Classic Theatre
180 Tompkins Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
180 Tompkins Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
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The theatre may or may not have been a classic, but it served its neighborhood well for many years with late-run double features. The Classic Theatre was opened in 1916. In 1923 it was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2manual 3ranks theatre organ. The Classic Theatre was closed in 1942.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Did the same owners run both the Wyckoff Theater and the Classic Theater?
The buildings are identical twins!!!
Click here for a photo of the Wyckoff (linked above), and compare to the classic linked above.
I’m sorry, I posted a bad link to the Classic Theater Above:
Here is the proper link for the Classic Theater photo
Argh!!! One last time, this time I promise it’s the right link!
Click here for the proper link to the Classic Theater Photo I took
Thanks Warren for the posting, Bway for the photo. Over the years I have passed by this theatre innumerable times, never realizing its history. As much as we appreciate the role of the ornate movie palaces, the simple, often non-descript “storefront” movie houses played a vital role in the neighborshoods they served.
In July of 1927 there is a 576 motion picture theater listed at this address. In August of 1944 there is a factory listed for this address.
A Wurlitzer organ Opus 717 Style 105 was installed in the Classic Theater on 10/18/1923.
I wonder if they put one into the Wyckoff the same year. The buildings are 100% identical.
BROOKLYN THEATRE BOUGHT BY CHAIN; The Classic on Tompkins Ave. Is Sold for $35,000 Subject to Existing Lease
NY Times December 25, 1939
The Classic Theatre, a one-story building containing 600 seats, at 180 Tompkins Avenue, corner of Pulaski Street, Brooklyn, was sold by the Perlmutter Holding Corporation to the S.R.F. Amusement Corporation, a subsidiary of the Interborough Theatre, Inc., a chain controlling forty-eight theatres in the metropolitan area.
Here’s a google street view of the Classic. it’s a twin to the Wyckoff theater in Ridgewood/Bushwick, although the Wyckoff is in better shape, at least on the exterior:
View link
I remember the Wycoff during its final days as a theater company run by a community group but not sure of the name. I should have gone in but never did. I believe it still had the marquee up.