Bellerose Theater

This was part of the Century Theaters circuit, which once owned many theaters along Jamaica/Jericho Avenue.

This theatre's name is spelled incorrectly. It's Bellerose, not Bellrose. The Bellerose had about 950 seats and was named for the Queens community in which it stands. The address given above is also incorrect. It's 245-18 Jamaica Avenue. Jericho Turnpike begins in Nassau County. Due to these errors, the map for this theatre shows a section of Bellrose, Oregon!

Till the day this theatre closed it had no real rear wall. It had the half wall with the curtains above it. You had to keep the lobby very quiet or it would be heard all over the audience. Centurys ran this for years as one of the discount houses wherre the price was the year, 77, 78, 79 cents.

Presumably, you mean the rear wall of the auditorium. Many theatres were built with half walls so that standees could watch the show when all seats were occupied. The curtains were supposed to be closed when seats were available.

Yes, Century's Nostrand, had the half-wall too. But they placed glass on top of it but the noise still traveled from the lobby into the auditorium.

Bellerose is the name of contiguous towns in Queens and Nassau. Roughly from Cross Island Pkwy east to Commonwealth Blvd and beyond, the county line runs down the middle of the street, with the eastbound lanes in Nassau and the westbound in Queens. The north side of the street is Jamaica Ave and the south side is Jericho Tpke. The Bellerose is/was in Nassau County, on Jericho Turnpike.

Technically, Ken, you may be right, but to avoid confusing the public, the addresses for both sides of the street are Jamaica Avenue until it reaches the eastern border with Nassau County, when the name changes to Jericho Turnpike...To calibrate a map for this theatre, you need to eliminate "Queens" from the address. In other words, it should be entered as 245-18 Jamaica Avenue, Bellerose, NY. If you try 245-18 Jericho Turnpike, it will re-direct you to 245-18 Jamaica Avenue.

Now I'm really confused. Are you saying that because somebody's mapmaking software gets it wrong, then what happens in the real world is only 'technically' correct? Rather an odd way of looking at it.

Go to bellerosebusiness.org and look at some of the Jamaica/Jericho addresses in the 245-xx range. Odd numbers are on Jamaica Ave with a 718 area code, and even numbers are on Jericho Tpke with a 516 area code. No one to my knowledge is confused by this.

So outside the technical world of computer maps, out here where the rubber meets the road, out here on planet Earth, The Bellerose Theatre is on Jericho Tpke in Nassau County.

i always thought that the bellerose in is nassau its showtimes werelisted in nassau collum in the ny papers

The Bellerose is physically in Nassau County, not Queens, since it is on the south side of the street. The Nassau-Queens line runs down the middle of the street in front of the theater. There is no question that the theater is in Nassau, and not Queens. However, I still can't confirm what they call Jamaica/Jericho in front of the theater. Running "Jamaica Ave" only gives you odd numbers, as someone said above. Running Jericho gives you the even numbers on the other side of the street, so it appears that address should say "Jericho", not "Jamaica". A simple way to solve this is to see what the "Carpet Store's" address is, since it now occupies the building. What's the name of the Carpet Store?

For most if not all of its life (I'm not certain about the final years), the Bellerose was operated by the Century Circuit and always advertised and publicized as being situated in Queens.

So much for truth in advertising.

I lived in Bellerose from 1949-67, and phoned the theatre all the time. It was a straight dial until area codes were instituted about '63. After that a recording would tell you to dial 516. Nassau county. And I remember the street signs -- Jericho southside, Jamaica northside. We were not confused.

Computer stupidity be damned. A pox on advertising. The Bellerose is in Nassau County, on Jericho Turnpike. Say goodnight, Gracie.

I was on Jericho Turnpike this evening, and it is clearly in Nassau COunty. However, the signs do say Jamaica Ave. Actually, for a few blocks, the signs are actually "double-signed" with both "Jammaica" and "Jericho". They are about 90% Jamaica Ave signs (on both sides), and the remainder "Jericho" signs, many times right nect to, or under the Jamaica Ave signs. The truth is, that the Bellerose is/was physically in Nassau County, so the address above is wrong saying that it is Queens. It's just "Bellerose", NY. The "Queens" should be dropped. However, the "jamaica" address appears to be correct.
Also, just for the record, the Bellerose is no longer a carpet store, it is now a "Martial Arts & Supply Center".

There are a couple of interesting references to the Bellerose in the Creedmoor Civic News --

http://www.creedmoorcivic.org/news/Mar99.htm
http://www.creedmoorcivic.org/news/May00.htm

I don't know if the theater is in Nassau or Queens, but I am a union projectionist for Local 306 which covers all of the five boroughs ( not nassau). The Bellerose theater was one of our theaters to cover.

This was a true neighborhood theatre.

