How many of you remember McGuinesses restaurant on Suphtin Blvd on the corner of the Hillside? Seafood and steaks with Chinesse cooks. I lived at the Grove apartments on the next block going east right behind the Hillside. Many times we would go to the kitchen of McGuinesses and get rolls to take into the theater. No popcorn…just rolls. Something comforting about that.
It was a great old theater. It had boxes and one sloping balcony. I couldn’t sit up there…had to sit in the childrens section with the matron in all white or all black with a whit apron.. When I was older I worked as an usher at the Valencia and then worked myself to the Astor. Victoria and Paramount theaters in Times Square during my High School years. Great period of time…a period of innocence. Life seemed magical!
I used to go to all the theaters on Jamaica Avenue. The Palace theater in NYC had Vaudeville plus a movie until the early 60’s. Some of the theaters like the Alden, Merrick and the Jamaica would do the same in a much less frequent manner Here’s is some info on the Jamaica theater.
Jamaica Theater
Jamaica, Queens, NY
155-16 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, Queens, NY, United States(map)
Unknown
Status: Closed/Demolished
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Beaux-Arts
Function: Unknown
Seats: 1750
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Thomas W. Lamb
Firm: Unknown
Large vaudeville house that stood on Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens between the Merrick and Savoy Theaters. Recall that they played primarily movies with occasional vaudeville shows in the late 40’s. During the early 1950’s, the theater was part of the “Subway Circuit” of touring Broadway shows during the summer months.
Fondly recall seeing “Kiss Me Kate”, “Stalag 17”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “The Fourposter” and the late Joey Faye in “Top Banana”. As I recall, other theaters on the circuit were the Brighton in Brooklyn and the Windsor in the Bronx.
The theater was closed in the early to mid 60’s and was used as a bingo hall for a while, and later demolished.
Contributed by Erwin Markisch
There were several theaters in Jamacia. Loew’s Valencia, RKO Alden, Jamacia Theater, Merrick Theater and the Savoy as well as the Hillside. All were on Jamacia Avenue except the Hillside.
In 1946 the Hillside had Joe Palooka and Wimpy on stage. Also the Jamacia theater had vaudeville acts during the same period. I saw a stage show at the Loew’s Gates when I moved there in 1948. If I remember correctly it was during the re-distribution of “The Lost Weekend” with Ray Milland. I just turned 10 and my older brother would always take my twin and I to shows at the Gates. We would also go to the Broadway Arena to see Antonio Rocca, The French Angel and the Dussek Brothers wrestle. Still remember the smell of that place. The wrestlers bodies would turn a deep pink when hit. We always saw wrestling on a black and white tv screen. Something as simple as that!
I moved to Cooper Street, Brooklyn in 1948 and remember well the “Cooled by Refrigeration”. All the movie houses had that great gush of cool air when you entered. The two theaters that stands out in my memory with the biggest blast were the Loew’s Valencia and the Hillside. Things like that are not appreciated anymore! Too much taking things for granted! Please don’t take me for an ol' grouch. That I am definitely not! Just fond memories.
I lived at 40 Cooper Street from 1948 to July 1956. The Colonial was a great theater during that period. The managers and matrons were stern at times but always friendly and helpful when there were problems. Being age ten was that age were things, unpredictable things happen. Many times after coming home from JHS 73 I would head for the movies. My bottle return place was Einhorn’s market and Smith’s candy store on Cooper and Bushwick. Many fond memories evolve around those theaters…even the Decatur. Remember the Wilson Ave. Trolley, Krugs trucks?
I lived at 40 Cooper Street from 1948 to July 1956. The Colonial was a great theater during that period. The managers and matrons were stern at times but always friendly and helpful when there were problems. Being age ten was that age were things, unpredictable things happen. Many times after coming home from JHS 73 I would head for the movies. My bottle return place was Einhorn’s market and Smith’s candy store on Cooper and Bushwick. Many fond memories evolve around those theaters…even the Decatur. Remember the Wilson Ave. Trolley, Krugs trucks?
