The Empire actually opened on Monday, August 24th, 1908. There are lengthy articles in The Weekly Chat (August 22,1908) and the Brooklyn Eagle (August 23,1908) concerning the opening. Both papers feature the same exterior photo of the theatre. I would imagine that there are similar articles in the other Brooklyn papers as well. Both papers have an extensive description of the interior. I will only mention briefly the “Coming of Spring” painted over the proscenium, over the right hand boxes was a bust of Shakespeare and over the left hand boxes a bust of Wagner. The theatre is listed as featuring shows from the Western Burlesque Wheel and also offering “the best in vaudeville”.
For some reason, even John Haekop is mentioned. According to the Eagle, he bought the first ticket.
In the Weekly Chat—Jan. 12th, 1929—there is an ad for the Empire announcing a change in policy—vaudeville “featuring 15 big time acts”. Up to this point, the theatre had been mostly a burlesque house. According to the Chat, it is the only theatre in Brooklyn (at that time) featuring a straight vaude format. Empire closing shortly after that. There are two date stamped articles on file at the Brooklyn Collection, Brooklyn Central Library. On the one dated November 21, 1931 the headline reads Old Empire Reopens. The new lessee is the Abbott Theatrical Enterprises of which Harry Abbott is president (he was formerly involved with the Columbia Burlesque Wheel). In any case, three family members are listed among the performers appearing: Betty Abbott, Babe Abbott, and Buddy Abbott (aka Bud). Don’t know how long Harry Abbott had the theatre but in the second article stamped June 1934 the theatre is closed again. An unpaid balance of $50,000 on the mortage “has spelled the ruin of the popular playhouse”. Still researching this theatre in the 1930s but naturally it did reopen and by 1938 was a movie house.
In the Weekly Chat Newspaper—March 1, 1913—there is a short article on Joseph Hartmann and Kaplan (no first name given). They are listed as the owners of the Van Cortland Open Air Theatre (mentioned above). According to the article, they will start work “next week” on the “the foundation of a new motion picture house to be located on the southeasterly corner of Covert and Myrtle Avenues”.Originally it was to have been a “first class vaudeville and motion picture house”. However “after considering the location and time it would take to put up a first class house it was decided to erect a motion picture theatre temporarily.” “If demand is strong, make necessary changes and convert the building into one suitable for vaudeville.”
Hartmann is listed as the president of the Wyckoff Avenue Property Owners Association. He “resides at 225 Decatur Street”. The only information on Kaplan is that he lives “in East York”.
I have not been able—so far—to find any follow-up article on this.
Both the Oxford and the Casino are listed in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 (under Theatres and Places of Amusement). In the Brooklyn Eagle—November 14th, 1915—there is an ad for the Casino (“Rose Sydell and the Famous London Belles”) and under Motion Picture News a brief paragraph on the Oxford. In the Brooklyn Eagle—September 23, 1928—there is a listing for the Oxford under “Feature Films Showing Today”. Next to these listings is a small ad for the Casino (“Stock Burlesque” with “Runway Chorus of Beautiful Girls”.
The opening of the Casino can be found in the Brooklyn Citizen in September 1909. There is an article “24 Theatres Will Open Their Doors This Month” dealing with the new theatrical season in Brooklyn. It states “The new Casino is almost completed and will be ready for its opening sometime this month.” The theatre seems to have always been a burlesque house—I have not come across a film listing yet.
While both the Oxford and the Casino often give Flatbush Avenue and State Street as an address, the Casino is sometimes listed as 98 Flatbush. It closed in 1929. At some point in the 30s, the oxford turned to burlesque which could be why its license is listed as “revoked” in 1938. Perhaps there is some connection between the closing of the Casino and the Oxford’s switch to burlesque. Anyway more research is needed for the Oxford in the 1930s.
Harry Abbott, of the Columbia Burlesque Wheel, got his young son Bud a job at the Casino as “assistant treasurer” (dates vary 1911 or 14). This was the Bud Abbott’s first job in burlesque. Bud and/or his biographers often exaggerated the importance of this theatre.