As a former resident of Bellerose I can state that Bellerose spans the Queens-Nassau border. The easy way to tell which county you are in is to use Little Neck Pkwy as the dividing line. West of this Pkwy is Jamaica avenue and East is Jericho Tpke. It is confusing to non residents of the area.

If you remove "Queens" from the address above as Warren has already mentioned, this theater will map correctly. When you look at a map of this area, Jamaica ave becomes Jericho turnpike just east of the Cross Island Parkway. Maybe Little Neck Parkway divides Queens from Nassau but Jamaica ave does not change names there.

Actually, I do believe that it's Jericho Turnpike on one side of the street, and Jamaica Ave on the other side, as one side of the street is Queens, and the other is Nassau. The signs are even double signed on this stretch. I do believe that the Bellerose theater is on the Nassau side of the street, but the buildings on the other side are indeed in Queens.
Bellerose is as confusing as that whole "Ridgewood, Queens" and Ridgewood, Brooklyn scenario.

I show the Bellerose Theatre opening in 1931. It became a Century theatre approx 1950. There is no listing for the Bellerose Theatre after 1985.

The building has been cursed since it closed. It sat for about 10 years before the marquee came down from being hit so many times. It became a carpet store around 1999 but never opened after they did a big renovation. It is now a martial arts supply store which still has not opened since the awnings were put on. Dont think it will ever be used.

I saw the "Martial Arts" sign way back in April, and the store looked like it was about to open, but apparently, to this day it never did open.

To all of you guys hung up on the location of the Bellerose Theater, be advised that there are actually THREE (3) communities named "Bellerose:"

1. "Bellerose-Queens" - All of the area NORTH of Jamaica Ave/Jericho Tnpk, from Gettysburg Street to Little Neck Pkwy;

2. "Village of Bellerose" (Incorporated) - SOUTH of Jamaica Ave/Jericho Tnpk (i.e., Nassau County), and EAST of Colonial Road;

3. "Bellerose Terrace" - An unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Hempstead, SOUTH of Jamaica Ave/Jericho Tnpk (i.e., Nassau County), and WEST of Colonial Road.

As one who grew up in Bellerose, I can assure you that the theater is actually located in Bellerose Terrace (Nassau County). As for the street name, irrespective of how individual merchants wished to list their locations, the north (Queens County) side was customarily called "Jamaica Avenue," and the south (Nassau County) side was customarily called "Jericho Turnpike."

BTW, "Jericho Turnpike" is, in fact, the older name! As a toll road in the mid-1800's, the name existed all the way to Jamaica. Later on, still as a toll road, the section to (what is now) Queens Village was paved with wood planks, and became know as the "Jamaica Plank Road." The term "Jericho Turnpike" disappeared around the year 1898, when Nassau County was split from Queens with the creation of present-day New York City.

It was always a problem with this theater location as far as the projection union was concerned. Even though it may technically be Nassau county, the city union covered it. I grew up and still live in Floral Park. We have the same problem. Floral Park is split between Queens and Nassau. Luckily, the Floral was definitely in Nassau (er, or was it)...... Just kidding

RCDTJ-

Actually the Floral Park problem is much worse: The City/County line runs diagonally from southwest to northeast, cutting right through residential blocks, plots, and homes!

Re the projectionists, that kind of accommodation between locals was common - sometimes mandated from above!

E.g., when the Sperry plant in Lake Success was built (1941), IBEW Local 3 had insisted on representing the electricians; notwithstanding the fact that Nassau County was Local 25 territory. Local 3's weight carried the day; and it remained unchanged until the plant was shut down a few years ago.

As for the Floral, I don't know; even though I started my five year Century "career" there!

You are right. Some houses on 262nd street near 86th avenue have 2 addresses. One for queens and one for nassau.

The karate store still has not opened up. Looks like the place really is cursed.

Worked as a fill-in here for the steady manager. Fellas name was "Rudy". Admission during time I worked was 79 cents. Patrons would steal the toilet paper. Bathroom was constantly being trashed. Century kept it going. You'd fill half the house on a Tueday night with a snowfall. Don't remember a concession stand but at 79 cents admission, clientele probably wouldn't pay more than 3 cents for a Coke. Cashier told me she wanted a new job before 1981 'cause she wouldn't be able to deal with all the pennies.I'll chime in on the location - Theatre was in Nassau County on Jericho Tpke. Jamaica Ave in Queens becomes Jericho Tpke on the opposite side of the Queens/Nassau border.

JakeGittes, weren't you the character played by Jack Nicholson in Roman Polanski's Chinatown?

Gerald:

Evelyn Mulwray sends her best.

The theatre had a small candy stand, nothing special.

