Rainbow Theatre
167 Graham Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
167 Graham Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 97 comments
As much as I’d want the Rainbow to be restored as a movie theatre, I can’t imagine that the economics would prove that feasible. Granted that the enighborhood has now become hip and trendy, that stretch of Graham Ave does not get the pedestrian traffic that you might see on Bedford Ave. or Grand St., or a few blocks closer to the L train station. Unless there is a special exhibition niche, there is always the competition from Netflicks and cable to consider. I would be delighted to be proven wrong, and would plan on showing up for an opening day. Now if I could only get my old high school buddies to join me…..
I was walking by the Rainbow today and saw some guys outside cleaning it out. I convinced one of the gentlemen to let me peek inside (even though he was adamant that I needed to call the landlord first—cheers to feminine wiles!).
There’s water damage to the ceiling in various, but they’ve been trying to keep it under control until the property is sold. It still has about 1700 seats, and the interior seems to be relatively unchanged. It’s clearly been painted over and simplified, but I noticed a chandelier in the lobby that had to be original (as well as a few other things—it was very dark, and I only had a few moments to look in as my eyes adjusted form the sun outside).
I knew the theater was on the market was $12 million, and asked the guy how things were progressing. He said that someone was making a bid on the property for significantly less than the listed price, and that their intent was to turn the Rainbow back into a theater. Awesome! It sounds like the current owners really love the building and want to sell it to someone who can restore it to some extent. At the very least, I don’t believe the building will be torn down like so many other theaters in the neighborhood. I’d LOVE to have an indie film house around here—but any sort of theater would do. Bring back the Rainbow!
The Brooklyn Theatre Index notes that the Rainbow closed as a movie house in 1964. This clearly confirms my memory that the theater had just closed and begun its conversion into a church – initially called the “Love Chapel” – when I began to attend Most Holy Trinity HS in the fall of 1964.
I recall the pizza joint across the street from the Rainbow, but the site that I was referring to was across the street from the park on Graham & Scholes and probably predated the JASA senior center.
If a pizza parlor was situated at this corner, it would have had be located at the NE corner, since the NW corner hosts a park. Currently, a senior center is situated at the NE corner, which is within the Williamsburg Houses development. It is large enough to have accommodated the double storefront pizza place that was noted above. But, as long as I remember, this was always a senior center, which was, and I believe still is, sponsored by JASA.
The pizza parlor that I DO remember was – and I believe stil is – situated directly across the street from the old Rainbow. When I attended Most Holy Trinity HS in the 1960’s, I would top off many a school day with a visit there. I am sure that many of the Rainbow’s patrons did exactly the same thing.
Going back to the late 50’s does anyone recall a pizza parlor on the NW corner of Graham Ave/Scholes St? It was in a double storefront in the Maujer Street Housing Development. Great place to grab a pie after a movie at the Rainbow. If childhood memory serves, it ranks with the best of DiFara’s.
These are really wonderful pictures. Thanks so much, jtp.
I have seen the inside. The balcony level has been gutted and turned into a small chapel, but the main floor level has not been significantly altered and looks much as it must have in the glory days.
here are working links to two historic photos:
View link
View link
I passed by the old theater yesterday, just as some people were leaving it. They confirmed that, despite still being advertised as such on the front awning and facade, church services are no longer being held here and that the building is actively being marketed. Theatrical and gymnasium endeavors were specifically noted as possible new uses. While the possibility of the former is certainly encourging, the economic realities may very well cause the owner to look elsewhere.
Since the people I met were leaving, I could not get into the theater itself, though they noted that I would be welcome to do so at another time. I was able, however, to see the long and wide lobby, which appeared to be in pretty good shape. If the theater itself is in the same condition, this is still something of value. Stay tuned.
On the 50th Anniversary of the release of Psycho, I recall being spooked out of my wits by a childhood friend while seeing this movie at the packed Rainbow.
I just checked the Building Department’s records and only found a 1937 certificate of occupancy. It approved the construction of a movie theater on this lot. Nothing more appears in the record. Since the establishment of catering hall would have required a new c/of/o, the lack of this documentation clearly demonstrates that no such use ever occurred here.
Having had strong and recent family connections to MHT and the surrounding neighborhood I cannot recall the theatre ever having been converted to a catering hall. The only catering facility nearby was the long closed Charles Mansion on Montrose Ave, across from MHT between Leonard St. & Manhattan Ave. At recent sighting, that too became a church. I agree with John’s assertion that it would have been unmlikely for the current church group to have restored the auditorium if the theatre had indeed become a catering facility.
The Forgotten NY piece that was just attached was, as usual, excellent. Its reference to the Rainbow, however, did contain what I believe was a factual error that originated from a 2004 comment appaering on this page. (My comment on this point was added to the Forgotten NY piece. Thanks, Kevin.)
