Bellerose Theater
245-14 Jericho Turnpike,
Floral Park,
NY
11001
245-14 Jericho Turnpike,
Floral Park,
NY
11001
9 people
favorited this theater
The Bellerose Theater opened in 1926 and is located on Jericho Turnpike at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Rocky Hill Road (today renamed Braddock Avenue). It stands just east of the Cross Island, about a mile away from the Floral Theatre.
Originally seating 1,180, it was last operated by the Century Theaters chain and closed in the mid-1980’s with 880 seats. The building was gutted internally and became a carpet store. Today it is in use as a martial arts store and for storage.
Contributed by
SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 177 comments)
Okay, I know you guys have been waiting, so here I go again. This had better work! I’m tired! :>
I hope you can see it.
Hey, Bway and Tinseltoes, thanks for the help. I managed to do it, I think. (waves)
Nice to see the image but, unfortunately the marquee had seen better days by then having been hit by a truck and having much of the neon covered over. But what I still long for is a photo of the original marquee. So many of the theatres on CT have them. What surprises me is that so many of them had verticals in the beginning which were long gone before I started getting interested in them. In my youth I only remember verticals on the Fantasy, Floral and Mineola in Nassau and the Valencia, Astoria, Queens and Triboro in Queens.
Hello. I “moved” into Bellerose Terrace in 1983 at the age of 4 and stayed until 18, after which I had periodic stays until now, at 31. I did visit the theater until it closed in ?? I have seen some correct and not so correct comments, but so be it. I would like to welcome any old-timers or anyone to write me at or call 917-690-4330 about any of their old memories or just to reminisce. This unique area shaped the rest of my life, and I had to protect it as it protected me over the years. I hope to have a dialogue with anyone who wants it while I recapture my past in this tiny, yet influential area that nobody else knows about. If you understand, feel free to contact me anytime. Thanks. —apd
apd and I visited the theatre site yesterday. Windows have been added to the second floor where there were indications that they may have previously existed. You enter through the lobby where the original ceiling is still intact, with the addition of a ceiling fan through the center medallion. The floor, which originally had an incline, to the auditorium is now level. The two stores which flanked the lobby are now part of the martial arts complex with entrances through the lobby. The auditorium has been converted into a two story warehouse. Since the owner/manager was not present we were not able to look further than the public space. The employees indicated they had never seen any of the remnants of the original theatre, not even the actual ceilling, which I would have imagined would be visible from the second floor warehouse area.
rvb and I have been speaking since my post on 9/24/10. We finally visited the theater and toured the neighborhood. I think we both surprised each other with our stories from different decades and eras. I didn’t have much time to be attached to the theater, but I have a great interest in Bellerose Terrace and all of the surrounding areas, from now back to who knows when. If anyone else would like to take a look around, or just talk about recent things, or old history, feel free to write me at or call my cell anytime 917-690-4330. Also, if anyone can get google, etc. to direct people to CT who are searching BT and not necessarily Bellerose Theater, that would be great. Thanks. —apd
Does anyone remember the manager referred to as Mr. D?
This new article may or may not clear up some of the confusion over Jamaica Avenue and Jericho Trunpike: qchron
The only real confusion these days is that the Bellerose theatre which was once in Bellerose is now considered Floral Park because the two block deep section of the village in Nassau County was reassigned to the Floral Park post office. As far as the split street situation, 225th Street was where Jericho Turnpike began on the south side of the avenue. Why 225? Because that’s where Nassau County began. Jericho Turnpike was the northern border of the Nassau County portion of what used to be Bellerose. Jamaica Avenue bordered the Queens County portion which ran to Floral Park just past Little Neck Parkway. When Queens County ceased it all became Jericho Turnpike. I don’t remember the actual street but it’s where the Q36 terminated; the end of Queens County.
To the projectionists out there. I always maintained that the Bellerose had the largest, if not one of the largest, Cinemascope screens on Long Island because it’s proscenium was almost the entire width of the building, which was a big box. Any feedback?