Dear J.F. Lundy that is a great pic of the Republic. Me and my friends spent many a Saturday at the movies and the Republic Bagels across the street. After the movie was over, we would go to the Bagel place and buy a dozen and bring them home. My Mom loved the Hot bagels and sometimes serve them with Dinner. UMMMMMMMMM. The republic would be a great place to see first run movies. My Aunt’s and Uncle’s would go at night to the Republic and see some great Movies, instead of Traveling to Downtown Brooklyn or New York City.
Thats for the pic…….Anniegirl
To brenograph and Bway, Yes very sad ending to a local great place for a kid like me to spend many a Saturday afternoons with my friends. Seeing such movies as “I was a Teenage Werewolf” with Michael Landon and Showboat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and many others too many to say. Goodbye my Sweet Prince!!!!!!!!!Anniegirl
Dear brenograph, Anniegirl here, yes we used the side stairs to go onstage to collect our prizes for holloween, the best costume, however we never went backstage, we were directed to exit via the stairs on both sides of the stage. The commodore was truly a small theater. The bathrooms were on the first floor. The ladies room was to the right when you entered the front door after giving your ticket to the usher. The lounge chairs were in terrible condition.All torn into the leather seating…. Not that you spent all of your time in the ladies room. The candy stand was small right in front of the entry door. The Soda machine was to the right next to the consesion stand. I remember the old fashion Soda Machine. When you put the money in and selected the flavor, the cup would drop down and the syrup would come out then the seltzer, the you would struggle to get the filled cup out of the machine. Some sanitary condition back then, however we had fun on those Saturday movies…….Anniegirl
KarenN. go on BrooklynPix.com and punch in Greenpoint or go on Locallive.com and get birds eye views of Greenpoint. I used to go to all of the places on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint in the 1960’s I hung out in McCarran Park when I was 15 years old and the Triangle Park on Bedford and Loimer Street with my friends as a kid. Lot’s of fun there. I remember going to the Library on Norman Ave. I grew up in Williamsburgh but always went to Greenpoint to shop. Also went to the Meserole Theater to see First Rate Movies. Also the RKO was still open for a short time when I was a kid. I now the Pizza Prince is still there but they expanded. I used to go there wnen it was a small store back in 1963 and 1964 with my boyfriend Joe at the time. We used to chow down a whole pizza between us. We were skinny kids then. Ask you parents about the Chinese Resturant Upstairs on Manhattan Ave. I got married and had my reception at the Polaniase Terrace. Lots of Memories. Enjoy the websites. Anniegirl
When I went to the Commodore in the 1950’s, I never heard the organ playing even when we had contests they never opened to the backstage. We kids used to use the side stairs in front of the screen to come up on stage……Anniegirl
Oh my God, these pictures are a wake-up call that these precious memories of day’s gone by are gone forever. This building was our Saturday hangout as kids growing up in Williamsburgh. The saturday movies were our get a way to fantasy land. This building will burn in my memory forever. It’s just a shame that they could not renovate the place. Does anyone know what the plan is for the property? Anniegirl
Dear J.F Lundy, Fun growing up in Brooklyn, I was born in 1945. When I was a child of 5 I used to go to Greenpoint with my Aunt. I remember the B61 Crosstown Trolley. It used to go along Whythe Ave and travel on Bedford Ave towards Greenpoint. My Aunt used to go to the Hat, Bag and Glove Stores. We used to get Frozen Dessert there on the corner and Sometimes go to the Movie. Either the RKO or the Meserole. Sometimes we would eat Chinese Food upstairs at the Chinese Resturant a block away. It is closed now. and Greenpoint has changed alot.jMy Mom would go to the Trunz Meat Market and buy her meat order. We would also go to St. Anthony’s Church sometimes. Do you come from the area and do you remember Van Dohlens Ice Cream Parlor on Manhattan Ave near Bedford Ave?….Anniegirl
Dear Astyanax anniegirl here, I have been taking to Ligg about the Rainbow theater on graham ave. It’s up for sale for 15 Million. can u imagine that 15 Million. Ligg says that the lobby has been completly restored. Go on the site for either the Rainbow or the Commodore and read the remarks. Pretty interesting stuff, considering the commodore is about to be totally torn down to nothing ness. anniegirl
that would be great for the community. I would only hope it would not be a multiplex type of moviehouse. That seems to be the norm of the day. Anniegirl
