Garden Theater

The article shows the Garden as being on Webster Av. The Garden referred to above shows Jamaica Av. I know a number of name changes occurred in Queens but I was not aware that Jamaica Av. was one of them. There was also a Garden in Springfield Gardens. But, I believe, there is a Webster Av. in the Bronx.

Here’s a link to a photo and article: qchron

Based on something Ed Norton said on “The Honeymooners” in February 1967, I thought Perth Amboy, NJ, was the sun and fun capital of the world.

Well I guess there were two Garden Theaters in Brooklyn. Here is the link to the one in Greenpoint.

/theaters/11234/

Bway, the Brooklyn Garden was situated on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, accross the street from the Meserole. It was strictly a silent era house that closed in the late 1920’s and became a catering hall. Since an elevated subway never existed on Manhattan Ave., this wasn’t the place depicted in the picture.

By the way, the Brooklyn Garden has a short Cinema Treasures page that is worth exploring.

The photo is featured at “brooklynpix” as a “mystery theatre.” There was also a Garden Theatre in Brooklyn, but I don’t think it was this one. The Richmond Hill Garden was near enough to Brooklyn to have a photo mistakenly added to a Brooklyn collection. However, I think that the Brooklyn Garden was also under or near an elevated subway, so anything is possible.

Could this be the Garden Theatre in its early years?
View link 346

If “philmem” is still available-

I lived in Richmond Hill from 1938 until 1950 on 108th st. My twin sister and I went to the Garden Theatre whenever my parents wanted to get rid of us for an afternoon…we were there a lot! $.05 was the admission then My grandmother lived just south of Jamaica Ave on the east side of 112th st, and, coincidentally, since childhood was best friends with Mrs Marx{Evie)who lived next door to you, and they had three boys.

The 1914 opening date given in the NY Daily News appears to be correct. In its issue of October 16th, 1914, the Richmond Hill Record reported that “The new Garden Theatre on Jamaica Avenue was thrown open to the public for the first time Saturday night, and the amusement loving public found themselves in as handsome a photo play house as there is to be found anywhere. There was a great rush for seats the first nights, and the management held up their hands in despair as, long after the 1,100 seats were occupied, crowds of people still clamored for admission. Hundreds who purchased their tickets of admission for the first performance became tired of waiting for the second performance and returned their tickets, their money being refunded. There is a change of bill daily at this beautiful theatre, which jumped into popularity in a single night. There are matinees daily at 2:30 and 4 o'clock, and the first evening performance is at 7 and the second at 8:45.” An ad in the same issue described the Garden as “The Handsomest Photo Play Theatre in America.” According to a Perpetual Calendar, the Saturday before October 16th, 1914 would have been October 10th, so the opening date of the Garden Theatre was almost certainly October 10th, 1914.

I don’t know the answer to that question Ken. Its possible that the article gave the wrong date. It wouldn’t be the first time that a newspaper article gave incorrect information. I have never come across a second Garden Theater for Jamaica Avenue so maybe the 1914-1915 Garden Theater is this one.

Another early Richmond Hill theatre was the Majestic, which apparently fell victim to the more modern Garden Theatre, only a block away. This ad from January, 1921, is the last one that I’ve been able to find for the Majestic. Perhaps the “Engagement Extraordinary” of concert singer Miss Maybelle Nash was the final blow:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/rhmajestic.jpg

In January, 1921, there was a Richmond Hill Theatre at 2923 Jamaica Avenue, advertised as “The Playhouse of Perfect Pictures.” An ad says that the theatre was formerly known as the Cedar.