RKO Bushwick Theatre

Thanks, Bway. I have read that Mae West was originally from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, lived in the Brooklyn Manor section of Richmond Hill, and used the Rockaway Line LIRR station of that name to get into Manhattan quickly. Also that she liked to eat at the Triangle Hofbrau in Richmond Hill.

“It’s not the men in my life, it’s the life in my men !”

“Hey, big boy, are ya glad ta see me, or is that just a pickle in your pocket ?”

“You can almost taste the hot dogs and french fries they sell … under the boardwalk …” (The Drifters)

Or, in this case, under the el …

Thanks again, Rose. My dad (born 1919)remembers the likes of Mae West and George Burns, and other live vaudeville, at the RKO Bushwick.

Apollo, thanks for posting all your great memories. Jackie Gleason was partly inspired by amateur nights at the Halsey Theater, 928 Halsey Street, between Saratoga Avenue and Broadway. I think he performed there on amateur nights also. I think the address on his mother’s death certificate was 357 Chauncey Street.

Bway, the Cinema Tour listing you sent me last April gives the address of the Monroe Theater as 4 Howard Avenue. It should be a simple matter to check what block that address is on.

I grew up going to the RKO Bushwick, Loews Gates and the Monroe. The RKO was exceptional with a huge spiral Marble stair case, dual Balconies and red velvet seats. I remember Jerry Lewis and the Three Stooges coming in person to open films at the Bushwick Theatre. The Monroe Theatre is closed, but the building is still there. I distinctly remember seeing the village of the damned at the Monroe. It was a spartan theatre. The cafeteria on the corner is now a junk yard.
There was an attempt to use the RKO as a church but it failed very quickly. I dont know the date the RKO closed, I was away at college. I was told buy Joseph Brooks of the New York Landmarks commission that Cary Grant was on a Vaudeville circuit that included the RKO, so there is a good chance he performed there asa juggler. I imagine Jackie Gleason probably performed there, he would dropp in on his old neighborhood from time to time. There was a pool hall a few blocks from there were he would occasionally play pool. He had some friends who became Policemen whom he would visit (81st precinct). I believe once he brought Frank Sinatra.
I found a 1937 program on line for the RKO Bushwick. The weekly door prize was $3,000.00 and Guy Lombardo was the main act.
The thing I remember the most about the Bushwick was Sloppy Joe’s across the street ,next to the toy store. It was great, you got a Root Beer, Hamburger and fries for forty cents. And on the way home we would stop at Cheap Charlies and buy nickel and penny toys.

“I am not sure, but that might be the Monroe Theater, at 4 Howard Avenue, near the RKO Bushwick”

There is not a posting yet for the Monroe, I met the last owner of the theatre once. When he had it they were running porno.

Small History:
3.Bushwick (sc.2,236)
1396 Broadway
opening date: September 11, 1911 by Percy Williams
B.F. Keiths Bushwick 1912-1930
R.K.O. Bushwick 1930-1969 (closed converted to church)
Vacant since 1973,interior demolished 2000 for school

Pictures of the complete facade restoration I have found:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

I am not sure, but that might be the Monroe Theater, at 4 Howard Avenue, near the RKO Bushwick, in the upper right quadrant of image 2637, above the platform canopy, the near end of the silver train, and the person on the platform. I mean the long building with the peaked roof, two rows of windows, and a water tower at each end.

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2637

The RKO Bushwick itself is above the far (front) end of the departing silver train in this image.

Thank you, Warren. Do you know of an outdoor theater nearby, consisting of a vacant lot or block, screen (perhaps a wall of the Colonial ?)and projectionist’s booth, that operated in the 1920’s and 1930’s ? My father, born 1919, grew up in the neighborhood, and remembers this.

The Decatur was an even smaller theater that once stood not far away at 1674 Broadway, near Decatur Street. I think it has since been demolished.

More images of the RKO Bushwick :

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?25755
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2637

I had just seen the interior of the Bushwick Theater in “The Believers”. It must have been filmed there in the mid to late 80’s. I recommend the movie to anyone who wants to see the interior, till some other photos are available. The theater appeared very intact in the late 80’s according to what it looked like in the movie, although of course in compelete shambles. In the movie some cult had preformed human sacrafices on the stage. It really is a good movie.
Wouldn’t it have been nice and ironic had they restored the theater to movies, and the first movie to be shown there was “The Believers”. Oh well, at least it is still standing, even if for a high school.

That would have been a disastor cutting up the Kings, I remember him saying he was also going to open a theatre in Jamaica which never haoppened until Redstone came in 2 years ago.

Can I ask you, what made you buy the building in the first place. Did you get for a steal?

I am sure you could have gotten Magic Johnson theaters to look at it and open a theater and renovate. He opens theaters in Black Neighborhoods like Harlem and South Central LA. But I guess it is too late for that.

Getz,
You owned the building? Is the city renting from you? One of the men from the Mason hall gave me the info I posted, that the school opened this semester. Is the city renting the building from you or were you a victim of eminent domain?

Do you have pictures of the old interior that could be sent via e-mail. All of us on here would love to see them. Is there anything left of the interior incorporated into the school?

Adam

Adam