Belvedere Theatre

The Belvedere was located at 64-28 Myrtle Avenue, and had 756 seats.

The clothes store that was located in the Belvedere was "Friedricks" Clothing store.

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.

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?

I came across this on the web. On March 23,1946 there was a double feature playing here. The movie was called "Deception" with Bette Davis, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains. The second feature was "The Undercover Woman" with Stephanie Bachelor and Robert Livingston. The cartoon was called "Jaspers Derby" in Technicolor. The Belvedere is listed as being on Myrtle ave and 64th Place.

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

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 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.

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 ??

Exactly about two blocks away. I went to St Pancras but it was already the Victorian House by then.

This web site has a picture of a program from when the Belvedere played Quo Vadis


http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2004/Jan.-Mar.2004/031804/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

The first listing I find for the Belvedere Theatre is 1930 with a closing date in the mid fifties.

I found the Belvedere on a theater organ list. On that list it has a Marr & Colton organ being installed in this theater in 1922.

By the time "Quo Vadis" reached the Belvedere, it had been "played out" and ran for only three days, and probably a week or two after it had been shown at the Ridgewood Theatre. The paper programme would have been for 1952, as "Quo Vadis" had its world premiere in November, 1951, at NYC's Capitol and Astor Theatres, where it played exclusively into early 1952 before moving on to the Loew's circuit and eventually to "indie" nabes such as the Belvedere.

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 Belvedere is listed in the 1926 Film Daily Year Book among Brooklyn theatres, with an address of 2576 Myrtle Avenue and seating capacity of 850. Presumably, the address is in "old numbers."

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.

I also found the Belvedere on a 1925 silent theater list so the 1922 date of the organ being installed isn't too far fetched.

Glendale's first new movie theatre in many decades will open in the spring of 2006, according to an ad in yesterday's New York Times. Regal Cinemas signed a 15-year lease to operate the 1,641-seat multiplex, which will have eight screens and will be part of the retail project known as "The Shops At Atlas Park." More information can be found at www.theshopsatatlaspark.com

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 ??

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.

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.

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:

http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2004/Oct.-Dec.2004/122304/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

How far is the forthcoming Atlas shopping center from Forest Hills? Regal, which will run the Atlas multiplex, currently operates the Midway in Forest Hills. Perhaps they intend to demolish the Midway when the new multiplex opens in 2006. The Midway stands on extremely valuable land that could hold condos or whatever. It also has a parking problem. Visitors to the Atlas multiplex would be able to use the mall's parking facilities.

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.

Would they be able to play the same movies at the Atlas as at the Midway or other theatres in Forest Hills? If not, then some Forest Hills theatres will suffer a loss of product, I would guess.

To give you an idea of where the Atlas shopping center and multiplex will be, map the following address on Mapquest or any other map that you choose:
8000 Cooper Ave
Glendale,NY

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.

A color photo of the current building can be seen in the new article about Glendale at www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/glendale/glendale.html

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

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.

This is now called the Christ Tabernacle Church and uses an address of 64-34 Myrtle Avenue, according to an article on page 3XQ of the NY Daily News of 7/31/05. The congregation started in Greenpoint in 1985, and in 1995 "moved into an old movie-house that dates to the 1920s. A balcony was added to the original structure, which was rehabilitated." Pastor Rafael Castillo recalls that his proudest moment was "Opening day at our new building. Once a month, volunteers worked in the building to clear out debris, paint, etc., so it was very rewarding to see an abandoned old movie theater become our new church home...We've now outgrown the auditorium. We purchased the other two buildings on the block and rent a storefront. We also used a local high school, which provides another 800 seats and another campus for church services." Due to ever booming attendance, "We are presently looking for propery or a larger facility to expand our present campus," Castillo said. Perhaps they should consider Loew's Kings in Flatbush.

