Moving Picture World (an early trade publication) reviewed the Comet in September, 1910. The screen was bright but there was enough diffused light to read by. The place was crowded with men, women, and children. An usher walked the aisles spraying the place with a sweet-smelling liquid. The films however were “junk”. A Vitagraph and a Selig (early film studios) missing opening titles (there were trademarks on the sets)and at least a year old.
The New York Times photo has been published several times with the address given as 3rd Avenue, Manhattan or 3rd Avenue & 12th Street. That would make it this theatre. If that is correct the Lyric exterior could have been part of the 1923 rebuilding.
There were two Comet Theatres in the Bronx and one in Manhattan listed in the 1914-15 Directory. The addresses for the two Bronx theatres:1013 Boston Rd. and 2355 Westchester Ave.
The Bushwick was built first. The Madison opened in September 1914. After looking at the address and reading your responses, I realized the problem. This appears to be an early typo from whatever publication I got the original information from. It must have been 1410-1412. The newspaper ads only say Broadway and Madison. Don’t have a seating capacity. In my posting, I was just trying to present some information on this movie house. The theatre fits quite snugly in the triangle shown your above photo. If there was anyway I could get the newspaper photo to you, I would do so. You seemed to be annoyed or was the SRO a joke? Once again my apologies if I caused any offence.
Lostmemory & Bway;
Sorry for the delay in responding but suddenly I found myself swamped with work and various projects. Will now explain the Madison.
Operated by B. F. Keiths,The Bushwick was a top vaudeville house in 1910s. There is a large ad in The Weekly Chat for September 26, 1914 listing “the only theatres in Brooklyn owned and operated by the B.F. Keith Co.”. At the very bottom corner is the Madison, Broadway & Madison, “magnificent theatre devoted to photoplays, the best in films and high grade features.” Basically Keith’s had just opened a small movie house in back of their Bushwick. Still not convinced? Still unsure?
Check The Weekly Chat for March 13th, 1915. Not only is there an article on the Madison but a photo as well. The most impressive thing about this two story theatre is the electric signage on front. The Bushwick can be seen looming in the background. The article gives the location of the Madison as “Broadway and Madison Street, adjoining the Bushwick.”
In addition;“ The beautiful little house is devoted to the highest class photoplays and the marvelous clearness and softness of the pictures shown proves the value and success of the gold fibre screen used in this house.”
B.F. Keith’s seems to have sold this theatre by the end of 1915. It still advertises but not as a B.F. Keith’s house. In the summer of 1916 it was given a complete renovation. The Madison is listed as closed in 1924
lostmemory…Three items
1) It really isn’t that odd to find two or more theatres that close to each other. Check out Fulton and Rockwell Place where there were four. Or the Madison at 1410-22 Broadway, Brooklyn.
2) The Brooklyn Eagle predicted a vaudeville war—with audiences to benefit—when the New Brighton Theatre opened June 1909 in competition with the established Brighton Beach Music Hall (op. 1892-dem. 1924). In the mid-30s, the “New” was dropped from its name and as the Brighton Theatre can be found on Cinema Treasures.It is a bit mis-leading when refering to it as “the second Brighton theater.” Bascially there was the New Brighton Theatre at 3101 Ocean Pkwy and the Brighton Beach Music Hall at 3105 Ocean Pkwy.
3)I believe you asked about the Luna at 211-213 Columbia Street, Brooklyn. It opened in 1914 as the Auditore Maurice Theatre. At some point, in the 1910s, became the Luna and closed in 1952. Seating capacity 559.
An oops. After checking Google and my road atlas, I realize that the other Heights Theatre (mentioned above 1925) was in Manhattan not the Bronx. 150 Wadsworth, seating 600. It is listed in the 1914 Directory (didn’t check earlier yet) and also the 1947 FDYB.
Yes we are talking Washington Street and not Avenue. Both the Heights (159 Washington Street seating 885) and the Washington (153 Washington Street seating 400) are listed in the 1927 and 1929 FDYBs.
LostMemory: Are you talking about the 1925 list on the Silent Era webpage. I have been meaning to address several issues with that list and also the 1926 FDYB but have not done so (time). However I noticed a Heights Theatre listed but no address. There was a Heights Theatre in the Bronx that would have been opened in 1925.
Opening date is usually given as 1927 but it may have opened in 26. The FDYB for 1927, 1929, and 1931 give the address as 178 Sands. The 1947 FDYB gives 176 Sands Street. It closed in 1953 and was demolished.