At the moment I am currently rehearsing for a community theatre's production of "Annie", to be held in a school auditorium right there in Bellerose. I often get off the N 24 bus directly across the street from the still unopened karate store, and just take a look at the facade. You guessed it! I wish I could buy the building so that I can renovate it back into a theatre, and then donate to the community theatre group!

The karate supply store either hasn't opened or is strictly a wholesale operation. The owner recently completed a re-pointing project on the terra-cotta front and side of the building. The original terrazo lobby floor is now covered with hardwood planking. Some kind of brick warehouse has been built into the stage area of the building with an overhead door on 246 St. The concession stand in the Bellerose was small, located unter the staircase that led to the projection room (1st landing) and finally to the upstairs lounge/restrooms (no balcony unlike the neighboring Queens & Floral theaters) A water fountain next to the concession stand had an interesting aquatic-deco theme over it (vitrolite?) While the the theater walls had canvas' of painted wildlife scenes (mostly deer I believe) The last movie to play there that I recall was the original "Back to the Future" at $1.50 .

I wish someone knew what was going on there. The carpet store that was there before the karate store also never opened up. They put in the warehouse and roll up door. It was stocked with carpet for a whole year with no activity in or out. Now with the karate store, it's the same thing.

I called the Karate store today. According to them, they will be opening in 2 months. We will see.

Does anyone have any photos of the Bellerose before it was altered? I can remember the marque with the blue neon block "BELLEROSE" on the sides. I think at some point a neon band went along the top and down the sides of the marque also. I remember the day a dump truck pulled under the marque and demolition workers with sledge hammers laid waste to it allowing the pieces to fall off into their truck. (A neon transformer had dangled dangerously from a wire over the sidewalk for weeks before the marque was finally taken down.) Directions given to motorists looking for the Cross Island Parkway or Braddock Ave. would never quite be the same.

Marty,

If I had your e-mail address - possibly through your profile - I could send you a couple of B&W photographs taken at the 1959 Memorial Day parade, with the marquee in the background.

yes,through my pursuit of lauren bacall i attended this theater twice

Greg,

Sorry to answer on this forum. My email address is "MJB1337@aol.com".

Thanks,

Marty

The Jericho Turnpike - Jamaica Avenue controvery for the proper name for this theater is now official. It can be changed to Jericho Turnpike. For years, the Nassau side of this road was called "Jericho Turnpike" (The theater was always actually on "jericho", not Jamaica), but now they official changed the Queens side of the road from the Nassau Border to the Cross Island Parkway to "Jericho Turnpike". It can be officially changed above.
Here's the article:

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-signs1101,0,933667.story?coll=nyc-moreny-headlines

As Bway points out, the both sides of the road are now Jericho Turnpike from the Cross Island Pkwy to all points east. However, there is no variation I can come up with to get the Google map service to pinpoint the location properly. If you drop the "Queens" (which should be done anyway) it points you to Floral Park (closer to the Floral Theater location). If you keep it in Queens it won't plot you anywhere... and changing from Jamaica Ave to Jericho Turnpike is no help either. In any event, the proper address should be changed ot "Jericho Turnpike, Bellerose, NY."

I drove by the theater with camera in hand yesterday morning and snapped some shots. The Martial Arts store is still not open (you can see unopened boxes piled high against the storefront windows and doors from the sidewalk), but the restoration job on the facade is very impressive - as can be seen in the detail photos below. By the way, they list an address of 245-14 on their signage.

Here's a wide shot of the building where you can see the big rolldown gate installed by the would-be carpeting store down the side street near where the front of the auditorium would have been: http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1068.jpg
A head-on shot of the facade:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1065.jpg

Some ornamental details:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1061.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1063.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1066.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1069.jpg

Never made it to this theater, but I recall it being listed along with the Five Towns and Hewlett theaters for third-run discount. Was the Herricks also in that penny-a-year scheme of the late '70's and early '80's? Anyway... Seems like a pretty tall structure not to have had a balcony. Must have been a spacious room.

And what is the deal with these retail tenants who never seem to open their doors to the public? The martial arts supply company's website accepts orders by internet and by phone and makes no mention of any store locations. They list their main office on Horace Harding Expressway in Bayside and offer a Queens telephone number. My guess is they are currently using the former Bellerose Theater as a warehouse storage facility with plans to open a showroom - why else would they clean and re-point the facade with such care if they didn't expect to bring customers here?

Ed
This is the second time in about 7 years that this has happened to this building. First it was the carpet store that fixed up the place, loaded it with carpet and stuff, then never opened. It sat for a year or two with no signs of anything. Now, the martial arts store. I called them in early September and they said they would be opening in two months. Nothing has happened yet. There is no activity during the day at this building. I don't know what is going on with this place, but it is very strange.

The theater must have ghosts that are upset that the building is no longer a theater, and are doing their best to stop the building from reopening as anything else.
Seriously though, once was strange, twice in the same theater is down right weird.

