Warren, I am still with you. Do not remember the exact box office daily take, could not have been much with the low admission prices, however little as it was a police officer accompanied the cashier to the bank. I do remenber bringing the very heavy film box down to the lobby after the final showing
I am a native born New Yorker and passed the movie house on The Bowery for many years that showed Chinese films exclusively—it was not near Canal Street.It bothers me to this date that no one knows about this theatre.
There was an old movie house in Chinatown Ny located on the Bowery I think on the corner of Hester Street and they showed Chinese films exclusively up until a few years ago. Perhaps Warren might know about this place and if it is still around
To give you an idea what it was like being an usher at the Sutter Theatre in 1941, we were paid .25 cents an hour,the owners, Brandt Corp. had private detectives writing detailed reports on our effectiveness. I worked all night long repairing the seats, we cleaned the rest rooms and were not permitted to take a peek at the screen. We did however have a nice red uniform that attracted the girls. Our dressing room was located beneath the stage. The good part was that we were switched to the Flatbush Theatre on occasion (also owned by Brandt) and got to see the top line vaudeville stars and big bands.
On March 3, 1943 a group af army inductees, including myself,congregated at the Stone Theater and left by bus for Fort Dix, NJ. My mother bid me a tearful goodby at the curb as we pulled out.
The Hopkinson Theatre was primarily a place that showed Yiddish plays and musicals. The shows were performed by well known Yiddish actors in repertory fashion in that several different plays were featured each week. I remember the years in the 1930’s and 40’s, however I am sure it was around much earlier. If anyone can fill me in on more details I would appreciate it. I was a newsboy at that time and sold newspapers to the people coming out after the performance.
The Tiffany Theater was indeed located at the corner of Chester Street and Livonia Ave. Other theaters located under this el were: The Sutter, Livonia, Ambassador, Peoples Cinema and Supreme.
The Peoples Cinema (formerly the “Blue Bird”) was diagonally across the street from The Ambassador, which is unusual for two movie houses to be that close to one another. As the Peoples Cinema it showed Russian made films produced by Artkino, to appeal to the leftest movie goers. I remember seeing an Palestinian movie dealing with fighting between Arabs and Jews, which was filmed in the 1930’s low budget and western films were shown later on until it’s demise. The seating capacity was very small, and hardly competed with the Ambassador.
The Capri slated for demolition has received a reprieve in that a legitimate stage presentation is now going on Whether or not this ia a permanent trend remains to be seen. Charlotte needs venues such as this, to vitalize the entertainment aspect of the city. Perhaps the same could occur to the Carolina Theatre.
The Stadium Theater was located in the Brownsville Section of Brooklyn on Chester Street off Pitkin Ave, It was a popular neighborhood theater and featured second run shows usually one week after playing the RKO Albee. It had “stadium” type seating instead of a balcony.
irvcohen, the Loew’s Premier (without the “e” at the end), was not behind the Pitkin, but located about a mile away in the East New York section of Brooklyn at Sutter and Snediker Aves. It was a good size place with a balcony and showed films one week after it played the Pitkin. Joey Adams was the Emcee at some of their stage presentations since he lived in the neighborhood. I remember a catering establishment in the same building. I would like to hear from others who can give information regarding the Premier.
I attended this theater in the 1970’s when they showed films. They played a rerun of “It Happened One Night” and Frank Capra appeared in person, explained how the film was made and answered questions from the audience. The admission believe it or not was $2.00. After it closed as a movie house it reopened as a combination restaurant/movie. It also held pro boxing at times. It had a extremely modern facade roof in front, not a marquee. It is now closed and scheduled to be torn down due to the widening of Independance Blvd.
The Supreme Theater located at Livonia and Williams Aves had a large East New York following. A block away between Alabama and Georgia Aves also on Livonia, Fortunoff Dept. Store got it’s start.
