Winthrop Theater
135 Driggs Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
135 Driggs Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
3 people
favorited this theater
This theater was located on the corner of Driggs Avenue and Russell Street in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. The Winthrop Theater was opened in early-1923.
It was closed in 1959, and in November 1961, was converted into a supermarket.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
Bway, the Winthrop was about as tall – the equivalent of two stories – as the current supermarket. This is why the assertion that the Russell St. wall is a relic of the old theater is credible.
As I remember it, the Winthrop’s entrance – and its terrific awning – only occupied the center of what is now the supermarket. The left and right flanks were occupied by other businesses on both two floors. (Thanks to PhilJR for refreshing my memory on this point.) The theater’s lobby was a modest affair that lead directly into the auditorium. Upon leaving the lobby, you looked directly at the screen. The nearly 600 seats were located on one level, with no balcony. (While I may be wrong on this point, I do not believe that the Winnie was ever air conditioned. I distinctively remember viewing movies on hot afternoons that were only cooled – and very well muted – by two large fans.)
A very popular bar – I believe it was named Dekarski’s – was situated on the other side of Russell St. During the 1950’s, many very loud parties were held there. (Since I lived on the same block, I can very well attest to this fact.) Unless the Winnie was sound-proofed – which I am sure it was not – many movie goers certainly heard the revelry at Dekarski’s while they were attempting to enjoy the film. (The loudest moments, however, mostly occurred after the movie house had closed for the evening.)
A photographer’s shop was situated across the street from Dekarski’s. In 1958 or so, I remember having my First Holy Communion photographs taken here. At that time, the Winnie was still a going concern.
Located far from Greenpoint’s commercial center, the Winnie typifies the very localized nature of movie houses during cinema’s golden age. While it did last nearly a decade longer than the similarly situated Midway – which was located in a poorer section of Greenpoint – it is not surprising that the Winnie could not survive too long into the TV era. Anyhow, those of us who remember it, really miss it.
One minor correction to the above. I mis-stated the name of the bar. It was named Batetics (an obvious mispelling, though that’s how it was pronounced), not Dekarski’s, which was actually the name of a – believe it or not – funeral parlour. Sorry.
John……..On an unrelated note to the Winthrop but has to do with movies.Going one block away on the corner of Nassau and Russel(I believe it’s Russell)There is one of the few bars left in Greenpoint that Pop is always telling us they do a lot of filming in.It has that old bar look and Pop tells of attending parties in the rear of the bar.
BabyBoomer, I know that bar, most recently known as Goodman’s, very well. Before exiting Greenpoint for Forest Hills in 2001, I spent many hours at Goodman’s – and had a farewell drink there on the night we moved away. As far as I know, the place is still going strong.
This bar very much resembles the old “Batatics”, which was situated just across the street from the Winthrop and now hosts a liquor store. It is exactly the kind of bar that existed when the old Winthrop still showed movies.
Well, this marks the third anniversary of the date when I first stumbled over this wonderful site and posted my first comment. It’s been a lot of fun over these last three years.
In 2011, I hope someone will find and post a picture of this modest but greatly missed theater.
Amazingly I am going on almost 7 years now here….I don’t know where the time went! I also stumbled on it by accident, back in 2003 when I was trying to find out what the “theater on Broadway by Howard is”….and found the RKO Bushwick, and the rest is history….
I use this site even when I go on vacation and find an old theater somewhere….when I get home I try and look it up here!
John…….Just one more mention of a Greenpoint bar and I won’t stray from the movie house thread anymore.
Do you remember a bar on the corner of Diamond and Driggs(it’s now a closed down pizza place)? Thirty six years ago on my wedding day my bestman and myself got to St.Stans early and stopped in this bar for a bracer to get through the events.The bartender knew we weren’t from the neighborhood and asked what we were doing in the neighborhood …in suits no less.After the ceremony we met him at the door of the church wanting to kiss the bride.
BB, I vaguely remember the place, which I believe was considered to be something of a dive, though I doubt if I ever went there. While I grew up across the street from St. Stans at 606 Humboldt, by the time that I started to frequent bars, my family had moved to Morgan Ave. and had a different selection to choose from. At the time, there was literally a saloon on every block in Greenpoint. They were as much a part of the neighborhood as were – well – the local movie houses.
Yes, the same was true for Ridgewood and Bushwick too. There were very few corner intersections that didn’t have at least one bar on the corner….
Well, I now start my fifth year as a member of this wonderful site. Still hope that someone will identify and post a photo of this old theater. Hopefully, this will occur this year. Happy New Year to all.