I just discovered this page and what an absolute delight it is. It really is fascinating to revisit a part of Brooklyn that no longer exists. Wonderful pictures, at least for those links that still work.
In taking a closer look at the picture initially posted on 6/11/08 and my Hagstrom’s map, I believe it does, in fact, identify the Tivoli in its post-el days. For one thing, Washington St. occupied the roadbed of what is now Cadman Plaza East. (A small remnant of that street remains near the waterfront and flows directly into CPE.) Now, CPE approaches the Borough Hall area about a block east of what is included in the picture. (It abuts the western end of the old Post Office building.) The picture, on the other hand, depicts Fulton St. just after it passed by Borough Hall – which clearly appears in the background – and is about to merge with Court St. – the road appearing at the right end of the picture – on its way to Fulton Ferry. This is, in short, exactly where the Tivoli once stood.
Below is an ad for “I Am Curious Yellow” which, among many other places, was shown at the Wagner. (Hope the link works.)
Interestingly, the Wagner is listed as a Queens theater. While a number of theaters situated in Queens, particularly the Ridgewood and the Madison, have often been lumped in with the Brooklyn theaters in movie advertisements, due to the old zip code that straddled the two boroughs, this is the first time where I have seen a Brooklyn theater assigned to Queens. (I guess neither borough would really want to claim it.)
Also, the mix of theaters showing this film is interesting. While it does contain the usual porn places – such as the Wagner and the Cinart – this movie was also shown at such mainstream venues as Forest Hills' Midway and Manhattan’s Academy of Music. I guess this was a different time.
I remember this theater from the 1970’s, when it was very much in its XXX mode. At that time, Queen Restaurant, which has since relocated one block north, was situated just to the theater’s right and also maintained a pizza place just to its left. On one occasion, the Cinart provided dubious additional advertising or the Queen when it played the classic flick “Pizza Girls”!
TT, thanks so much for filling in the blanks. So while 1939 is considered the “year of the great movies”, I suspect that “The Lady From Kentucky” did not make that list! But what a wonderful picture of that long gone summer!
In thinking of second story bowling alleys, I do remember that the old Lowery Lanes in Sunnyside were situated on that level. But only retail stores, not a movie theater, were situated on the first floor of that Queens Boulevard venue. I also believe that a bowling alley was once situated under the old Drake Theater in Rego Park. But I just cannot imagine another movie theater that had to tolerate the presence of a bowling alley situated just above it.
TT, I think you are right about the time sequence. For one thing, the second floor had ceased to be used as a Billiard Parlour/Bowling Alley – as depicted on the sign – well before the late 1940’s, by which time it was either vacant or was being utilized as a bingo hall. (Can you imagine anyone trying to enjoy a movie with an active bowling alley situated just above the ceiling?. Can anyone come up something else remotely similar to this?)
I was able to gleam some information from the posters that might help date the photo. One seems to depict a film – probably a B level drama – called Prison Train that starred someone named Fred Keating. The main film – the title of which I cannot read – starred George Raft (above the title) and Ellen Drew (below it). I don’t think George Raft’s name often appeared above the title after the early 1940’s, and he probably only made a few films with Ellen Drew.
While the exact date is unclear, one can clearly see that the photo was shot in the summer. Not only are the kids near the entrance dressed for summer but nearly all the windows in the building to the right, which might have served as the local precinct or an American Legion hall at that time, are open.
By the way, in addition to the photo of the old American, the link provided by Tinseltoes also contains a number of interesting photos that are certainly worth a look.
Thanks, TT. By the looks of the end of the car – not a very definitive indicia – I would say that this picture was taken sometime in the late 1940’s or the early 1950’s. I do not remember the rather elaborate awning when I first became acquainted with this theater in the mid-1950’s. However, I really can’t be sure.
Great point Luis. When the historical preservation history of this era is written, this may very well be seen as the time when the usually staid landmarks crowd suddenly became interested in the preservation of these less than high brow old movie palaces. (Certainly, it would be difficult to take seriously the landmarking of a place like the Ridgewood only a decade ago!)
This new development may very well represent a more populist extension of the actions taken in the 1970’s and 80’s to preserve the aging but beautiful Broadway theaters including, in their case, their wonderful interiors.