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

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.(

Metz....Are you talking about the Majestic Theater on Seneca Avenue? If you are, do you remember anything about the inside of the theater?

to lost memory///......the Majestic on Seneca is the only one of the three 3 that i never frequented for some strange reason considering i went to all the others in the negborhood from acme to wagner to monroe to oasis etc etc etc BUT iwas always struck by the similarity of the marquees...maybe some one has photos of them all so we can compare ....metz

Thanks Metz. I have only found one person that remembers anything about the interior of the Majestic theater when it was showing movies. And that person only remembers the hard wooden seats. I'm trying to find someone that saw a movie there and has some recollection of what the interior looked like.

lost memory what do you know about"cinematour""is it worth registering i understand some of you people have made comments on the"bulletin board...???

Metz....Cinematour is a very good theater website. If your looking for some conversation on Ridgewood and Brooklyn theaters, I don't think that you will find another website that is better than this one. Join Cinematour if you want and see how you like it.

BTW....You can post in other theaters besides the Belvedere. For example, you can click here for the RKO Madison or click here for the Parthenon. Or just search for whatever theater your interested in.

I think cinematour is cool for research, and some information, but I never found any interest in their message board. I don't know if it's just me, but I read through them occasionally, and they seem a little bit too "into" it. I like theaters and all, but I'm not "that" into it like they all seem to be. A bit to serious for me.
This site is much more casual, and wouldn't want it to be anything like the forums at cinematour. It's not by "cup of tea" so to speak.

to bway and lost memory....thanks i will give it a try is there a picture somewhere of the ridgewood theater's "backside" showing the fire escapes?? i remeber sneaking in to the ridgewood up the entrance/exit stairs to the balcony (when the usher was not looking!!after all i saved as much as 25 cents admission back in 1945 keep up the good work with your postings andif you have any questions about my memories of any of the old theaters in the ridgewood..glendale..bushwick area...email me or use this site ..metz

Metz....We don't have a photo of the Madison Street side of the Ridgewood Theater yet. But you can click here to see a modern photo of Cypress Ave. and Madison St. The tall building with the tower on it is the stage end of the Ridgewood Theater.

thanks lost memory i am looking for 112 photos described by Robert R in the ANCO theatre site..can you help me?

I only saw one theater photo myself. I don't see the other 111 photos either Metz so you will have to wait for RobertR to tell you where they are.

Glendale will get its first new cinema in many decades when the Regal Cinemas Atlas Park Stadium 8 has its grand opening on Friday, May 19th. Curiously, newspaper advertising doesn't mention that the multiplex is located in Glendale, using only an address of "Cooper Ave. & 80th St., Queens." Several "Preview Events" will be held on May 15th, 16th, and 17th, with an admission charge of $2 each, the proceeds to be donated to local charities. More information can be found at www.theshopsatatlaspark.com

The total seating capacity of the new Atlas Park Stadium 8 is 1,641, according to the Atlas Park website. Regal is part of the same company that runs the UA Midway and Brandon in Forest Hills, so it should be interesting to see how that determines bookings for Atlas Park.

During the current "preview week" at the new Atlas Park Stadium 8, all the movies seem to be already available on home video, such as "Nanny McPhee," "Doogal," "Men in Black," and "Curious George." A blurb describes them as "Better on the big screen." A curious price scale prevails-- $2 admission, $2 for soda, and $2 for popcorn. All proceeds are being donated to the Variety Club and the Boys & Girls Club of Queens. Perhaps Regal Cinemas intends to make this a second-run situation when it officially opens on May 19th, playing behind the nearby UA Midway and Brandon in Forest Hills?

It sounds like a "lets get acquainted offer". Two dollars is a good deal considering that those movies would cost four dollars to rent at Blockbuster. You should submit this theater Warren since you were the first one to bring it to our attention. This is the address as shown on web based movie listings:

Regal Cinemas Atlas Park Stadium 8
80-28 Cooper Avenue
Glendale, NY 11385

Yes, this appears to be a publicity thing to get people through the doors. I think the Ridgewood Theater's days are numbered unless the current management does something.