Yes Ligg, the poor Comodore is finished. I only wish they would re-build it into a Moviehouse or Playhouse. There should have been a group of professional’s in the Arts that could have saved the structure and converted into a Fine Arts or a Williamsburg Museum. And we could have contributed some sort of memoribilia of past history of the commodore. I went on the site of the Rainbow and now I recall where it was but I did not frequent that part of the neighborhood when I was growing up in the 1950’s, only Grand Street area to shop at Charles Stores and others on Grand Street. Anniegirl
Hey Joe Anniegirl here. Sad to say the Commodore is coming down and who knows what is going to replace it. I vaguely remember the Rainbow. i lived in Williamsburg from 1945 ( when I was Born) to 1970 when I married and moved to Astoria. I went to all the movies the commodore, republic marcy williamsburg. All these great moviehouses. The Aster was gone by the time I was allowed to go with my friends. Great days gone by. A Pity. Anniegirl
Dear Cypress, I knew the Commodore Theater well. I grew up in Williamsburgh in the 1950’s. My e-mail address is if you want to talk about the past movie theaters in the old neighborhood. I already have spoken to Robert 4470 and others about how the movies of old are disappearing one by one. How sad it is to say the least. Talking about apartments, how about the old Schaefer Brewery. Now it is called “Schaefer Landing” and apt’s are going for the low $600 s. Can you imagine that…. My uncle was one of the brewmasters there and my other uncle worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard……. Which is now in ruins on Flushing Avenue and the main building is now a film studio.Anniegirl
Dear Smoky, Where on Rutledge Street did you live. My Aunt Nancy Russo and her children Eugene, Gary and Sally lived between Marcy and Lee Avenue and my Friend Virginia Molloy lived on Rutledge in the Apartment house between Lee and Bedford near Schlensky’s Drug Store on Lee Ave. Do you remember Faust Ice Cream parlor on Bedford and Rutledge.During the 50’s and all of us went to the Model Movie house on Lee Avenue. Then we went to the Commodore on Broadway. I lived on Penn Street between Bedford and Whythe Ave. I surely remember hYMIES. You have to remember Kraemer’s Bakery on Penn and Lee. If you get this, e-mail me at and we can talk about the good old days in Williamsburgh. Happy New Year Smoky.
Dear Hannah, you are absoulely correct is is Division Ave. I was born and raised in Williamsburgh in 1945.I Lived on Penn Street and Bedford Ave. I remember Hymie’s Carriage and Bicicle Store right next door to the old Wilson Theater. The building was boarded up by the time I could remember And the public school across the street. We used to call it Wilson Park and go there quite often. I also remeber Clymer Street that was where the old 90 Precient was. I also remember 2 Beauty Parlor’s on Division Ave right across from the precient house on Clymer Don’s Beauty Parlor which became Bella’s Beauty Parlor when Don retired and sold to Bella. Toby was the manicurist and electorsist there. Glamour Beauty Parlor was around
the corner on Roebeling Street next to a Jewish Deli. Lee ave was a bunch of stores esc=peciall Flaum’s Appetiser store—great pickles There were a few candy stores on Lee Ave also. Shapiro’s on Lee and Hooper St. Another candy store across the street from Shapiro’s. Bill’s candy store on Penn and Lee and Lippy’s Candy store on Lee and Rutledge Street. As kids we went to all of them. Also the bakery called Kramer’s on Penn and Lee Avenue. They are all gone now. I had an opportunity to be in the neighborhood last year with my Daughter and gave her a tour of the old place, much to my dismay all the memories of my childhood are now just memories except my old school which was Transfiguration on Marcy Avenue and Hooper Street. I stiol have a Dear friend who lives on Hewes Street and we went to school together and we talk often about the old days, and the old moviehouses which are now extinct. Anniegirl
Dear KenRoe. Thanks for the photo. I used to shop on Grand Street as a kid from Williamsburg, and often seen that moviehouse before it closed I do not remember when it closed. I used to take the Metropolitan Ave Bus Q54 into Bridge Plaza and I do not remember it being a porn moviehouse. What do you say. anniegirl
Dear JKane. I was a kid growing up in the 50’s in Williamsburg Brooklyn when this Theater was in full swing along with the Williamsburgh Theater and the Republic and the Marcy. To view Custer photo’s of the interior of that old showplace was horrible to say the least. I do not know how the owners could let that building get in such disarray. But the other moviehouses in the neighborhood are gone now so what is an old brooklynite like me to think anything in the neighborhood could be spared. Just my opinion. What do you think?anniegirl.
