If you wanted to see the first-run pictures, you went to the Loew’s 46th. The Boro Park rarely had them, but once and a while it was worth seeing something there. Third-rate movies (and pre-teen all day adventures) were at the Normandy and the Ritz (if you wanted to go all the way to 8th Avenue). When we got a little older, the Normandy was handy because there was a pool room above it. Really third-rate films were at the Garden (the New Garden after a roof was put on). I think the only decent picture I ever saw playing at the Garden was “Wilson”. The seats weren’t fastened to the floor and I recall entire rows falling over. I worked at the Loew’s 46th as an usher for a while, and got to inspect the interior when the lights were on. There was a beautiful ballroom behind the balcony seats. I think the real resemblance between the Loew’s Boro Park and the RKO Bushwick was that they were both under el train tracks. I own the painting “RKO Bushwick” by Arthur Coppedge, and it’s real nostalgia.
If you wanted to see the first-run pictures, you went to the Loew’s 46th. The Boro Park rarely had them, but once and a while it was worth seeing something there. Third-rate movies (and pre-teen all day adventures) were at the Normandy and the Ritz (if you wanted to go all the way to 8th Avenue). When we got a little older, the Normandy was handy because there was a pool room above it. Really third-rate films were at the Garden (the New Garden after a roof was put on). I think the only decent picture I ever saw playing at the Garden was “Wilson”. The seats weren’t fastened to the floor and I recall entire rows falling over. I worked at the Loew’s 46th as an usher for a while, and got to inspect the interior when the lights were on. There was a beautiful ballroom behind the balcony seats. I think the real resemblance between the Loew’s Boro Park and the RKO Bushwick was that they were both under el train tracks. I own the painting “RKO Bushwick” by Arthur Coppedge, and it’s real nostalgia.