Someone else should list the new Atlas Park Stadium 8 if they wish to. It reminds me more of a "monstrosity" than a "treasure." I detest multiplexes. I'm just interested in learning how it affects attendance and booking policies at other cinemas in the area.

I'm not fond of multiplexes either. Okay, we need a volunteer to submit the Atlas Park Stadium 8. Its the opportunity of a lifetime. Don't be shy, raise your hand. Nobody huh! So much for this theater. :)

I'm not fond of multiplexes either, but for better or worse, they are just as much a part of the cinema world as the beautiful historic "cinematreasures" are.

If there are movie buffs who want a list of all movies about or have scenes in Coney Island, click on Coney Island-1949 Map below.

Coney Island - 1949 Map This is fun, Especially if you ever been there. Don't forget to click on the red dots

A map will appear, at bottom of that site there's a line like the following:

[Home] [History Articles] [Historic Maps] [Timeline] [Bookstore] [Sponsors

Click on History Articles. A lot of items appear.
Find the one that states the following:

LIST OF MOTION PICTURES AND TV SHOWS DEPICTING CONEY ISLAND
(Revision 5/26/04)

Click on that and you'll get list of all the movies about Coney Island.
The rest of the site is very interesting too. Enjoy.

please post the url. there is no active link on my end, thanks

The Belvedere Theatre was quite a distance from Coney Island. Wouldn't it make more sense to post the link under one of the theatres actually listed for Coney Island, such as Loew's Coney Island or the RKO Tilyou?

This is the main link for that website. If you want a shortcut to a "LIST OF MOTION PICTURES AND TV SHOWS DEPICTING CONEY ISLAND, click here.

Much appreciated, LM!

64-28 Myrtle: What cross streets was the Belvedere between? And is that actually Glendale or still Ridgewood?

Thanx for fixing the link. I have never been to Coney Island. Is it still open for business?

Mikemovies: Coney Island is still open for business but the Parachute Jump has been closed for awhile as has Steeplechase park.
the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone is still open and running as well as a lot of other rides and the beach and boardwalk is still very popular in the summer.

What does any of this have to do with the Belvedere Theater in Glendale, which is no where near Coney Island?

As for Jim, the Belvedere is/was on Myrtle Ave, at Cypress Hills Street.

During its lifetime, the Belvedere probably showed many of the movies that depicted Coney Island, so that may be the reason why the link was planted here...The Parachute Jump was re-lighted this summer, but it still doesn't operate as a "ride." However, the nightly illuminations may now be suspended due to Mayor Bloomberg's demands for electrical power conservation.

The parachute jump amazingly was completely dismantled, restored, and reassembled a couple years ago. It has recieved landmark status, so now that it is restored, it should remain a fixture at Coney Island.

Thanx Silvio. Which train could take you from mid town Manhattan to Coney Island? I would like to visit there and get a glimpse of the parachute jump.

The D, F, N, and Q trains all go to the Coney Island terminal at Stillwell Avenue. Some run express, and others are locals, but I doubt that you will get there in less than 45 minutes from midtown Manhattan. When you arrive and walk out to the main drag of Surf Avenue, you will be very close to the shuttered Shore Theatre (previously known as Loew's Coney Island).

Thanks for the url LM. The Belvedere was a few blocks east of fresh Pond Road, the same street that housed the Oasis. It was about halfway between the Acme and Glenwood on Myrtle Ave. All these theaters are on CT.

I have no idea why Silvio posted the url for Coney Island on the Belvedere page. Consider it a bonus.

Silvio wanted to share with us. Perhaps Silvio isn't aware of the Shore Theatre. You should not attack people because they want to share with others. That is mean spirited and rude.

The address above needs to be changed. The address for the Church is:

Christ Tabernacle
64-34 Myrtle Avenue
Glendale, NY 11385

I found a c/o for alterations to this building dated July of 1973 for a retail clothing store at this address. That might have been for Erna Friedricks store that Robert mentioned in an earlier comment here. The Christ Tabernacle Church opened its doors in April of 1996. The Church has a website here. If your not in a hurry, watch the intro.