According to various newspapers of the period, some 18 “stage, screen, radio, cabaret and newest celebrities” were brought from Manhattan to the Shelburne Hotel for dancing and then to the opening of Loew’s Coney Island. The Brooklyn Citizen (June 18, 1925) reported “the crowd gathered in front of the theatre was so great that a special cordon of police was necessary to keep the surging mass back from the entrance”. The paper also enjoyed “the impromptu show stage by Neils Granlund (N.T.G of W.H.N.). Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) was not amused—criticizing both Granlund and Johnny Hines for "smut patter” .
The papers also state “the new theatre will present pictures exclusively except for the week of June 22, when the Siamese Twins, Violet and Daisy Hilton will be introduced as an extra attraction”. This quote must have been taken from the same press release since it appears in several papers. At that time, the Hiltons were enjoying a certain popularity as a novelty musical act in vaudeville. Jazz playing Siamese twins may have been a novelty elsewhere but not at Coney Island. Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) reporting that “the big Siamese Twins draw isn’t drawing”, adding that appearing at the Island’s various side shows that week was a “boy with an elephant’s ear” and a “girl with three legs”.
The Lee Theatre opened around 1923 with a seating capacity of 550—sometimes given as 600. In the mid-1930s it was renamed the Model Theatre and closed in 1951. After the Model’s closing,the building was used at one point as a synagogue.
The Lee Theatre opened around 1923 with a seating capacity of 550—sometimes given as 600. In the mid-1930s it was renamed the Model Theatre, closing in 1951. Afterwards, the building became a synagogue at one point.
The Pioneer (sc. 524—also sometimes listed as 600) opened around 1922 and closed in 1955.
The 1926 Film Daily Yearbook seems to have erred again. There was a Ritz Theatre in 1926 but it was at 2085 Fulton Street. It opened around 1917 as the LeRoy (sc. 600). For a couple of years in the mid-1920s, the theatre was known as the Ritz. By the end of the decade it was the Paragon and is listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook under that name and with the correct address. LeRoy/Ritz/Paragon closed around 1933.
Lost Memory, as concerns the seating capacity of the Ridgewood Hippodrome. It most likely opened before the 1913 changes in the city ordinances. This would place seating at less than 299. Judging from your response a lot less. It was probably just a storefront theatre.
Wilson Street was originally Hamburg Avenue before World War I. At 474 Hamburg (later Wilson) was the Jefferson Casino Theatre. It is listed in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 and also the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915. Since this theatre opened prior to the 1913 changes in the city ordinances, its capacity was most likely less than 299 seats. However once these changes took place many of the early movie houses increased their capacity. For example, both the Nostrand and Marathon theatres (in Brooklyn) became 600 seat houses after October 1913. This could also be true for the Jefferson.
In 1920, the Decatur, not the one on Broadway but the one at 610-12 Wilson, changed its name to the Woodrow Wilson Theatre. It is also possible that the Jefferson did the same becoming the Wilson Theatre.
The Brooklyn Eagle, for Sunday, Feb. 10th 1918, has an ad in the theatre section for the opening of the Alhambra and an article in Real Estate for “Ridgewood’s new $250,000 theatre”. The architects are listed as Carlson & Wiseman. A frieze along the exterior illustrated “discovery” and “war” (this is 1918). While the interior was decorated in “red, ivory & gold”. Designed for motion pictures and vaudeville, the stage was “fully capable of large dramatic and musical attractions”. According to The Eagle, Marcus Loew presented his Brooklyn stock company, the Alhambra Players at the theatre beginning in 1921. The company was suddenly pulled in 1925 “due to lack of community support”. At first the theatre was announced closed but it did continue on as a movie house. The actual closing date is usually given as 1951.
In April 1923 there was an open call for the chorus of “Linger Longer Letty” at the Alhambra. The impression given by the Brooklyn Eagle is that the women who tried out and those who were chosen were local people. If there is any interest I will post the names of the women selected(in case your grandmother once talked of playing the Alhambra).
“Itch” and “dump” were once common slang terms for run-down movie houses. Many of these had problems with cleanliness and sanitation. The Daily News once described the Globe, in Park Slope, as “so filthy that the management kept the lights off even when the movie was over”. In a totally unscientific survey, I have found the term “itch” used more in Brooklyn while in Queens “dump” was favored. Anyone wish to contribute to this survey? In any case, it wasn’t unusual to find two or more dumps/itches in a neighborhood.