Dear Broadway go to Custer’s photo’s from 10-05-06,. They show the interior of the Commodore. I do not think the pic’s of that Video is in the interior of the Commodore Theater. It’s a mess in there. Not ever like it was back in the day when I went to the movies. It’s all in the past now. Anniegirl
Dear custer, Thanks for the pictures of a grand old place where I spent most of my Saturday’s with my friends at the moviehouse. For 50 cents we seen first rate movies there. Like Casino Royale with David Niven, Sci-Fi movies and Westerns and Musicals, with Doris Day and many more. In the 50’s we even had Costume Shows on Stage and got prizes for the best costume. The matrons with their flaslights used to hush us up if we were making too much noise. We were never allowed to sit in the lodge section. They were reserved for the late afternoon and evening patrons. The ladies room was painted green and had only 3 stalls. but had a lounge with fake leather seats, some had holes in them from smokers in the bathroom. Again thanks for the pictures. Anniegirl
Dear J.F. Lundy that is a great pic of the Republic. Me and my friends spent many a Saturday at the movies and the Republic Bagels across the street. After the movie was over, we would go to the Bagel place and buy a dozen and bring them home. My Mom loved the Hot bagels and sometimes serve them with Dinner. UMMMMMMMMM. The republic would be a great place to see first run movies. My Aunt’s and Uncle’s would go at night to the Republic and see some great Movies, instead of Traveling to Downtown Brooklyn or New York City.
Thats for the pic…….Anniegirl
To brenograph and Bway, Yes very sad ending to a local great place for a kid like me to spend many a Saturday afternoons with my friends. Seeing such movies as “I was a Teenage Werewolf” with Michael Landon and Showboat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and many others too many to say. Goodbye my Sweet Prince!!!!!!!!!Anniegirl
Dear brenograph, Anniegirl here, yes we used the side stairs to go onstage to collect our prizes for holloween, the best costume, however we never went backstage, we were directed to exit via the stairs on both sides of the stage. The commodore was truly a small theater. The bathrooms were on the first floor. The ladies room was to the right when you entered the front door after giving your ticket to the usher. The lounge chairs were in terrible condition.All torn into the leather seating…. Not that you spent all of your time in the ladies room. The candy stand was small right in front of the entry door. The Soda machine was to the right next to the consesion stand. I remember the old fashion Soda Machine. When you put the money in and selected the flavor, the cup would drop down and the syrup would come out then the seltzer, the you would struggle to get the filled cup out of the machine. Some sanitary condition back then, however we had fun on those Saturday movies…….Anniegirl
KarenN. go on BrooklynPix.com and punch in Greenpoint or go on Locallive.com and get birds eye views of Greenpoint. I used to go to all of the places on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint in the 1960’s I hung out in McCarran Park when I was 15 years old and the Triangle Park on Bedford and Loimer Street with my friends as a kid. Lot’s of fun there. I remember going to the Library on Norman Ave. I grew up in Williamsburgh but always went to Greenpoint to shop. Also went to the Meserole Theater to see First Rate Movies. Also the RKO was still open for a short time when I was a kid. I now the Pizza Prince is still there but they expanded. I used to go there wnen it was a small store back in 1963 and 1964 with my boyfriend Joe at the time. We used to chow down a whole pizza between us. We were skinny kids then. Ask you parents about the Chinese Resturant Upstairs on Manhattan Ave. I got married and had my reception at the Polaniase Terrace. Lots of Memories. Enjoy the websites. Anniegirl
When I went to the Commodore in the 1950’s, I never heard the organ playing even when we had contests they never opened to the backstage. We kids used to use the side stairs in front of the screen to come up on stage……Anniegirl