Very cool link.

Friedricks was the first store that occupied the building I believe. She actually repaired the building. I don't remember what if anything was in the theater between when Friedricks closed, and when the church moved in.

The address used by the Belvedere Theatre was not necessarily the same one used by the current church. I think that further research is required before the address listing for the Belvedere Theatre is changed.

So what. I thought the most modern up to date address was to be used so long as it is the same building.

Mike....That is also my understanding of which addresses we use on here. Maybe we should change the address of the Madison theater back to its original address of 1562 Myrtle Avenue. LOL

This is a listing for the Belvedere Theatre and not the Christ Tabernacle. If you can prove that the Belvedere Theatre used the address of 64-34 Myrtle Avenue, then I could understand changing the listing. 64-28 is not an archaic number, as was the Madison's 1562 Myrtle Avenue. You would not be able to find that address today if you went looking for it.

Mike.....Since we have covered this topic a number of times in various theaters I will not go into detail here. A search for 64-28 Myrtle Avenue in NYC property records returns "NOT A VALID ADDRESS"! Real estate sites return the following: "Search result for "64-28 Myrtle Avenue, Queens, NY could not be found, below is a list neighboring properties". The address does not exist. It is a lot address. Maybe the 64-28 Myrtle Avenue address came from an FDYbook which would explain its inaccuracy. The correct address for the current building is 64-34 Myrtle Avenue.

Thanx lostmemory. I understand perfectly. Perhaps the other fella would like to try and prove his claim. He recently claimed the address for the Bayside Theatre was incorrect. He was proven wrong about that address also. Some people just like to stir the pot when they have nothing of value to write.

I believe that "the other fella" was the person who came up with the correct address for the Bayside Theatre. He found it in a newspaper ad in The Bayside Times from November, 1941, when the theatre first opened under Skouras management.

Not exactly accurate fella. You gave 3 addresses and you weren't sure which one was correct. Besides; you gave the wrong address in the first place. It took both edsolero and lostmemory to sort out the correct address.

In my opinion the address of record should correspond to that used when the theater was in operation. Hopefully, that would also agree with the address shown on original land use records, aubsequent tax records, and advertising media. Any inconsistencies, including for example, the building's current address, should be cited by appropriate foot notes.

If I understand what Warren has said, I believe my opinion agrees with his.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

For at least part of its early history, the Belvedere Theatre was operated by Herman Weingarten (owner of the Parthenon), who also ran the Belvedere Skydome at Myrtle Avenue & Kossuth Place. While that outdoor theatre was operating in the summer of 1922, Weingarten closed the Belvedere for renovations that included its first carpeted floors, redecoration of the auditorium, new projectors and screen, and the installation of a Robert Morton pipe organ, according to a report in the Ridgewood Times. The rejuvenated Weingarten's Belvedere re-opened on August 25, with "The Rosary" as the premiere attraction. Programs changed daily, and the rest of the Belvedere's first week was filled by "The Veiled Woman," "Her Majesty," "The Woman Who Came Back," "The Renegade," "The Claw," and "Across the Border."

Would this Belvedere Skydome be the same as the Van Cortlandt Airdrome? I am trying to place the intersection. I believe Kossuth Place is now either 70 Ave or 71st Ave? Or was that a former name for Fresh Pond Rd (as I believe Fresh Pond Rd was originally in the alignment of Cypress Hills St is now).

I really don't know. A 1922 ad for Weingarten's Belvedere Skydome gives no more specific address than "Myrtle Avenue and Kossuth Place." Do you have any dates for the Van Cortlandt? If earlier than 1922, it's possible that they are the same. Herman Weingarten was always trying to expand his holdings in those days.

The Van Cortlandt Airdome was located on the corner of Myrtle Ave and Van Cortlandt Avenue which is now 71st Avenue. The Belvedere Theater building is located on Myrtle Ave between 64th Place and Cypress Hills Street (Kossuth Place). The Skydome could have been at the intersection of Myrtle Ave and what is now, Cypress Hills Street. If you were facing the Belvedere Theater, the Skydome would have been on your left. I also think that the Van Cortlandt Airdome was gone by 1922.