Screeno, bank night, dish night, crazy auctions and a whole host of other gimmicks/novelties were once part of movie going and helped to lure audiences into the movie house (as if the double feature, chapter, cartoon(s) and short subject(s) weren’t enough).
My apologies. It should have been Ralph Street for the Ridgewood Hippodrome. Sorry about that.Also in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912, the Ridgewood Casino is listed at 381 Knickerbocker. The 1914-15 Directory does have various theatres listed that were predominately vaudeville, legit, or burlesque. Vaudeville wouldn’t necessarily account for the absence of the Ridgewood as mentioned by Warren. There might be other reasons for this just as there might be reasons for the Woodward and Woodbine Avenue listing for the Grandview.
“The American Motion Picture Directory : A Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15” does list the Grand View Theatre (their spelling) and gives the address as Woodward & Woodbine. Hopefully that makes some sense to those in Ridgewood. If not there could be a couple of good reasons for this address. The Ridgewood Folly is not listed. The Grand View is under Brooklyn Theatres. The only one mentioned under its own Ridgewood section is the Irving Theatre. Other theatres listed with the name Ridgewood are:
Ridgewood Hippodrome 498 Ralph Avenue
Ridgewood Amusement Co. 189 Elgert (most likely not the name of the theatre)
Ridgewood Amusement Palace 490 Woodward
Ridgewood Casino 383 Knickerbocker Avenue.
As concerns the 1926 listing of the Grand View on Grand Street. The Film Daily Yearbook erred (it did happen on occasion). It should have read Grandview and not Grand Street. The Grand Theatre opened in 1913 at 741 Grand Street. It is listed at that address in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook as is the Grand View (once again their spelling) at 659 Grandview.
I’m not totally sure when the Starr opened. The earliest listing I have is 1927. This date would agree with Warren’s information posted above. According to one source the theatre closed in 1968. The Knickerbocker Casino and the Knickerbocker Airdome were both closed for more than a decade when the Starr opened. Don’t think they would have had any influence on the name. I do have a photo taken in the late 60s of a closed and vandalized Starr Theatre.
In 1912, the Hudson Motion Picture Co. is listed at 207 Myrtle Avenue. Most likely this is the Hudson Theatre listed in 1915.So the space may have been in operation a year or two before 1912. The seating capacity is 500. Circa 1920, this became the United. At the end of the 1920s, seating for the United is listed at 1,600. Warren mentions above that the Brooklyn Heights Theaters, Inc. was in the process of building the United in 1926. It would seem likely that this earlier theatre was replaced by a larger structure. In the mid-1930s it is often listed as the New United Theatre. In any case the site was taken over by the NYCHA in July 1942.
The Crescent Film Company was not an outdoor theatre but a short lived movie studio operated by Fred J. Balshofer and Herman Kolle. It is well documented in Balshofer’s book “One Reel a Week”.
The Crescent was based behind Prospect Hall, an old amusement hall (will explain if need be)at 263 Prospect Avenue. It used the space underneath the outdoor beer garden’s stage for a lab.
Herman’s father owned Prospect Hall and his older brother William D. Kolle was the manager.
Starting in 1906, the beer garden offered vaudeville and movies free with food and drink. The ads are the first that I have been able to find for regular performances of motion pictures in Park Slope. In July 1910, the garden was given a neo-classical look and renamed the Venetian Garden. This officially became an airdome in 1914. “The Prospect Hall Venetian Garden” presented “high class motion pictures and vaudeville every evening from 8 to 11 o'clock."In 1916 it became the Prospect Hall Garden under the management of Rudolph Sanders. Prospect Hall also operated for a brief time a movie theatre next door called The Idle Hall. Prospect Hall still survives and has had a long and interesting involvement with motion pictures and other forms of entertainment.
