Carlton Theatre
292 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11217
292 Flatbush Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11217
2 people
favorited this theater
Built on the site of an earlier (1911) Carlton Theatre that had 450 seats. In 1913 an airdome theatre was added. These were both closed on 10th May 1925 and were demolished (apart from the main facade). The new Carlton Theatre opened on February 8th, 1926 and was operated by the Brandt Circuit. It had a 1,124 seat airdome theatre on the roof that was decorated in an Italianate style.
It was named for nearby Carlton Place, yet it stood on Flatbush Avenue at Seventh Avenue, a block north of the Flatbush Pavillion (formerly the Plaza). The theatre had a balcony, and in its later days ran kung-fu and blaxploitation movies.
It closed in the early-1980’s and became the first theater to converted into a church by the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which later moved into the far more spacious former Metropolitan Theater. The Carlton Theatre was demolished in 2004.
Contributed by
Ken Roe, philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 38 comments)
I’m sure of two things about this theater. The facade in the 1914 photo and the one in the 1926 photo are both the same. I believe that whatever theater that was behind the 1914 facade was demolished and a new auditorium was built there. And the second architects name on the C/O does not appear to be “Carlson”. Maybe we should just put Wiseman as the architect until we figure out who the second architect was.
This is what the Carlton Theater looked like while it was being demolished. Whats located here now? Park Place Condos that start at $715,500 for a 1,000 sq ft, one bed apartment. Brooklyn must be making a comeback with those prices.
My Brooklyn will never make a comeback again, now that they are constructing apartment skyscrapers on residential side streets in the South Slope. My block has an 8 story phallic symbol which will forever block out the sun from my front door. The site of the former 16th Street Theater below 5th Avenue has one now that went up FAST. Brooklyn is now Manhattan. At one time there were at least 6 movie theaters within walking distance of my home. Now there’s ONE. On a recent Monday night I went there to see “Akeela and the Bee” in the largest division at the Pavilion —– I was the ONLY ONE THERE ! The movie was wonderful, but —– maybe it’s not just the developers.
“Park Slope’s Finest First Run Theatre” post-closing but before the church. View link
From a distance View link
Another angle View link
Early shot (re-post from 10/17/05) View link
Here is a 1968 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dd985p
Vintage photos of the Carlton Theatre can be viewed here: View link
I actually once visited this place during its church years. I friend was trying to convert me – alas to no avail. While I was not into old movie theaters at the time, the place seemed quite impressive – and the Brooklyn Tabernacle people presented a pretty good show. They have a GREAT chorus. So the old theater was crtainly used to great avail.
One other thing regarding this site. When you click on the map, it shows the Carlton as being at the intersection of Flatbush and 3rd Ave. – in other words, right accross from BAM. This is totally wrong, since the old Carlton was situated close to 7th Ave. This needs to be corrected.
The links on this page show some great vintage photos of the Carlton. It seems Brooklyn had so many classic movie theaters that are now gone.
I was born in 1953 and saw a number of movies at the Carlton. My mother worked at “Neumans” Ice cream parlor next door to the Carlton and my Father worked at the “Rustic Inn” which was just around the corner on Prospect Place. What I remember most about this theatre was going to the Rest Rooms down stairs from the main entry – everything was marble