Dear Bway, That’s why this place did not have to become such an eyesore….it was still in good condition.Anniegirl
Oh my God, these pictures are a wake-up call that these precious memories of day’s gone by are gone forever. This building was our Saturday hangout as kids growing up in Williamsburgh. The saturday movies were our get a way to fantasy land. This building will burn in my memory forever. It’s just a shame that they could not renovate the place. Does anyone know what the plan is for the property? Anniegirl
Dear Broadway, I had the pic’s but I inadvertinly deleted them. It looks terrible and a shame that this beautiful moviehouse be torn down. Anniegirl
Dear J.F Lundy, Fun growing up in Brooklyn, I was born in 1945. When I was a child of 5 I used to go to Greenpoint with my Aunt. I remember the B61 Crosstown Trolley. It used to go along Whythe Ave and travel on Bedford Ave towards Greenpoint. My Aunt used to go to the Hat, Bag and Glove Stores. We used to get Frozen Dessert there on the corner and Sometimes go to the Movie. Either the RKO or the Meserole. Sometimes we would eat Chinese Food upstairs at the Chinese Resturant a block away. It is closed now. and Greenpoint has changed alot.jMy Mom would go to the Trunz Meat Market and buy her meat order. We would also go to St. Anthony’s Church sometimes. Do you come from the area and do you remember Van Dohlens Ice Cream Parlor on Manhattan Ave near Bedford Ave?….Anniegirl
Billburg Anniegirl here. Sure send me the pics at my e-mail thanks anniegirl
Dear Astyanax anniegirl here, I have been taking to Ligg about the Rainbow theater on graham ave. It’s up for sale for 15 Million. can u imagine that 15 Million. Ligg says that the lobby has been completly restored. Go on the site for either the Rainbow or the Commodore and read the remarks. Pretty interesting stuff, considering the commodore is about to be totally torn down to nothing ness. anniegirl
that would be great for the community. I would only hope it would not be a multiplex type of moviehouse. That seems to be the norm of the day. Anniegirl
Yes Ligg, the poor Comodore is finished. I only wish they would re-build it into a Moviehouse or Playhouse. There should have been a group of professional’s in the Arts that could have saved the structure and converted into a Fine Arts or a Williamsburg Museum. And we could have contributed some sort of memoribilia of past history of the commodore. I went on the site of the Rainbow and now I recall where it was but I did not frequent that part of the neighborhood when I was growing up in the 1950’s, only Grand Street area to shop at Charles Stores and others on Grand Street. Anniegirl
Hey Joe Anniegirl here. Sad to say the Commodore is coming down and who knows what is going to replace it. I vaguely remember the Rainbow. i lived in Williamsburg from 1945 ( when I was Born) to 1970 when I married and moved to Astoria. I went to all the movies the commodore, republic marcy williamsburg. All these great moviehouses. The Aster was gone by the time I was allowed to go with my friends. Great days gone by. A Pity. Anniegirl
Dear Ligg, Where wxactly was the Rainbow on Graham Avenue and what cross street. I vaguely remember that theater. Anniegirl
Dear Cypress, I knew the Commodore Theater well. I grew up in Williamsburgh in the 1950’s. My e-mail address is if you want to talk about the past movie theaters in the old neighborhood. I already have spoken to Robert 4470 and others about how the movies of old are disappearing one by one. How sad it is to say the least. Talking about apartments, how about the old Schaefer Brewery. Now it is called “Schaefer Landing” and apt’s are going for the low $600 s. Can you imagine that…. My uncle was one of the brewmasters there and my other uncle worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard……. Which is now in ruins on Flushing Avenue and the main building is now a film studio.Anniegirl
ok Warren, I will e-mail you asap
Dear Warren could not open the above 1952 pic. Please reput it in again. Happy New Year.
