Leonard Nimoy, who died on Friday at age 83, was a talented actor and artist. He also was an important philanthropist, making a donation that helped Symphony Space rehabilitate an historic theater.
Nimoy’s $1.5 million donation helped the Thalia, an old moviehouse that had shown films from 1938 to 1993, reopen as a theater in 2002. The rehabilitated theater had plush seats and a new floor that wasn’t sloped awkwardly like the old one. It shows lots of movies now, hosts the Thalia Book Club and has programming for kids.
Nimoy, who grew up in Boston, never actually went to moves at the old Thalia, but he understood why it was an important place, according to a 2001 story about his gift.
“My emotional connection with the Thalia is that I was watching the movies the Thalia was showing, but in Los Angeles,” he said. Now he has an apartment on the Upper West Side and has performed at Symphony Space, the theater adjacent to the Thalia.
R.I.P. Mr. Nimoy.
Yaaayyyy, I get to be the first one to say “Live Long & Prosper, Spock!” A true artist and a wonderful spirit in so many ways, he will be missed.
As a child of the 70s, I first knew of Nimoy from the “In Search of…” series. Awesome schlocky stuff with a patina of “science.” He once predicted a new ice age and interviewed Columbia University scientists who said yes, it’s true! I think they’re still employed, if you can believe it.
The Thalia, a one-of-a-kind art cinema, was a gem and a neighborhood staple for film junkies. I used to go there frequently and saw my first Bergman film there, “Cries and Whispers.” Glad Mr. Spock also appreciated it.
R.I.P. Leonard, and thanks so much for saving the Thalia, where many of us children of the 60’s got our first look at the rest of the world, at that time it seemed to be Europe.
However, I do miss the splattered (?)tomato stain on old screen, and the seats were not so comfortable either, but we were so much yuonger then…
The “old” Thalia is where I first saw Akira Kurosawa films; Seven Samurai and Dreams. The Thalia had film festivals and for something like $2.00 you could see classics in the 70’s. I remember the sloping floor, cracked screen and broken seats. I haven’t seen the renovated Thalia….but thanks to Leonard Nimoy something old and valuable was saved from demolition. Thank you Leonard Nimoy!
The Thalia was where I first discovered classic movies. In my student years up and down the No. 1 train in the 70s and early 80s, I could not afford the expense or distraction of a TV, so the Thalia was my source for a break. It is where I fell in love with Ingrid Bergman (Spellbound, Notorious, and of course Casablanca) and Audrey Hepburn (Funny Face) and the wearing of petite white gloves. So grateful, and wonderful that Leonard Nimoy’s legacy includes being a part of this resurrection, as well as the one in Star Trek IV – The Journey Home. Hoping he is at home now.