I am the VP of the Bellerose Terrace Civic Association. The Theater is now a Karate Wholesale warehouse. My understanding is that it has been open since Nov 2005. The owners have applied for a variance to have OmniPoint install Cell Phone Anteenas on the Roof.

Neil Frary
Vp Bellerose Terrace Civic Association

btca1@aol.com

Sorry to say this but............that makes no sense. How come the gates have not come up one time if they have been open since November? Everytime I call them, they say they will be opening soon. I pass the building twice a day. They are NOT open.

The gates have definitely come up. The entrance to the Building is on 246th st.

So, they operate out of that big roll gate located down the side street near the old screen wall. Since it's a wholesale warehouse, they probably open up only for shipments and deliveries... I doubt there is a proper showroom that is open to the general public. Odd, then, that they would spend the money to repoint and maintain the facade ornamentation. A nice gesture towards the building's past, however.

Ed,

Have you considered that the façade cleaning and repointing might have been undertaken by the landlord; and that his motive might have been maintenance of property value, compliance with Town of Hempstead codes, and/or liability insurance?

Just imagine loose facia crashing to the sidewalk and killing someone...

Yes, the facade would be taken care of like a landlord would take care of any commercial building.

I suppose you are both correct and that the preservation of any detail work is merely a happy by-product of this maintenance. However, I've seen many older buildings where facade "maintenance" involed a shearing off of any elements that might one day dislodge and pose a threat to pedestrians below. My point is I'm just happy that the detail is still in place to be admired even as the theater's original functionality is lost to the ages.

A couple of thing here......First of all, Neil, I am not trying to start an arguement here but this store is NOT open for business. I called them again today. They told me that they are NOT open and they dont know when they will open. They would give me no other information. Does anyone other than me, live in the neighborhood, that can give some more info on this place. Like I said, I pass by this place everyday and the gates have NEVER been up. I'm not talking about the roll up gate on the side. That has nothing to do with it. If you think thats there main entrance, then something is wrong here. Something very strange is going on here. This is twice in the last 7 years or so that a company has renovated this place, filled it with product, and let it stand like that for a year or so with no activity. As far as the maintenance of this building goes, they have done nothing to maintain this place until the carpet store rented it. It sat for years without anything being done to it.

RCDTJ,

If this were a WAREHOUSE OUTLET attempting to attract retail customers, I would agree with you. But if it's only a warehouse (i.e., not intended for retail sales), then the sole use of side gates makes a lot of sense. Consider the need for curb access for the loading and unloading of trucks.

Consider also that the phone response you get - "closed" - simply means "closed to the (retail) public."

As for exterior maintenance, this is not an annual activity, but something that need be done only every ten to fifteen years.

True but they said that this store was supposed to be opening to the public as a retail store many months ago. I also dont remember any warehouse with front rollup gates and full displays in the window. It doesnt make sense. Also, what about the carpet store that was there. I think it was there for a year or two with no activity. Maybe longer. I dont buy it. Sorry. I agree with the maintenance statement, although work needed to be done on the front long before they actually did it.

I revamped my photobucket album and broke all the links to photos I previously posted here. So... here's a link to my Bellerose Theater album where the pics I took in December are now located.

An exterior view of the Bellerose as a carpet store can be seen in the new article about Floral Park at www.forgotten-ny.com

Here's the actual link, as the mainpage will change in a few weeks and the Floral Park as a "new" section will be buried within the site:

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/borderlinefloralpark/floralpark.html

Jake Gittes: I worked at the Bellerose as an usher in 1979. What is you name?

By the way, when I passed by the former theater a couple of weeks back, the martial arts outlet that currently occupies the building appeared finally to be open to the public.

Yes it IS FINALLY opened..LOL.....took them long enough.

RCDTJ,

Actually, it's now a meat market. Go in, and ask them for a couple of karate chops... (Oh, I don't believe I said that) - LOL

LOL Greg

A recent photo of the Bellerose Theatre as a sporting goods store can be found midway through a new article about Jericho Turnpike at www.forgotten-ny.com

I grew up on 241st Street in walking distance to the Bellerose theatre on the Queen side of Bellerose. I always knew that it was in Nassau on Jericho Turnpike. It was a true neighborhood theatre. I started going in the late 1960's. I remember it being a bit run down than even at that point. Its too bad it could not survive but at least the building is still there. I have fond memories of going there and this elderly lady across the street who worked there getting me and my sibling into a movie free sometimes.

I also remember going many times to its close cousin the Floral Park Theatre.

Ed Solero
heres an updated link from your Photobucket site for this theatre,
evidently the links must have changed...by the way nice animations.

http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Movie%20Theaters/Bellerose%20Theater/

Thanks to everyone who chimed in about the address.

