Bellerose Theater
245-14 Jericho Turnpike,
Floral Park,
NY
11001
245-14 Jericho Turnpike,
Floral Park,
NY
11001
10 people
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And one final thought – at the time the theatre closed the seating capacity was down to 880 according to a spokesperson at Century. The downsizing occurred when new seats were installed with more space between the aisles.
The last six rows were smoking. And don’t forget the children’s section and the matron.
Nobody said there was a balcony. I just referred to rumors, particularly with that huge staircase (with the projectionist booth directly at the top of the stairs.)
And may I elaborate on my original posting – Bellerose “Proper” was the incorporated Village.
Also on the rumor mill was the origin of the name. Supposedly after two sisters, Belle and Rose.
You’re right, Greg, there never was a balcony. On the second floor where we expect a balcony to be, was the projectionist’s room. Going up, the ladies room was on the right and the men’s on the left. The manager’s office was on the first floor, all the way to the left going in.
RVB, The most memorable double:
Feature: “The Virgin Queen” (Life of Queen Elizabeth I)
Cofeature: “Tonight’s the Night”
You are correct on the theatre layout, but I am unaware of plans for a balcony.
I lived in Bellerose Terrace (as opposed to “the Proper”) in Nassau County. Just around the corner from the movies. At 225th Street the street began it’s dual identity of Jamaica Av/Jericho Tpke. The Tpk was the Nassau side. Jericho took over both sides of the street in Floral Park. My address was Bellerose 26 until zip codes came in when it became 11426. My phone did have a Floral Park exchange. Over the years the theatre was shuttered several times, once before Century took over, the other toward the end when Century closed it making the Floral the dollar house. However, the Bellerose had a better location and they reopened it.
I remember the old, boxy incandescent lit marque, white name bulbs, yellow running lights, the installation of the new marque. If my childhood memories are correct the bathrooms were initially to the left of the lobby and downstairs. Century constructed a large second floor lounge. The original talk was they planned on adding a balcony.
The had one great projectionist who made everthing very theatrical, especially the way he treated 20th century fox films.
Films showed often included a foreign one on the double bill. On memorable double – To Bed or Not to Bed together with Seduced and Abandoned and no, they were not porn. This theatre never had that.
Okay, here’s a resolution of sorts. Legally, that is.
It was built in 1926 at “the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Rocky Hill Road” (now Braddock Avenue).
The building permits from 1945 state the address as 245-10-20, Jericho Turnpike, Bellerose, L.I. The alterations were on the Southwest corner of Jamaica Avenue and 246th Street.
It is listed on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.
It was approved by the Town of Hempstead and submitted to the Nassau County Planning Commission.
So, legally, it’s Nassau.
BTW, how do you submit information for the boxed section up at the top of this page?
Hope this helps!
My father took me to see The Tingler – rumor has it that the seats were wired so that when you saw the tingler you got a mild shock(?)
Listen. There will never be a resolution to this issue. It has always been a problem. My problem is the following. If you’re going to use it as a way for people to find it, it won’t work that way. For instance, if you are at the old Floral theater in Floral Park and want to go to the Bellrose there is a problem. People will go west on Jericho Tnpke, pass Little neck parkway into Bellrose. You are then going to tell me that it turns into Floral Park again. Not a good solution.
And not to totally confuse matters, but a couple years ago, the north westbound side of this road was called Jamaica Ave, and the south eastbound side was called Jericho Turnpike. To lessen the confusion, didn’t they recently change a portion of this road, the south side in Nassau to be officially Jamaica Ave a few years ago? I believe this stretch (meaning this will effect the theaters CURRENT address) called Jamaica Ave now? It’s either that or the former Jamaica Ave side is now called Jericho Turnpike. I forgot which.
And by the way, this theater IS in Bellerose, and should be listed as such. Just because the post office from Floral Park serves this location due to convenience because it’s north of the railroad tracks is besides the point.
Warren, the community of “Bellerose” is not “Soley in Queens”. I know people that live in Bellerose, but are in Nassau County. I have no idea what the offical address of this theater is, or what it should be, but Bellerose is NOT only in Queens, it also is contained partly in Nassau County.
Okay, next, I did a mapquest search for this address and it turns up for Bellerose:
View link
Next, according to my Nassau County atlas by Hagstroms, the SOUTH side of Jericho Turnpike in THIS location IS in NASSAU county. The county line runs down the middle of the street, and north of the turnpike is Queens, and south of the turnpike is NASSAU.
Now, here is where the problem lies….. The theater IS in Bellerose, and IS in Nassau county. HOWEVER, the area of Bellerose, a part that is IN Nassau county, from the county line, almong Jericho….north of the RAILROAD tracks, and west of Remsen Ave….while WHOLEY in Nassau IS SERVED by the Floral Park Post office…..
So in summary, the theater IS fully in Bellerose. It IS fully in NASSAU, but the post office of Floral Park serves their mail.
Corrected. Thanks, Lost!
