Jackson Heights Airdrome

lostmemory on June 20, 2006 at 3:45 am

Common sense, Arrogant One? You probably stayed up all night looking up the meaning of airdrome. Were all open air theaters of this type called airdome? Then why were the Evergreen and Van Cortland theaters in Ridgewood called Airdrome? There is also a former theater listed on C.T. called the Airdrome Theater in Anderson, SC. I guess that those are all spelled wrong also. Only the all knowing Theater God knows the correct names for these theaters. How about you show us some of those “newspaper reports” that call this theater an airdome.

lostmemory on June 20, 2006 at 4:18 am

Just to make sure that I’m clear on this subject. Your telling me that Airdome is the correct term for an open air theater and Airdrome is a synonym for “airport”. Thats what you posted above, correct?

Did you know that there was an Airdrome theater located in Lynbrook, Long Island in 1915? Yes, Airdrome with an “R”. This is a link to a Newsday article about this Airdrome theater. Before you tell me that the reporter spelled the name wrong, the article includes an ad for the theater. The name in the ad is “Lynbrook Airdrome”. Was this Airdrome a theater for airplanes? You must enjoy the taste of shoe leather since you continue to put your foot in your mouth every chance that you get. Theater God of the Universe, what a joke!

lostmemory on June 20, 2006 at 6:52 am

Here are two more examples of theaters using the name Airdrome.

“The Airdrome, Grand Prairie, Texas first movie theater, opened about 1920. Since it had no roof, it resembled a "drive-in” theater with seats. The Theater was in operation three nights a week with serial movies being shown on Thursday nights. The shows were advertised by the owner walking the streets blowing a horn to attract the attention of potential customers".

From a History in Lincoln, Illinois:
“With the arrival of moving pictures in Lincoln, about 1910, several theaters were built, including the X-Ray, Family Theater, Star, Empire, Nickelodeon, and Airdrome, which was built by Steve Bennis just east of the present Arcade Building”.

I’m going to end this debate or conversation because I made my point. That point being that you are fallible Warren, just like the rest of us. Your feet do not float above the ground. You are the same as everyone else on this site. You make mistakes like the rest of us but are unable to admit them. At first I found humor in these comments. After reading them again, I realized how sad they actually had become. You have ruined your own credibility and tarnished your reputation on this site just to get “even” with me for adding the name Queens to the addresses of Queens theaters. Its not only childish, its pathetic. This was not a contest and there were no winners. I don’t dislike you Warren, I dislike the superior attitude that you bring to this site. You need to work on that. I’m going to remove the email notification from this theater. If you choose to continue commenting here, you will be replying to yourself. As far as I’m concerned, this is a dead theater and so are the topics contained here.

Altoblanco on June 20, 2006 at 8:59 am

I love the comment by “Bway”. This is just getting TOO funny!

If I may DARE to add my two cents regarding the previous “Jackson Heights vs. Elmhurst” debate…

I was born and lived in Elmhurst until I was six years old.
I continue to visit Jackson Heights frequently as an adult (as I have for the last 13 years).

I know of a bar (“Music Box”) located just off the SOUTHwest corner of Roosevelt Ave. and Broadway. It uses Jackson Heights as its location in all of its advertising. If you “search engine” it online, you will find websites listing it in both locations. If you search official NYS corporation records under its former name (“Montana Saloon”), it will be listed as Elmhurst. To save time: here is the link to that entry:
View link

Unless the official boundaries have changed, it could perhaps be argued that Broadway is the dividing line.

However, located just three blocks away (south-east direction) on the NORTH side of Broadway is Elmhurst General Hospital.

Also, a now-defunct nightclub that used to be located a few steps SOUTH of Roosevelt Ave. and four blocks NORTH of Broadway at 82-20 Baxter Ave. (“Llamarada” – now a laundromat) can be found by Internet search engine listed as either a Jackson Heights or Elmhurst location (incidentally, this address is located immediately east of 82nd St.).

Bottom line: many businesses south of Roosevelt Ave. (along or adjacent to) collectively use Jackson Heights because it is a popular, well-known shopping & business district. This is especially true of the bars, nightclubs and restaurants, which comprise the majority of businesses there. For many customers, Jackson Heights is considered a “destination” – Elmhurst is not.

The debate continues…

mikemorano on June 26, 2006 at 6:22 am

During the time period these theatres were built airdrome was the correct word to describe them. Airdrome is the european version of airdome. Similar to airplane versus aeroplane. Another example would be theater versus theatre. Since these early theatres were for the most part designed and constructed by european immigrants the term airdrome is correct.