I don’t remember that at Gertz’s Department store. I do remember how they would have the best Santa Claus at Christmas time. Down the street it always seemed that Montgomery Ward would always be in competition with Gertz. I left there in 1948 and revisited Jamacia frequesntly when I lived in Brooklyn. The Jamacia and Merrick theaters were near by and would usually take a trip into Montgomery Ward and go to there camping area. Dreams!
Can someone help me with photobucket? Every time I copy I can’t get in. If someone can give me a step by step procedure would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
My brothers responded. Yes! It was on Sutphin Blvd several door down from the Hillside. We left there in 1948. It was going strong then. I’ve tried to get old photos of Sutphin Blvd but to no avail. Sorry! Those were fun times.
It was spelled McGuinesses. I sent an email to my brothers to verify if I am hallucinating or that it really existed. I am sure it was on the corner of the Hillside theater going toward the Court House. They had orientals working in the kitchen and we would play hide and seek behind the restaurant in the summer. People from the big Court House would come in for lunch. Saturdays and Sundays were big days there. I’ll wait to hear from my brothers.
It was on Sutphin near the Hillside. I lived there until 1948 and then moved to Brooklyn. They served seafood and steaks. It was a pretty nice place from the eyes of a nine year old.
You are all right…I sit corrected! Hillside Ave. ran parallel to Jamacia Avenue and the Court House was on Supthin. I also remember McGinnis’s restaurant on Supthin next to or near a chinese restaurant. Another memory Gertz’s Department store. Montgomery Wards. The old coffee shop on the west side of Supthin going toward the LIRR station. Sheffield' dairy. Krugs bakery. All surrounding the Hillside theater. Mary Immaculate Hospital. Many memories!
Here I am again! After making comments about the Valencia, Colonial, Astor and Victoria theaters I sincerely forgot about the Hillside. Before moving to Brooklyn we lived in the Grove Apartments on the next block behind the Hillside. It was always a treat to go to the Valencia, but seeing that the Hillside was so close we patronized the Hillside most of the time. Also frequented the old Savoy. I remember the stage shows that would come by every now and then. The first movie I ever saw in vivid technicolor was “Anchors Aweigh” with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. That was a real treat for young eyes. The Hillside was a nice theater!
Seeing that we lived just behind the Hillside we would always use the tall fire escapes as a play ground until we were chased. Fun times! A great deal of innocence and simple fun. The big County Court House was just down the road on Hillside Avenue. That lawn was used also as a play area. Funny stories about what transpired there. Great times! I think I’m getting addicted to this website.
Joe G.
I grew up on Cooper Street from 1948 to 1956, eight years of an education that you could never learn in school. My children laugh when I tell them some of the stories, good and bad, that my brother and I endured. I remember how long it took to get to Boy’s High School…taking 2 trains, walking 8 blocks and getting there by 7:40 for the first bell. The walk we had to JHS 73 and sometimes coming home for lunch or eating at the sandwich shop adjacent to JHS 73. The Wilson Avenue trolley going to Canarsie which ran every 20 minutes. Some of the guys would jump on the back for a joy ride or detach the circuit pole. Playing stoop ball…Ring-a-leaveio, Johnny on a pony…making linoleum guns out of the corner of fruit crates.
Roller-skating all over the place with our Chicago’s. Bike riding through the whole neighbor hood…going a far a Forest Park. Playing in the used cars that were sold on the corner of Cooper and Bushwick. Having my first job at Einhorn’s on Broadway as a carriage boy then promoted to the Dairy Department. Going crabbing on the Canarsie pier. Taking the Wilson Avenue trolley straight there. Crab cages and all. `Fun times!
