Alhambra Theatre

783 Knickerbocker Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11207

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Showing 26 - 50 of 110 comments

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on September 21, 2010 at 6:57 pm

It seems as if the Day Care center DID close at the end of August. Thus, this space is empty until anything else moves in. Hope some good program moves in here – though I have my doubts.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on July 10, 2010 at 5:17 pm

My statement that the owner might be interested in developing the site for condo housing was sheer speculation that was based upon the prime location of this property. If this is the owner’s intent, the housing in question would certainly not be “affordable”, at least for 99% of Bushwick’s residents. So this would hardly be a conflict between two “social service programs”.

Hopefully, my speculative comment was just that – and I only hope that the owner and the City will be able to work out a deal that will enable the day care center to remain in place after August 31.

Astyanax
Astyanax on July 10, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Curious how one social service program is pitted against another if indeed the Alhambra is suppose to give way to affordable housing. City contracts have paid for upgrades to the site to accomodate the day care center and keep it in code compliance. This investment would be lost if the program closes. Is there no other site in Bushwick where the housing program can be realized? Even in its current use, the theatre building is still serving the community.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on July 9, 2010 at 9:15 pm

The current Times Newsweekly has a pretty extensive article about this rally. While the situation does appear to be prety dire, it certainly does not rule out the possibility of an 11th – or, more accurately, 12th – hour settlement. At least one can hope.

Astyanax
Astyanax on July 9, 2010 at 7:33 pm

Grand Street Settlement held a rally on the steps of City Hall a few days ago protesting the closure of the day care center despite the critical need in the community. Both the landlord and city negotiators appear to be deadlocked.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on July 5, 2010 at 6:13 pm

Another possibiliy here is that the City and the landlord are engaged in a continuing game of chicken that might result in an 11th hour settlement that will enable the day care center to remain in operation. Far stranger things have happened.

I really hope this is the case, since the center is a valuable community resource and the building, which, like the old Bushwick, was probably altered beyond recognition when the center was established, is never going to return as a theater.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on July 4, 2010 at 5:27 am

The current Times Newsweekly reports that the day care center currently housed in the old Alhambra will soon close. Apparently, the reason for this involves the City’s unwillingness to pay the extensive rent hike that the landlard has demanded. The program itself, which will be greatly missed in this needy community, is highly regarded.

Given the Alhambra’s location right off scenic Irving Square Park, its conversion into housing is certainly a possibility. Yet, given the current economic situation, this seems to be a pretty risky proposition. The landlord may have been better advised to be satisfied with a lower rent increase. Stay tuned.

WillyBGirl177
WillyBGirl177 on April 16, 2010 at 5:45 am

Hello to all you Bushwicknites:

I am originally from Williamsburg. I couldn’t afford a home or a condo there, so I purchased one of the new homes on Eldert Street in 2004. Update: Theater is now a day care center run by Grand Street Settlement. They are a non-for-profit from the LES. The empty lot is going to be constructed for affordable housing by the local non-for-profit: RIdgewood-Bushwick Senior Citizens Council.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on March 30, 2010 at 5:31 pm

Thanks so much for this really wonderful vintage picture. By looking at what remains, you would never realize what an opulent place the old Alhambra once was. It is quite surprising that a Lamb theater could be built in what was hardly the center of town. But again, I guess a real effort was made to make Irving Square a really classy place a century ago.

If you scroll up to the pictures above TT’s attachment, you will find several interesting vintage pictures of the old community. Also, if you go up to picture number 71, you wil see a fascinating circa 1898 map of the old neighborhood. At that time, the county line between Brooklyn and Queens was not what it currently is, and it is really fascinating to review the differences.

Thanks TT – and have fun in reviewing the attachments.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on June 13, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Just passed by the old building today. The day care center is now sponsored by the estimable Grand Street Settlement House, which probably replaced a local group that couldn’t cut it. The building is in fine shape, though only some brick work on the Halsey Street facade provides a faint echo that something theatrical once held sway here.

The old theater is situated across the street from Irving Square Park. In my District Manager days in the 1970’s this place was an absolute horror that could not safely be entered during any part of the day or night. I am now extremely happy to report that the park has been brilliantly renovated and is now serving a large and active community. If the Alhambra were still in business, it would have a terrific neighbor. In any event, the park does a great job in serving the day care center’s kids.

Bway
Bway on April 20, 2009 at 7:12 am

Peter, here’s a page for the New Ideal:

/theaters/25326/

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on September 11, 2008 at 7:38 am

Then perhaps you’d like to start a page for the Ideal Theater.

jflundy
jflundy on September 10, 2008 at 4:21 pm

I can’t locate one using Google.

