Merrick Theater

The Merrick first opened in the early 1920s and was built by A.H. Schwartz before he started using the corporate name of Century Circuit. Schwartz used his usual architect-designer team of R. Thomas Short & William Rau. The auditorium was in plain Adam style, and stage facilities were kept to a minimum for the movies-only policy. There was, however, an orchestra pit for the musicians that played accompaniment to the movies and during intermissions. Until the opening of Loew's Valencia in early 1929, the Merrick and nearby Fox Jamaica were considered the top movie theatres in Jamaica's shopping hub, but that soon changed. The Century Circuit was unconnected to any of the major Hollywood studios and could no longer get enough first-run bookings for the Jamaica area. Complicating matters, more competition arrived when the legit Shubert Jamaica Theatre became the RKO Alden, which made the Merrick's product situation even worse. Finally, because Century owned so many theatres in Brooklyn and Queens, Schwartz was able to work out a deal in 1939 with RKO whereby the Merrick and Alden would be "pooled" and divide up the movies that normally played the RKO circuit. To do so, Schwartz had to agree to transfer management of the Merrick to the Skouras circuit, which had financial ties to RKO Theatres and was also partially owned by 20th-Century Fox Film Corporation. Schwartz retained ownership of the Merrick and would receive 50% of any profits, with RKO and Skouras dividing the other 50%. Before becoming the Skouras Merrick, the theatre's interior was completely re-modeled by the architectural firm run by John Eberson and his son, Drew. The new decor was ultra-modern (for 1939!) and included two large side-wall murals in the auditorium that glowed in the dark from flourescent paint. Due to the product split with the RKO Alden, the Merrick's programs usually changed every two weeks, rather than every week as at the Valencia. The latter's programs were also exclusive first-run for the entire borough of Queens, while the Merrick and Alden played day-and-date with theatres in other communities. I lost track of the Merrick after the advent of saturation releases in the 1960s, but I think that it finally reverted to Century management before becoming a victim of the decline in the Jamaica shopping area.

I neglected to mention that the Merrick's address is 163-06 Jamaica Avenue. The now demolished Fox (later Skouras) Jamaica was further west on the same side of Jamaica Avenue at 159th Street.

Due to an exclusive on 20th-Fox movies in its product split with the RKO Alden, the Skouras Merrick was the first theatre in Jamaica to present CinemaScope, with "The Robe." Although Loew's Valencia was by that time using wide-screen projection on all its movies, it didn't show its first CinemaScope feature until about three months later, MGM's "Knights of the Round Table."

On 4/28/58 the Merrick advertised the exclusive Queens showing of "Saddle The Wind" starring Robert Taylor & Julie London. However the second Cinemascopic feature "The Deer Slayer" was playing all over town but mostly with a re-release of "The Song of Bernadette". Was this a common practice to send a co-feature out with different main features.

Robert, "Saddle The Wind" was an MGM release that normally would have been shown at Loew's Valencia if it hadn't become involved with a hold-over of "The Ten Commandments." That's how "Saddle" ended up at the Merrick. I guess that Skouras, which ran the Merrick at that time, was happy to get it since it was a new movie and exclusive for Queens, whereas "Bernadette" was a reissue and showing at other Queens theatres. "The Deerslayer" was a Fox release that normally would have played the Merrick, so they probably decided to keep that as the second feature. The Merrick did not have many studios to choose from, since it did a "split" with the RKO Alden on movies that did not play the Loew's circuit.

When Did this Theater Close?
What is in its place?

The Merrick probably closed in the 1970s. The building still stands, with the Jamaica Avenue entrance converted into stores. For a time, the auditorium was used as a bingo hall, but I believe that ended quite some time ago. Since it's a valuable corner site, I imagine that it will eventually be demolished to make way for a new commercial or office building as part of downtown Jamaica's ongoing re-development program.