Only time will tell whether this is a blip or a trend. But one can really hope, with more than a little justification, that the latter is the case.
Just checked the Building Dept. files for this address. There is not much to go on. The only certificate of occupancy dates from 1991 and references a two story storage and office building. None of the other listed actions are helpful.
However, the c of o does include a City lot that runs from 194-6 Grand to 167-73 South 1st St. This is the foot print of what could easily be a theater – and one that definately extended through the entire block. So perhaps this could have been the site of a once named Grand Opera House – or not.
When I have the chance, I will visit the site and report what I find.
Thanks so much Ken for filling in the details and basically verifying Warren’s past historic summary of this theater. (I do wonder, however, how the powers that be tabulated capacity at that time. My view is that a modern Building Dept. would have established capacity well below 600, but this is only a guess.)
Another question that Ken’s comment raises is: What occurred at this address after the Tip Top’s demise in the late 1920’s? Since Wilson Ave. was a vibrant commercial artery in a very stable community from the Tip Top’s close until at least the early 1960’s, it is very unlikely that the old theater remained vacant during most of this time. But what happened here? This is the big remaining question.
One minor correction regarding my previous comment and another question.
Re the correction, the old theater situated on Irving Ave. was, of course, not the Irving but the Imperial. Sorry.
My question concerns the 600 seat capacity noted at the top of the page. Warren, when you created this page, from what source did you document this number? A 600 seat capacity seems pretty high, considering – as noted in my previous comment – the apparently more modest dimensions of 357 Wilson Ave. In addition, no available certificate of occupancy documents a facility of this size – or even the existence of a movie theater on this site.
My guess is that the Top Top was a far more modest affair that probably met its demise well before the onset of talking movies. But we need hard evidence to either confirm or contradict this assertion.
In response to the NYT article, a large number of comments were also posted. They are certainly worth a look and provide a healthy cross-section of opinion. I have linked these comments below. (If the link does not work, you can still access the comments, albeit less directly, via the previously provided link to the NYT article.)
In today’s NYT article on this subject, someone is quoted as saying that had the Kings been situated in midtown Manhattan, it would never have been left to deteriorate and would have been returned to its past glory many years ago.
I think the reality is, had it been so located – and had it not been named Radio City Music Hall – the Kings would have faced the wrecking ball decades ago to make way for “progress”.
So, being situated somewhat outside the center of things does have its benefits.
This is really great news1 I hope Marty and the designated developer can pull it off. Good luck! Go Brooklyn!!
The only time I ever saw a movie here was in the 1970’s – shortly before it closed – when I caught a Sunday matinee performance of Rollerball, with James Caan. As I remember it, the place – or at least the first tier – was packed.
I just took another look at the Building Dept. data and can report the following.
The records indicate that this building was demolished around 1980. This means that 357 Wilson was an abandoned hulk, rather than a vacant lot, during my DM days in Bushwick. But this is basically a distinction without a difference.
The records also indicate a 1956 certificate of occupancy that legalized 357 as a three story building with stores on the first floor and residential apartments on the uppor two stories. This probably obliterated the last remnants of the movie house. (One wonders what was there after the Tip Top closed and before the alteration occurred.)
It would really be great if someone who has access to this information can tell us when the Tip Top faded from the annual movie theater records. My guess is that this occurred sooner rather than later, and that the Tip Top was an old nickelodeon theater that did not survive through even the end of the silent era. Even its name evokes a very early 2oth century period of performance. (Its life – and demise – might not be very different from that of the Ridgewood Casino.)
In searching the NYC Building Depts.‘ files on its web site, I noted a 1980 demolition date. This was probably the time when what had been the abandoned hulk of the old Grove Theatre finally met its ultimate demise. (Since, however, none of the underlying documents for this notice are available on the web, we really can’t be sure of this – but at least this is better than nothing.) In 1980, Bushwick was plagued with a huge number of abandoned buildings that needed to be demolished, and this was probably one of them.
This raises what, for me, are several more important questions that have not been addressed in this thread:
When exactly did the Grove close? If someone who has access to this information can state when the Grove dropped out of the annual movie theater directories, this wil be very helpful. I personally doubt that it made it through the 1950’s – and perhaps it may have even closed before then. (The Building Dept. report indicates a 1947 Unsafe Building violation – which may or may not be of some significance.)