That makes more sense. I was a little confused by the Kossuth St thing. Cypress Hills St and Myrtle is actually right where the Belvedere is/was. Perhaps the Skydome is where the Finast/Edwards/Stop N Shop building is now.

A February 25, 1943 c/o shows a 758 seat motion picture theater at 64-34 Myrtle Avenue. Block 3584 Lot 1. That is the same address currently used by the Church. Some trivia. 64th Place was previously known as Slocum Street. In 1943 the theater property was described as being on the southeast corner of Myrtle Ave and Slocum St.

The photo at right shows circuit owner Herman Weingarten. Another of Weingarten's Brooklyn theatres was the Cameo, later acquired by Loew's, which changed the spelling to Kameo:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/hweingarten.jpg

October 2006:

Christ Tabernacle Church currently has 4 services at its location. 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm (spanish). With an average of 3,000 members, we are now looking for a larger facility. Also, we owned the 2 building next to the former theater, which was made into 1 building for offices. Earlier this year, the gas station off Cypress Hill next to us gave half of the store to use. We turned it into offices also.

www.christtabernacle.org
www.youthexplosion.com
www.christtabernaclechoir.org

The church has been running for the last 22 years. Featuring on MTV, BET, Vibe Magazine, NBC News, ABC, CBS, NY Times, NY Newsday. Have performed around the world. Also, done events with Bishop T.D. Jakes, A.R. Bernard, Donnie MucCluklin, Kirk Franklin, NYC Republican Contention in 2004 & 2005, and more.

Check out a new photo of Christ Tabernacle now!

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/ProfileSE.aspx?LID=14773598&linkcode=1070&sourcecode=1lww2t006a00001

The Belvedere was my motrhers favorite during the 1930s they always showed "family fare" an it was only 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for kids,,,,i remeber the "RACES" they showed on screen ...each kid got a number on entering and the film showed slapstick races of all kinds ..i remember one where the guy was in a barrel and another in a bathtub on a water race///the winning number was 13 and I HAD IT !!! i was a winnerof a mickey mouse wristwatch........those were the days as ARCHIE Bunker used to say!!! does anybody know what those "races" we named or what studio offered them perhaps they are available on DVDs ..i would love to see some of them again.......memories

Hello, I'm a staff member at Christ Tabernacle... here's a quick update. The church has purchased the Victorian house behind the Belvedere, it will be knocked down and a 6-story building will be mage. It will be a community development center offering alot of free programs. Also, are close to purchasing the gas station (64-40 Myrtle Ave.) on the corner of Myrtle Ave. and Cypress next to our building. We will also be purchasing the triangle across from us. Thats 64-65 Myrtle Ave.) which will be converted into a food court with a the entire 2nd floor a cafeteria. The Village Pizzaria that is currently there, will also be staying.

We also plan on buying the current Stop & Shop whenever it becomes available and for sale.

The Stop & Shop would become a 3,500 seat sanctuary with a 3-story indoor parking garbage.

Did you buy all those two family houses that were knocked down last year adjacent to the Stop and Shop parking lot?

Did you buy all those two family houses that were knocked down last year adjacent to the Stop and Shop parking lot?

no.

We just paid cash for the house behind our building. The owners of the gas station & the triangle across the street will be selling their properties to us and we have the money & will own it in 2008. The triangle is between 64th Place & cypress (between Sakuri japenesse restuarant and Stop & Shop.

That was actually was suppose to be a police station but that never happened. Whenever Stop & Shop becomes available, we would also be able to get that too.

When & if Stop & Shop will be for sale... no one knows.

I will put up photos of our currect building & new properties this Sunday.

I heard this building was up for sale last summer, is it still a church?

Seems a vintage photo of the Belvedere operating as a theatre has still not turned up.