Berkshire Theatre

5913 8th Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11220

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Interboro Circuit Inc.

Architects: Chas. P. Cannella

Functions: Mosque

Nearby Theaters

Berkshire Theatre

The Berkshire Theatre opened in 1926. It was equipped with a Welte organ. It was operated by Fox Theatres, then the Interboro Circuit Inc. It was a late-run “nabe” in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn.

The Berkshire Theatre closed in 1955 and was converted into a Sons of Norway Center in 1956. Today it houses a mosque.

Contributed by Warren G. Harris

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

deleted user
[Deleted] on October 27, 2004 at 6:35 pm

I show the Berkshire Theatre closing in 1955.

lundo
lundo on November 28, 2004 at 10:52 pm

When I lived around the corner from the Berkshire in the early 50s, we went there most Saturday mornings, no matter what was playing.

In 1955 it was converted into The Sons of Norway Home, keeping its marquee. 8th Ave. then was known as “Labscouse Avenue” due to its heavy Norsk concentration. And the 17th of May Norwegian Independence Day parade along 8th Ave. would pass the Home every year as well.

After living in Manhattan for some 25 years, I’ve recently returned to the old neighborhood to find it’s the largest concentration of Chinese outside of Manhattan’s Chinatown. And the Bershire is now a mosque. I went inside to take in the grandeur of the space, and it’s still impressive. At least it’s not another “retail space.”

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 10, 2004 at 11:43 am

The Berkshire Theatre opened in 1926.

SeaBeacher
SeaBeacher on October 10, 2006 at 4:49 pm

I remember The Sons of Norway hall at the former Berkshire Theatre…the lobby was a bright blue tiled masterpiece and the Norwegians who owned the hall often had stamp and coin shows…my late mom used to take me there on the one Sunday a month they had the coin shows…now as someone else said it’s a mosque…there used to be a sign that said “Berkshire Theatre” but it was covered over years ago.

jflundy
jflundy on February 18, 2007 at 3:58 am

Sorry for above post, link to Berkshire is in error. Correct link is:
http://brooklynpix.com/photo1/S/sunset36.jpg

SeaBeacher
SeaBeacher on February 18, 2007 at 4:12 am

Excellent photo! I wasn’t around to see the theatre open so this is a real treat I believe the shop with the SODA sign across the street was called Dodenhoff’s.

Bruce

Bway
Bway on June 9, 2011 at 11:46 am

Interesting old photo.

robboehm
robboehm on April 11, 2015 at 1:42 pm

Early photo uploaded.

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