Commodore Cinemas
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
329 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
22 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 304 comments
I have a vague memory of the ice cream parlor ( I am 41). I remember going to the Commodore (against my will) to see a Spanish show featuring some of the big names of that era; circa late 70’s. I didn’t go to the movies much (cue the violins) and perhaps that’s why I have always had a fascination with movie houses. I remember the Marcy from taking the B53 bus to get to Bridge Plaza. But I never went there. It was the Williamsburg.
Nice story micheelandanniegirl, the classic theaters have some many memories for everyone that attended them.
Thanks for your post, anniegirl. Always a pleasure reading you.
Dear Billburg, I do not have any pictures but I have lots of memories of the Commodore theater….As a child of the 50’s and 60’s The commodore was the place to be on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 P. M. I lived in Williamsburgh my whole childhood. Me and my friends would go every Saturday to the commodore or the Republic down on Rodney & Grand street (now a texaco station). After the movie, we would go to the Ice Cream Parlor down the block from the Commodore and have egg creams or if we were at the Republic (R&F as we called it) we would buy a dozen bagels at the Republic Bagel Factory across the street from the moviehouse and eat one or two on the way home….Loved growing up in Williamsburg..the moviehouses will stay in my memory forever……anniegirl.
Panzer65, I know all too well that feeling of important landmarks, that are links to significant events in one’s past, being lost or destroyed, one by one. As in the Emmy-nominated episode of Rod Serling’s “Night Gallery”, “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar”.
PKoch.
Indeed, it felt exactly like my heart took a direct hit, but its true that time heals all wounds, and with the tremendous strength that God has given me I can cope with it, and by sharing my memories with fellow members and friends, it makes me even stronger.
Has anyone seen pictures of the Commodore in its heyday? Or any pics?
You’re welcome, Panzer65. I can well imagine that seeing the Commodore destroyed would be like losing your wife all over again.
PKoch,
Thank you, I will always remember the movie Ghost,its so ironic that this scene ,along with my memory of my wife and the Commodore all come together, so you could imagine my reaction to seeing it being destroyed.
My condolences, Panzer65, on the death of your wife.
Re : “Ghost” : The spirit of hired assassin Willie Lopez was shown being dragged into hell by demons under the el at Myrtle and Bway, four el stops southeast of Marcy Avenue on the Bway el.
On Billburgs post:
is ADelgado75…Angelo Delgado who used to own the Commodore with Arthur?
This is the guy from Energy Beverage who supplied your FruitPunch and Orange!
Thanks for your reply Bway,
I do remember that scene under the “El”, and have not veiwed Ghost for some time now, maybe because I’m saddened my its memory. I am happy that you enjoyed my story, it was from the heart.
Great story! How ironic you seeing Ghost at the Commodore…and part of the movie was filmed further up Broadway on the Myrtle and Broadway Subway Platform, and down below under the station at the street intersection. The scene where Sam goes looking for Willy he gets off at the Myrtle station, and later in the film, Willy gets taken by the demons under the station at Myrtle and Broadway.
The demolition of the Commodore is bittersweet for me. I lived in Williamsburg for five years with my girlfriend whom I married. She wanted to see Ghost in 1990 so badly she suggested we go to The Com for my first and only visit. It was a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to say the least. And I remember its modest admission fee.
Sadly my wife died in 1992, and I moved back to my native Queens. But the movie Ghost and the Commodore have a place in my heart and memory.On a recent trip with my sister in law I drove past the Com, to see its roof destroyed, and a bulldozer parked nearby. Its was a sad sight indeed, and cringed upon seeing it.Tomorrow is the anniversary of my wifes passing, may the Commodore also restin peace.
Warren?
Somewher out there I am sure there’s a picture of the theater when it first opened.
To Charlieq, thanks for those great pics.
To BillH, this site is intended for sharing our memories of neighborhood movie theaters.
For Heavens Sake, Get Over It!!!!!!!
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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
The whole intro may need to be changed, as while I wish it wasn’t true, the Commodore is gone. And of course the intro says it’s in “pretty good shape despite the wear of time”, which probably wasn’t accurate since it closed in 2003. SAD, but unfortunately true. I wish the opening statements still held true. A sad ending for a grand old landmark.
…and how many times the cup would get stuck and you just stood there and watched everything go down the drain. A great Lesson Of Life there. A lesson that didn’t sink in ‘till years later!
I suppose the status of the theater should now be changed to: DEMOLISHED.
Ah, Commodore, poor Commodore…
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
Bway, the link above is: posted by custer on Oct 6, 2006 at 10:28pm It is a flickr slide show. The first photo looks like the inside of the auditorium. On Google Earth, the stage area is right on the point where the organ chamber is, but there is no stage house only an odd roof appendage. It seems like this theater was not designed for vaudville or any type of stage presentation. Maybe that’s why Anniegirl had to use the side stairs to collect her prizes! Boy, Broadway in the fifties was A Different Place, eh?!
Bren, I can’t find the link to even the dark photo you mentioned. What’s the link, or what date was it posted on?