After sleuthing on Google, it looks like the official address is 245-06 Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park, NY 11001, USA.

That's funny because it is definitely NOT Floral Park.

Google maps the address as Floral Park. Would the above address be considered Bellerose Terrace?

The Bellerose Theatre was named for the community where it was situated. If that area is still known as Bellerose, than the community should be listed as such, regardless of what name the USPS uses. The mail might go through the Floral Park post office, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the theatre is actually located in Floral Park. And, of course, there are two parts to Floral Park, one in Queens and the other in Nassau County. The community of Bellerose is solely in Queens.

That area is still known as Bellerose....

Guys,

According to the USPS (ZIP+4 web-page), the address is now a "Floral Park 11001" address.

And yes, the physical location of the theatre is part of Bellerose Terrace, an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Hempstead.

A few years ago, I was informed that all of Bellerose Terrace AND the Village of Bellerose had been moved from 11426 (Bellerose) to 11001 (Floral Park), as part of a major reconfiguration of the Bellerose and (northern) Queens Village post office jurisdictions.

I just finished reading a recent history of Queens neighborhoods, which labels everything north of Braddock Ave and west to Springfield Blvd as "Bellerose Manor" - certainly not the way it was when I grew up!

So the next time you are asked to give a brief discourse on the "History of Bellerose," begin by asking if he/she has an hour to listen (LOL).

Greg

Ultimately, we have to go with the official mailing address.

While the local community might know an area by a different name, the address is really there to guide non-locals.

If you map this address on Google, or your GPS, or on your iPhone, it should just work.

Why do you need to use the "official mailing address" when the Bellerose no longer exists as a theatre? Are you planning to post a letter there? Must we re-write history just to suit the USPS? The Bellerose Theatre was one of the landmarks of Bellerose, Queens. Now it's being listed as being in Floral Park, and as one of three theatres in that community. But those other two theatres were in Floral Park, Nassau County. So history is "screwed" further, to use a favorite word of our own Al Alvarez.

History isn't screwed, Warren.

We plan to update Cinema Treasures soon to support the idea of an historical address. That way, we can store the original address and the current address... and everyone will be happy.

But, mainly, we use the current address so folks who'd like to visit theaters have a chance to actually find them. It's a lot easier to say "go to this address" than "go to Floral Park, but it's really called Bellerose, and look for Jamaica Ave, but it might be called Jericho Turnpike".

Warren,

Sorry, I was composing my earlier note when you released yours this morning. Had I seen it before my own release, I would have elaborated a bit more.

Longislandmovies is right. If you ignore the (unshared) ZIP codes and post office names, there is Bellerose in Queens, the Incorporated Village of Bellerose, and the (unincorporated) hamlet of Bellerose Terrace in Nassau.

BTW, did you know that much of Greater Bellerose (yes, all three) was developed by the same female builder - Helen Marsh - starting around 1900; with the wealthier (now incorporated) Village going up first? The Queens side started around 1910, and Bellerose Terrace a bit later.

Also, Bellerose (i.e., Beautiful Rose) was named by the builder to call attention to its proximity to Floral Park; which was developed by the wealthy florist, John Lewis Childs.

BTW, I just saw your latest note. Isn't it wonderful how our politicians and their bureaucrats can cause us all to trip up over our own underwear?

Patrick,

I respectfully disagree:

(1) For several decades, the Jamaica (regional) post office has been trying to get everyone to use "Jamaica, NY" (with local 114XX ZIP codes, of course) with little success. In fact, the USPS has ruled that a proper street address (or PO Box), plus a proper ZIP code, is enough to get the mail delivered.

(2) A "community" address - particularly if designated by the post office - is of little comfort to the non-local. The primary purpose of a street address is to assist fire and emergency service personnel; and to reasonably expect proper mail delivery (LOL)...

Greg

To clarify my remarks, Greg, we're most interested in finding an address that will map properly on Google Maps.

This may or may not be the official mailing address. We should all keep in mind that addresses are always an approximation... there's never a true right answer.

Ultimately, our goal is to use the most current, most active address that will allow us to successfully map the location of a theater. Secondarily, we'll try to preserve the historical address, especially in cases where roads have disappeared, etc.

Patrick,

Understood! But you DO have your hands full!

If the residents of the (incorporated) Village of Bellerose, or the (unincorporated) hamlet of Bellerose Terrace were polled, few (if any) would admit to being part of Floral Park.

Furthermore, I'd be willing to bet that a substantial majority indicate "Bellerose" as their mailing address, notwithstanding the fact that they must use the required "11001" ZIP code (see my earlier comment on this subject).

Warren,

Re, "The Bellerose Theatre was one of the landmarks of Bellerose, Queens."

Sorry, but you are dead wrong! The theatre is - and has always been - located in Bellerose Terrace, an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County!