The Merrick was still alive during the early 60's. One of films that played there was "Whatever Happend To Baby Jane?' Guess who shows up for a showing but Joan Crawford herself! Given the redcarpet star treatment, Ms. Crawford held court at the Merrick"s lobby with many crowding fans about her. She went next door with her entourage to get something to eat at Teddy's a Greek owned diner. A picture in Teddy's hung for years showing Ms. Crawford haveing a burger deluxe drinking Pepsi with the owner Ted Mantelarios and other "Mildred Pierce" waitresses.

It's entirely believable that someone like Crawford would do something like the above described by Valencia. By the early 60's, her career was in decline. But she lived for her fans and would do almost anything for them as cited by the incident above.

She was a complicated figure. "Mommie Dearest" turned her into a monster but the facts are more complicated than that. She worked very, very hard for what she got. In so many ways, she puts today's actresses to shame.

This was part of a city-wide "promo" tour for the movie. Crawford didn't go solely to the Merrick, though she may have been hungry by the time she got there and stopped next door for a bite to eat.

Mommie Dearest did not turn Joan into a monster. She Obviously had an ungrateful stepdaughter who had the nerve to put a good dress on a wire hanger and intrude on her most intimate moments. There was only room for one drama queen in that house and Christina Crawford wasn't it. That is exactly why I have decided to keep toy dogs as pets and not children (at least until I am in my mid thirties and in need of a good publicity stunt). :)

An early photo of the Merrick's exterior can be found at www.queenslibrary.org/gallery/past_exhibits/burgh/images/23.jpg
I believe that the vertical sign was removed around 1939-40, when the Merrick was "modernized" by John Eberson's firm. Perhaps someone with better eyesight than mine can read the message on the right side of the marquee. I believe the first line says "Open." The second line may list the attraction, which would date the photo. It was probably taken around the time of the Merrick's opening. Note that the property behind the theatre, which became stores, appears to be still residential.

This has a current market value of $6.55 million (tentative), according to an NYC Property search. A year ago, it was worth $6.6 million (with no qualification).

Here's a somewhat fuzzy image of the 1939-40 "modernization" of the Merrick's interior by John & Drew Eberson. The box seats at both sides of the stage were removed and replaced by murals done in flourescent paint, which was a decorative rage at the time. This view was taken from the balcony:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/124-2405_IMG.jpg

"South Pacific" opened here in what was called a pre-release limited engagement for the first time at popular prices, June 1959.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/CineramaSyosset.jpg

this is where i saw the best of the wyatt earp movies. my darling clementine with henry fonda victor mature linda darnell walter brennan tim holt and cathy downs as clementine.

English, did you attend schools in Jamaica as well? Weren't you taught how to capitalize or to use quotation marks? It would have made your posts much easier to read.

Warren, how come your shit don't stink ? I have noticed you snide tone all over this site, and the smell of it doesn't add cachet to your knowledge.

Frankie, how would you know? Have we ever shared a bathroom? If you ever again connect my name with the "s word," I will hunt you down and beat the "s" out of you!

That most unpleasant aroma detected by everyone on this site is the dung-like condescension with which you spray your knowledge upon all of us. We on this site enjoy the companionship of sharing our friendly knowledge of an era which will never be forgotten, but which will never return. But the way YOU do it seems to indicate that you mistakenly believe yourself superior to all of us. We know that's just not true, simply from detecting your tone. And as for your threat --- don't mess with a gay Italian from 50's Brooklyn, 'cause I got friends in Red Hook who'll lay you out to whale-SHIT !!! Have a lovely day, but lock that bathroom door next time you ascend your throne.

Frankie, the contract is out on you. I doubt that there are more than 25 million gay Italians from 50s Brooklyn. We'll catch you eventually!

But fortunately for everyone on this site who dares to voice a thought or opinion which stirs up your Messianic complex, there's only one of YOU, thank God. How I wish Fabian's Brooklyn Fox existed instead of you.

The old "Merrick Theatre" is now a church. The organization that runs the church has renovated the building to its old grandure. They have maintained the interior design of the building. The orgranization also owns buildings on Merrick Blvd (betweetn the Bus Terminal and the main branch of the Queensboro Public Library) for use by the congregation and the public. I don't know if they still hold tours of the Theatre but if you contact the organization that runs the Theatre/Church the'll be happy to give a tour of the location.

