Strand Theatre
22-15 Broadway,
Astoria,
NY
11106
22-15 Broadway,
Astoria,
NY
11106
1 person
favorited this theater
The Strand Theatre first opened in 1941 and was one of the last theatres built in Queens before the WWII ban on new construction. The auditorium was in the stadium-style, with a raised section of seats at the rear. I’ve often wondered why the Strand Theatre was ever built, since the Astoria section of Queens was already vastly over-seated at the time, with ten theatres including this one.
Operated by the Raybond Circuit, it played last-run for the area, which was dominated by Loew’s Triboro Theatre and five Skouras theatres. But the Strand Theatre survived most if not all of its competetion and operated into the 1980’s, in its last years with XXX movies.
The building still stands, with the entrance converted to stores.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
This is listed as a twin in the 12/11/1980 edition of the NY Post movie clock. You can find a clipping here with the Strand Twin listed about half way down the first column. The Daily News version of the movie timetable sorted theaters by neighborhood. The films listed are not porn, but a mix of mainstream films and action double features in late runs.
By March of 1982, the theatre is no longer listed in the movie clock of either the Post or the Daily News nor in the Post’s Neighborhood Movie Guide section (where many XXX houses advertised). That is not sufficient evidence to refute that the Strand ever operated as a porno house, but it does tell us the theatre was twinned towards the end and may have been shuttered by 1982.
Here are new direct links to images of the marquee on opening night and in 1976:
View link
View link
I often went to this theater as a child in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I dont recall that it was ever an Xrated theater. That dubious distinction went to the Olympia at the north end of Steinway. the Strand had “B” movies, often double features, and catered to kids.
Listed at 25-15 Broadway in the 1959 yellow pages. Phone number was YElowstne 2-4499.
That doesn’t map either.
And function should be retail.
A recent view of the Strand’s conversion to retail space can be seen midway through this new article about the lengthy Queens street known as Broadway: View link
Interesting string to a movie theater that brings back many great memories! I lived on 28th street from 1967 to 70 and went many times to the Strand as a youngster with my dad. As a kid, I was fascinated with motion pictures and wanted to be a projectionist. Here’s what I recall of the Strand: you would enter the theater from behind the ticket booth outside under marquee. Thru the main doors into the lobby on the right were 2 staircases to the balcony with rest rooms in between. Directly in front was the concession stand with the manager’s office to the extreme right. On the left was a long wall with 2 sets of swinging doors to the main level of the theater. Inside the theater up on the walls were 4 large red oval shaped lights, (2 on each side). They had round black dots in the center, which is actually where the red bulbs were, which reflected a dim red in the circle, but were darkened when the feature was running. It was a very original looking light setup. Seeing it, you knew you were in the Strand. I also recall sitting way up in the balcony just below the 4 small windows for the projectors watching the changeovers take place. The beams would instantly jump from left to right and back at each changeover. The booth also had a large window to the extreme left which was large enough for the projectionist to physically lean his head out of. One Saturday, my dad got permission from the Strand’s manager to take me into the projection booth for a tour. I remember seeing what looked like Peerless lamp houses, and I believe the projectionist said the projectors were Super Simplex machines from when the theater first opened in the 40’s. The movie playing at the time of my tour was “The Good, The Bad And The Ugly†with Clint Eastwood. I also remember seeing Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and Hang Em High at the Strand. Oh, and my first introduction to watching the 3 Stooges on the big screen happened at the Strand. That was incredible! Rickster
I never went to this theatre but I did go to the Bowling Alley that was under it. The Alley was still open in the 1990’s but is now closed.
A sign for the bowling alley – a vertical sign near the roofline spelling out “BOWL” – was still in evidence, if no longer illuminated, when I took the photos I posted back on May 25th, 2007. The photos themselves were taken in the summer of 2005.