Parthenon Theatre

In all likeliness, the theater was built as new construction on the site of the old Trolley barn. When seeing the original facade of the building, it screams “theater”. There is an old photo that shows the right most upper corner of the building was smashed off, probably when the el was built, and to facilitate the curve for the trains. So I am going to assume the building was built just before the el was placed in front of it. The el used to end at Wyckoff station, and then go down a ramp to ride on the surface to Metropolitan Ave. The el used to not turn right onto Palmetto St like it does now, it went anothe50 or 100 feet further onto Myrtle, and then turnaround a building that used to be at the corner of Myrtle and Palmetto (where the large brick building is now, where Koletti’s used to be). It then came down a ramp around the Ridgewood Grove site, before street running on Palmetto to Onderdonk Ave where it turned down it’s own ROW as the el does. In any event, when the el was extended through Ridgewood in 1914, that’s when the sharper turn was made to go around Palmetto as it does now. It is also quite possible the corner was knocked off even at a later date when they added the catwalk for workers to walk along the track, which isn’t original to the el.

Tapeshare, my guess is that the Parthenon was probably a new construction project that replaced the former buildings on this site. Certainly, the distinctive Greek arch could only have been constructed with the new theater’s name in mind. Still, situations did and do exist where the walls of the previous building are not demolished but are instead incorporated in the new design. So anything is poosible though, in this situation, rather deubtful. Bway and Peter, do you have anything to add on this subject? (And Peter, since the May 5 walking tour fell through, I’m sorry that I will not meet you at that time.)

Graffiti is not just a problem on ground level, the roof level has a severe problem with graffiti too, and it’s been up there for decades, people can see it with every M train that passes the building, it should be removed up there too.

As an update, I just wanted you to know that, at its most recent meeting, the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals unanimously voted to award the special permit that will enable the owners of the old Parthenon to operate a 24 hour a day gym on this site. The only pertinent condition placed upon the approval was that the owner must vigorously work to combat the graffiti problem that has long plagued this building. (This has been a REAL problem.) While the possible restoration of the old facade was not addressed, there is no reason why it should not be – and very good reasons why it should – as the project proceeds toward implementation. Hopefully the local community board,the press – and whoever else – will register their concerns and recommendations here. Stay tuned.

A few interesting developments – and possibilities – have recently emerged here ……. FIRST, the bingo hall and most of the retail stores on the ground floor, including the old newsstand that moved down the block, have been closed and scaffolding has been erected on the exterior …… SECOND, the reason for this stems from a proposal to establish a gym in the bingo hall area on the second floor and bring in a drug store and a telephone outlet on the ground floor. The gym requires a zoning variance, which is currently before the City’s Board of Standards and Appeals and that will almost certainly be granted …… THIRD, the renovation of the facade raises the possibility that the ugly outer layers that, over the years, have rudely disfigured the building could be stripped off and the Parthenon’s lovely original brick exterior restored to public view. I have raised the possibility of doing this with local Queens Community Board 5 and the Times Newsweekly newspaper. Hopefully, they will be responsive to this proposal ……. I hope to have more to share with you on this shortly.

The 1920 edition of the Bulletin of the Board of Standards and Appeals of the City of New York contained an item about the theater at 329-339 Wyckoff Avenue in (then) Brooklyn. The architect, Harry A. Yarish, had filed an appeal on behalf of the owner, Herman Weingarten, seeking a modification in the fire commissioner’s demands about a standpipe in the theater. The item includes a partial description of the building:

“…the building is fireproof, one story and mezzanine in height, 104 ft. 3 5/8 in. by 123 ft. 4 l/2 in. in area in the first story and 73 ft. 3 5/8 in. by 123 ft. 4 ½ in. in area above; occupied as a motion picture theatre, the auditorium seating 1,700 persons; with three stores on Wyckoff avenue separated from the auditorium by fire walls, and a store on Palmetto street at the screen end of the theatre having an entrance into the lobby; occupied in the mezzanine for toilet rooms, offices and picture booth; there being located at the rear of the theatre, a platform with a toilet room on one side and an organ room on the other, with a doorway to the platform from each room… appellant claims there is no stage or scenery….”

Imagine removing that siding on the facade and revealing the former brick, who knows what lies underneath! Since the building still stands from the theater days, and a bowling alley conversion in the 60’s, the jackpot question is:how much remains inside from the theater?

One of the four pictures provided on the attached page from the NY Public Library shows a rare view of the old Parthenon in its very early years. The other three pictures show how things were at this intersection in the late 1920’s.

These pistures were taken by Eugene Armbruster and are in the public domain. The caption clearly indicates that the Parthenon did, in fact, move from Brooklyn yo Queens when the border changed in 1925.

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Here’s a historic view of the Parthenon, as seen from the elevated train. Compare that below to one taken recently:

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?88079

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?90723

I have been so busy lately that I didn’t have time to log onto Cinematreasures for almost a month! Anyway, I forgot all about posting this photo! I believe I found it on the Brooklyn Library digital images collection.

Wow. Bway, where did you find this picture and when was it taken? By the looks of it, it seems that this occurred right after the Parthenon opened. It could even have been shot during the very brief period when this theater was still situated in Brooklyn.

Thanks again for this wonderful picture.

Yes Bway, one can only wonder what the poltergeists of Union Cemetary have wrecked on both the students of old Bushwick High and the users of the Irving Library! (It seems, however, that their bite has been far less ominous than their bark!)

More seriously, a closer look at the map indicates that at least a portion of the old Madison Theatre may have been situated in Brooklyn before the lines were changed. Because, however, the realignment had occurred before 1927 – the year of the Madison’s birth – this was always an unambigously Queens venue when the Madison opened. But an item like this may have complicated the Madison’s construction schedule.

In a comment regarding the Brooklyn Paramount, Tinseltoes provides a fine picture of the old theater. However, when I scrolled down to the other pictures on this thread, I stumbled over the attached map that provides fascinating information about the old Parthenon.

Specifically, when this theater was established, it was clearly situated in Brooklyn. When you review the map and trace where Palmetto Street meets Wyckoff Ave. (the Parthenon’s location) – the old Parthenon was clearly – or at least mostly – situated in the Borough of Churches. When, however, the county lines were re-drawn in the 1920’s, the Parthenon was cast into Queens County. Thus – unlike the Madison, Ridgewood, Oasis and who knows what other Queens theaters that were, over the years, told by the newspapers that they were in Brooklyn – the Parthenon actually was situated in Brooklyn – until they changed the boundary lines.

Hope you find this as interesting as I did.

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