Dear Smoky, See my post on the Wilson Theater Site. My e-mail address is We can talk about growing up in Brooklyn. Williamsburgh to be exact.
Dear Smoky, Where on Rutledge Street did you live. My Aunt Nancy Russo and her children Eugene, Gary and Sally lived between Marcy and Lee Avenue and my Friend Virginia Molloy lived on Rutledge in the Apartment house between Lee and Bedford near Schlensky’s Drug Store on Lee Ave. Do you remember Faust Ice Cream parlor on Bedford and Rutledge.During the 50’s and all of us went to the Model Movie house on Lee Avenue. Then we went to the Commodore on Broadway. I lived on Penn Street between Bedford and Whythe Ave. I surely remember hYMIES. You have to remember Kraemer’s Bakery on Penn and Lee. If you get this, e-mail me at and we can talk about the good old days in Williamsburgh. Happy New Year Smoky.
Dear Hannah, you are absoulely correct is is Division Ave. I was born and raised in Williamsburgh in 1945.I Lived on Penn Street and Bedford Ave. I remember Hymie’s Carriage and Bicicle Store right next door to the old Wilson Theater. The building was boarded up by the time I could remember And the public school across the street. We used to call it Wilson Park and go there quite often. I also remeber Clymer Street that was where the old 90 Precient was. I also remember 2 Beauty Parlor’s on Division Ave right across from the precient house on Clymer Don’s Beauty Parlor which became Bella’s Beauty Parlor when Don retired and sold to Bella. Toby was the manicurist and electorsist there. Glamour Beauty Parlor was around
the corner on Roebeling Street next to a Jewish Deli. Lee ave was a bunch of stores esc=peciall Flaum’s Appetiser store—great pickles There were a few candy stores on Lee Ave also. Shapiro’s on Lee and Hooper St. Another candy store across the street from Shapiro’s. Bill’s candy store on Penn and Lee and Lippy’s Candy store on Lee and Rutledge Street. As kids we went to all of them. Also the bakery called Kramer’s on Penn and Lee Avenue. They are all gone now. I had an opportunity to be in the neighborhood last year with my Daughter and gave her a tour of the old place, much to my dismay all the memories of my childhood are now just memories except my old school which was Transfiguration on Marcy Avenue and Hooper Street. I stiol have a Dear friend who lives on Hewes Street and we went to school together and we talk often about the old days, and the old moviehouses which are now extinct. Anniegirl
Dear KenRoe. Thanks for the photo. I used to shop on Grand Street as a kid from Williamsburg, and often seen that moviehouse before it closed I do not remember when it closed. I used to take the Metropolitan Ave Bus Q54 into Bridge Plaza and I do not remember it being a porn moviehouse. What do you say. anniegirl
Dear JKane. I was a kid growing up in the 50’s in Williamsburg Brooklyn when this Theater was in full swing along with the Williamsburgh Theater and the Republic and the Marcy. To view Custer photo’s of the interior of that old showplace was horrible to say the least. I do not know how the owners could let that building get in such disarray. But the other moviehouses in the neighborhood are gone now so what is an old brooklynite like me to think anything in the neighborhood could be spared. Just my opinion. What do you think?anniegirl.
Dear Broadway go to Custer’s photo’s from 10-05-06,. They show the interior of the Commodore. I do not think the pic’s of that Video is in the interior of the Commodore Theater. It’s a mess in there. Not ever like it was back in the day when I went to the movies. It’s all in the past now. Anniegirl
Dear custer, Thanks for the pictures of a grand old place where I spent most of my Saturday’s with my friends at the moviehouse. For 50 cents we seen first rate movies there. Like Casino Royale with David Niven, Sci-Fi movies and Westerns and Musicals, with Doris Day and many more. In the 50’s we even had Costume Shows on Stage and got prizes for the best costume. The matrons with their flaslights used to hush us up if we were making too much noise. We were never allowed to sit in the lodge section. They were reserved for the late afternoon and evening patrons. The ladies room was painted green and had only 3 stalls. but had a lounge with fake leather seats, some had holes in them from smokers in the bathroom. Again thanks for the pictures. Anniegirl