Astor was Astor running double bills of current release before becoming Trans Lux Newsreel house during WW2, later in post war era reverting to Astor and showing British and other imports.
In November of 1911 it was announced that the Farragut Hall, a building used for meetings, receptions and other events would begin showing motion pictures on Monday and Tuesday evenings. This Hall was located at Flatbush and Rogers Avenues in Flatbush. The new Farragut Theater was construted on this site some 8 years later.
In the 1920’s and early 1930’s the Park was considered a first class neighborhood theater. It was the first in Sunset Park/South Brooklyn area to put in mechanical air conditioning. It was not cheap to do this and this was in the depth of the Depression. It cost $25,000 in June of 1934 when job was completed. Back then a paper cost 2 or 3 cents, bread was 11 cents a loaf and coffee a nickel a cup with free refill. If you were rich you could by a new Dodge or Chevrolet for less than $800. That $25,000 was close to half a million in today dollars.
Air conditioning was a big deal in those days. No stores or homes in the area had it. Most people still had ice boxes not refrigerators and few had electric fans. This really helped the theater in attracting patrons from the competition in hot weather. To build the tip they ran a special 10 cent admission policy for all before 2PM on weekdays.
There was another Interboro theater up the Avenue at 56th and Fifth called the Vanity. The Vanity and Sunset did not have air conditioning and in hot weather this was a factor which helped the Park.
There was a Park Theater on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway which was an RKO house for a while in the 1940’s.
I don’t know what has happened in the last 40 years, but my best recollection was that it was converted to retail circa 1950. It may have become a restaurant but this is not clear in my memory.Last couple of years of operation it was no longer a Century house.
Parkside was one of two Century Circuit thaters in Brooklyn that was not air conditioned at the end of the 1940’s and this was a factor in its closing. By the summer of 1949 movie patrons expected it to be “Cool Inside” and manager was instructed to refund admission if customer complained about temperature and humidity in the house. Another factor was that within easy walking distance were several other theaters higher in the distribution scheme: Patio, Astor, Flatbush, Kenmore, Granada, Albermarle, Kings and Rialto.
This was the second theater on the site to bear the name. It replaced the original in a rebuild circa 1915. It was located near Dean St. and began showing Spanish languge movies during WW2 (1943?) when due to manpower shortages large numbers of workers from Puerto Rico migrated to the area to work in war related industries.
Its marguee from that time on displayed “Siempre Dos Gran Pecuiles” as best as I can recall the spelling. They showed mostly double features of Mexican westerns based on what I saw from photos in attraction cases as I walked by in 40’s and fifties.
Closer view of Paramount in 1934 with DeKalb Avenue trolley passing by theater:
Brooklyn Public Library link
See 1934 photo looking up to toward Paramount with Minsky’s Theater in foreground:
Brooklyn Public Library link
Astor was Astor running double bills of current release before becoming Trans Lux Newsreel house during WW2, later in post war era reverting to Astor and showing British and other imports.
See photo of pre war Astor:
Brooklyn Public Library link
Brooklyn Public Library link
This is a link to the photo of the new “ATLANTIC” taken in 1915. Wagon is head toward Pacific street on Flatbush Avenue.
View link
In November of 1911 it was announced that the Farragut Hall, a building used for meetings, receptions and other events would begin showing motion pictures on Monday and Tuesday evenings. This Hall was located at Flatbush and Rogers Avenues in Flatbush. The new Farragut Theater was construted on this site some 8 years later.
Century Circuit closed this house for about a month in 1947 for installation of new air conditioning system and cosmetic upgrade.
The Cameo 42nd St. in Manhattan also showed Soviet films in 1930’s.
Published ads in Brooklyn Eagle call it The Peoples Cimema.
In the 1920’s and early 1930’s the Park was considered a first class neighborhood theater. It was the first in Sunset Park/South Brooklyn area to put in mechanical air conditioning. It was not cheap to do this and this was in the depth of the Depression. It cost $25,000 in June of 1934 when job was completed. Back then a paper cost 2 or 3 cents, bread was 11 cents a loaf and coffee a nickel a cup with free refill. If you were rich you could by a new Dodge or Chevrolet for less than $800. That $25,000 was close to half a million in today dollars.
Air conditioning was a big deal in those days. No stores or homes in the area had it. Most people still had ice boxes not refrigerators and few had electric fans. This really helped the theater in attracting patrons from the competition in hot weather. To build the tip they ran a special 10 cent admission policy for all before 2PM on weekdays.
There was another Interboro theater up the Avenue at 56th and Fifth called the Vanity. The Vanity and Sunset did not have air conditioning and in hot weather this was a factor which helped the Park.
There was a Park Theater on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway which was an RKO house for a while in the 1940’s.
In 1948 the Sunset at 47th and Fifth Ave and the Park at 44th and Fifth Ave were both Interboro Circuit houses.
A 1921 Photo of theater under construction.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015586.jpg
Here is a 1930’s shot showing Village with Bruin on nearside right of street:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015716.jpg
I don’t know what has happened in the last 40 years, but my best recollection was that it was converted to retail circa 1950. It may have become a restaurant but this is not clear in my memory.Last couple of years of operation it was no longer a Century house.
Here is an opening year photo at this link:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015714.jpg
The LA Newsreel Theater lasted into the 1950’s. See photo at this link. http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015417.jpg
Here is link to photo of original Dome burning.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015668.jpg
In 1941 the Marquee of the Cameo crashed to the siedwalk on Broadway. See photo at this link:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015864.jpg
At one time in forties was known as Elton
Parkside was one of two Century Circuit thaters in Brooklyn that was not air conditioned at the end of the 1940’s and this was a factor in its closing. By the summer of 1949 movie patrons expected it to be “Cool Inside” and manager was instructed to refund admission if customer complained about temperature and humidity in the house. Another factor was that within easy walking distance were several other theaters higher in the distribution scheme: Patio, Astor, Flatbush, Kenmore, Granada, Albermarle, Kings and Rialto.
Address of Parkside was 728 Flatbush Avenue.
Located at Flatbush near Parkside. Gone before 1951. North of Astor south of Patio.
The terminal got a new marquee circa 1940 and showed Spanish movies for a time in the 60’s.
This was the second theater on the site to bear the name. It replaced the original in a rebuild circa 1915. It was located near Dean St. and began showing Spanish languge movies during WW2 (1943?) when due to manpower shortages large numbers of workers from Puerto Rico migrated to the area to work in war related industries.
Its marguee from that time on displayed “Siempre Dos Gran Pecuiles” as best as I can recall the spelling. They showed mostly double features of Mexican westerns based on what I saw from photos in attraction cases as I walked by in 40’s and fifties.