chicago; these five sites became the Wonder Theatres. In December 1926, the builder Ralph Riccardo acquired a 140-by-206-foot (43 by 63 m) site at the northwest corner of Jamaica Avenue and Merrick Road (now Merrick Boulevard) from A. L. Werner and Steuart/Hirschman. According to
9393-406: The time, Ronnie Davis, said the congregation was "very excited about" the landmark designation. The interior was ineligible for landmark preservation because the LPC does not give interior-landmark designations to houses of worship. The Landmarks Preservation Foundation also funded the installation of a plaque on the theater's facade, which was dedicated in 2000. The Valencia continued to operate as
9494-413: The time, the company was eliminating vaudeville shows from most of its theaters. In addition, ticket prices at the Valencia were reduced after the discontinuation of vaudeville shows. Loew's management did not reinstate the vaudeville shows, saying the theater was making a profit in spite of their absence. Ted Arnow, a Loew's executive, later recalled that the Valencia sold 25-cent matinee tickets well into
9595-456: The volutes and panel are covered by signage. There is a marquee above the entrance, which originally spelled the name "Loew's Valencia" and had decorative motifs made of zinc; the marquee has also been covered up. The upper stories of the Jamaica Avenue facade are clad with yellow brick and are divided vertically into three bays . There are terracotta decorations such as cherub heads. In
9696-557: The world which apply sharia or communism , government authorizations for worship are complex for Christians. Because of persecution of Christians , Evangelical house churches have thus developed. For example, there is the Evangelical house churches in China movement. The meetings thus take place in private houses, in secret and in "illegality". Old and disused church buildings can be seen as an interesting proposition for developers as
9797-476: The world's most renowned works of architecture. Either, a discrete space with an altar inside a larger cathedral, conventual, parish, or other church; or, a free standing small church building or room not connected to a larger church, to serve a particular hospital , school , university , prison, private household, palace , castle , or other institution. Often proprietary churches and small conventual churches are referred to by this term. A collegiate church
9898-554: The worldwide Christian religious community as a whole. In traditional Christian architecture , the plan view of a church often forms a Christian cross with the centre aisle and seating representing the vertical beam and the bema and altar forming the horizontal. Towers or domes may inspire contemplation of the heavens . Modern churches have a variety of architectural styles and layouts. Some buildings designed for other purposes have been converted to churches, while many original church buildings have been put to other uses. From
9999-582: Was frequently employed as a general gathering place by the communities in which they were located, hosting such events as guild meetings, banquets , mystery plays , and fairs . Church grounds and buildings were also used for the threshing and storage of grain. Between 1000 and 1200, the Romanesque style became popular across Europe . The Romanesque style is defined by large and bulky edifices typically composed of simple, compact, sparsely decorated geometric structures. Frequent features of
10100-580: Was halted in 1473, and was not resumed until 1842. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the changes in ethics and society due to the Renaissance and the Reformation also influenced the building of churches. The common style was much like the Gothic style but simplified. The basilica was not the most popular type of church anymore, but instead, hall churches were built. Typical features are columns and classical capitals . In Protestant churches , where
10201-499: Was initially used to describe a Roman public building usually located in the forum of a Roman town. After the Roman Empire became officially Christian , the term came by extension to refer to a large and influential church that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope . The word thus retains two senses today, one architectural and the other ecclesiastical. A cathedral is
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