Pete and Joe,
You guys are really brining back the memories. Pickles! We used to buy those sour pickles instead of candy when we went to the Colonial. I’m trying to remember the Cooper Street gang…Charlie Bolton, Frankie Spataro, Bobby “Fatso” Green, the D'Angelo brothers, Dom Andretto. I seem to not remember the other names. We were mostly Irish/Italian in those days. Old Smith’s candy store. The Wilson Avenue trolley! The name Jerry rings a bell, but don’t recall the last name. How about the Chinese restaurant that opened on Broadway. The Chinese laundry on Chauncey Street with the big German Shepard.. The “Jolly Boys!” Peg pants with saddle stitching and pistol pockets (1950-52 period). Bohacks on Broadway. There was a restaurant on Broadway and Halsey. Can’t remember the name. The coffee shop on Broadway and Rockaway. Highland Park. “Mrs. Beanbelly” with her fictitious BB gun lived near the hill where the Carnarsie line would go into the tunnel. Indiam Bridge, The Granite Street gang. Was a victim of their actions about three times. Bruises and all. Good times! Hurray for ther Colonial!
I just read most of the comments and realized that you were from the same neighborhood. I live on Cooper Street from 1948 to 1956. Went to PS 113, JHS 73 and then to Boy’s High. I forget the Precinct number but remember being a part of the PAL boxing. My second home during the summer were the Cypress swimming pool and all the movies…Colonial, Decatur, Monroe, RKO Bushwick and the Loew’s Gates. Sometimes to the Loew’s Valencia, Merrick, Savoy and the RKO Alden in Jamacia. We sure made the best with very little. Good times! Tough times!
How many of you remember McGuinesses restaurant on Suphtin Blvd on the corner of the Hillside? Seafood and steaks with Chinesse cooks. I lived at the Grove apartments on the next block going east right behind the Hillside. Many times we would go to the kitchen of McGuinesses and get rolls to take into the theater. No popcorn…just rolls. Something comforting about that.
It was a great old theater. It had boxes and one sloping balcony. I couldn’t sit up there…had to sit in the childrens section with the matron in all white or all black with a whit apron.. When I was older I worked as an usher at the Valencia and then worked myself to the Astor. Victoria and Paramount theaters in Times Square during my High School years. Great period of time…a period of innocence. Life seemed magical!
I used to go to all the theaters on Jamaica Avenue. The Palace theater in NYC had Vaudeville plus a movie until the early 60’s. Some of the theaters like the Alden, Merrick and the Jamaica would do the same in a much less frequent manner Here’s is some info on the Jamaica theater.
Jamaica Theater
Jamaica, Queens, NY
155-16 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, Queens, NY, United States(map)
Unknown
Status: Closed/Demolished
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Beaux-Arts
Function: Unknown
Seats: 1750
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Thomas W. Lamb
Firm: Unknown
Large vaudeville house that stood on Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens between the Merrick and Savoy Theaters. Recall that they played primarily movies with occasional vaudeville shows in the late 40’s. During the early 1950’s, the theater was part of the “Subway Circuit” of touring Broadway shows during the summer months.
Fondly recall seeing “Kiss Me Kate”, “Stalag 17”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “The Fourposter” and the late Joey Faye in “Top Banana”. As I recall, other theaters on the circuit were the Brighton in Brooklyn and the Windsor in the Bronx.
The theater was closed in the early to mid 60’s and was used as a bingo hall for a while, and later demolished.
Contributed by Erwin Markisch
There were several theaters in Jamacia. Loew’s Valencia, RKO Alden, Jamacia Theater, Merrick Theater and the Savoy as well as the Hillside. All were on Jamacia Avenue except the Hillside.