Once it closed, did the building hosting the Grove serve any other purpose? If it did, what was it converted into? Given the fact that this portion of Wilson Ave. was an active commercial area through at least the late 1960’s – far more active than that stretch of Irving Ave. that hosted the old Irving Theater during its “Robert Hall” post-cinematic life – one could not imagine a large vacant building lying in its midst during all this time.
When exactly did this building become terminally abandoned? The Building Dept. file does indicate an application – or perhaps a violation – regarding sprinklers in 1970, but nothing after. So this is probably the decade when 474 Wilson became an abandoned hulk. But when did this occur and how?
Some food for thought that will hopefully address some of the gaps in the record.
Thanks for the picture, which provides a recent view of this long closed theater. It would be great if a real vintage picture of the Imperial in its cinematic hayday could also be posted.
A wonderful vintage picture just posted on the other Nassau Theater’s page – the one actually situated on Nassau Ave. in Greenpoint – notes that Nassau is actually the Dutch name for Long Island. This helps to explain why a theater situated nowhere near Nassau Ave. could also be so named.
By all means, take a look at the picture noted above on the other Nassau page.
Joe, thanks for the wonderful picture, which was snapped right after my father turned four. This must have been exactly how he first remembered the old movie house.
The underlying caption notes that Nassau was the Dutch name for Long Island, a fact that I was not aware of. This probably explains why it was also used when Nassau County was established in 1898; when an unseccessful attempt to rename Newtown Creek as the Nassau River was also made at about the time; and when a movie theater situated on Grand St. in Williamsburg was also given the Nassau name. (A separate CT page is devoted to this theater.)
The trolley appearing in the picture notes a Manhattan Ave. end to the run. My guess is that this particular trolley was ending its daily run and would leave its route at Manhattan in order to return to the car barn, which was situated near Manhattan Ave’s. northern end at Newtown Creek. Otherwise, the trolley would have continued its run down Lorimer St. and, ultimately, Franklin Ave. (This was the route generations of Greenpointers took to visit Ebbetts Field.) Until the bus depot closed sometime in the 1970’s or early 1980’s, this is how the B-48 busses ended their daily runs.
Finally, the second picture depicts a iiquor store being situated across the street from the old Nassau. Over ninety years later, a liquor store still exists here, I am sure after many, many changes in ownership.
While I probably went here only several times, I only really remember one visit I made to see a German cinematic version of Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck” It was a wonderful production that captured the black humor, the biting irony and the ultimate horror that makes this one of the greatest plays ever written as successfully as I have ever experienced it. The actor, whose name I do not recall, who wonderfully played the hapless “inventor” made a most impressive appearance during the intermission. (The performance was sponsored by the Goethe Foundation.) He also made a major contribution to Syberling’s “Our Hitler” film that I had just seen on the upper West Side.
I just hope this terrific space is succeeding as a concert venue.
This whole experience has been very satisfying and well worth the effort. Congratulations to all who contributed to this significant achievement.
While the City Planning Commission and the City Council must also approve this proposal before the Ridgewood actually becomes an official landmark, the fact that absolutely no opposition has emerged bodes very well that these remaining hurdles will be ovrcome. We must, however, take nothing for granted.
But for now, let us just bask in this wonderful accomplishment.
It is amazing how quickly this place came and went. I remember when it opened and, since my doctor’s office was situated in the vicinity, would occasionally catch a late afternoon showing after a visit. I also distinctly remember seeing Prizzi’s Honor with my parents just after its release. After the film, we had a fine seafood dinner at a place called Dolphins which, alas, is also history.
I remember my shock when, sometime in the early 1990’s, I paassed the site of I knew of as being a modern movie house, and saw a vacant lot instead.
This is great news Michael. Hopefully, things will go very uneventfully on Tuesday and the designation will be secured. I am looking forward to reading the designation report.
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.
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.
I just discovered this page and what an absolute delight it is. It really is fascinating to revisit a part of Brooklyn that no longer exists. Wonderful pictures, at least for those links that still work.