The point of contention was the assertion that the Rainbow remained open as a theater until 1967 and then served as a catering hall until 1980, when it became a church. As one who, since attending Most Holy Trinity HS, which was situated around the corner, from 1964 through 1968 and has closely followed events in Williamsburg ever since, I certainly do not remember a functioning movie theater existing here until 1967. (I actually think the Rainbow closed near the start of my stint at MHT.) More importantly, I have absolutrly no memory of a catering hall situated here. In fact, I believe the theater became a church very soon after the former’s closing.
Given the extensive alterations that a catering hall conversion would have required, it is hard to believe that the church can now function in a facility that, as noted several timws above, closely resembles the old theater. I would very much doubt that the church possessed – and would want to use – the extensive resources required to restore the theater. Thus, I believe the assertion contained in the 2004 comment, and never confirmed anywhere else in this rather extensive thread, is simply wrong and may have referred to a different theater.
While my memory is far from perfect, I feel pretty confident about this. If anyone can either confirm or contradict my recollections, please chip in.
The Rainbow had a wide screen and in the 50’s & early 60’s drew large crowds for the blockbusters of the period such as Psycho, Helen of Troy, Bye Bye Birdie and all the Cecil B. DeMille epics. Is the site still for sale?
Location – or actually the lack of it – probably did contribute to the early demise of this theater. By the time you reach Montrose Avenue coming from Broadway, you have more than passed the limits of the Graham Ave. shopping district, which, in its hayday, was served by many movie houses. While, as Hector notes, the construction of Williamsburg Houses probably provided an incentive to build here, the project just did not generate sufficient critical mass to sustain such a large theater, especially during the post war era.
Perhaps if the Rainbow had been a more modest affair, with lower operating costs, it might have survived somewhat longer. But it wasn’t and it didn’t.
I first became acquainted with the Rainbow when I attended Most Holy Trinity HS, which was situated around the corner on Montrose Ave., during the mid-1960’s. By that time, it had already begun its second life as a church. I remember seeing a sign calling it the “Love Chapel” on the old awning.
The “frugal” Randforce chain building a new theater in this area just as the effects of the Great Depression are begininning to subside is of interest especially with the Alba, the Commodore and the Republic not too far away. Was it built as a replacement for the Folly? The building of the nearby Maujer St. Houses by the NYC Housing Authority around the same time may have also served as an incentive.
Any word on if this theater is still for sale by the church?
I lived on Scholes st from 1952 at age 2 to 1964.I remember Sat. mornings at the rainbow watching 52 cartoons and 3 shorts of either the 3 stooges or Abbott&Costello.The place was always packed.Across the street was a pizzeria,2 slices and a soda 50 cents.Someone mentioned a furniture store where people would watch Milton Berle playing in the window,may have been Hinden Furniture.My grade school was around the corner on montrose ave.Most Holy Trinity.Thanks for the memories
The Ridgewood Theater is another theater that is in its final crossroads, and is for sale. Now is the time to try and save some of these for sale theaters. Both the Ridgewood and Rainbow are in trouble….and at a deciding crossroads as we speak.
You know we are all on here saying that the building or the interior or both should be landmarked, but why don’t we make an attempt to Landmark it? The city’s landmark commission is a very strong group and they do investigate everything, especially in former economically and economically depressed areas.
I actually tried to apply for the Commodore, but it only had the “firm” and not the architect. Here we have the architect. I would be worth getting a group together to save the place with its amazing interiors.
www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml
“There are many theatres listed for that section of Brooklyn. A few examples would be; Marcy theatre; Commodore theatre; Republic theatre and Nassau theatre.”
Its hard to think of this list the same section of Brooklyn as the Rainbow.
The closest other theatres were the Graham at Graham Ave and Grand Street and the Grand on Grand Street.
The Republic was at the outer limits of “walking distance” from the Rainbow.
The other theatres were generally thought of as parts of another neighborhood.
As I can recall by the 1950’s there were no longer color lights above the marquee.
Nice picture, Warren. When I went to the Rainbow Theater in the 1950’s I don’t recall that they used the changing color light effects anymore. I imagine it would have been a glorious sight.
Joe B.
I visited the Rainbow Theater on 2/9/08. The inside is still in good condition, Its magnificent. I was told that a Mr. Garcia owns it. He is trying to sell it for $10M. Some developer will move in; purchase the surrounding buildings and construct apartments. There should be some type of historical landmark zoning which will prevent this.
Joe Di
This morning while watching “Westward the Women” on Turner Classic Movies I was reminded of the Rainbow Theater.
I originally saw the movie there and I recall that the projectionist began the film in the middle of the picture, which was annoying to say the least. And there was nothing we could do about it.
Happy Holidays to all,
Joe B.