Dorothy Solomon Panzica, Longtime Manager Of The Loew’s Kings Theatre, Turns 100

Today is the 100th birthday of Dorothy Solomon Panzica, manager of the Loew’s Kings Theatre from 1961-1975. The Loew’s Kings Facebook page shares this hilarious nugget about Dorothy:

She was a master of promotion and always had a gimmick to bring the crowds. For instance, ‘Bob, Ted, Carol and Alice‘  starring Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Dianne Cannon and Elliot Gould. Dorothy went across the street and convinced the owner of a furniture store to put a bed in the window with four naked mannequins! (Under the covers)

Dorothy was featured in Christian Blackwood’s 1979 documentary Memoirs of a Movie Palace: The Kings of Flatbush. Not much of the film is online, but here’s a great clip featuring Kings designer Harold W. Rambusch.

As you probably know, the old Loew’s is currently under renovation, and is scheduled to open simply as the Kings Theatre late next year. Maybe Dorothy will make an appearance!

Anyway, happy birthday to Dorothy–and if you grew up visiting the Loew’s Kings Theatre and have any memories of her, don’t hesitate to share in the comments.