In taking a closer look at the picture initially posted on 6/11/08 and my Hagstrom’s map, I believe it does, in fact, identify the Tivoli in its post-el days. For one thing, Washington St. occupied the roadbed of what is now Cadman Plaza East. (A small remnant of that street remains near the waterfront and flows directly into CPE.) Now, CPE approaches the Borough Hall area about a block east of what is included in the picture. (It abuts the western end of the old Post Office building.) The picture, on the other hand, depicts Fulton St. just after it passed by Borough Hall – which clearly appears in the background – and is about to merge with Court St. – the road appearing at the right end of the picture – on its way to Fulton Ferry. This is, in short, exactly where the Tivoli once stood.
Hope this helps to clear things up.
Below is an ad for “I Am Curious Yellow” which, among many other places, was shown at the Wagner. (Hope the link works.)
Interestingly, the Wagner is listed as a Queens theater. While a number of theaters situated in Queens, particularly the Ridgewood and the Madison, have often been lumped in with the Brooklyn theaters in movie advertisements, due to the old zip code that straddled the two boroughs, this is the first time where I have seen a Brooklyn theater assigned to Queens. (I guess neither borough would really want to claim it.)
Also, the mix of theaters showing this film is interesting. While it does contain the usual porn places – such as the Wagner and the Cinart – this movie was also shown at such mainstream venues as Forest Hills' Midway and Manhattan’s Academy of Music. I guess this was a different time.
View link
I remember this theater from the 1970’s, when it was very much in its XXX mode. At that time, Queen Restaurant, which has since relocated one block north, was situated just to the theater’s right and also maintained a pizza place just to its left. On one occasion, the Cinart provided dubious additional advertising or the Queen when it played the classic flick “Pizza Girls”!
TT, thanks so much for filling in the blanks. So while 1939 is considered the “year of the great movies”, I suspect that “The Lady From Kentucky” did not make that list! But what a wonderful picture of that long gone summer!
In thinking of second story bowling alleys, I do remember that the old Lowery Lanes in Sunnyside were situated on that level. But only retail stores, not a movie theater, were situated on the first floor of that Queens Boulevard venue. I also believe that a bowling alley was once situated under the old Drake Theater in Rego Park. But I just cannot imagine another movie theater that had to tolerate the presence of a bowling alley situated just above it.
TT, I think you are right about the time sequence. For one thing, the second floor had ceased to be used as a Billiard Parlour/Bowling Alley – as depicted on the sign – well before the late 1940’s, by which time it was either vacant or was being utilized as a bingo hall. (Can you imagine anyone trying to enjoy a movie with an active bowling alley situated just above the ceiling?. Can anyone come up something else remotely similar to this?)
I was able to gleam some information from the posters that might help date the photo. One seems to depict a film – probably a B level drama – called Prison Train that starred someone named Fred Keating. The main film – the title of which I cannot read – starred George Raft (above the title) and Ellen Drew (below it). I don’t think George Raft’s name often appeared above the title after the early 1940’s, and he probably only made a few films with Ellen Drew.
While the exact date is unclear, one can clearly see that the photo was shot in the summer. Not only are the kids near the entrance dressed for summer but nearly all the windows in the building to the right, which might have served as the local precinct or an American Legion hall at that time, are open.
By the way, in addition to the photo of the old American, the link provided by Tinseltoes also contains a number of interesting photos that are certainly worth a look.
Thanks, TT. By the looks of the end of the car – not a very definitive indicia – I would say that this picture was taken sometime in the late 1940’s or the early 1950’s. I do not remember the rather elaborate awning when I first became acquainted with this theater in the mid-1950’s. However, I really can’t be sure.
Thanks for this terrific picture.
Great point Luis. When the historical preservation history of this era is written, this may very well be seen as the time when the usually staid landmarks crowd suddenly became interested in the preservation of these less than high brow old movie palaces. (Certainly, it would be difficult to take seriously the landmarking of a place like the Ridgewood only a decade ago!)
This new development may very well represent a more populist extension of the actions taken in the 1970’s and 80’s to preserve the aging but beautiful Broadway theaters including, in their case, their wonderful interiors.
Only time will tell whether this is a blip or a trend. But one can really hope, with more than a little justification, that the latter is the case.