Patrick,
Understood! But you DO have your hands full!
If the residents of the (incorporated) Village of Bellerose, or the (unincorporated) hamlet of Bellerose Terrace were polled, few (if any) would admit to being part of Floral Park.
Furthermore, I’d be willing to bet that a substantial majority indicate “Bellerose” as their mailing address, notwithstanding the fact that they must use the required “11001” ZIP code (see my earlier comment on this subject).
Warren,
Re, “The Bellerose Theatre was one of the landmarks of Bellerose, Queens.”
Sorry, but you are dead wrong! The theatre is – and has always been – located in Bellerose Terrace, an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County!
You appear to speak of two other theatres in Floral Park. Besides the Floral – where I worked for 2 years – what is the other one?
Greg
To clarify my remarks, Greg, we’re most interested in finding an address that will map properly on Google Maps.
This may or may not be the official mailing address. We should all keep in mind that addresses are always an approximation… there’s never a true right answer.
Ultimately, our goal is to use the most current, most active address that will allow us to successfully map the location of a theater. Secondarily, we’ll try to preserve the historical address, especially in cases where roads have disappeared, etc.
Warren,
Sorry, I was composing my earlier note when you released yours this morning. Had I seen it before my own release, I would have elaborated a bit more.
Longislandmovies is right. If you ignore the (unshared) ZIP codes and post office names, there is Bellerose in Queens, the Incorporated Village of Bellerose, and the (unincorporated) hamlet of Bellerose Terrace in Nassau.
BTW, did you know that much of Greater Bellerose (yes, all three) was developed by the same female builder – Helen Marsh – starting around 1900; with the wealthier (now incorporated) Village going up first? The Queens side started around 1910, and Bellerose Terrace a bit later.
Also, Bellerose (i.e., Beautiful Rose) was named by the builder to call attention to its proximity to Floral Park; which was developed by the wealthy florist, John Lewis Childs.
BTW, I just saw your latest note. Isn’t it wonderful how our politicians and their bureaucrats can cause us all to trip up over our own underwear?
Patrick,
I respectfully disagree:
(1) For several decades, the Jamaica (regional) post office has been trying to get everyone to use “Jamaica, NY” (with local 114XX ZIP codes, of course) with little success. In fact, the USPS has ruled that a proper street address (or PO Box), plus a proper ZIP code, is enough to get the mail delivered.
(2) A “community” address – particularly if designated by the post office – is of little comfort to the non-local. The primary purpose of a street address is to assist fire and emergency service personnel; and to reasonably expect proper mail delivery (LOL)…
Greg
History isn’t screwed, Warren.
We plan to update Cinema Treasures soon to support the idea of an historical address. That way, we can store the original address and the current address… and everyone will be happy.
But, mainly, we use the current address so folks who’d like to visit theaters have a chance to actually find them. It’s a lot easier to say “go to this address” than “go to Floral Park, but it’s really called Bellerose, and look for Jamaica Ave, but it might be called Jericho Turnpike”.
Ultimately, we have to go with the official mailing address.
While the local community might know an area by a different name, the address is really there to guide non-locals.
If you map this address on Google, or your GPS, or on your iPhone, it should just work.
Guys,
According to the USPS (ZIP+4 web-page), the address is now a “Floral Park 11001” address.
And yes, the physical location of the theatre is part of Bellerose Terrace, an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of Hempstead.
A few years ago, I was informed that all of Bellerose Terrace AND the Village of Bellerose had been moved from 11426 (Bellerose) to 11001 (Floral Park), as part of a major reconfiguration of the Bellerose and (northern) Queens Village post office jurisdictions.
I just finished reading a recent history of Queens neighborhoods, which labels everything north of Braddock Ave and west to Springfield Blvd as “Bellerose Manor” – certainly not the way it was when I grew up!
So the next time you are asked to give a brief discourse on the “History of Bellerose,” begin by asking if he/she has an hour to listen (LOL).
Greg
That area is still known as Bellerose….
That’s funny because it is definitely NOT Floral Park.
Thanks to everyone who chimed in about the address.
After sleuthing on Google, it looks like the official address is 245-06 Jericho Turnpike, Floral Park, NY 11001, USA.
Ed Solero
heres an updated link from your Photobucket site for this theatre,
evidently the links must have changed…by the way nice animations.
View link
I grew up on 241st Street in walking distance to the Bellerose theatre on the Queen side of Bellerose. I always knew that it was in Nassau on Jericho Turnpike. It was a true neighborhood theatre. I started going in the late 1960’s. I remember it being a bit run down than even at that point. Its too bad it could not survive but at least the building is still there. I have fond memories of going there and this elderly lady across the street who worked there getting me and my sibling into a movie free sometimes.
I also remember going many times to its close cousin the Floral Park Theatre.
LOL Greg
RCDTJ,
Actually, it’s now a meat market. Go in, and ask them for a couple of karate chops… (Oh, I don’t believe I said that) – LOL