I thought someone would bring up the Marquee article. If you check the Brooklyn newspapers in the late 1890s and early 20th century you will find ads for the Gayety at Broadway and Troop. Also ads for the Unique at 194 Grand Street. There is a nice drawing of the interior of the Gayety in the Brooklyn Eagle August 1896. The accompaning article gives the address as Broadway & Troop. There is also an article on the Gayety in the Brooklyn Citizen for June 7th, 1908. It mentions the Broadway address for the Gayety. The 1912 business directory lists the Comedy Theatre at 194 Grand and the Gayety at 18 Troop Avenue. The Gayety opened on November 7th, 1892 and closed in 1933. At one time it was operated by Hyde & Behman. Back to Al Jolson, he appeared at the Unique in 1900 and again in 1904 (twice). In March 1903, he performed at the Gayety. By the way, according to the 1908 Brooklyn Citizen article, the Gayety Theatre was the best place in the Eastern District to “see shapely young women in tights”. I leave it to you to decide if and where a mistake was made.
The Metro was built on the site of the old Unique Theatre, a vaudeville/legit house that had opened on Aug. 18th, 1894. It was known locally as “Da Bum”. A young Al Jolson’s first Brooklyn appearance took place at the Unique Dec. 10-15 1900. Taken over by William Fox as a movie house the Unique became the Comedy (aka The Comedy, aka Fox’s Comedy Theatre). It was demolished in 1923.
The Metro opened around 1926 with an advertised seating capacity of 1,200. However the Film Daily Yearbooks place capacity at 990. It closed in the late 1940s (47?). It is still listed under the name Metro in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook.
Just noticed another “if” in regards to one of my entires. As stated there was a Boardwalk Theatre listed in the Film Daily Yearbook. It is one of two mentioned under the Arverne heading. However no addresses are given. The address may have changed or Cinematours may be in error. There are a few errors on that site just as there a few on this one.
By the way, the earliest movie exhibition, I have been able to find for Knickerbocker Avenue is at 326 for a theatre operated by Louis Plaut from 1907-1909. No name is given for this theatre and it might not have had one.
If there was a Knickerbocker Casino? Anyway the earliest mention of this theatre that I can find is 1911. Under Moving Picture Exhibitions in Trow’s Business Directory (1912) there is a movie theatre at that address listed under the name Robert Horsley who must have been the owner of the theatre. The theatre name is not given. The Casino is not listed in the American Motion Picture Directory (1915).
As concerns the Knickerbocker Airdome, I can only find one year listed—1914. Was it a fly-by-night operation that opened in an empty lot one summer and than vanished? I don’t know.
Yes I am familiar with the Starr. There were quite a few theatres along Knickerbocker at various times.
With 585 seats, the Boardwalk Theatre was located in Arverne in Far Rockaway. In the 1920s it also advertised the Boardwalk roof (no capacity given). The theatre is still listed as opened in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook.
I also believe there was a question concerning the Knickerbocker Theatre. There were two in operation briefly during the 1910s in Brooklyn: the Knickerbocker Casino Theatre which gave 274 Knickerbocker Avenue as an address and also the Knickerbocker Airdome at Knickerbocker & Halsey
Peter K.
The original Colonial Theatre opened in April 1912 and closed March 1st, 1920.The building was demolished for the (New) Colonial Theatre opening in 1921 with a capacity of 2,224.
An airdome, with seating for 2000, is listed from 1915-1925. Not sure of its exact location in relation to the indoor space (next door?, in back?)
The original owners (1911-1912)of the Colonial were Allen & Wood with a Herman Mayer listed in 1913.
The Irving Theatre opened on April 11th, 1914 with the Irving Airdome next door. The outdoor theatre was listed as being larger with a seating capacity of 1,600 compared to the 595 for the indoor space. It was listed as the Mozart when it closed in 1942.
As concerns the Chopin, it opened as the American in 1914 with a bald eagle perched on top. The last time I was on Manhattan Avenue, the bird was still there.
One final note, there were several outdoor theatres along Myrtle.
There is mention of a theatre on this site in 1910 belonging to one John Droge. The earliest reference I have found to a Nassau theatre is 1914. It is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 (“Nassau Theatre,Nassau Avenue nr. Manhattan”). This early directory does not give seating capacity. However the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook list capacity at 600 with an address of 92 Nassau. The 1947 Film Daily Yearbook shows 599 seats and the address of 88 Nassau (I have seen the address given as 88-92 Nassau).My files show it closing in 1953. It became a catering hall at one point.