You appear to speak of two other theatres in Floral Park. Besides the Floral - where I worked for 2 years - what is the other one?

Greg

This photo which belongs to Ed Solero shows the Bellerose Theater building. The building is occupied by Dynamics Martial Arts Supply. Their address is 245-14 Jericho Tpke Floral Park NY 11001.

Corrected. Thanks, Lost!

The previous tenant, Kas Carpet, used a business address of 245-14 Jamaica Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426. If people travel to Floral Park looking for the old theatre building, they're not going to find it, because it's in Bellerose.

Warren, the community of "Bellerose" is not "Soley in Queens". I know people that live in Bellerose, but are in Nassau County. I have no idea what the offical address of this theater is, or what it should be, but Bellerose is NOT only in Queens, it also is contained partly in Nassau County.

Okay, next, I did a mapquest search for this address and it turns up for Bellerose:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/245-14+Jericho+Tpke+bellerose+ny/

Next, according to my Nassau County atlas by Hagstroms, the SOUTH side of Jericho Turnpike in THIS location IS in NASSAU county. The county line runs down the middle of the street, and north of the turnpike is Queens, and south of the turnpike is NASSAU.
Now, here is where the problem lies..... The theater IS in Bellerose, and IS in Nassau county. HOWEVER, the area of Bellerose, a part that is IN Nassau county, from the county line, almong Jericho....north of the RAILROAD tracks, and west of Remsen Ave....while WHOLEY in Nassau IS SERVED by the Floral Park Post office.....

So in summary, the theater IS fully in Bellerose. It IS fully in NASSAU, but the post office of Floral Park serves their mail.

And by the way, this theater IS in Bellerose, and should be listed as such. Just because the post office from Floral Park serves this location due to convenience because it's north of the railroad tracks is besides the point.

And not to totally confuse matters, but a couple years ago, the north westbound side of this road was called Jamaica Ave, and the south eastbound side was called Jericho Turnpike. To lessen the confusion, didn't they recently change a portion of this road, the south side in Nassau to be officially Jamaica Ave a few years ago? I believe this stretch (meaning this will effect the theaters CURRENT address) called Jamaica Ave now? It's either that or the former Jamaica Ave side is now called Jericho Turnpike. I forgot which.

Listen. There will never be a resolution to this issue. It has always been a problem. My problem is the following. If you're going to use it as a way for people to find it, it won't work that way. For instance, if you are at the old Floral theater in Floral Park and want to go to the Bellrose there is a problem. People will go west on Jericho Tnpke, pass Little neck parkway into Bellrose. You are then going to tell me that it turns into Floral Park again. Not a good solution.

My father took me to see The Tingler - rumor has it that the seats were wired so that when you saw the tingler you got a mild shock(?)

Okay, here's a resolution of sorts. Legally, that is.

It was built in 1926 at "the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Rocky Hill Road" (now Braddock Avenue).

The building permits from 1945 state the address as 245-10-20, Jericho Turnpike, Bellerose, L.I. The alterations were on the Southwest corner of Jamaica Avenue and 246th Street.

It is listed on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

It was approved by the Town of Hempstead and submitted to the Nassau County Planning Commission.

So, legally, it's Nassau.

BTW, how do you submit information for the boxed section up at the top of this page?

Hope this helps!

I lived in Bellerose Terrace (as opposed to "the Proper") in Nassau County. Just around the corner from the movies. At 225th Street the street began it's dual identity of Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpke. The Tpk was the Nassau side. Jericho took over both sides of the street in Floral Park. My address was Bellerose 26 until zip codes came in when it became 11426. My phone did have a Floral Park exchange. Over the years the theatre was shuttered several times, once before Century took over, the other toward the end when Century closed it making the Floral the dollar house. However, the Bellerose had a better location and they reopened it.

I remember the old, boxy incandescent lit marque, white name bulbs, yellow running lights, the installation of the new marque. If my childhood memories are correct the bathrooms were initially to the left of the lobby and downstairs. Century constructed a large second floor lounge. The original talk was they planned on adding a balcony.

The had one great projectionist who made everthing very theatrical, especially the way he treated 20th century fox films.

Films showed often included a foreign one on the double bill. On memorable double - To Bed or Not to Bed together with Seduced and Abandoned and no, they were not porn. This theatre never had that.

RVB, The most memorable double:

Feature: "The Virgin Queen" (Life of Queen Elizabeth I)
Cofeature: "Tonight's the Night"

You are correct on the theatre layout, but I am unaware of plans for a balcony.

You're right, Greg, there never was a balcony. On the second floor where we expect a balcony to be, was the projectionist's room. Going up, the ladies room was on the right and the men's on the left. The manager's office was on the first floor, all the way to the left going in.