In 1946 the Hillside had Joe Palooka and Wimpy on stage. Also the Jamacia theater had vaudeville acts during the same period. I saw a stage show at the Loew’s Gates when I moved there in 1948. If I remember correctly it was during the re-distribution of “The Lost Weekend” with Ray Milland. I just turned 10 and my older brother would always take my twin and I to shows at the Gates. We would also go to the Broadway Arena to see Antonio Rocca, The French Angel and the Dussek Brothers wrestle. Still remember the smell of that place. The wrestlers bodies would turn a deep pink when hit. We always saw wrestling on a black and white tv screen. Something as simple as that!
Does anyone remember “Smell-a-Vision”? The old “3D” movies i.e. “House of Wax”, “Scaramouche”, “They Came From Outer Space”…etc. What a treat!
I moved to Cooper Street, Brooklyn in 1948 and remember well the “Cooled by Refrigeration”. All the movie houses had that great gush of cool air when you entered. The two theaters that stands out in my memory with the biggest blast were the Loew’s Valencia and the Hillside. Things like that are not appreciated anymore! Too much taking things for granted! Please don’t take me for an ol' grouch. That I am definitely not! Just fond memories.
Krugs were the battery run bakery trucks that covered that part of Brooklyn and Queens. The Cypress Hills Swimming pool.
I lived at 40 Cooper Street from 1948 to July 1956. The Colonial was a great theater during that period. The managers and matrons were stern at times but always friendly and helpful when there were problems. Being age ten was that age were things, unpredictable things happen. Many times after coming home from JHS 73 I would head for the movies. My bottle return place was Einhorn’s market and Smith’s candy store on Cooper and Bushwick. Many fond memories evolve around those theaters…even the Decatur. Remember the Wilson Ave. Trolley, Krugs trucks?
I lived at 40 Cooper Street from 1948 to July 1956. The Colonial was a great theater during that period. The managers and matrons were stern at times but always friendly and helpful when there were problems. Being age ten was that age were things, unpredictable things happen. Many times after coming home from JHS 73 I would head for the movies. My bottle return place was Einhorn’s market and Smith’s candy store on Cooper and Bushwick. Many fond memories evolve around those theaters…even the Decatur. Remember the Wilson Ave. Trolley, Krugs trucks?
I tried to look up the Jamacia Theater and it doesn’t come up. Anyone know why?
I don’t remember that at Gertz’s Department store. I do remember how they would have the best Santa Claus at Christmas time. Down the street it always seemed that Montgomery Ward would always be in competition with Gertz. I left there in 1948 and revisited Jamacia frequesntly when I lived in Brooklyn. The Jamacia and Merrick theaters were near by and would usually take a trip into Montgomery Ward and go to there camping area. Dreams!
Can someone help me with photobucket? Every time I copy I can’t get in. If someone can give me a step by step procedure would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I just remembered the restaurant near the RKO Bushwick. It was called “Wimpy’s” with a big cartoon of Popeye’s Wimpy.
My brothers responded. Yes! It was on Sutphin Blvd several door down from the Hillside. We left there in 1948. It was going strong then. I’ve tried to get old photos of Sutphin Blvd but to no avail. Sorry! Those were fun times.
Roy
It was spelled McGuinesses. I sent an email to my brothers to verify if I am hallucinating or that it really existed. I am sure it was on the corner of the Hillside theater going toward the Court House. They had orientals working in the kitchen and we would play hide and seek behind the restaurant in the summer. People from the big Court House would come in for lunch. Saturdays and Sundays were big days there. I’ll wait to hear from my brothers.
Roy
It was on Sutphin near the Hillside. I lived there until 1948 and then moved to Brooklyn. They served seafood and steaks. It was a pretty nice place from the eyes of a nine year old.
Warren, do you remember McGinnis' restaurant?
What ever happened to McGinnis' restaurant?
You are all right…I sit corrected! Hillside Ave. ran parallel to Jamacia Avenue and the Court House was on Supthin. I also remember McGinnis’s restaurant on Supthin next to or near a chinese restaurant. Another memory Gertz’s Department store. Montgomery Wards. The old coffee shop on the west side of Supthin going toward the LIRR station. Sheffield' dairy. Krugs bakery. All surrounding the Hillside theater. Mary Immaculate Hospital. Many memories!
