Williamsburg Theatre
279 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
279 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
8 people
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Showing 101 - 114 of 114 comments
asbag: are there any theaters being built/renovated in williamsburg right now? thanks
I grew up in Williamsburg between 1940 and 1953 and attended all the theaters in that part of Brooklyn. At Roebling and Lee Avenue was the Wilson Theater which was closed by then. The Astor Theater was at Roebling and Broadway. I attended the theater until it burned down. It was later converted into a cafeteria called the Concord. The Marcy Theater was at Marcy Ave.& Broadway. Further east was the Commodore and north the Republic which both played first run films. The pecking order of films was that they started in Times Square, went to Downtown Brooklyn and then the Commodore & Republic. The Williamsburg received older films.
The Williamsburg was located next to Stevens Custard & Levy’s Hot Dogs. My cousin owned Levy’s and one afternoon he told me that another cousin (who I didn’t know) owned the Williamsburg Theater. He brought me over to meet the owner who promptly gave me a lifetime pass to the Theater. I thought I died and went to Hollywood heaven. If there is anything else you would like to know about Williamsburg and the theaters there, let me know.
Asbag
Did the Williamsburg have a marquee? I went there several times in the late 1970’s ( I saw Ruby, Abby, Sinbad). I don’t remember the marquee. I do wish I could find a picture from the 1970’s of the theater.
Thank you very much for posting those photos. I really ought to take a ride out there one day. It’s been so many years since I have been right there.
Last time I was in the Williamsburg, I watched a Mexican double bill that consisted of a comedy starring the lengendary Cantinflas, followed by a b&w drama about a crime fighting wrestler who never took off his mask. This was in 1979 when they ran Spanish-lingo fare but soon after changed policy to run grindhouse junk. Eventually the Williamsburg closed in 1983 with the last movie to play being the American remake of “Breathless” starring Richard Gere.
Hmmm, I don’t know why the links didn’t work, they appeared okay in the preview.
Anyway, let’s try again:
Here’s a photo of the Williamsburg Theater taken yesterday. It still has a semi look of a theater, although as mentioned, it has been partitioned.
Click here for image
There is some ornamentation left too on the exterior trying to peak through.
Click here for image of ornamentation remaining
Here’s a photo of the Williamsburg Theater taken yesterday. It still has a semi look of a theater, although as mentioned, it has been partitioned.
Click here for image
There is some ornamentation left too on the exterior trying to peak through.
Click here for image of remaining ornamentation
I remember the Williamsburg. It was right under the Marcy Avenue B.M.T. subway station. In 1950, it mainly showed 2nd or 3rd rate movies. For about 3 hours, it showed many westerns and 3 stooges movies. I don’t remember if it was air conditioned, but you can hear the elevated trains that was right outside.
The building is still there, its now partitioned
for two 99c stores.
Also the neighborhood is going through gentrification
and luxury apartments.
The former Williamsburg Theatre space currently houses a 99-cent store.
Is the Williamsburg still standing, and if it is, what is it now?
Does anyone know if this theater is the “Aster” theater seen in this photo below at the Marcy ave station? If it’s not, do any of you know if the Aster theater was also known by another name, as I can’t find any information on this site. There is also a Marcy Theater, and a “Square” Theater that also has a Broadway address that is in the 300’s or 200’s. which is correct for around the Marcy Ave station. So which is the “Aster” theater?
[url]http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?7849[/url]
The Williamsburg was down the street from the Commodore. At one time they had the name Commodore 3 on the top line of the marquee and used to move over films from the Commodore Twin which had the same owners.
I remembered this theater very well. It was really a playhouse. The lobby was very small. But it had charm. I will try to see if I can get to take pictures of what is now a 99 cent store. I wish I could find an old photograph of the theater lobby. Now that I know it was originally a playhouse it makes sense why it was so small. I saw a movie titled Abby there. It was a rip-off of The Exorcist with an all Black cast. But it was good.