Granada Theatre
2819 Church Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
2819 Church Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11226
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 59 comments
I’ll cross my fingers.
Hi Warren – Are you a movie genius? You seem to know everything.Anyway, thanks; it’s the first information I’ve ever found on these films. But after seeing your message I tried both titles with IMDb, Cinema Treasures, Google and Yahoo, and found nothing. If you ever come up with more information, or, better yet, a source, I’ve love to hear from you.
Circa 1943-45 every Saturday morning they’d show kids' auto races, silents, that we all thought were screamingly exciting and funny. My memory is that the cars were soapbox-derby types. At the end of the film, there’d be a winner, and whoever had the winning number on their ticket would get a prize. I’d love to see at least one of these again, but I’ve searched for years and haven’t been able to find any for sale, or even noted anywhere. Does anyone have a clue? Chaplin made a short called something like “Kids' Auto Races”, but these shorts, which were different every week, had nothing to do with Chaplin.
In 1973 I saw SUMMER WISHES,WINTER DREAMS along with THE WAY WE WERE for a $1.00! In front of the theater they had a sign that asked: “Who will win the Oscar-Barbra Streisand or Joanne Woodward?"Both had been nominated for these films. On Oscar night Susan Hayward opened the envelope and declared Glenda Jackson the winner for A TOUCH OF CLASS. I always thought that Barbra and Joanne were better in the wonderful Grenada! Memories!
This ad is for a kung fu double feature that day-and-dated with the nearby Rugby Twin:
Golden Arm – Daily News 12/14/80
The co-feature is never identified and my edition of the paper doesn’t have a Brooklyn movie clock.
This movie clock from 1982 shows the theater under RKO Century’s management:
NY Post Movie Clock 3/10/82
I saw “Les Dioblique” here when I was around 14. Before leaving the theatre had to sign an agreement that I wouldn’t reveal the ending to my friends.
I used to go to the Granada every Saturday afternoon for the Kiddie Matinees.They would have 2 horror or action/adventure films and cartoons and a horse race in which prizes were won. In the mid 60's
it became a Showcase theatre and featured Brooklyn runs of “The
Greatest Story ever Told”,“ Mary Poppins”,“The Americanization of Emily,” etc.
You don’t have to give money, bruce1 on the Loew’s Kings section or this site can help. Let’s just say we know a guy who is forming a committee to help the Kings. He can probably give you contact information on that section. If you are still interested then you can go to /theaters/1360 or contact him at and get the info.
Gustavelifting:
Thanks for the information on the Loew’s Kings. I went there with my old man to watch Police Athletic League (PAL)fights on stage. I also used to box in a backyard near the Granada and once or twice at the Flatbush Boys Club. I think it’s great that someone is working to restore one of the old neighborhood theaters but I probably have little to add to his effort. I am still interested in that Granada water tower, if anyone has any information. Best, Skonnert.
Skonnert;
If you liked the old Brooklyn Movie Houses and was involved in television, I know someone who is trying to restore the Loew’s Kings, and is the producer for a local Brooklyn Cable Show. He was the producer of Wonderama. I can place his E-Mail here for you if you like. Please RSVP on this board.
We lived a half-block from the Granada on Church Avenue in the 1930s and 1940s. The grey-haired matron at that time was Mrs. Paramour, or Paramore. I started going to the movies there even before I started kindergarten at P.S. 246 and the matron assured my folks that she would look after me. She was also active in the Republican Club located a block or two away, near Bedford Avenue, and after we entered World War II, Mrs. Paramour marched me and others up to the club to join patriotic sing-alongs of “Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition,” and other anthems. Neighborhood kids — Fayers, Cahills, Latanzas, Tompkins, Ornsteins — also played softball in the lot adjacent to the theater, breaking an occasional window when a long ball cleared the fence and headed toward Martense Street. The bravest among us also climbed the high tower at the back of the Granada building, going up the ladder to the water tank. It would be much appreciated if someone could tell me if that tower and water tank still exist now that the building is a Rite Aid drugstore. (I need the information for a story I am writing.) Moviegoing at the Granada actually ruined my life. I could have been a doctor, or a great violinist, or who knows what. Instead, after hanging out at the Granada as a kid, I spent my working years as a writer in television and film, and only recently retired to try writing fiction, a lot of it about the old days in Brooklyn. — (signed) Skonnert.
