Hollis Cinema

191-12 Jamaica Avenue,
Hollis, NY 11423

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Associated Prudential Theaters Inc., Playhouse Operating Co.

Functions: Church

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Hollis Theatre, Hollis Art Theatre, Hollis Repertory Cinema

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Hollis Cinema

The Hollis Cinema was located in the Hollis Section of Queens. It was opened by 1927 when it was operated by the Playhouse Operating Co. chain. In the 1940’s it was operated by Prudential Circuit. It last featured adult entertainment in the early-1970’s. In 1978 it “found God” and is well preserved today as a church.

The canopy and marquee are gone. Brick replaced the original lobby doors.

Contributed by MartyBraun

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

MarkieS
MarkieS on January 4, 2010 at 6:49 pm

my mom told me about a dumpy theater in Hollis that even in the 30’s was known as “the itch”, and showed movies that had been out for awhile. I don’t think it was this one though. Any ideas what it could have been?

robboehm
robboehm on January 16, 2011 at 10:30 am

To the best of my knowledge there were only two theatres in Hollis. This one and the Island. The Island had a very old looking incandescent lit marquee. I attended one performance at the Hollis in the 1950s. I thought it was clean and attractive. My only negative was the projectionist on that day was totally incompetent. He never made smooth transitions between the reels and he could be heard cursing loudly when things didn’t go right. I remember the usherette, yes usherette, saying she didn’t understand his problem because he was union.

MarkieS
MarkieS on January 16, 2011 at 10:44 am

Thank you, it WAS The Island. My mom remembered the name. She remembers seeing Intermezzo and Pygmalion there.

robboehm
robboehm on January 16, 2011 at 10:55 am

MarkieS, I just went back to the Island site to see if there was a photo, the links no longer exist, and found a posting from you dated June 18, 2009 in which you mentioned your mother, at age 81, referring to the Island as “the itch” and seeing Intermezzo there.

MarkieS
MarkieS on January 16, 2011 at 11:01 am

Thanks so much for doing all that checking!

THX
THX on November 30, 2011 at 5:19 pm

I actually remember seeing Rocky 2 in that theater which premiered in 1979. So I know that theater didn’t “find God” until at least 1980. And the zip code is 11423.

robboehm
robboehm on November 15, 2012 at 8:02 am

I was never in the Bellaire but the exterior certainly looked “itchy”. I remember hearing stories about how the Bellaire would have water on the floor after a rain. I found it really odd when it was converted into a two level bowling alley. The lower one must have really flooded. I was in the Hollis once, see an earlier posting. I found the surroundings pleasant even though the projectionist on that day was totally incompetent missing cues, cursing loudly at his own frustrations, etc..

robboehm
robboehm on April 10, 2015 at 7:49 am

Uploaded photo as the Hollis Cinema. Before it was a cinema it was just Hollis in neon letters where the new signage appears.

robboehm
robboehm on April 15, 2019 at 8:23 am

Uploaded an ad from 1933 which Texas2step added to Century’s Floral. Indicates the Hollis along with the Floral, Bellaire, Bellerose and Park (Rockaway Park) were part of the Playco circuit. Never heard of that one.

robboehm
robboehm on June 8, 2019 at 7:44 pm

Saw a piece of an ad for the Hollis which dated back to 1928. Theater was probably opened in 1926 or 1927 since all the other theaters in the PLAYCO ad I uploaded opened in that period.

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