This theatre was at 159 Washington Street, opening in 1927 with a seating capacity of 885. In the 1940s it became the Teatro Heights showing Spanish films. It is listed as closed in the 1947 FDYB. At 153 Washington was the Washington Theatre (sc. 400). It opened circa 1919 and closed in 1929.
Since I’ve been dragged into this by a phone call from Ken this morning (from London no less). In 1929, there is an announcement for a newsreel theatre at 413 Flatbush. Was this a misprint and did they mean Flatbush Extension. Don’t know. The place never opened and/or was never built for whatever reason. Not enough details.
As concerns a “Moving Picture Show” next to the Crescent. The problem could be that you are looking for a building. This was the site of “Flatbush Park”, an airdome (outdoor movie theatre) during the early 1910s.
Now for the Montauk. It opened on September 1, 1895 with the “Il Trovatore”. It becomes one of Brooklyn’s top playhouses with many great names treading its boards.
When the new Flatbush Extension was announced (and the Montauk stood squarely in the path), the owners built the New Montauk at Livingston. The old theatre became the Imperial presenting burlesque for two seasons.
In August 1907, the theatre minus its Fulton Street lobby was moved back to the Extension. Sporting a new address and a new facade it becomes the Crescent under Percy Williams. Opens as a stock theatre on September 5, 1908 with David Belasco’s “Rose of the Rancho”. In 1912, Williams sells to Keith’s.
After major alterations in 1915, it becomes the Triangle featuring films produced by that company. (Another Triangle theatre can be found on 4th Street and 5th Avenue in Park Slope.)
After two years it reverted back to plays and once again became the Crescent. The Shuberts took over in December 1919. The old theatre proved unsuccessful. In 1923 plans were announced to convert it into a Public market. Enter Lous Werba and it becomes Werba’s Brooklyn Theatre. He presents farces, comedies and musicals (all described as second class). The days as Brooklyn’s dramatic temple are over. In the early 30s it becomes Billy Minsky Brooklyn Burlesque theatre. After Minsky’s license was revoked at the end of the decade, a few film shows kept the old theatre open briefly. The building was reportedly razed in January 1940.
Okay?
Opened as Lyceum in 1915. Aka Broadway Lyceum. It became the Broadway Park theatre around 1930 and finally the Rodgers a few years later. Reportedly closed in 66. Note the address sometimes is given as 535-537. In one edition of the FDYB, the Lyceum is at 535 and in another at 537. The photo I have was taken just after it closed. From the angle at street level one can’t see the top because of the el. Anyway it seems very worn out and appears to have been a converted store front building.
No problem locating these theatres. However these is a problem with the exact address of the Progress on Graham. The original listing is under the owner’s name (an all too common practice of the period): Samuel Goodman 1912-1914. It becomes the Variey Theatre in 1914 and at the end of the decade the Progress. In the early 1930s it is renamed the Lindy and closed circa 1954. Now the problem with the exact address. The address for this theatre is usually given as 118 Graham. However Samual Goodman is sometimes given as 116 Graham. While in the early FDYBs, the address is given variously as 110 Graham or 118 Graham. Finally after 1931 (don’t have FDYB for 30) the address remains 118 Graham. Did Goodman or the Variety move next door from 116 to 118? Somehow I doubt that.The seating capacity is a consistent 600.
The Etude is a bit easier. With a seating capacity of 453 the theatre was at 54-06 3rd Avenue. Listed in Trows (1912) once again under owner’s name— Elias Bernstein at 54-08. Finally listes as the Etude circa 1915 and in the mid-30s becomes the Alben. Closing around 1962. I think Bernstein’s is the Etude.
This theatre is listed twice in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 Under “Moving Picture Exhibitions”, it is not listed by name but under the owner Maria Graf. In the listings for “Theatres & Places of Amusement”, it appears as the Glenwood. I can find no record after 1915 when it may have been known as “The Tuxedo”. Another Glenwood Theatre opened in 1923 (or perhaps 22) at 1475 Flatbush.
As I explained under the Ridgewood Theatre listing:
“There were five theatres in Brooklyn—at various times—operating under the name Montauk (one was legit). In addition to these, there was the Montauk Arcade at 2540 Pitkin. A theatre belonging to William Fulmer is listed at this address in 1912-1913. The name of the theatre is not given. By 1914, it is finally listed as the Montauk Arcade (sc. 500). It is listed in the 1926-29 FDYBs (don’t have 1930), sometimes just as the Montauk. Closed shortly after that."
This theatre was probably always the Montauk Arcade with the FDYB leaving out a part of its name.