We lived a half-block from the Granada on Church Avenue in the 1930s and 1940s. The grey-haired matron at that time was Mrs. Paramour, or Paramore. I started going to the movies there even before I started kindergarten at P.S. 246 and the matron assured my folks that she would look after me. She was also active in the Republican Club located a block or two away, near Bedford Avenue, and after we entered World War II, Mrs. Paramour marched me and others up to the club to join patriotic sing-alongs of “Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition,” and other anthems. Neighborhood kids — Fayers, Cahills, Latanzas, Tompkins, Ornsteins — also played softball in the lot adjacent to the theater, breaking an occasional window when a long ball cleared the fence and headed toward Martense Street. The bravest among us also climbed the high tower at the back of the Granada building, going up the ladder to the water tank. It would be much appreciated if someone could tell me if that tower and water tank still exist now that the building is a Rite Aid drugstore. (I need the information for a story I am writing.) Moviegoing at the Granada actually ruined my life. I could have been a doctor, or a great violinist, or who knows what. Instead, after hanging out at the Granada as a kid, I spent my working years as a writer in television and film, and only recently retired to try writing fiction, a lot of it about the old days in Brooklyn. — (signed) Skonnert.
Dead, no doubt. Ask not for whom the bell tolls…
Does anyone remember or know what happened to the grey haired matron who used to work there. I went to Holy Cross Down the block and I lived on Nostrand and Linden. So I was pretty much at the kiddie matinee every Saturday. She was always there with her button and flashlight.
In 1961 I went with my mother & sister to see a double bill of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s"and "Two Women.” When I moved to the neighborhood in the 1970’s,I saw return engagements of “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Star !”. There was a Chock Full O' Nuts next door. Nice theater. frankie from Brooklyn
I used to go to this theatre when the Rugby went porn. Last movie I saw thier was Earthquake
When did the Granada finally close?
Lived in Flatbush through the 60’s as a kid (off Church near Holy Cross Cemetary). Loved the Granada Saturday double feature monster movies, candy and half a day of fun. Saw Hard Days night and Help openings on flatbush ave (what theatre?) couldn’t hear a thing from all the girls screaming…it was a wonderful place to grow up…i had more freedom than most (my mom worked two shifts alot as a nurse)wish things were as simple for kids now as they were then.
That’s too bad
the marquee is long gone but the structure is still standing. It’s a Duane Rade or Rite Aid wih a drop celiing on the ground floor. Some reminants of the theatre may exist above that drop ceiling
Is the marquis still there? I know the place was changed to a retail store. Then again it’s also said the Granada was demolished.
This was probably before my time, I’m not old enough to remember dish nights and stuff like that. I would like to add that in the 1980s I went to Brooklyn College and lived out on Long Island. My Mother would take me in to Kings County Hospital, where she worked, and sometimes I took the bus. When the Nostrand Avenue Bus passed the Granada I saw that old marquis and it was like seeing an old friend.
Lived in an apartment on the corner of Church and Nostrand Ave.,
above the subway and drug store, mid 50’s. The Granada was a big theater located on the same side of the street about half way to Rogers Ave. I love the Saturday shows…House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price, etc., news reels, cartoons, double features and the
old time on screen races…each kid got a number ticket, and if your
guy won the race, everyone who had his number won a prize. Great
times, gone forever. I could go on!
That was a nice balcony, eh saps? I think I may have sat there with my family when we lived in Brooklyn.
My grandmother and great-grandmother lived at 2525 Church Avenue until the early 1970s. I think this was the first movie theater I ever went to, beginning a life-long love affair. We saw Jason and the Argonauts, circa 1963. I also saw The Greatest Story Ever Told, and Mary Poppins. As I recall we sat in the balcony.