Nobody said there was a balcony. I just referred to rumors, particularly with that huge staircase (with the projectionist booth directly at the top of the stairs.)

And may I elaborate on my original posting - Bellerose "Proper" was the incorporated Village.

Also on the rumor mill was the origin of the name. Supposedly after two sisters, Belle and Rose.

And one final thought - at the time the theatre closed the seating capacity was down to 880 according to a spokesperson at Century. The downsizing occurred when new seats were installed with more space between the aisles.

The last six rows were smoking. And don't forget the children's section and the matron.

This was yet another case of the "re" ending to the "T" word: Bellerose Theatre (not Bellerose Theater).

Mrs. Marsh named the town Bellerose because she thought it sounded "euphonic". The concession stand was at the center top of the lobby and you could turn and see the screen. They had popcorn, the usual theatre candy, and lemonade and fruit punch, which you could order "half and half". The soda machine sat to the right by the bottom of the staircase, and popped out cups.

And the illuminated clock was to the left of the proscenium. A trivia question (for which I do not know the answer)- whose advertising did it carry? And where was the drinking fountain?

The drinking fountain was right next to the soda machine, on the right hand side (going in) at the foot of the staircase.

An article about the community of Bellerose appears in today's issue of The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/nyregion/thecity/22froz.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Bellerose&st=cse

Warren,

That's quite an article from the Times. Immediately north of the Frozen Cup (249th Street) is where my wife lived (89-11). I had lived in the second house (89-09); so the Frozen Cup was visited often on hot, summer evenings.

A correction to the Times article: Until the Fall of 1949, the lot (stretching to 250th Street) was occupied by a huge, freestanding, V-shaped double sign, erected and maintained by General Outdoor Advertising Company. I had built a playhouse in its upper beams. A hurricane flattened the whole thing.

In the spring of 1950, Frozen Cup opened on the west end, and a used car lot opened on the east. Thus, Frozen Cup is just under 60 years old, not 70.

I pray that these hotel plans don't destroy the neighborhood, but I'm not very optimistic...

That's a terrible article. Everyone in it is represented as being so smug and unfriendly. "I'm not a racist"...."with a grin"...."got into his black Lexus"... That just stirs up more bad feelings.

If you have complaints or corrections about the NYT article, you should send them to nytnews@nytimes.com or phone 1-800-698-6397.

Kitnoir,

Here you've got a newspaper about as biased and far to the left as one can go - writing about the (arguably) most conservative neighborhood in NYC. If you didn't see the tone of the article coming, then I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

And before you come gunning for me, note that I am troubled ONLY by the prospect of another hotel.

As bad as you may think the article is, it's exactly what is happening. It's all about money today. It doesn't matter if there is a historic place there. Same with the bowling alley. They can get more money with something else in it's place. It's not going to change.

Nah, I'm not criticizing you guys, that's just my opinion of the article. You're quite safe, Greg! :> I wonder what the owners of the Floral Park Motor Lodge think of this competition. I remember when it was a senior citizens home.

Century tried to fill a demand for theatres north of the Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpk corridor. They first built the Glen Oaks as an add on to the shopping center on Union Turnpike. They also had plans for a free standing theatre on the north side of Hillside Av in Bellerose, Queens. I remember the billboard they erected which said, "On this site will be built another link in the chanin of Century theatres". But that never happened when the movie business went sour.

Still waiting for somebody to find and post photos of the theatre when it was. It would be nice to see the original (which stylistically was similar to the Community, which for some reason is not listed in Queen Village, but Queens), and the later wedged shaped one No takers on my clock trivia question? I think it was a jewelers in Queens Village.

The year given for this photo is 1987.

Boy a lot is missing since the first installation of this "new" marquee. At the point of the wedge was "a century theatre". There were also two "arms" atop this which supported yet another wedge which had a bank of horizontal neon lights which, when first installed "chased". Subsequently no. And the neons around the sign boards have also been covered over. When did this atrocity take place. I suspect some of it is related to when they widened Jericho Tpke / Jamaica Av and added the island in the center. This meant that the front of the marquee probably extended in "striking" range. As part of the widening the Floral lost it's old marquee and vertical and the signboard was placed on the face of the bujilding.

Obviously it was already closed to movies by 1987?

This was apparently renovated in 1945 and re-opened "glamorously" on Thanksgiving Day as the New Bellerose Theatre, according to advertising in the Long Island Press. An address of 245-18 Jamaica Avenue was provided. The inaugural program was a subsequent-run "The House on 92nd Street" & "Divorce." Curiously, the New Bellerose was described as "the 37th link in Century's Chain of Theatres," even though Century had been operating it for years.

