RKO Prospect Theatre
327 9th Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11215
327 9th Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11215
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watching an YouTube clip with Moe Howard talking with Mike Douglas. He (Moe) said that the Prospect theatre in Brooklyn was the first time that he appeared on stage with Ted Healy.
My parents were from nearby Red Hook. I only heard of this theatre and others close to it because of them.
Just left the Avon Theatre site and now another memory jogger. My mother and I often went to the Saturday matinees at the Prospect Theatre, circa 1941-1945. Besides a movie, the clliff-hanger serials (remember Nyoka, Queen of the Jungle"?) and vaudeville shows. The all-midget show totally fascinated me. My Mom and I would buy a bag of candy from the candy counter at the 5 and Dime located diagonally across the street from the theatre. My memory is foggy but I believe there was a dance studio called “Rhetta’s” whose entrance was next to the theatre. I took tap dance lessons there.
Thanks to the creators of these fabulous websites.
The new website for PATOS – the current owners of the WurliTzer organ from the Prospect is: http://theatreorgans.com/patos
Jay Smith
Couldn’t wait for Halloween?
View link 340
The main page of the website is actually View link
The Wurlitzer organ that was used in the Prospect was removed in 1960 and was put into storage. About 14 years later, it was moved to Pittsburgh, P.A. and rebuilt. It was then installed in the Keystone Oaks High School just outside of Pittsburgh. The Wurlitzer is maintained by the Pittsburgh Area Theater Organ Society (http://mysite.verizon.net/patos.wurlitzer/index_files/Page323.htm).
On Friday January 26, 1962, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly-Joe DeRita) embarked on a three day promotional tour for their latest feature film, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. They were accompanied by “The Herculean Giant” (almost 8 foot tall Dave Ballard) and popular DJ Clay Cole, who was one of the stars of the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK.
On Sunday January 28, they appeared at the RKO Prospect at 6:25 PM.
The July 7, 1933 Brooklyn Eagle carried the following notice in its movie ad section:
“All The Beer You Want at the RKO Prospect
Here’s some good news for those theater patrons who are planning to attend next Wednesday’s Gala Community Night Show at the RKO Prospect. Immediately after the show the stage will be cleared to the back wall-the entire space devoted to dancing-and all the beer you desire to drink is yours for the asking.”
The year given for this photo is 1928. Theater is on the left.
“Nanook of the North” at the Prospect Theater.
Circa 1950 photo:
http://brooklynpix.com/photo1/P/parkslope46.jpg
This is another NY Times story from February 19, 1989. The story claims that this theater had 500 seats. That’s probably a typo and maybe it was supposed to read 2500 seats.
I recall reading somewhere that the mother of writers Pete and Dennis Hamill worked at the Prospect as a boxoffice cashier while the boys were growing up.
This is a NY Times story dated July 28, 1989 about this former theater.
The Prospect Theatre opened on Sept. 14th 1914. In 1928 the theatre got a new marquee. It has been a market since 1967.
To promote his new film “The Ladies Man,” Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 13, 1961.
“Before-and-after” photos of the Prospect can be found in the new article about Brooklyn’s Fifth Avenue at www.forgotten-ny.com
Warren, I was devastated to see The photo of “Dracula” at the RKO Prospect in 1931 ! My friend is going to PLOTZwhen I show it to him ! Many thanks ! frankie from Brooklyn
A Wurlitzer organ Opus 1497 Style H NP was installed in the Prospect Theater on 10/30/1926.
i think this was the only time this was done
but it is a good idea
View link
Here’s a view of the auditorium circa 1946-47, by which time some of the original decor had been modified:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/134-3453_IMG.jpg
Here’s a 1931 view of the exterior:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/134-3413_IMG.jpg
We used to call the Avon “The Itch House” for obvious reasons. I believe I paid 45 cents to see “Samson & Delilah” 40 or so years ago. The Prospect was called the RKO Prospect, and in 1967, I was 24 and on leave from the army, when I took my 2 sisters, then 10 & 12, to see a double bill of “Gypsy” and “The Music Man.” I still live on 22nd Street, and miracle of miracles, my other neighborhood theater, the Sanders, reopened a few years ago as the Pavilion on 14th Street and Prospect Park West. Once a single, it is now a ten-plex. But at least I can walk to the movies once again. Frankie, Brooklyn NY
The Avon was situated at 291 9th Street, and had 592 seats, according to the 1943 Film Daily Year Book.