My rememberance of the Brooklyn Paramount was plugging a song in Anita O'Day’s dressing room on a small piano. This was in 1942 and O'Day was Gene Krupa’s vocalist at the time. The Brooklyn Paramount featured the big bands during that era, same as the NY Paramount.
I was an usher at the Loew’s Pitkin in 1940 when they showed “Gone With The Wind” twice daily to packed houses. It was located on Pitkin Ave., the most fashionable street in Brooklyn in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Those were the greatest years for me.
The Loew’s Palace was located at East New York Ave. and Douglass Street (later changed to Strauss Street). It was sort of a step child to the “palace like” Loew’s Pitkin across the street. The Loew’s Pitkin was the only theater in the area to have air conditioning in the 1930’s, and a lot of people went there to cool off.
I was the assistant manager of the Glenwood Theater in Ridgewood, Queens located at Myrtle Ave. near Fresh Pond Road in 1946. The theater was not air conditioned and my boss, the manager would not allow me to take my coat off. The parent company, Randforce, was so tight they had a pay phone in the office. If you had to make a call you deposited a nickle than wrote out a petty cash slip to be be refunded by the company. Every night around 10 PM they would call in and ask “HOW MUCH?” meaning what was the box office receipts for the day. My salary was $40.00 per week. The projectionists, who were union members made $90,00 per week. This was my final shot at Show Business.
I was an usher at the NY Strand in 1942, the peak year of the Big Bands. Also appearing were great vaudeville acts. Some ushers worked at the theatre because of it’s location near the Broadway legitimate stage, hoping for a break. King Donovan, one of the ushers made quite a few Hollywood films and was married to Imogene Coca. It’s a shame that the present generation missed out on the wonderful palaces that are no longer around.
Warren, I am still with you. Do not remember the exact box office daily take, could not have been much with the low admission prices, however little as it was a police officer accompanied the cashier to the bank. I do remenber bringing the very heavy film box down to the lobby after the final showing
I am a native born New Yorker and passed the movie house on The Bowery for many years that showed Chinese films exclusively—it was not near Canal Street.It bothers me to this date that no one knows about this theatre.
There was an old movie house in Chinatown Ny located on the Bowery I think on the corner of Hester Street and they showed Chinese films exclusively up until a few years ago. Perhaps Warren might know about this place and if it is still around
Am wondering why Cinema Treasures does not list the “poor man’s Loew’s Pitkin” which was the Loew’s Palace located around the corner from the Pitkin.
I believe the Hudson operated as a burlesque in the 1940’s
To give you an idea what it was like being an usher at the Sutter Theatre in 1941, we were paid .25 cents an hour,the owners, Brandt Corp. had private detectives writing detailed reports on our effectiveness. I worked all night long repairing the seats, we cleaned the rest rooms and were not permitted to take a peek at the screen. We did however have a nice red uniform that attracted the girls. Our dressing room was located beneath the stage. The good part was that we were switched to the Flatbush Theatre on occasion (also owned by Brandt) and got to see the top line vaudeville stars and big bands.
On March 3, 1943 a group af army inductees, including myself,congregated at the Stone Theater and left by bus for Fort Dix, NJ. My mother bid me a tearful goodby at the curb as we pulled out.
The Hopkinson Theatre was primarily a place that showed Yiddish plays and musicals. The shows were performed by well known Yiddish actors in repertory fashion in that several different plays were featured each week. I remember the years in the 1930’s and 40’s, however I am sure it was around much earlier. If anyone can fill me in on more details I would appreciate it. I was a newsboy at that time and sold newspapers to the people coming out after the performance.
I am referring to the IRT subway el.
The Tiffany Theater was indeed located at the corner of Chester Street and Livonia Ave. Other theaters located under this el were: The Sutter, Livonia, Ambassador, Peoples Cinema and Supreme.
