Boulevard Theatre

The orchestra auditorium functions as a Bingo Hall. The Bingo operation used the orchestra section and lobby until about two years ago, when they gave up the lobby (used for concession stand) and balcony (used for storage-divided into two, and restrooms) to the restaurant operation. They closed off the entrance to the smallish lobby, located in the back of the auditorium. Their main entrance is through a former side exit on Northern Boulevard, under the "82nd St. Bingo" awning. The stage, which was walled off, was converted into a "non smoking" room and new restrooms when the lobby was separated.

I was an "alter boy" at Joan of Arc in the late 1940's; the church was overflowing and plans were underway to build a new church - Our Lady of Fatima - which was a tent in a swamp. In the meantime, the Boulevard was used for Catholic Masses; I alter boyed on the stage at the Boulevard, in which I had often spent my saturday mornings and afternoons. I do remember prices at 12cents, but not for long ... prices soon became 25cents and popcorn machines began to appear where yoy put a bag under the trap door and opened the chute for the popcorn which had been kept warm with a lightbulb. However, we kids could reach up and trip a lever to get free popcorn.

If this is the same theatre I'm thinking of, wasn't it a porno house? I worked in that neighborhood back in '89 for several months and thought it was showing X rated fare. I also felt that the location of this theatre -- in the aforementioned residential neighborhood nowhere near the subway -- was a bit odd.

I recall seeing a few movies here when I was a kid growing up in nearby Elmhurst. My memories are dim, but I believe I caught a few re-released Disney features here (like Pinocchio or Lady and the Tramp) in the '70's. I was on my way into Manhattan with my son a few weekends back and had the digital camera on hand when I found myself stopped at the traffic light at the corner where the theater sits. So, I snapped a couple of quick shots.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/126a9353.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/c52ec1ff.jpg

The following weekend I was inspired to take the camera out for a spin around Astoria, Sunnyside and Jackson Heights to snap a few more shots of other theaters (or sites of former theaters) that I plan on posting on this site as well.

Lived a couple of blocks away as a kid, and went to this theatre many times in the 70's. In the early 70's, a lot of double features, for some reason, I remember "Prime Cut" and "Boxcar Bertha". Remember they were pretty lax about letting underage kids in to see R rated flicks. OK, I remember seeing "The Deep", "The Jerk", "Popeye" in the late 70's, and the last movie I saw that decade was "10" on New Year's Eve, 1979.

When I leved in the area in the mid-1990s it was being used as a church - I recall 'Iglesia de Cristo' or something similar on the marquee.

Yes, dave-bronx... I recall the church occupying the Boulevard in the '90's as well. I visited the website of the current occupants and found this page which details how one can rent the theater space for $1000.00 a night (includes 4 hours with a sound tech). There is a small photo of the theater space, which I clipped and linked to below. Looks like it's basically the original balcony with a streamlined decor (possibly just dry wall over the original walls). Can't see if anything remains of the ceiling. I called the theater to discuss the space and they say that this is the only theatrical space in the building and that the bar and restaurant occupy all of the 1st floor. Trying to reconcile that with Warren's initial description above, perhaps this is the only theatrical space they are renting out, and therefore didn't discuss the other auditoriums. I guess only a visit to the restaurant will settle this issue.

I also clipped these small photos from the site, which depict the bar area on the 1st floor and seem to show that some of the original ceiling decoration (from either the old lobby or under the balcony over-hang) is still in existence:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/61896e30.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/pic98.jpg


Here is the photo of the theatrical space:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/a459a42b.jpg

The orchestra level functions as a bingo hall. It's still in tact--with chandelier and all. The stage was recently converted to a non-smoking section, snack bar, and restrooms, once the lobby was walled off for a restaurant.

Thanks, Joe, for clearing that up! Once the weather here gets a bit sunnier and the days a bit longer, I'll make my way back and see if I can visit the restaurant as well as the bingo hall.

I broke the links to photos and images I posted back in September and January when I reorganized my photobucket albums. Here's a new link to my Boulevard Theater album, where all those images are now stored.

Happy New Year, kids! The fun starts at 10:00 AM:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/skblvd.jpg

Saw JAWS there in the summer of 75...was in 7th grade - had to lie about my age to get in - scared the crap outta me!! HAHA!!

My mother, who will be 80 in November, remembers seeing Frankenstein and Flying Down to Rio here(not together!) when they first came out.

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1300 style "E" was installed in the Boulevard Theater on 3/22/1926. Status: sold.

The Boulevard was a regular theater for me during the 1970's. I first saw a double Feature of "Che" and "The Sand Pebbles" there. I also saw Mel Brooks' "The 12 Chairs there. Later in the mid '70's they closed off the balcony and twined it. They constantly doubled up films that played single at other theaters. The theater that was one bus away from me showed the RObert Shaw film, "Diamonds" by itself while I instead took two buses to see it with "Rider on The Rain". In the summer of 1976 they were the only theater showing the reissue of "The Exorcist" with a second feature which was the sean Connery starrer, "The Terrorist". I was shocked when they let kids of all ages to see it. I sat with two 9 year olds. During the second feature one of the kid's fathers came in to see the show and was shocked to see his son there. Plus as I was waiting to get in the manager was telling the kids to come back next week to see the R rated, "Squirm". I did see "Squirm" there with a sneak preview of "Futureworld". Squirm was a great experience as the packed audience there mostly for "Futureworld" was make remarks at the screen and all of us were having a good time. I became friendly with the couple next to me, they just got married and he loved horror films, she never watched them and was complaining to me that the night before he took her to see "The Food Of The Gods", and she commented that first Giant rat now human eating worms. I always wondered how long that marriage lasted.

Other double features I saw there was "Rabbit Test" with "The Hot Rock" (which had been shown on TV many times at the time), "Mr. Billion" and "From Noon To Three", "Smokey And The Bandit" with "The Seven Percent Solution", and the last double feature I saw there was the 1979 reissue of "Jaws" with another film that had already been shown on TV a few times, the Charles Bronson/James Coburn film, "Hard Times". I miss those old days.

This is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dkxwjl

A capsule history and vintage photo can be found here: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20311361&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=575602&rfi=6

Here is a view of the lobby, circa 1930s:
http://tinyurl.com/oe3pvf

Website http://www.nativesrestaurant.com/