As concerns the five Montauks. I have already provided information for the one on Bath Avenue—Montauk aka Deluxe. I haven’t had time to check for the others on this site. Not listed as Montauk but could appear under "Comments”.Almost forgot, there was also the New Montauk Theatre.
Lostmemory;
There were five theatres in Brooklyn—at various times—operating under the name Montauk (one was legit). In addition to these, there was the Montauk Arcade at 2540 Pitkin. A theatre belonging to William Fulmer is listed at this address in 1912-1913. The name of the theatre is not given. By 1914, it is finally listed as the Montauk Arcade (sc. 500). It is listed in the 1926-29 FDYBs (don’t have 1930), sometimes just as the Montauk. Closed shortly after that.
There is a Westchester Hippodrome listed at 1423 Williamsbridge Road in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”
With a seating capacity of 600, The Select Theatre was at 1671 Pitkin. It opened as the Chester circa 1913/1914. It became the Select about 10 years later. It appears under that name in the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook. The theatre seems to have closed a few years after that (not listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook).
With 300 seats, the other Select was at 1425 Williamsbridge Road. At least it is listed at that address in the 1926 FDYB. Not listed in 27.
The Antoinette Theatre opened in Sept. 1914 at this address with a capacity listed at 565. Various sources state that the Glenwood, on Flatbush, closed in 1939. It is listed as such in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook. Another Glenwood Theatre at 1520 Flatbush is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-15. As for the Glenwood on Myrtle, it opened September 23rd,1921.
The Concord Theatre is listed in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15” (Fulton & Richmond is the address given). The Film Daily Yearbook (1926 & 1927) gives the address as 3208 Fulton Street. Both editions place seating capacity at 600. The Embassy is listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook (address given is Fulton and Richmond).
Just wanted to point out that there was an Adelphi Theatre at this address. It is listed in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”. The 1926 Film Daily Yearbook lists seating as 600 but gives the address as 3335 Fulton (this edition contains various errors for Brooklyn theatres).The 1927 edition gets the address right but misspells the name—Arelphi. The theatre is not listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook.
There is a Madison Theatre listed at the “cor. Madison and 102nd Street” in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”. It is not in Trow’s for 1911. Don’t have 1912 Trow’s Manhattan listings on hand.
Moving Picture World (an early trade publication) reviewed the Comet in September, 1910. The screen was bright but there was enough diffused light to read by. The place was crowded with men, women, and children. An usher walked the aisles spraying the place with a sweet-smelling liquid. The films however were “junk”. A Vitagraph and a Selig (early film studios) missing opening titles (there were trademarks on the sets)and at least a year old.
The New York Times photo has been published several times with the address given as 3rd Avenue, Manhattan or 3rd Avenue & 12th Street. That would make it this theatre. If that is correct the Lyric exterior could have been part of the 1923 rebuilding.
There were two Comet Theatres in the Bronx and one in Manhattan listed in the 1914-15 Directory. The addresses for the two Bronx theatres:1013 Boston Rd. and 2355 Westchester Ave.
The Bushwick was built first. The Madison opened in September 1914. After looking at the address and reading your responses, I realized the problem. This appears to be an early typo from whatever publication I got the original information from. It must have been 1410-1412. The newspaper ads only say Broadway and Madison. Don’t have a seating capacity. In my posting, I was just trying to present some information on this movie house. The theatre fits quite snugly in the triangle shown your above photo. If there was anyway I could get the newspaper photo to you, I would do so. You seemed to be annoyed or was the SRO a joke? Once again my apologies if I caused any offence.
Lostmemory & Bway;
Sorry for the delay in responding but suddenly I found myself swamped with work and various projects. Will now explain the Madison.
Operated by B. F. Keiths,The Bushwick was a top vaudeville house in 1910s. There is a large ad in The Weekly Chat for September 26, 1914 listing “the only theatres in Brooklyn owned and operated by the B.F. Keith Co.”. At the very bottom corner is the Madison, Broadway & Madison, “magnificent theatre devoted to photoplays, the best in films and high grade features.” Basically Keith’s had just opened a small movie house in back of their Bushwick. Still not convinced? Still unsure?
Check The Weekly Chat for March 13th, 1915. Not only is there an article on the Madison but a photo as well. The most impressive thing about this two story theatre is the electric signage on front. The Bushwick can be seen looming in the background. The article gives the location of the Madison as “Broadway and Madison Street, adjoining the Bushwick.”
In addition;“ The beautiful little house is devoted to the highest class photoplays and the marvelous clearness and softness of the pictures shown proves the value and success of the gold fibre screen used in this house.”
