Hollis Cinema
191-12 Jamaica Avenue,
Hollis,
NY
11423
191-12 Jamaica Avenue,
Hollis,
NY
11423
3 people
favorited this theater
The Hollis Cinema was located in the Hollis Section of Queens. 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
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Here is a May 1962 ad. Click on the ad for an expanded view:
http://tinyurl.com/lo87o7
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?
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.
Thank you, it WAS The Island. My mom remembered the name. She remembers seeing Intermezzo and Pygmalion there.
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.
Thanks so much for doing all that checking!
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.
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 that the main rival to the Hollis was the Bellaire, which was much nearer than the Island. The Bellaire was probably the one known as “the itch.”
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..