Cameo Theatre
25-15 Steinway Street,
Astoria,
NY
11103
25-15 Steinway Street,
Astoria,
NY
11103
No one has favorited this theater yet
Showing all 15 comments
Interestingly, if you look at the CT listing for the Cambria in Cambria Heights, there is some discussion about the Cameo being known as the Cambria for a period of time. No reference to that here though even in the AKA portion.
Here is another 1981 photo of the Olympia.
1973 Photo
1981 Photo
In June, 1960, the cinema was being advertised as the New Cameo, suggesting a recent renovation and/or change in management. This double feature consisted of WB reissues. The rival Loew’s Triboro had the first Astoria showing at regular prices of “The Ten Commandments,” while the Skouras Astoria was presenting the first area showing at regualar prices of “South Pacific” (accompanied by the short “Fabulous Las Vegas”): View link
As a summer temp letter carrier I had the opportunity to see the theatre before it would open each day. In the late 50’s it seemed well maintained and a cozy if austere space.
Here’s a new link to the 1941 grand opening ad mentioned in my two posts above on 8/1/07:
View link
The listed address of this theatre is incorrect. It should be 25-15 Steinway St.(with a zip code of 11103)– 22-15 Steinway is north of Astoria Blvd. This theatre is south of Astoria Blvd. It is located between 25th Ave and 28th Ave on the east side of Steinway St. It was gutted around the late 80’s / early 90’s (don’t remember exactly when) and became an electronics importer / exporter store. I remember being inside and one could not tell it used to be a theatre – When this store closed down it sad empty for a long time, then appeared to totaly rebuilt again to its current configuration as a medical center on the first floor and I believe more offices above.
A recent B&W photo of the site can be found in a full-page article about Queens theatres entitled “History on Celluloid” by Juliet Werner in the Aug. 30-Sept. 5 issue of the Queens Tribune. Ms. Werner seems to have borrowed most of her text from CT, but adds that “today the building houses a store with apartments above.” This article also has recent B&W photos of the exteriors of the Midway in Forest Hills, the Boulevard in Jackson Heights, RKO Keith’s in Richmond Hill, and the Ditmars in Astoria. The photo of the Ditmars, now a branch postoffice for the USPS, suggests that the exterior retains a smidgen of the theatre’s decor. Some of these photos might be viewable at the weekly’s website: www.queenstribune.com but my own attempts to find them proved unsuccessful.
In the sixties the Olympia would get most of the Elvis movies first..Being an avid Elvis fan at the time I rember this theater well
On the day that the Cameo first opened, this was the competition on Steinway Street: Loew’s Triboro, “Appointment For Love” (Margaret Sullavan, Charles Boyer) & “This Woman Is Mine” (Franchot Tone, Carol Bruce); Skouras Astoria, “The Maltese Falcon” (Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor) & “Law of the Tropics” (Constance Bennett, Jeffrey Lynn); Skouras Steinway, first Astoria run of two “B” movies, “Nine Lives Are Not Enough” (Ronald Reagan, Joan Perry) & “Moonlight in Hawaii” (Mischa Auer, Leon Errol), PLUS a stage revue, “Stars Over Broadway,” featuring Glenn & Jenkins, Robert Field, the Byrne Sisters, the Gonzales Trio, and Elsie the Cow (who sure got around in those days).
The Cameo Theatre first opened on December 11th, 1941, just four days after guess what? The “modern playhouse” was operated by the Island Circuit, which already ran the Ditmars Theatre over on 31st Street. The bookings at both theatres were from three to four weeks behind Astoria’s leaders, Loew’s Triboro and the Skouras Astoria. The addition of the Cameo gave Astoria four cinemas in the Steinway Street shopping district. The Cameo was the only one on the east side of Steinway Street: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/astcameo.jpg
The Olympia was not closed due to complaints, but due to an arson fire that gutted it.
me and my friend stole a case of beer from Bohemian Hall (now the BEER GARDEN) & gave it to them when we were 13 for $5 & free admission to see Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Vixens after we bought whippets from Jolly Joint! Yeehaw! dito
This block has changed. It is now kind of a little Cairo as it is dotted with Arab-owned businesses, most of them coffee shops where patrons could smoke those hookahs or whatever those huge waterpipes are called. The no-smoking ban in bars really put on a crimp on these businesses.
This was the place I saw my first porn flick. My cousin and myself heard through the Grapevine that this theatre didnt ask for proof of age. This was the truth I was 15 he was 13. They let us right in to see “Debbie Does Dallas” and “Count The Ways”. These were our first porno experiences. When we tried to go back a few weeks later we were not let in. I guess it depended on the mood of the male cashier. The worst part about it was being constantly molested by the male staff!! I personally will never forget this place.