B.F. Keith’s seems to have sold this theatre by the end of 1915. It still advertises but not as a B.F. Keith’s house. In the summer of 1916 it was given a complete renovation. The Madison is listed as closed in 1924
It is listed in the the 1957 FDYB
lostmemory…Three items
1) It really isn’t that odd to find two or more theatres that close to each other. Check out Fulton and Rockwell Place where there were four. Or the Madison at 1410-22 Broadway, Brooklyn.
2) The Brooklyn Eagle predicted a vaudeville war—with audiences to benefit—when the New Brighton Theatre opened June 1909 in competition with the established Brighton Beach Music Hall (op. 1892-dem. 1924). In the mid-30s, the “New” was dropped from its name and as the Brighton Theatre can be found on Cinema Treasures.It is a bit mis-leading when refering to it as “the second Brighton theater.” Bascially there was the New Brighton Theatre at 3101 Ocean Pkwy and the Brighton Beach Music Hall at 3105 Ocean Pkwy.
3)I believe you asked about the Luna at 211-213 Columbia Street, Brooklyn. It opened in 1914 as the Auditore Maurice Theatre. At some point, in the 1910s, became the Luna and closed in 1952. Seating capacity 559.
An oops. After checking Google and my road atlas, I realize that the other Heights Theatre (mentioned above 1925) was in Manhattan not the Bronx. 150 Wadsworth, seating 600. It is listed in the 1914 Directory (didn’t check earlier yet) and also the 1947 FDYB.
Yes we are talking Washington Street and not Avenue. Both the Heights (159 Washington Street seating 885) and the Washington (153 Washington Street seating 400) are listed in the 1927 and 1929 FDYBs.
LostMemory: Are you talking about the 1925 list on the Silent Era webpage. I have been meaning to address several issues with that list and also the 1926 FDYB but have not done so (time). However I noticed a Heights Theatre listed but no address. There was a Heights Theatre in the Bronx that would have been opened in 1925.
Opening date is usually given as 1927 but it may have opened in 26. The FDYB for 1927, 1929, and 1931 give the address as 178 Sands. The 1947 FDYB gives 176 Sands Street. It closed in 1953 and was demolished.
This theatre was at 159 Washington Street, opening in 1927 with a seating capacity of 885. In the 1940s it became the Teatro Heights showing Spanish films. It is listed as closed in the 1947 FDYB. At 153 Washington was the Washington Theatre (sc. 400). It opened circa 1919 and closed in 1929.
Since I’ve been dragged into this by a phone call from Ken this morning (from London no less). In 1929, there is an announcement for a newsreel theatre at 413 Flatbush. Was this a misprint and did they mean Flatbush Extension. Don’t know. The place never opened and/or was never built for whatever reason. Not enough details.
As concerns a “Moving Picture Show” next to the Crescent. The problem could be that you are looking for a building. This was the site of “Flatbush Park”, an airdome (outdoor movie theatre) during the early 1910s.
Now for the Montauk. It opened on September 1, 1895 with the “Il Trovatore”. It becomes one of Brooklyn’s top playhouses with many great names treading its boards.
When the new Flatbush Extension was announced (and the Montauk stood squarely in the path), the owners built the New Montauk at Livingston. The old theatre became the Imperial presenting burlesque for two seasons.
In August 1907, the theatre minus its Fulton Street lobby was moved back to the Extension. Sporting a new address and a new facade it becomes the Crescent under Percy Williams. Opens as a stock theatre on September 5, 1908 with David Belasco’s “Rose of the Rancho”. In 1912, Williams sells to Keith’s.
After major alterations in 1915, it becomes the Triangle featuring films produced by that company. (Another Triangle theatre can be found on 4th Street and 5th Avenue in Park Slope.)
After two years it reverted back to plays and once again became the Crescent. The Shuberts took over in December 1919. The old theatre proved unsuccessful. In 1923 plans were announced to convert it into a Public market. Enter Lous Werba and it becomes Werba’s Brooklyn Theatre. He presents farces, comedies and musicals (all described as second class). The days as Brooklyn’s dramatic temple are over. In the early 30s it becomes Billy Minsky Brooklyn Burlesque theatre. After Minsky’s license was revoked at the end of the decade, a few film shows kept the old theatre open briefly. The building was reportedly razed in January 1940.
Okay?
Sorry my error it should have been 835-837.
Opened as Lyceum in 1915. Aka Broadway Lyceum. It became the Broadway Park theatre around 1930 and finally the Rodgers a few years later. Reportedly closed in 66. Note the address sometimes is given as 535-537. In one edition of the FDYB, the Lyceum is at 535 and in another at 537. The photo I have was taken just after it closed. From the angle at street level one can’t see the top because of the el. Anyway it seems very worn out and appears to have been a converted store front building.