The Bellerose also reopened after they did a Cinamascope installation. I believe "The Robe" was the first attraction. The Bellerose being a very wide theatre with a wide proscenium had one of the largest screens out there. In it's last years the Bellerose was closed as the local dollar house with the honors going to the Floral. It then reopened as the local dollar house a short time later. I'm sure the reason was location. Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpk, Braddock Av and the Cross Island Parkway.

If the Bellerose had to close down for the installation of CinemaScope, it must have required some major architectural changes. Most theatres installed their new wide screens overnight, without closing for even a day. It was probably not a "CinemaScope screen" per see, but one that could handle whatever process a film was projected in. It would also have had adjustable masking for any films shot in standard ratio. Many theatres were showing them "blown-up." while others were not.

There were no observable structural changes since the procenium was already very wide. I remember, vaguely, that the curtains opened wider after the installation. This was a theatre where they always used the curtains, often to great theatrical effect.

I believe the theatre was closed during the depression and only reopened at the end of WWII. I have a vague recollection of my father saying that during the depression he could have purchased the building for $8,000.

I remember a promo they had geared to grammar school children at Floral Park - Bellerose School, and, probably its Queens County equivalent at the time King Solomon's Mines was showing. We all, somehow, received long, narrow colored paper good for a free admission at some given show - if we had the right color. In restrospect these were probably 1/2 of an 8 1/2 x 11 to keep costs down. We all lined up in front of the theatre and way around the side of the building on 246th street (odd, in the evening if there was a line it faced the other way to 245th Street). Anyway the winning "color" was white and there were darned few of those in evidence.

I remember the one cashier very well. She was tall, attractive and had a luxurious head of dark hair worn in the Andrew Sisters' style of the day. Story was she was a single mom with two sons, a widow, or heaven forbid, a divorcee. The ticket takers all looked alike, tall and old in those heavy military looking uniforms.

Anyone remember kent cleaners.It was right near the old A&P. How about the old american gas station where the bank is now where you get off jamaca ave to braddock blvd? And wasn't there a train that went right through peoples backyards? I remember as a kid seeing it cross the cross island service road going to creedmoore. Any one have any photo's of them?

Steve
nitetrain1432@aol.com

Boy Nash you're really going back on the train. I remember crossing over the tracks as a short cut to my confirmation classes at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Commonwealth Blvd. The third rail was already disabled then and I never recall seeing any freight service to the coal yard. That was in the late 40s.

The coal yard was right next to the good humor factory i think. I remember walking to school (Martin van buren) on the tracks. I could have walked those tracks for miles. I loved it.I love anything train related.I wish i had lived in one of those homes where the train went through there backyard.The last train to go through my area was around 1965 i think. If anyone has any photo's to share i'd love to see them.

There's alot of LIRR stuff online including a list of stations past and present and the last dates of service. There are all sorts of pictures. As a result of your earlier comment alluding to the Creedmoor spur I was looking at them last night.

There are plenty of Long Island RR photo and data online including information on when the Creedmoor Line was discontinued.

Can you post the link to that site here or maybe e-mail the link?

I was just looking at so many. Search Long Island Rail Road History, it's full of stuff and then just keep looking at all the LIRR entries that follow. You may never get back to Cinema Treasures again.

Nash, I thought the Good Humour Trucks were on Braddock Avenue. I remember going by a parking lot of them on my way to Van Buren (ugh!).

BTW, I have a picture of the profile of the theatre from around '78.

What I'd like to see is a photo of the original marquee, that big boxy affair with hundreds of yellow incandescent running lights and the red and orange in the front.

Of course a '78 photo would be nice because the new marquee would not have been trashed by that truck.

You're right.The good humor trucks were on braddock. The tracks i walked went to van buren to the right. To the left was the good humer plant and train depot. I'd LOVE to have any photo's from back then!!!

Kitnoir? Can you e-mail that photo of the bellerose movie from 1978? My e-mail is nitetrain1432@aol.com Thanks!

Steve.....

On it's way, Nash!

kitnoir could you also share the photo with the rest of us. The Bellerose was my home theatre for more than 25 years before I moved east.

How would I do that, rvb?

There is a way to put things on this site but I'm not a techie. If you have the capability to EMail then you have sufficient tools to add a photo to this site, that much I know. If you'd like to send me a personal copy I'm robvboehm@yahoo.com

Sent it, rvb!

didn't get it

Sent it again. Any messages?

nothing

rvb, are you getting the email but not the pic? My system is telling me it went.

I'm not getting any mail from you at all. The only reason I'm responding to this is I got the notice from CT that someone had responded, etc.. And I'm getting a lot of other Email so I'm in a receiving mode. If you didn't get the dreaded Daemon, where did it go. A thought, if you are willing to give me your EMail I'll send a note to you and you can reply with photos and beat the system.

I don't know what a Daemon is. Is anyone running this board who can tell me how to post pics (and update the info at the top of the page)?