The Empire actually opened on Monday, August 24th, 1908. There are lengthy articles in The Weekly Chat (August 22,1908) and the Brooklyn Eagle (August 23,1908) concerning the opening. Both papers feature the same exterior photo of the theatre. I would imagine that there are similar articles in the other Brooklyn papers as well. Both papers have an extensive description of the interior. I will only mention briefly the “Coming of Spring” painted over the proscenium, over the right hand boxes was a bust of Shakespeare and over the left hand boxes a bust of Wagner. The theatre is listed as featuring shows from the Western Burlesque Wheel and also offering “the best in vaudeville”.
For some reason, even John Haekop is mentioned. According to the Eagle, he bought the first ticket.
In the Weekly Chat—Jan. 12th, 1929—there is an ad for the Empire announcing a change in policy—vaudeville “featuring 15 big time acts”. Up to this point, the theatre had been mostly a burlesque house. According to the Chat, it is the only theatre in Brooklyn (at that time) featuring a straight vaude format. Empire closing shortly after that. There are two date stamped articles on file at the Brooklyn Collection, Brooklyn Central Library. On the one dated November 21, 1931 the headline reads Old Empire Reopens. The new lessee is the Abbott Theatrical Enterprises of which Harry Abbott is president (he was formerly involved with the Columbia Burlesque Wheel). In any case, three family members are listed among the performers appearing: Betty Abbott, Babe Abbott, and Buddy Abbott (aka Bud). Don’t know how long Harry Abbott had the theatre but in the second article stamped June 1934 the theatre is closed again. An unpaid balance of $50,000 on the mortage “has spelled the ruin of the popular playhouse”. Still researching this theatre in the 1930s but naturally it did reopen and by 1938 was a movie house.
In the Weekly Chat Newspaper—March 1, 1913—there is a short article on Joseph Hartmann and Kaplan (no first name given). They are listed as the owners of the Van Cortland Open Air Theatre (mentioned above). According to the article, they will start work “next week” on the “the foundation of a new motion picture house to be located on the southeasterly corner of Covert and Myrtle Avenues”.Originally it was to have been a “first class vaudeville and motion picture house”. However “after considering the location and time it would take to put up a first class house it was decided to erect a motion picture theatre temporarily.” “If demand is strong, make necessary changes and convert the building into one suitable for vaudeville.”
Hartmann is listed as the president of the Wyckoff Avenue Property Owners Association. He “resides at 225 Decatur Street”. The only information on Kaplan is that he lives “in East York”.
I have not been able—so far—to find any follow-up article on this.
Both the Oxford and the Casino are listed in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 (under Theatres and Places of Amusement). In the Brooklyn Eagle—November 14th, 1915—there is an ad for the Casino (“Rose Sydell and the Famous London Belles”) and under Motion Picture News a brief paragraph on the Oxford. In the Brooklyn Eagle—September 23, 1928—there is a listing for the Oxford under “Feature Films Showing Today”. Next to these listings is a small ad for the Casino (“Stock Burlesque” with “Runway Chorus of Beautiful Girls”.
The opening of the Casino can be found in the Brooklyn Citizen in September 1909. There is an article “24 Theatres Will Open Their Doors This Month” dealing with the new theatrical season in Brooklyn. It states “The new Casino is almost completed and will be ready for its opening sometime this month.” The theatre seems to have always been a burlesque house—I have not come across a film listing yet.
While both the Oxford and the Casino often give Flatbush Avenue and State Street as an address, the Casino is sometimes listed as 98 Flatbush. It closed in 1929. At some point in the 30s, the oxford turned to burlesque which could be why its license is listed as “revoked” in 1938. Perhaps there is some connection between the closing of the Casino and the Oxford’s switch to burlesque. Anyway more research is needed for the Oxford in the 1930s.
Harry Abbott, of the Columbia Burlesque Wheel, got his young son Bud a job at the Casino as “assistant treasurer” (dates vary 1911 or 14). This was the Bud Abbott’s first job in burlesque. Bud and/or his biographers often exaggerated the importance of this theatre.
According to various newspapers of the period, some 18 “stage, screen, radio, cabaret and newest celebrities” were brought from Manhattan to the Shelburne Hotel for dancing and then to the opening of Loew’s Coney Island. The Brooklyn Citizen (June 18, 1925) reported “the crowd gathered in front of the theatre was so great that a special cordon of police was necessary to keep the surging mass back from the entrance”. The paper also enjoyed “the impromptu show stage by Neils Granlund (N.T.G of W.H.N.). Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) was not amused—criticizing both Granlund and Johnny Hines for "smut patter” .
