My uncle was an usher at the Etude Theater back in 1916 when he was 15 years old. Among his duties was to run completed reels of current attraction to the owner’s other theater, the Grand, as soon as it was projected so it could be shown at the Grand Theater, in a carefully timed sequence. His route was a one way delivery, he did not recall if the reel was returned directly to the Etude for another showing or was relayed to yet a third theater. One day the projectionist handed him a reel without the can and he took off with it and got to the Grand. He was smoking a cigarette when he handed it up to the projectionist being ignorant of the risk he had run.
“The Brooklyn Eagle Almanac” was published yearly from the 90’s up until at least to 1929. I have hard copies of 1900, 1910 and 1927. The 1922 edition is available online as Lost Memory points out.
Some editions contain seating plans of some theaters. Another source of infomation are the various Brooklyn Street Guides such as Woolworth’s, the Red Book, etc. Another book to look for is the “Long Island Almanac and Year Book” published by the “Eagle”.
Among the seating plans featured in the 1927 edition of the Brooklyn Almanac are the Bushwick and Greenpoint Theaters.
The Brooklyn Eagle in 1922 lists the Madison and Monroe as Keith’s, both listed as seating 600, in the “Theaters of New York City' section of its Almanac.
Here is a photo dating to 1908 which shows what I believe to be the Mardi Gras Theater on Surf Avenue. If it existed under this name in 1908 it would contradict information I have posted above about it opening in 1920. It may have existed under a different name in 1908 but vertical sign shown in photo does not give name. http://www.shorpy.com/node/4616?size=_original
Beer signs in the photo near the vertical may indicate that movies may have been projected in the large saloon said to occupy the first floor of the hotel mentioned above, prior to 1920.
The 1922 edition of the Brooklyn Eagle Almanac lists the seating caoacity as 1825 as opposed to a 1900 listing as 1671, that being before the Lamb renovation in 1906.
On this date, 22 September, back in 1933,“Tarzan the Fearless” and “Doctor Bull” with Will Rogers were playing at the Robinson Grand, while The Big Cage" with Clyde Beatty was playing the nearby Orpheum Theater, in Clarksburg.
There was another Nostrand Theater in Brooklyn. It operated up to at least the summer of 1938. It was at 27 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn 6, New York, between Flushing Avenue, where Nostrand Avenue began, and Park Avenue to the south.
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.
The 1906 photo linked below of the Alcazar Theater was identified by Erik as another name for the Columbia Theater, introduced circa 1905. http://www.shorpy.com/node/4342?size=_original
“posted by J.F. Lundy on Aug 30, 2008 at 5:19pm This photo was taken near the corner of Tillary looking south down Washington near the corner bowling alley. On the left is the Washington Street entrance to the Alcazar Theatre, which was just renamed from the Columbia Theatre the year before. See the note near the end of this NY Times article.”
Thanks again Erik for bringing this to my attention ! View link
The full theatre was on the corner of Tillary and Adams. It was eventually demolished around 1930 as the Post Office seen here was extended back. The area was redeveloped later as seen in this 1994 NY Times
Erik, do you know anything about the Alcazar Theater shown in this photo from 1906, It seems to be located near the Post Office and Eagle Building: http://www.shorpy.com/node/4342?size=_original
1946 large format B7W photo of marquee with “Outlaw” plus Jane Russel Live on board. German restaurant nextdoor.
View link
My uncle was an usher at the Etude Theater back in 1916 when he was 15 years old. Among his duties was to run completed reels of current attraction to the owner’s other theater, the Grand, as soon as it was projected so it could be shown at the Grand Theater, in a carefully timed sequence. His route was a one way delivery, he did not recall if the reel was returned directly to the Etude for another showing or was relayed to yet a third theater. One day the projectionist handed him a reel without the can and he took off with it and got to the Grand. He was smoking a cigarette when he handed it up to the projectionist being ignorant of the risk he had run.
Correct the date of photo on previous entry to copyright 1906, taken October 1905.
Here is an excellent large scale photo of the Montauk Theater at Livingston Street and Hanover. It was taken in 1906.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4906?size=_original
View link
This link is for 1905 story of fire at theater.
Inaugural Program from 1929 of Loew’s Kings at this URL;
View link
“The Brooklyn Eagle Almanac” was published yearly from the 90’s up until at least to 1929. I have hard copies of 1900, 1910 and 1927. The 1922 edition is available online as Lost Memory points out.
Some editions contain seating plans of some theaters. Another source of infomation are the various Brooklyn Street Guides such as Woolworth’s, the Red Book, etc. Another book to look for is the “Long Island Almanac and Year Book” published by the “Eagle”.
Among the seating plans featured in the 1927 edition of the Brooklyn Almanac are the Bushwick and Greenpoint Theaters.
The Brooklyn Eagle in 1922 lists the Madison and Monroe as Keith’s, both listed as seating 600, in the “Theaters of New York City' section of its Almanac.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4609?size=_original
Here is a photo dating to 1908 which shows what I believe to be the Mardi Gras Theater on Surf Avenue. If it existed under this name in 1908 it would contradict information I have posted above about it opening in 1920. It may have existed under a different name in 1908 but vertical sign shown in photo does not give name.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4616?size=_original
Beer signs in the photo near the vertical may indicate that movies may have been projected in the large saloon said to occupy the first floor of the hotel mentioned above, prior to 1920.
The Red Book Guide for 1930 lists seating at 1639.
The 1930 Red Book Guide for Manhattan and the Bronx list the Harlem Opera as a Loew’s house.
In 1922, the Victoria is listed at 233 W.125th Street, seating 2463. Hurtig & Seamens New Theater seating 1863 is listed on W.125th near 8th Avenue.
In 1922 its seating capacity is listed as 2011 as a Loew house.
This theater was operated by Loew’s from at least 1919 to 1932. In 1922 it is listed as seating 1890 people
The 1922 edition of the Brooklyn Eagle Almanac lists the seating caoacity as 1825 as opposed to a 1900 listing as 1671, that being before the Lamb renovation in 1906.
On this date, 22 September, back in 1933,“Tarzan the Fearless” and “Doctor Bull” with Will Rogers were playing at the Robinson Grand, while The Big Cage" with Clyde Beatty was playing the nearby Orpheum Theater, in Clarksburg.
I can’t locate one using Google.
There was another Nostrand Theater in Brooklyn. It operated up to at least the summer of 1938. It was at 27 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn 6, New York, between Flushing Avenue, where Nostrand Avenue began, and Park Avenue to the south.
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.
The Complete Street Guide to Brooklyn, 1939 World’s Fair Edition, lists the Adelphi Theater at 3355 Fulton Street.
The 1906 photo linked below of the Alcazar Theater was identified by Erik as another name for the Columbia Theater, introduced circa 1905.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4342?size=_original
“posted by J.F. Lundy on Aug 30, 2008 at 5:19pm This photo was taken near the corner of Tillary looking south down Washington near the corner bowling alley. On the left is the Washington Street entrance to the Alcazar Theatre, which was just renamed from the Columbia Theatre the year before. See the note near the end of this NY Times article.”
Thanks again Erik for bringing this to my attention !
View link
The full theatre was on the corner of Tillary and Adams. It was eventually demolished around 1930 as the Post Office seen here was extended back. The area was redeveloped later as seen in this 1994 NY Times
Thanks Erik, a great wealth of information !
Erik, do you know anything about the Alcazar Theater shown in this photo from 1906, It seems to be located near the Post Office and Eagle Building:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4342?size=_original
View link
photo
Here is a photo of the lobby of Crandall’s Savoy in 1920.
http://www.shorpy.com/node/4331?size=_original