Sorry about that, the Etude, 5406 3rd Avenue is in Brooklyn.
The Theatre is listed as the Tuxedo in the Motion Picture Directory 14-15. It closed shortly after that.
No problem locating these theatres. However these is a problem with the exact address of the Progress on Graham. The original listing is under the owner’s name (an all too common practice of the period): Samuel Goodman 1912-1914. It becomes the Variey Theatre in 1914 and at the end of the decade the Progress. In the early 1930s it is renamed the Lindy and closed circa 1954. Now the problem with the exact address. The address for this theatre is usually given as 118 Graham. However Samual Goodman is sometimes given as 116 Graham. While in the early FDYBs, the address is given variously as 110 Graham or 118 Graham. Finally after 1931 (don’t have FDYB for 30) the address remains 118 Graham. Did Goodman or the Variety move next door from 116 to 118? Somehow I doubt that.The seating capacity is a consistent 600.
The Etude is a bit easier. With a seating capacity of 453 the theatre was at 54-06 3rd Avenue. Listed in Trows (1912) once again under owner’s name— Elias Bernstein at 54-08. Finally listes as the Etude circa 1915 and in the mid-30s becomes the Alben. Closing around 1962. I think Bernstein’s is the Etude.
This theatre is listed twice in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 Under “Moving Picture Exhibitions”, it is not listed by name but under the owner Maria Graf. In the listings for “Theatres & Places of Amusement”, it appears as the Glenwood. I can find no record after 1915 when it may have been known as “The Tuxedo”. Another Glenwood Theatre opened in 1923 (or perhaps 22) at 1475 Flatbush.
As I explained under the Ridgewood Theatre listing:
“There were five theatres in Brooklyn—at various times—operating under the name Montauk (one was legit). In addition to these, there was the Montauk Arcade at 2540 Pitkin. A theatre belonging to William Fulmer is listed at this address in 1912-1913. The name of the theatre is not given. By 1914, it is finally listed as the Montauk Arcade (sc. 500). It is listed in the 1926-29 FDYBs (don’t have 1930), sometimes just as the Montauk. Closed shortly after that."
This theatre was probably always the Montauk Arcade with the FDYB leaving out a part of its name.
As concerns the five Montauks. I have already provided information for the one on Bath Avenue—Montauk aka Deluxe. I haven’t had time to check for the others on this site. Not listed as Montauk but could appear under "Comments”.Almost forgot, there was also the New Montauk Theatre.
Lostmemory;
There were five theatres in Brooklyn—at various times—operating under the name Montauk (one was legit). In addition to these, there was the Montauk Arcade at 2540 Pitkin. A theatre belonging to William Fulmer is listed at this address in 1912-1913. The name of the theatre is not given. By 1914, it is finally listed as the Montauk Arcade (sc. 500). It is listed in the 1926-29 FDYBs (don’t have 1930), sometimes just as the Montauk. Closed shortly after that.
There is a Westchester Hippodrome listed at 1423 Williamsbridge Road in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”
With a seating capacity of 600, The Select Theatre was at 1671 Pitkin. It opened as the Chester circa 1913/1914. It became the Select about 10 years later. It appears under that name in the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook. The theatre seems to have closed a few years after that (not listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook).
With 300 seats, the other Select was at 1425 Williamsbridge Road. At least it is listed at that address in the 1926 FDYB. Not listed in 27.
The Antoinette Theatre opened in Sept. 1914 at this address with a capacity listed at 565. Various sources state that the Glenwood, on Flatbush, closed in 1939. It is listed as such in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook. Another Glenwood Theatre at 1520 Flatbush is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-15. As for the Glenwood on Myrtle, it opened September 23rd,1921.
The Concord Theatre is listed in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15” (Fulton & Richmond is the address given). The Film Daily Yearbook (1926 & 1927) gives the address as 3208 Fulton Street. Both editions place seating capacity at 600. The Embassy is listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook (address given is Fulton and Richmond).
Just wanted to point out that there was an Adelphi Theatre at this address. It is listed in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”. The 1926 Film Daily Yearbook lists seating as 600 but gives the address as 3335 Fulton (this edition contains various errors for Brooklyn theatres).The 1927 edition gets the address right but misspells the name—Arelphi. The theatre is not listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook.
There is a Madison Theatre listed at the “cor. Madison and 102nd Street” in “The American Motion Picture Directory : a Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15”. It is not in Trow’s for 1911. Don’t have 1912 Trow’s Manhattan listings on hand.