The papers also state “the new theatre will present pictures exclusively except for the week of June 22, when the Siamese Twins, Violet and Daisy Hilton will be introduced as an extra attraction”. This quote must have been taken from the same press release since it appears in several papers. At that time, the Hiltons were enjoying a certain popularity as a novelty musical act in vaudeville. Jazz playing Siamese twins may have been a novelty elsewhere but not at Coney Island. Motion Pictures Today (June 27, 1925) reporting that “the big Siamese Twins draw isn’t drawing”, adding that appearing at the Island’s various side shows that week was a “boy with an elephant’s ear” and a “girl with three legs”.
The Pioneer (sc. 524—sometimes listed as 600) opened around 1922 and closed in 1955.
The Lee Theatre opened around 1923 with a seating capacity of 550—sometimes given as 600. In the mid-1930s it was renamed the Model Theatre and closed in 1951. After the Model’s closing,the building was used at one point as a synagogue.
The Lee Theatre opened around 1923 with a seating capacity of 550—sometimes given as 600. In the mid-1930s it was renamed the Model Theatre, closing in 1951. Afterwards, the building became a synagogue at one point.
The Pioneer (sc. 524—also sometimes listed as 600) opened around 1922 and closed in 1955.
The 1926 Film Daily Yearbook seems to have erred again. There was a Ritz Theatre in 1926 but it was at 2085 Fulton Street. It opened around 1917 as the LeRoy (sc. 600). For a couple of years in the mid-1920s, the theatre was known as the Ritz. By the end of the decade it was the Paragon and is listed in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook under that name and with the correct address. LeRoy/Ritz/Paragon closed around 1933.
Lost Memory, as concerns the seating capacity of the Ridgewood Hippodrome. It most likely opened before the 1913 changes in the city ordinances. This would place seating at less than 299. Judging from your response a lot less. It was probably just a storefront theatre.
Wilson Street was originally Hamburg Avenue before World War I. At 474 Hamburg (later Wilson) was the Jefferson Casino Theatre. It is listed in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912 and also the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915. Since this theatre opened prior to the 1913 changes in the city ordinances, its capacity was most likely less than 299 seats. However once these changes took place many of the early movie houses increased their capacity. For example, both the Nostrand and Marathon theatres (in Brooklyn) became 600 seat houses after October 1913. This could also be true for the Jefferson.
In 1920, the Decatur, not the one on Broadway but the one at 610-12 Wilson, changed its name to the Woodrow Wilson Theatre. It is also possible that the Jefferson did the same becoming the Wilson Theatre.
The Brooklyn Eagle, for Sunday, Feb. 10th 1918, has an ad in the theatre section for the opening of the Alhambra and an article in Real Estate for “Ridgewood’s new $250,000 theatre”. The architects are listed as Carlson & Wiseman. A frieze along the exterior illustrated “discovery” and “war” (this is 1918). While the interior was decorated in “red, ivory & gold”. Designed for motion pictures and vaudeville, the stage was “fully capable of large dramatic and musical attractions”. According to The Eagle, Marcus Loew presented his Brooklyn stock company, the Alhambra Players at the theatre beginning in 1921. The company was suddenly pulled in 1925 “due to lack of community support”. At first the theatre was announced closed but it did continue on as a movie house. The actual closing date is usually given as 1951.
In April 1923 there was an open call for the chorus of “Linger Longer Letty” at the Alhambra. The impression given by the Brooklyn Eagle is that the women who tried out and those who were chosen were local people. If there is any interest I will post the names of the women selected(in case your grandmother once talked of playing the Alhambra).
“Itch” and “dump” were once common slang terms for run-down movie houses. Many of these had problems with cleanliness and sanitation. The Daily News once described the Globe, in Park Slope, as “so filthy that the management kept the lights off even when the movie was over”. In a totally unscientific survey, I have found the term “itch” used more in Brooklyn while in Queens “dump” was favored. Anyone wish to contribute to this survey? In any case, it wasn’t unusual to find two or more dumps/itches in a neighborhood.