Just checked the Building Dept. files for this address. There is not much to go on. The only certificate of occupancy dates from 1991 and references a two story storage and office building. None of the other listed actions are helpful.
However, the c of o does include a City lot that runs from 194-6 Grand to 167-73 South 1st St. This is the foot print of what could easily be a theater – and one that definately extended through the entire block. So perhaps this could have been the site of a once named Grand Opera House – or not.
When I have the chance, I will visit the site and report what I find.
Thanks so much Ken for filling in the details and basically verifying Warren’s past historic summary of this theater. (I do wonder, however, how the powers that be tabulated capacity at that time. My view is that a modern Building Dept. would have established capacity well below 600, but this is only a guess.)
Another question that Ken’s comment raises is: What occurred at this address after the Tip Top’s demise in the late 1920’s? Since Wilson Ave. was a vibrant commercial artery in a very stable community from the Tip Top’s close until at least the early 1960’s, it is very unlikely that the old theater remained vacant during most of this time. But what happened here? This is the big remaining question.
But, thanks Ken for flushing this question out.
One minor correction regarding my previous comment and another question.
Re the correction, the old theater situated on Irving Ave. was, of course, not the Irving but the Imperial. Sorry.
My question concerns the 600 seat capacity noted at the top of the page. Warren, when you created this page, from what source did you document this number? A 600 seat capacity seems pretty high, considering – as noted in my previous comment – the apparently more modest dimensions of 357 Wilson Ave. In addition, no available certificate of occupancy documents a facility of this size – or even the existence of a movie theater on this site.
My guess is that the Top Top was a far more modest affair that probably met its demise well before the onset of talking movies. But we need hard evidence to either confirm or contradict this assertion.
In response to the NYT article, a large number of comments were also posted. They are certainly worth a look and provide a healthy cross-section of opinion. I have linked these comments below. (If the link does not work, you can still access the comments, albeit less directly, via the previously provided link to the NYT article.)
Enjoy.
View link
In today’s NYT article on this subject, someone is quoted as saying that had the Kings been situated in midtown Manhattan, it would never have been left to deteriorate and would have been returned to its past glory many years ago.
I think the reality is, had it been so located – and had it not been named Radio City Music Hall – the Kings would have faced the wrecking ball decades ago to make way for “progress”.
So, being situated somewhat outside the center of things does have its benefits.
This is really great news1 I hope Marty and the designated developer can pull it off. Good luck! Go Brooklyn!!
The only time I ever saw a movie here was in the 1970’s – shortly before it closed – when I caught a Sunday matinee performance of Rollerball, with James Caan. As I remember it, the place – or at least the first tier – was packed.
I just took another look at the Building Dept. data and can report the following.
The records indicate that this building was demolished around 1980. This means that 357 Wilson was an abandoned hulk, rather than a vacant lot, during my DM days in Bushwick. But this is basically a distinction without a difference.
The records also indicate a 1956 certificate of occupancy that legalized 357 as a three story building with stores on the first floor and residential apartments on the uppor two stories. This probably obliterated the last remnants of the movie house. (One wonders what was there after the Tip Top closed and before the alteration occurred.)
It would really be great if someone who has access to this information can tell us when the Tip Top faded from the annual movie theater records. My guess is that this occurred sooner rather than later, and that the Tip Top was an old nickelodeon theater that did not survive through even the end of the silent era. Even its name evokes a very early 2oth century period of performance. (Its life – and demise – might not be very different from that of the Ridgewood Casino.)
Hope this provises some food for thought.
Bway, a belated response to your question.
In searching the NYC Building Depts.‘ files on its web site, I noted a 1980 demolition date. This was probably the time when what had been the abandoned hulk of the old Grove Theatre finally met its ultimate demise. (Since, however, none of the underlying documents for this notice are available on the web, we really can’t be sure of this – but at least this is better than nothing.) In 1980, Bushwick was plagued with a huge number of abandoned buildings that needed to be demolished, and this was probably one of them.
