Cobble Hill Cinemas

The theater was originally named the Para(s) Court.

In the late eighties the theater became a revival house playing cult movies like Eraserhead. I had friends who lived in an apartment above the theater. They were forced out and they made another theater were they were living.

Mr. Goldberg must check his facts before submitting information on theatres that are incorrect. The Cobble Hill Cinemas was originally the Lido Theatre on Court Street. The Rio Piedras Theatre was the new name of Loew's Broadway at Broadway & Stockton Street in the 1970's. The Lido was a few blocks from the Paras Court, which was on the opposite side of the street. The Paras Court facade is still intact. The Lido had a number of operaters in the 1950/60's and became the Rex Cinema in early 1970's. After the Rex, it became the Cobble Hill Cinemas. The Paras Court and the Gloria Theatres also on Court Street closed in the 1950's.

Currently this theatre is my favorite alternative to the Regal cinemas a few blocks away, IT doesnt have the sound or the room (the seats can feel very very cramped) but it has a bunch of discount times and shows the indie and foreign films (like the Angelica). I would avoid it for the first run blockbusters (the theatres are way too small for those). Overall if you are looking for a small theatre that will have less crowds for a midweek movie this is the local place to go.

Currently this theatre is my favorite alternative to the Regal cinemas a few blocks away, IT doesnt have the sound or the room (the seats can feel very very cramped) but it has a bunch of discount times and shows the indie and foreign films (like the Angelica). I would avoid it for the first run blockbusters (the theatres are way too small for those). Overall if you are looking for a small theatre that will have less crowds for a midweek movie this is the local place to go.

I have been to the Cobble Hill many atime to see the Art House flicks they don't normally show anywhere else. I saw "Ed Wood" there on a sneal preview where my wife and I received a collectors shirt from the film. I also saw "The Mask" there with my summer camp group in 1994. My sister and I (and nobody else) saw David Lynch's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" there as well. The last movie I saw there was "Batman Forever" in 1995.

This is a wonderfully comfortable neighborhood theatre with an unusual ticket pricing system. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, it's $5 a ticket until 5PM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's $5 all day long. On Saturdays and Sundays, it's $5 until 2PM. I saw "Fahrenheit 9/11" there last week and will see it again and "Spiderman 2" there tomorrow if I have time for both (if not, I'll settle for an encore of "Fahrenheit 9/11," which is the most powerful movie I've ever seen).

Camden

Sorry Orlanod, this was the Rio Theater before becoming the Cobble Hill. I vividly recall the vertical sign.

The theater's address is 265 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231.

I forgot about directions. Take the F or G train to the Bergen stop and walk over to Court Street, then proceed south a short block or two. The theatre is close by, at Court Street and Butler Street.

Need to update the address for this listing as given by Damien Farley on 7/1/04.

Sorry, philipgoldberg, but Orlando is right. I have lived (and am still living) in that neighborhood for 50 years and can state for a fact that it was called the REX before it was the Cobble Hill. It was referred to as the "Godzilla theatre" among the local kids in the late 50s and early 60s because it was the only local theatre that showed these films.

When the Cobble Hill Cinemas was known as the Lido Theater in 1941, The Film Daily Yearbook for that year gives a seating capacity of 500.

What was the porno theatre that used to be near here?

there is now the lido bar on columbia between sackett and degraw which is a really cool bar nice of them to remember the history of the city in the name.

I went to the Lido when I was a kid....I am 49 and born in '56. It had a small lobby and I remeber that at one time you could buy candy from the concession stand that was in the upper right hand side of the theatre next to the movie screen! Later, they had it in the back and they had candy machines too. If I remember correctly, they made hot dogs and sold ice cream. Wow that was a long time ago! I remember the tickets were cheap and it was a "B" moviehouse compared to the Albee, Fox, and the Met on Fulton Street. It was similar in some ways to the Duffield...not a great theatre, but still showed good movies. I do NOT remember it EVER being calle the Rio.

Also, the porno movie was on Court Street on the other side of the street across from Atlantic Avenue next to Queen Pizza. Sure could go for a slice now! But I am pretty sure the theatre is gone, and the pizza place too :(

I hope this place survives. I drove past the monstrosity UA Sheepsead Bay today, I can't believe it's the choice for most Brooklyn movie goers.

The porno movie theatre on Court Street may have been converted to a multiplex theatre....not sure but I think so. It's been a while since I've been to the old neighborhood.

cool place to see all types of films.. the rates are great with many bargain shows.. $5.50 all day and night on tues and thurs.. they have all new seats in the theatres also.. looking good.. lobby still small and u got to wait outside before film.. recommend buying tickets earlier and just show up about 10 minutes before showtime and go right in

Here is a small photo of the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

This was certainly known as the Lido Theatre, listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from 1926 through to at least 1957. Seating capacity given as 600.