Screeno, bank night, dish night, crazy auctions and a whole host of other gimmicks/novelties were once part of movie going and helped to lure audiences into the movie house (as if the double feature, chapter, cartoon(s) and short subject(s) weren’t enough).
My apologies. It should have been Ralph Street for the Ridgewood Hippodrome. Sorry about that.Also in Trow’s Business Directory for 1912, the Ridgewood Casino is listed at 381 Knickerbocker. The 1914-15 Directory does have various theatres listed that were predominately vaudeville, legit, or burlesque. Vaudeville wouldn’t necessarily account for the absence of the Ridgewood as mentioned by Warren. There might be other reasons for this just as there might be reasons for the Woodward and Woodbine Avenue listing for the Grandview.
“The American Motion Picture Directory : A Cyclopedic Directory of the Motion Picture Industry 1914-15” does list the Grand View Theatre (their spelling) and gives the address as Woodward & Woodbine. Hopefully that makes some sense to those in Ridgewood. If not there could be a couple of good reasons for this address. The Ridgewood Folly is not listed. The Grand View is under Brooklyn Theatres. The only one mentioned under its own Ridgewood section is the Irving Theatre. Other theatres listed with the name Ridgewood are:
Ridgewood Hippodrome 498 Ralph Avenue
Ridgewood Amusement Co. 189 Elgert (most likely not the name of the theatre)
Ridgewood Amusement Palace 490 Woodward
Ridgewood Casino 383 Knickerbocker Avenue.
As concerns the 1926 listing of the Grand View on Grand Street. The Film Daily Yearbook erred (it did happen on occasion). It should have read Grandview and not Grand Street. The Grand Theatre opened in 1913 at 741 Grand Street. It is listed at that address in the 1929 Film Daily Yearbook as is the Grand View (once again their spelling) at 659 Grandview.
I’m not totally sure when the Starr opened. The earliest listing I have is 1927. This date would agree with Warren’s information posted above. According to one source the theatre closed in 1968. The Knickerbocker Casino and the Knickerbocker Airdome were both closed for more than a decade when the Starr opened. Don’t think they would have had any influence on the name. I do have a photo taken in the late 60s of a closed and vandalized Starr Theatre.
In 1912, the Hudson Motion Picture Co. is listed at 207 Myrtle Avenue. Most likely this is the Hudson Theatre listed in 1915.So the space may have been in operation a year or two before 1912. The seating capacity is 500. Circa 1920, this became the United. At the end of the 1920s, seating for the United is listed at 1,600. Warren mentions above that the Brooklyn Heights Theaters, Inc. was in the process of building the United in 1926. It would seem likely that this earlier theatre was replaced by a larger structure. In the mid-1930s it is often listed as the New United Theatre. In any case the site was taken over by the NYCHA in July 1942.
The Crescent Film Company was not an outdoor theatre but a short lived movie studio operated by Fred J. Balshofer and Herman Kolle. It is well documented in Balshofer’s book “One Reel a Week”.
The Crescent was based behind Prospect Hall, an old amusement hall (will explain if need be)at 263 Prospect Avenue. It used the space underneath the outdoor beer garden’s stage for a lab.
Herman’s father owned Prospect Hall and his older brother William D. Kolle was the manager.
Starting in 1906, the beer garden offered vaudeville and movies free with food and drink. The ads are the first that I have been able to find for regular performances of motion pictures in Park Slope. In July 1910, the garden was given a neo-classical look and renamed the Venetian Garden. This officially became an airdome in 1914. “The Prospect Hall Venetian Garden” presented “high class motion pictures and vaudeville every evening from 8 to 11 o'clock."In 1916 it became the Prospect Hall Garden under the management of Rudolph Sanders. Prospect Hall also operated for a brief time a movie theatre next door called The Idle Hall. Prospect Hall still survives and has had a long and interesting involvement with motion pictures and other forms of entertainment.