The Peoples Cinema (formerly the “Blue Bird”) was diagonally across the street from The Ambassador, which is unusual for two movie houses to be that close to one another. As the Peoples Cinema it showed Russian made films produced by Artkino, to appeal to the leftest movie goers. I remember seeing an Palestinian movie dealing with fighting between Arabs and Jews, which was filmed in the 1930’s low budget and western films were shown later on until it’s demise. The seating capacity was very small, and hardly competed with the Ambassador.
The Capri slated for demolition has received a reprieve in that a legitimate stage presentation is now going on Whether or not this ia a permanent trend remains to be seen. Charlotte needs venues such as this, to vitalize the entertainment aspect of the city. Perhaps the same could occur to the Carolina Theatre.
The Stadium Theater was located in the Brownsville Section of Brooklyn on Chester Street off Pitkin Ave, It was a popular neighborhood theater and featured second run shows usually one week after playing the RKO Albee. It had “stadium” type seating instead of a balcony.
irvcohen, the Loew’s Premier (without the “e” at the end), was not behind the Pitkin, but located about a mile away in the East New York section of Brooklyn at Sutter and Snediker Aves. It was a good size place with a balcony and showed films one week after it played the Pitkin. Joey Adams was the Emcee at some of their stage presentations since he lived in the neighborhood. I remember a catering establishment in the same building. I would like to hear from others who can give information regarding the Premier.
Omitted from all of the above comments was what the Brooklyn Fox was best noted for and this their “Amateur Night”
I attended this theater in the 1970’s when they showed films. They played a rerun of “It Happened One Night” and Frank Capra appeared in person, explained how the film was made and answered questions from the audience. The admission believe it or not was $2.00. After it closed as a movie house it reopened as a combination restaurant/movie. It also held pro boxing at times. It had a extremely modern facade roof in front, not a marquee. It is now closed and scheduled to be torn down due to the widening of Independance Blvd.
The organist at the Pitkin for many years was the talented Henrietta Kamaren (not sure of the spelling). “Follow The Bouncing Ball”
Warren, you are absolutely correct. It was the Brooklyn Strand, not the Brooklyn Paramount. I had second thoughts after posting my comment.
The name of this theater should be the Supreme
The Supreme Theater located at Livonia and Williams Aves had a large East New York following. A block away between Alabama and Georgia Aves also on Livonia, Fortunoff Dept. Store got it’s start.
My rememberance of the Brooklyn Paramount was plugging a song in Anita O'Day’s dressing room on a small piano. This was in 1942 and O'Day was Gene Krupa’s vocalist at the time. The Brooklyn Paramount featured the big bands during that era, same as the NY Paramount.
I was an usher at the Loew’s Pitkin in 1940 when they showed “Gone With The Wind” twice daily to packed houses. It was located on Pitkin Ave., the most fashionable street in Brooklyn in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Those were the greatest years for me.
The Loew’s Palace was located at East New York Ave. and Douglass Street (later changed to Strauss Street). It was sort of a step child to the “palace like” Loew’s Pitkin across the street. The Loew’s Pitkin was the only theater in the area to have air conditioning in the 1930’s, and a lot of people went there to cool off.
I was the assistant manager of the Glenwood Theater in Ridgewood, Queens located at Myrtle Ave. near Fresh Pond Road in 1946. The theater was not air conditioned and my boss, the manager would not allow me to take my coat off. The parent company, Randforce, was so tight they had a pay phone in the office. If you had to make a call you deposited a nickle than wrote out a petty cash slip to be be refunded by the company. Every night around 10 PM they would call in and ask “HOW MUCH?” meaning what was the box office receipts for the day. My salary was $40.00 per week. The projectionists, who were union members made $90,00 per week. This was my final shot at Show Business.
I was an usher at the NY Strand in 1942, the peak year of the Big Bands. Also appearing were great vaudeville acts. Some ushers worked at the theatre because of it’s location near the Broadway legitimate stage, hoping for a break. King Donovan, one of the ushers made quite a few Hollywood films and was married to Imogene Coca. It’s a shame that the present generation missed out on the wonderful palaces that are no longer around.