Aster Theater

A photo of the Aster in the 1940's can be seen in the link below:

www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7849

From movies to chinese food (Good Friends) only in America.
Bway, I did a quick survey of the bldg from the M train.
The building goes straight down about 50 or 60 feet and
then swings left to an open room about 30x 60.
that must have been the seating and screen room.
Another treasure found !!

The last listing for this theatre shown as open is 1950.

Does anyone know what the marquee is saying?

Can't make out the top portion, but I think the bottom reads
"always a good show".

Marquee should reeAd:
NEW SHOW EVERY
SUN TUES SAT
ALWAYS A GOOD SHOW

Here's a photo I took yesterday that is a current shot of the same angle posted above of the Aster:

Click here for photo link

Anybody have any pic's of the Wilson Theater located on Broadway and Roebling Street. Anniegirl
posted by louieb Apr 4, 2006

Louie, I don't think the Wilson Theater at Bway and Roebling has even been added to the site yet. If you have even minimal information or remebrances of it, can you add it to the site using the "Add a Theater" link on the left?

Here's a current aerial image of Roebling and Broadway. Peter Luger Steakhouse is on the right, near the old Williamsburg Savings Bank.
Where was the Wilson Theater, it appears the only place it could have been is where that flat low building with silver roof is at the corner of Roebling and Bway.

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=40.709449~-73.961784&style=o&lvl=1&scene=1675431

Bway Hi. The Williamsburgh Bank is now HSBC. When I was a kid I used to have a savings account thru Transfirguation RC School. We used to save each week at the bank. Can u imagine that. I guess you are right. I was talking to someone else on another theater thread and he mentioned the Wilson Theater. I never heard of it either. However does anyone remember the Graham or Alba Theater on Graham Ave and Broadway and the Alba on Flushing and Broadway. Anniegirl louieb's wife.
posted by louieb Apr 4th 2006

The Alba has a page on this site, and is discussed a little bit on it's page. The Alba was demolished for WOodhull Hospital.
Where was the Flushing Theater too there? Where Woodhull Hospital is too? I think I heard there was a theater there. "Flushing" is not on the site though if it was there. Perhaps you mean the Rogers Theater a block or two west?

Dear Bway. how about the Graham Theater? I remember the Name Sign was written in Green (GRAHAM). The ALBA was a Spanish language theater when I was a kid. And Yes it was demolished for the Woodhull hospital. that hospital looks like a monstrosity when you pass it on the J or M train at Flushing Avenue. Anniegirl.
posted by louieb on Apr 5th 2006

Louie, there is a page for the Graham:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/5740/

The Graham was actually on Graham at the Grand St. intersection. The Graham Ave. street numbers begin at Broadway as do most streets in the area that radiate from that thoroughfare. As for the color of the neon marquee, the Alba's lights were primarily red & black.

Dear Astyanax, yes I remember the Alba but I never saw the lights on the marquee at night. But I do remember the Graham's marquee lights were light in Green. I thought the color was beautiful as a kid. My Aunt's used to shop at Charles Stores which was on Grand and Graham. Fun growing up in Williamsburgh in the 50's. Anniegirl

I showed my pic's of Brooklyn Memories to my daughter's Wedding guests and the pic's of the Aster Theater. They are in their late 70's and they remember the Aster Theater next to the Concord Cafeteria and the Bowling Alley upstairs. Great Memeories shared by all. Anniegirl

Louieb - could the theater that you were referring to on Apr. 5th have been the Folly? There is a listing for it on CT with the address of 15 Debevoise St. This would have placed it within sight of the Broadway/Flushing Ave. intersection and the elevated station, one short block away.

Dear Astyanax. No I only remember the Alba and the Graham. Debovoise Street was in that neighborhood of those theaters. The Alba was a Spanish Moviehouse. The Graham was further down Graham Ave and Grand Street. Anniegirl

Here is a recent(June 2006) photograph I took of the Plaza/New Broadway/Square/Aster Theater:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/187630477/

That theater must have had a very low ceiling!

The actual auditorium is at the rear of the two shop units and I believe runs parallel to Broadway. It can't be seen from the angle I took the photograph. It is about the same height as the entrance block which is currently the restaurant.

I believe the configuration of the theatre was...enter through the foyer and then turn left into the auditorium. The projection booth would be in a raised room at the end of the foyer.

I do not remember this movie. It was gone by the time I was a kid growing up in Williamsburgh in the 50's. I do remember the Concord Cafeteria and the Bowling Alley next door and the Coat Store that was next to the Cafeteria. I am sure many of my Aunt's friends would remember the Aster Theater. Anniegirl.

Listed as the Square Theater in the 1940 Brooklyn yellow pages. Phone number was EVergrn 4-7834.

I have seen 8mm movies of the last day of operation of the Utica-Reid carline in early 1951 and the Aster marquee can be seen in the background of a shot of a Car turning, but it is not clear enough to see if it still was open or not.

At least the lobby portion of the Aster appears to be a chinese restaurant. I don't know what the auditorium is today:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=246+Broadway,+Brooklyn,+NY+11211+United+States&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.709028,-73.959746&spn=0.008068,0.019312&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=40.709081,-73.959869&panoid=pppxiW4wP_JF-xkccx1AJw&cbp=12,172.66639355052166,,0,-5.499999999999999