I thought someone would bring up the Marquee article. If you check the Brooklyn newspapers in the late 1890s and early 20th century you will find ads for the Gayety at Broadway and Troop. Also ads for the Unique at 194 Grand Street. There is a nice drawing of the interior of the Gayety in the Brooklyn Eagle August 1896. The accompaning article gives the address as Broadway & Troop. There is also an article on the Gayety in the Brooklyn Citizen for June 7th, 1908. It mentions the Broadway address for the Gayety. The 1912 business directory lists the Comedy Theatre at 194 Grand and the Gayety at 18 Troop Avenue. The Gayety opened on November 7th, 1892 and closed in 1933. At one time it was operated by Hyde & Behman. Back to Al Jolson, he appeared at the Unique in 1900 and again in 1904 (twice). In March 1903, he performed at the Gayety. By the way, according to the 1908 Brooklyn Citizen article, the Gayety Theatre was the best place in the Eastern District to “see shapely young women in tights”. I leave it to you to decide if and where a mistake was made.
The Metro was built on the site of the old Unique Theatre, a vaudeville/legit house that had opened on Aug. 18th, 1894. It was known locally as “Da Bum”. A young Al Jolson’s first Brooklyn appearance took place at the Unique Dec. 10-15 1900. Taken over by William Fox as a movie house the Unique became the Comedy (aka The Comedy, aka Fox’s Comedy Theatre). It was demolished in 1923.
The Metro opened around 1926 with an advertised seating capacity of 1,200. However the Film Daily Yearbooks place capacity at 990. It closed in the late 1940s (47?). It is still listed under the name Metro in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook.
Just noticed another “if” in regards to one of my entires. As stated there was a Boardwalk Theatre listed in the Film Daily Yearbook. It is one of two mentioned under the Arverne heading. However no addresses are given. The address may have changed or Cinematours may be in error. There are a few errors on that site just as there a few on this one.
By the way, the earliest movie exhibition, I have been able to find for Knickerbocker Avenue is at 326 for a theatre operated by Louis Plaut from 1907-1909. No name is given for this theatre and it might not have had one.
If there was a Knickerbocker Casino? Anyway the earliest mention of this theatre that I can find is 1911. Under Moving Picture Exhibitions in Trow’s Business Directory (1912) there is a movie theatre at that address listed under the name Robert Horsley who must have been the owner of the theatre. The theatre name is not given. The Casino is not listed in the American Motion Picture Directory (1915).
As concerns the Knickerbocker Airdome, I can only find one year listed—1914. Was it a fly-by-night operation that opened in an empty lot one summer and than vanished? I don’t know.
Yes I am familiar with the Starr. There were quite a few theatres along Knickerbocker at various times.
With 585 seats, the Boardwalk Theatre was located in Arverne in Far Rockaway. In the 1920s it also advertised the Boardwalk roof (no capacity given). The theatre is still listed as opened in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook.
I also believe there was a question concerning the Knickerbocker Theatre. There were two in operation briefly during the 1910s in Brooklyn: the Knickerbocker Casino Theatre which gave 274 Knickerbocker Avenue as an address and also the Knickerbocker Airdome at Knickerbocker & Halsey
Peter K.
The original Colonial Theatre opened in April 1912 and closed March 1st, 1920.The building was demolished for the (New) Colonial Theatre opening in 1921 with a capacity of 2,224.
An airdome, with seating for 2000, is listed from 1915-1925. Not sure of its exact location in relation to the indoor space (next door?, in back?)
The original owners (1911-1912)of the Colonial were Allen & Wood with a Herman Mayer listed in 1913.
The Irving Theatre opened on April 11th, 1914 with the Irving Airdome next door. The outdoor theatre was listed as being larger with a seating capacity of 1,600 compared to the 595 for the indoor space. It was listed as the Mozart when it closed in 1942.
As concerns the Chopin, it opened as the American in 1914 with a bald eagle perched on top. The last time I was on Manhattan Avenue, the bird was still there.
One final note, there were several outdoor theatres along Myrtle.
There is mention of a theatre on this site in 1910 belonging to one John Droge. The earliest reference I have found to a Nassau theatre is 1914. It is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 (“Nassau Theatre,Nassau Avenue nr. Manhattan”). This early directory does not give seating capacity. However the 1926 Film Daily Yearbook list capacity at 600 with an address of 92 Nassau. The 1947 Film Daily Yearbook shows 599 seats and the address of 88 Nassau (I have seen the address given as 88-92 Nassau).My files show it closing in 1953. It became a catering hall at one point.