Wagner Theater
110 Wyckoff Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11237
110 Wyckoff Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11237
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Showing 1 - 25 of 77 comments found
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!
I think the 1930’s photos that Bway was referring to were taken in conjunction with the 1939-40 Worlds Fair. I am not aware of any set taken immediately after that.
There are very few theatres in the 1980s tax photos, and, unfortunately, most were taken when the theatres were closed, decaying, or converted to other use. I know that there were similar photos taken by the City in 1940-41 in anticipation of America entering WW2, but are you sure of a 1930s set?
The tax photos are from the 1980’s, and there is a wealth of great photos there! Especially of Bushwick where things were at their worst. I wish they would publish the 1930’s tax photos too online.
Great shot, TT – and I am sure that a load of additional old pictures will soon be posted here as a result of NYC’s recent release of its very substantial archives.
This picture was probably taken in the late 70’s – early 80’s, when the Wagner has just closed its doors and had not yet been replaced with the medical facility that now stands in its place.
Here’s an undated view with Wagner marquee: nyc.gov
I need to correct something I said in my Feb. 22 2009 comment, where I asserted that the entire blockfront, as depicted in Bway’s terrific picture, had been replaced by new buildings. Well, based on my visit there yesterday, the three buildings situated to the right of the old Wagner are, while somewhat altered, still very much in existence. Further down the block, however, is a large, multi-tiered parking facility that certainly disrupts the streetscape.
Below is an ad for “I Am Curious Yellow” which, among many other places, was shown at the Wagner. (Hope the link works.)
Interestingly, the Wagner is listed as a Queens theater. While a number of theaters situated in Queens, particularly the Ridgewood and the Madison, have often been lumped in with the Brooklyn theaters in movie advertisements, due to the old zip code that straddled the two boroughs, this is the first time where I have seen a Brooklyn theater assigned to Queens. (I guess neither borough would really want to claim it.)
Also, the mix of theaters showing this film is interesting. While it does contain the usual porn places – such as the Wagner and the Cinart – this movie was also shown at such mainstream venues as Forest Hills' Midway and Manhattan’s Academy of Music. I guess this was a different time.
View link
Looks like the Wagner’s adult format was well in swing by the 60’s already.
Here’s an ad for the new program that opened on October 25th, 1967. I don’t know if 11:30 PM was closing time or just the start of the last complete show: View link
Thanks, Bway. Great pic. “The Clean Heart”, starring Percy Marmont, was released in 1924, according to the IMDb.
Great picture, Bway. It seems as if the entire blockfront has now been replaced with something new. By the way, the health building is a newly constructed structure that replaced the Wagner, which was demolished.
Here’s a great photo of the Wagner Theater when it was still the Reo Theater. It is now a health clinic.
View link
Thanks, John D. Yes, Teutonic names were discouraged in the USA during the World Wars. Hamburg Avenue became Wilson Avenue during WW I, but Hamburg Savings Bank retained its name, of which it was very proud.
This is interesting. It opened as the Reo in 1921, when a German name was probably still a no no and then only assumed its Teutonic personna when doing so became less of a concern – but before the onset of the Third Reich.
Thanks, Lost Memory. No, I don’t know when the Reo / Wagner Theatre opened.
Reo is a previous name for the Wagner Theater. Do we know when this theater opened? Maybe it had other names.
What does the Reo Theatre have to do with the Wagner Theatre ?
This August 1921 ad shows the Reo Theatre with an open air roof and presenting “Photoplays of Distinction”: View link
Sorry, I meant depaul420 !
Thanls, deapul420 !
Reply to above….
They played an advertisement for the SS Hanseatic at the beggining of every program
As in the Hanseatic League of shipping in 14th century Europe ?
I remember the “Hanseatic” song from the German movie days
lol
Sorry for the previous typing error: meant Box Office Magazine (not Box Magazine).