The underlying ground was home to Jamaica's first purpose-built cinema, the Comedy Theatre, which opened in 1912 or even earlier. Previously, movies had been shown in Jamaica at the Jamaica Town Hall and the Chub Club, according to an article in the April 28, 1938 issue of the Queens Evening News. The Comedy Theatre was described as a "red barn-like building" that "resembled a livery stable. Its bedraggled appearance and the fact that moving pictures were still frowned upon by many respectable citizens made it a place to be shunned by many families." The Comedy was apparently demolished to make way for the Merrick, which opened in late 1920 (or early 1921) with the Thomas Meighan starrer, "Conrad in Quest of His Youth."

My mind hasn't quite failed yet. There WAS a Merrick Theater... Thanks for the photo, Warren!

*WHEW!*

Neglected to mention that for lack of air-conditioning, the Comedy Theatre also had an airdome that operated during the summer months (weather permitting). Patrons sat on wooden benches and watched the movies outdoors with real stars and clouds overhead.

Back in 1910 or so, in ritzy La Jolla, CA, the same kind of theater thrived, Warren. I once did a before & after photo feature on it in my old newspaper column. I'm not certain if it even had a name, but I made mention of local kids who'd sit up on tree branches in the rear just beyond a wooden fence to avoid paying the admission price.

Here are two exterior photos that I took yesterday. Judging by the vintage link that I posted here above on March 16, 2005, the Jamaica Avenue frontage has been little changed above the leval of the stores. Due to heavy traffic, I was unable to get an unobstructed view of the Guy Brewer Boulevard side of the building, which contains stores for its entire length. I suspect that some of those stores extend into the Merrick's auditorium, which had exit doors there. The pointed auditorium roof appears intact. What looks like an extension at the rear contained the screen and what little the Merrick had of a stage:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/merrick01.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/merrick02.jpg

Advertised as "Jamaica's Largest Playhouse," the Merrick Theatre had its grand opening on January 15th, 1921, with a two-day engagement of Paramount's "Conrad in Quest of His Youth," starring Thomas Meighan. The feature movies were presented with live prologues with "concert soloists and scenic effects." Music for the entire program, including short subjects and a newsreel, was played by a symphony-sized orchestra, supplemented by a "magnificent" pipe organ. The Merrick had a complete change of show every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Its next feature attraction was Paramount's "Life of the Party," with Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle.

The Merrick is the focus of this week's installment of Ron Marzlock's "I Have Often Walked" series in the Queens Chronicle. An exterior photo taken in October 1948 illustrates the problem that the Merrick had in its "product split" on new releases with the RKO Alden. The Merrick was running two Paramount blockbusters ("Blue Skies" & "Two Years Before the Mast") that had played at Loew's Valencia several years before. The photo and accompanying article, which includes the hilarious claim that "In 1939, the venue was updated by architects John and Drew Eberson, who renamed it the Skouras Merrick," can be found in cyberspace at www.queenschronicle.com

This pass for one from 1955 for the Skouras Merrick has yet to be used. I wonder if the service charge of 20 cents will still be collected? The money goes to The Beneficial Fund, to be used at the discretion of management: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/merrickpass.jpg

Does anybody know if the two flourescent murals are still intact? If so, is there any way to see and photograph them?

Thank you for any help.

Bob, due to the passage of time and/or renovations to the interior, I seriously doubt that the flourescent murals still exist. Here's a new link to a previously posted image of John Eberson's modernization of the auditorium. Those murals can be seen on the left and right walls:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/124-2405_IMG.jpg

Thanks Warren, I've seen that particular image.

I'm interested because these appear to be the same murals that Eberson used in the Central Theater in Passaic, NJ. By the time I was going to the Central, they had been covered over with wallpaper.

I know it's a long shot, but I would really like to see what they might have looked like.

An exterior photo and short article can be found here: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20085495&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=575602&rfi=6