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on September 10, 2008 at 9:11 am

Thanks, J.F.Lundy. Does the “New Ideal Theater” have a page on CT yet ?

jflundy
jflundy on September 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm

The Ideal Theater at 151 Knickerbocker is mentioned above as a silent film house. In the 1939 edition of the Brooklyn Street Guide it is listed as the “New Ideal Theater” and apparently open.

PKoch
PKoch on November 20, 2007 at 8:24 am

Thanks for this information, Warren.

I wonder when the Alhambra showed its last film.

PKoch
PKoch on July 24, 2007 at 8:51 am

Thanks, LindaF. I will ask my dad about the Alhambra as a grocery store. He and my mom lived on Weirfield two doors towards Wilson Avenue from St. Martin Of Tours R.C. Church, across the street from Halsey (Irving Square) Park. Their landlady there was Ann Delaney, and her brother Tom. That was summer 1955, before they moved to the Ridgewood home they had just bought, on Cornelia Street.

LindaF
LindaF on July 24, 2007 at 8:40 am

I commented on the Alhambra theater and someone mentioning my family’s grocery store (Joe Costa) was my father. I sent it to my memories section – so I will try this again. I remember the theater (in the 50’s) and when it closed and eventually turned into a supermarket. My fathers store and grandfather’s building was torn down and sadly I did get to see it a few years ago (I have the photo) now that was published on here. I loved my days in Ridgewood, St Martin’s Church and school, Halsey Park, playing handball against the building, great food! I hope someone else remembers my dad’s store and “The Costa’s”. Those were the days!!

PKoch
PKoch on May 30, 2007 at 8:43 am

Good to see you on this page, oodygdin. I thought the Alhambra was the theater that you remembered passing on the 26 trolley in the 1940’s. I posted in detail, earlier today, on the RKO Madison Theater page, how and why there was never a theater at Wyckoff Avenue and Weirfield or Centre Sts.

So you attended Pratt, 1953-57 ? I applied to Pratt, but instead attended Cooper Union, 1973-74 (architecture)then 1975-1979, graduating 28 years ago today (30 May 1979) in civil engineering.

I’ll have to ask my dad about attending the Alhambra. He passed it all the time, on the way home from Halsey Junior High.

oodygdin
oodygdin on May 30, 2007 at 8:33 am

I would love to see any photos of the Alhambra as it once looked. It took a little effort to find out just which theatre I was looking for as I wasn’t sure of the exact location. I used to pass it regularly on the trolley back in the 40s and remember it as a nice looking theatre though I was never inside. Is the posting signed Prattpreservation from a present Pratt student? I’m curious since I attended Pratt 1953-7 with a major in Advertising Design.

PKoch
PKoch on February 20, 2007 at 9:00 am

Yes, Geo 1, Alhambra was the name of the theatre in Jackson’s King Kong. I noticed it right away, and so did my dad, when he saw it, for he remembers going to the Alhambra at Knickerbocker and Halsey as a boy and young man. He also attended the school across Halsey St. from it when it was “Halsey Junior High” circa 1931-33.

jukingeo
jukingeo on February 19, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Correct me if I am wrong…but wasn’t Alhambra also the name of the theatre in Jackson’s King Kong? Did that theatre ever exist in NY in the 30’s??? Given that Peter Jackson does his homework, I would say that this would be a resounding “Yes”. But thusfar this is the only Alhambra theatre I came up with in NY. So the question remains, did it, or didn’t it exist.

Geo

prattpreservation
prattpreservation on December 7, 2006 at 2:55 am

I am a historic preservation student working on a report on 783 Knickerbocker Avenue. I have an old picture of the Alhambra if anyone is interested – I haven’t had any luck finding interior shots.

As for its current use: The building has been used as a day care center since 1971. The City Council voted in April to approve the purchase of the building to continue its use as a day care center. The empty lot next door is also owned by the city and it looks like it might be an affordable housing development. There were discussions about turning it into a park for the day care kids but most of them use the renovated Irving Park across the street.

I would be happy to send photos around or discuss the history timeline. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts – a lot of great information.

PKoch
PKoch on September 29, 2006 at 5:42 am

What was the point of such exaggeration ? Wouldn’t business suffer at such theaters if excessive crowds “called the bluff” of such ads, so to speak, leading to what you once referred to re : the Valencia as “lobby lock-outs” ?