Here is another photo of the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

Here are more photos of the Cobble Hill Cinemas. There are twenty six photos over three pages so don't miss any.

I assume that at some point those painted glass fanlights seen in a few interior shots above the front doorways actually had daylight shining through them. I wonder when or why they were bricked over? And that shot at the end of the Mandees entrance... where and what is that?

This is another photo of the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

I remember during '70and '80s this thearter was known as the Rex cinema. or i'm thinkinking of another theater

Here is a recent photo of the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

It was called the Rex during the 70's, and it played "Kung Fu" movies, and alot of B films. I loved it. I once stayed there for eight hours watching "Go Ape" the first four Planet of the Apes movies in a row. My mother had to come and take me home.

This is a more recent photo of the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

I've never been here but may do a double-bill of NOTES ON A SCANDAL & PERFUME, both opening at this theatre. The bargain matinee prices have risen though, it is now $6. The theatre has the same policy as the art house in Kew Gardens Queens, $6 M-F before 5, all day Tuesday & Thursday, and first shows, before 2, on weekends & holidays. I go to BAM quite a bit and this is only one or two subway stops further.

I made my first visit to the Cobble Hill Cinema a few weeks ago and it seems to duplicate and be run in the same manner as the Kew Gardens Cinema. I had never been in Cobble Hill before as far as I can recall, though I've lived in NYC since '82 and actually lived in nearby Park Slope for my first six months in NYC.

The Cinema is kind of a bar bones deal, but does have some charm and the matinee price is right. I paid $11 to see a movie at the Angelika last Friday and $11 to see a sepia print of Altman's THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK at the IFC the same day. These outer borough arthouses are a great bargain if you are patient enough to wait for the art films to move here.

11 Hurt at Brooklyn Movie by Wall Cave-In; 300 Escape Just Before Next-Door Explosion; 11 HURT AT MOVIE AS WALL CAVES IN Flames Quickly Put Out.

NY Times December 27, 1939

An explosion in an over-heated oil stove in a pool room adjoining the Lido Theatre at 267 Court Street, Brooklyn, caused the brick wall between the two buildings to collapse shortly before 6 o'clock last night, resulting in minor injuries to eleven patrons of the movie house and a fireman.

i rented this theater for an event and it was a technical nightmare from the very start. the equipment (booth) is antiquated and not taken care of, the projectionists work in an unsafe environment (i.e. exposed wires), the sound system is old and the entire theater needs to be rewired completely, the management is rude and unwilling to accommodate very basic requests. do not rent this theater.

Thanks for sharing.

Advertised as the New Cine Lido in the 1972-73 Brooklyn yellow pages.

What's interesting in the directory is that the New Cine Lido and the Rex Theater are both listed at 265 Court, but have different phone numbers. Perhaps one of the addresses is a typo.

Thats interesting.

in response to film101, i work at the cobble hill and he's way out of line. i know for a fact that this person was totally unprofessional and ran a film festival for ten years and did everything an hour before the first screening. of course everything went wrong. he hooked up a 220volt projector without letting anyone know by his own technician using jumpers directly to a rectifier. he could have burnt down the building. he shorted out three power supplies. the sound systems are all dolby with QSC state of the art amps. the two auditoriums are also digital, DTS and Dolby Digital. he's taking out his frustration on the wrong theatre. take some blame yourself for being so unprepared to run the festival properly.

Cobble Hill Cinemas website. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a photo of the Lido Theater.

THE ONLY THEATER IN NY TO PICK UP POSTAL....

My Mother worked at the lido theater as the matron and cashier when Louie Cohen owned it. (early 50's) We lived on Carroll st. and I remember walking up president with my father to go there. Sometimes Louie would watch us while my mom cashiered. They also owned the candy store across from PS 32. where we went to school.

Here is a recent photo.

Was there for the first time on Sunday to see Frost/Nixon. Small theatre, the line outside, yep. The "main" theatre inside is quite small but has a high ceiling. We had to truck it up 2 flights to our theatre and it was quite cramped. The seats were bucket seats like in a coupe and didn't recline, rather they were oblique to begin with and my rather large legs had no room at all.

Here is an eye-popping, two-sided handbill for the Lido Theatre circa 1937. The Hurricane was playing. One side is in full color. I think this item is for sale on ebay. http://danielfoley.pho.to/albums/the_lido_theatre/photo11.htm It's really cool.