Warren,
Here I am again! After making comments about the Valencia, Colonial, Astor and Victoria theaters I sincerely forgot about the Hillside. Before moving to Brooklyn we lived in the Grove Apartments on the next block behind the Hillside. It was always a treat to go to the Valencia, but seeing that the Hillside was so close we patronized the Hillside most of the time. Also frequented the old Savoy. I remember the stage shows that would come by every now and then. The first movie I ever saw in vivid technicolor was “Anchors Aweigh” with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. That was a real treat for young eyes. The Hillside was a nice theater!
Seeing that we lived just behind the Hillside we would always use the tall fire escapes as a play ground until we were chased. Fun times! A great deal of innocence and simple fun. The big County Court House was just down the road on Hillside Avenue. That lawn was used also as a play area. Funny stories about what transpired there. Great times! I think I’m getting addicted to this website.
Joe G.
I grew up on Cooper Street from 1948 to 1956, eight years of an education that you could never learn in school. My children laugh when I tell them some of the stories, good and bad, that my brother and I endured. I remember how long it took to get to Boy’s High School…taking 2 trains, walking 8 blocks and getting there by 7:40 for the first bell. The walk we had to JHS 73 and sometimes coming home for lunch or eating at the sandwich shop adjacent to JHS 73. The Wilson Avenue trolley going to Canarsie which ran every 20 minutes. Some of the guys would jump on the back for a joy ride or detach the circuit pole. Playing stoop ball…Ring-a-leaveio, Johnny on a pony…making linoleum guns out of the corner of fruit crates.
Roller-skating all over the place with our Chicago’s. Bike riding through the whole neighbor hood…going a far a Forest Park. Playing in the used cars that were sold on the corner of Cooper and Bushwick. Having my first job at Einhorn’s on Broadway as a carriage boy then promoted to the Dairy Department. Going crabbing on the Canarsie pier. Taking the Wilson Avenue trolley straight there. Crab cages and all. `Fun times!
Warren,
What a great shot of the Gaiety and Astor theaters. Just think this was before we came into WWII. The cars were great!
Roy
Pete and Joe,
You guys are really brining back the memories. Pickles! We used to buy those sour pickles instead of candy when we went to the Colonial. I’m trying to remember the Cooper Street gang…Charlie Bolton, Frankie Spataro, Bobby “Fatso” Green, the D'Angelo brothers, Dom Andretto. I seem to not remember the other names. We were mostly Irish/Italian in those days. Old Smith’s candy store. The Wilson Avenue trolley! The name Jerry rings a bell, but don’t recall the last name. How about the Chinese restaurant that opened on Broadway. The Chinese laundry on Chauncey Street with the big German Shepard.. The “Jolly Boys!” Peg pants with saddle stitching and pistol pockets (1950-52 period). Bohacks on Broadway. There was a restaurant on Broadway and Halsey. Can’t remember the name. The coffee shop on Broadway and Rockaway. Highland Park. “Mrs. Beanbelly” with her fictitious BB gun lived near the hill where the Carnarsie line would go into the tunnel. Indiam Bridge, The Granite Street gang. Was a victim of their actions about three times. Bruises and all. Good times! Hurray for ther Colonial!
Peter and Fred:
I just read most of the comments and realized that you were from the same neighborhood. I live on Cooper Street from 1948 to 1956. Went to PS 113, JHS 73 and then to Boy’s High. I forget the Precinct number but remember being a part of the PAL boxing. My second home during the summer were the Cypress swimming pool and all the movies…Colonial, Decatur, Monroe, RKO Bushwick and the Loew’s Gates. Sometimes to the Loew’s Valencia, Merrick, Savoy and the RKO Alden in Jamacia. We sure made the best with very little. Good times! Tough times!
Roy the 3 sewer king!