Belvedere Theatre
64-28 Myrtle Avenue,
Glendale,
NY
11385
64-28 Myrtle Avenue,
Glendale,
NY
11385
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Showing 51 - 72 of 72 comments
Good comment about the Belvedere being within five blocks of the Acme and Glenwood to provide latitude in selecting a good program on any day. But, you preface it based on cost. The costs were quite different in those days; Acme was cheapest, but it was also known as the “itch” and it showed lowest grade movies; the Glenwood was the most expensive, and it showed 3rd or 4th release movies in the most genteel atmosphere of the three.
(Maybe someone can help me in characterizing the types/release of movies in these theaters. Comparison to the Oasis,Ridgewood, and Madison venues for completeness would be appreciated.(
the belvedere had no balcony to my recollection it was agood theatre for 20 cents back in the 40s and if prograam was no good….five blocks to the acme or five blocks in opposite direction to trhe glenwood,,,,seems to me the Grandview, Belvedere And Majestic inn ridgewood were all managed by same men…i would always see this little guy in alll three theatre and sometimes he was on stage givigout screeno prizes
Interesting stuff Sit.
8/7/03..http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2003/Jul.-Sept.2003/080703/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html
8/14/03..http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2003/Jul.-Sept.2003/081403/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html
We are kindred spirits, althoug you are a hell of a lot more eloquent than I am. I just asked if anyone remembered Cappy’s Pool Hall in a comment I made about the Ridgewood. Shared a few other memories in a Madison post. But you sure brought back a ton of other memories ranging from wrestling at the Rdgewood Grove, beer halls, strip joints,chicken markets,104th precint.
But I’d swear that I used to go to the Acme for less than a dime as a kid.
I grew up on 61st street (64-74). Once every two years or so someone would break in to the old Belvedere when it was still closed, prior to being Fredrick’s. We went in with flashlights looking around. It was the spookiest place I ever went to until that time. There was evidence of a bum or two living in there, but we never saw them on the streets. Rats and mice were everywhere. it smelled real bad, lots of mold from leaking walls. The curtains would fall apart when touched. The stage was there, but I don’t remember going up to the camera room, but I did go up to the balcony.
Them of course someone’s parent would call the cops and they would tell us all to get out of there or else they are going to lock us in there.
Every time I go back east, I walk Myrtle Ave and enjoy the memories
Dan G
I wrote about all the theaters in Ridgewood and Glendale along with info about growing up there in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60' s.
See articles in the Our Neighborhood column of the Times Newsweekly
on August 7, 2003 and August 14, 2003.
Perhaps, but Glendale is not “that” close to Forest Hills…close enough, but I don’t think they would have to compete with each other that much.
Personally, I think the the Ridgewood Theatre is in trouble when the Atlas opens.
Here’s an article that was in the Timesnewsweekly this past week. It’s an article about what the M subway line is now, but mentions a nice description of the Grandview Theater, as well as the Belvedere in Glendale:
View link
The Ridgewood draws a different audience but there is sure to be some people that will travel to Glendale. Many of the Ridgewood’s customers come from Brooklyn since the Commodore was abandoned.
Thanks for the information on the new Atlas Theater that will be near Cooper and 80th St. I only hope this does not spell the death of long running Ridgewood Theatre.
I was there recently for church services, the congregation
did a wonderful job in restoring the building and adding
a upper balcony for the overflow.
There is a huge chandelier in the middle of the room, was
it always there or is it an added touch-up ??
Wow, Brooklyn!? At least with the Madison or Ridgewood Theaters being mistakenly listed in Brooklyn when actually in Queens, at least those are close to the Brooklyn border. The Belvedere isn’t even close! You are correct, 2576 is in the old numbering system, before Queens changed to the new numbering system around the 30’s.
If a theatre organ was installed in 1922 then indeed the Belvedere Theatre opened prior to 1930. Just another piece of misinformation in theatre listings.
The first listing I find for the Belvedere Theatre is 1930 with a closing date in the mid fifties.
This web site has a picture of a program from when the Belvedere played Quo Vadis
View link
Exactly about two blocks away. I went to St Pancras but it was already the Victorian House by then.
Thanks RobertR, I knew there was a business there before the
church opened.
Was the catering hall I was thinking about further down Myrtle
Ave near a church named ST PANCREAS ??
The Belvedere was restored by Erna Friedricks for her clothing store. When she died another store took it over and then it was a flea market for a very short time. It was never used for a gym or catering. You may be thinking of the former Acme which for 20 years was a catering hall called the Victorian House.
Not only is beautifully renovated, the church added a
upper balcony !!
I remember the building in the early 90’s as either a catering hall or a gym. I am open to corrections.
The Belvedere is in great shape, and is a church. The church has maintained it beautifully.
Here is a current photo of the Belvedere taken today:
Click here for photo
Click here for closeup of “Belvedere” sign still on the building
Does anyone have any memories of this theatre or films they saw here that they could share? I am also curious what year did it close?
Erna Friedricks who had the Belevedere restored had an obituary in the Ridgewood Times headlined by her famous expression…..“If you have 99 cents you dont have a dollar”. Her original store was a few blocks from the theatre. I remember so well when they were renovating the theatre, it had been closed forever and you could smell that old theatre smell a block away. The place was totally intact inside even the curtains were still up. The renovations restored the theatre to the way it had been, only the floor was leveled. It is now a church and they have not only maintained the interior, but have renovated the extrerior of the whole block.
The clothes store that was located in the Belvedere was “Friedricks” Clothing store.