This raises what, for me, are several more important questions that have not been addressed in this thread:
When exactly did the Grove close? If someone who has access to this information can state when the Grove dropped out of the annual movie theater directories, this wil be very helpful. I personally doubt that it made it through the 1950’s – and perhaps it may have even closed before then. (The Building Dept. report indicates a 1947 Unsafe Building violation – which may or may not be of some significance.)
Once it closed, did the building hosting the Grove serve any other purpose? If it did, what was it converted into? Given the fact that this portion of Wilson Ave. was an active commercial area through at least the late 1960’s – far more active than that stretch of Irving Ave. that hosted the old Irving Theater during its “Robert Hall” post-cinematic life – one could not imagine a large vacant building lying in its midst during all this time.
When exactly did this building become terminally abandoned? The Building Dept. file does indicate an application – or perhaps a violation – regarding sprinklers in 1970, but nothing after. So this is probably the decade when 474 Wilson became an abandoned hulk. But when did this occur and how?
Some food for thought that will hopefully address some of the gaps in the record.
Thanks for the picture, which provides a recent view of this long closed theater. It would be great if a real vintage picture of the Imperial in its cinematic hayday could also be posted.
A wonderful vintage picture just posted on the other Nassau Theater’s page – the one actually situated on Nassau Ave. in Greenpoint – notes that Nassau is actually the Dutch name for Long Island. This helps to explain why a theater situated nowhere near Nassau Ave. could also be so named.
By all means, take a look at the picture noted above on the other Nassau page.
Joe, thanks for the wonderful picture, which was snapped right after my father turned four. This must have been exactly how he first remembered the old movie house.
The underlying caption notes that Nassau was the Dutch name for Long Island, a fact that I was not aware of. This probably explains why it was also used when Nassau County was established in 1898; when an unseccessful attempt to rename Newtown Creek as the Nassau River was also made at about the time; and when a movie theater situated on Grand St. in Williamsburg was also given the Nassau name. (A separate CT page is devoted to this theater.)
The trolley appearing in the picture notes a Manhattan Ave. end to the run. My guess is that this particular trolley was ending its daily run and would leave its route at Manhattan in order to return to the car barn, which was situated near Manhattan Ave’s. northern end at Newtown Creek. Otherwise, the trolley would have continued its run down Lorimer St. and, ultimately, Franklin Ave. (This was the route generations of Greenpointers took to visit Ebbetts Field.) Until the bus depot closed sometime in the 1970’s or early 1980’s, this is how the B-48 busses ended their daily runs.
Finally, the second picture depicts a iiquor store being situated across the street from the old Nassau. Over ninety years later, a liquor store still exists here, I am sure after many, many changes in ownership.
Thanks again for the memories!
While I probably went here only several times, I only really remember one visit I made to see a German cinematic version of Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck” It was a wonderful production that captured the black humor, the biting irony and the ultimate horror that makes this one of the greatest plays ever written as successfully as I have ever experienced it. The actor, whose name I do not recall, who wonderfully played the hapless “inventor” made a most impressive appearance during the intermission. (The performance was sponsored by the Goethe Foundation.) He also made a major contribution to Syberling’s “Our Hitler” film that I had just seen on the upper West Side.
I just hope this terrific space is succeeding as a concert venue.
Thanks Michael for posting the designation report. It really is worth a read and provides a strong justification for the designation.
Now on to see what actually occurs here!
This whole experience has been very satisfying and well worth the effort. Congratulations to all who contributed to this significant achievement.
While the City Planning Commission and the City Council must also approve this proposal before the Ridgewood actually becomes an official landmark, the fact that absolutely no opposition has emerged bodes very well that these remaining hurdles will be ovrcome. We must, however, take nothing for granted.
But for now, let us just bask in this wonderful accomplishment.
It is amazing how quickly this place came and went. I remember when it opened and, since my doctor’s office was situated in the vicinity, would occasionally catch a late afternoon showing after a visit. I also distinctly remember seeing Prizzi’s Honor with my parents just after its release. After the film, we had a fine seafood dinner at a place called Dolphins which, alas, is also history.
I remember my shock when, sometime in the early 1990’s, I paassed the site of I knew of as being a modern movie house, and saw a vacant lot instead.
This is great news Michael. Hopefully, things will go very uneventfully on Tuesday and the designation will be secured. I am looking forward to reading the designation report.
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.
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.