Someone correct me if I’m wrong (and I’m quite sure someone will!) but I remember the side aisles lasted up until the end. The architecture above those aisles was removed (I think) to make room for more theatres upstairs and the staues of “The Ladies” as I called them on each side of the screen were removed as well.
That photo brings back many memories….to the far right and left of the pillars in the theatre were dark carpeted aisles where you could hide from your parents and later your friends when we were old enough to go by ourselves. I remember stealing a kiss or two from a girlfriend in those dark alleys, too!
Excellent photo! I wasn’t around to see the theatre open so this is a real treat I believe the shop with the SODA sign across the street was called Dodenhoff’s.
Ed…There are a lot of things I associate with movie memories (besides hardware stores!)especially FOOD. The Zion Deli (kosher of course) was around the corner from the Dyker. White Castle was near the Harbor. The pizzeria next to the Fortway was fabulous. And so on…if no one minds this post I’ll try to limit my food ramblings in the future.
Tolin’s Hardware store wasn’t that far away from the Benson Theatre does anyone remember going there at Christmas time and seeing the enormous Xmas displays on the 2nd floor? I started taking my kids there about 15 years ago and was sorry when that closed, too. Hope this isn’t straying too far off the topic but I think alot of people here grew up in these neighborhoods and the theatre wasn’t the only place they visited. Oh, for a time machine and a good digital camera!
Theaterat…I missed those 2. Think I saw AC/DC Let There Be Rock and Yessongs there but in those (good old) days were were usually pretty ‘out of it…’ So I’m not sure.
Theaterat…I missed those 2. Think I saw AC/DC Let There Be Rock and Yessongs there but in those (good old) days were were usually pretty ‘out of it…’ So I’m not sure.
You’re absolutely correct I had no right to apologize for you or what you said. This is America and you can say what you want I guess you’re doing the same reminiscing as we are. I’m certainly not homophobic my friends can attest to that. Please enjoy your memories and I will not verbally molest you again.
When I saw the “Ape-a-thon” at the Benson the matrons left us alone all day. When I went to the Walker for the same thing sometime later I was (literally) carried out and thrown into the street after 3 films because they wanted me to pay again to see the rest and I refused! Saturday was usually the day theatres showed marathons in those days. Would love to have seen the “Bond-a-thon” but I missed that one.
Sorry folks I was just waxing nostalgic about going to the movies with my friends and dating my future wife I didn’t know another “commentator” would turn that into gay porn. My apologies.
In July of 1973 The Benson showed a “Planet of the Apes” marathon. For about $3.50 you saw all five “Apes” flicks and could stay for whatever 2 other “Apes” films they showed after the marathon was over. I remember bringing lunch and dinner in a bag as I sat through 7 monkey movies in a row. It was dark out when I left!
I am so sad this theatre was closed. I started going there in the sixties with my friends and girlfriends, seeing such classics as “House of Wax” in 3-D and “The Lost World” and have taken my kids there till it closed. If I remember correctly the screen was set on fire during the run of the movie “Woodstock” in 1969 or 1970 (one of the cool legends). The Fortway had the classy white arches on either side on the first floor. There was a working water fountain in the entrance after your ticket was ripped. The seats weren’t bad either and I remember sneaking in the side entrances thanks to the Fortway employees who let me in on nights when the theatre was HALF EMPTY. There was even a supposed murder mystery around the rear of the theatre-a woman was supposedly killed and chopped into pieces and left by the rear entrance. Anyone else ever hear of this? It would have been in the 50’s or 60’s.
I remember The Sons of Norway hall at the former Berkshire Theatre…the lobby was a bright blue tiled masterpiece and the Norwegians who owned the hall often had stamp and coin shows…my late mom used to take me there on the one Sunday a month they had the coin shows…now as someone else said it’s a mosque…there used to be a sign that said “Berkshire Theatre” but it was covered over years ago.
Well, I admit it…I went to the DeLuxe as a teen with my friends to see the porno films…I remember a “Coming Attractions” scene for a film called “G*nital Hospital” spoofing the soap opera and my friends and I laughed our butts off at that title! The DeLuxe also showed rock n roll films on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight and I took my wife on our first date there to see “The Song Remains the Same” we never saw the film we were so busy necking!
Someone correct me if I’m wrong (and I’m quite sure someone will!) but I remember the side aisles lasted up until the end. The architecture above those aisles was removed (I think) to make room for more theatres upstairs and the staues of “The Ladies” as I called them on each side of the screen were removed as well.
That photo brings back many memories….to the far right and left of the pillars in the theatre were dark carpeted aisles where you could hide from your parents and later your friends when we were old enough to go by ourselves. I remember stealing a kiss or two from a girlfriend in those dark alleys, too!
Excellent photo! I wasn’t around to see the theatre open so this is a real treat I believe the shop with the SODA sign across the street was called Dodenhoff’s.
Bruce
Sure. First it was a bowling alley then it was changed to a gun club. all the years I lived in that neighborhood I never went in there though.
Ed…There are a lot of things I associate with movie memories (besides hardware stores!)especially FOOD. The Zion Deli (kosher of course) was around the corner from the Dyker. White Castle was near the Harbor. The pizzeria next to the Fortway was fabulous. And so on…if no one minds this post I’ll try to limit my food ramblings in the future.
Tolin’s Hardware store wasn’t that far away from the Benson Theatre does anyone remember going there at Christmas time and seeing the enormous Xmas displays on the 2nd floor? I started taking my kids there about 15 years ago and was sorry when that closed, too. Hope this isn’t straying too far off the topic but I think alot of people here grew up in these neighborhoods and the theatre wasn’t the only place they visited. Oh, for a time machine and a good digital camera!
Theaterat…I missed those 2. Think I saw AC/DC Let There Be Rock and Yessongs there but in those (good old) days were were usually pretty ‘out of it…’ So I’m not sure.
Theaterat…I missed those 2. Think I saw AC/DC Let There Be Rock and Yessongs there but in those (good old) days were were usually pretty ‘out of it…’ So I’m not sure.
You’re absolutely correct I had no right to apologize for you or what you said. This is America and you can say what you want I guess you’re doing the same reminiscing as we are. I’m certainly not homophobic my friends can attest to that. Please enjoy your memories and I will not verbally molest you again.
When I saw the “Ape-a-thon” at the Benson the matrons left us alone all day. When I went to the Walker for the same thing sometime later I was (literally) carried out and thrown into the street after 3 films because they wanted me to pay again to see the rest and I refused! Saturday was usually the day theatres showed marathons in those days. Would love to have seen the “Bond-a-thon” but I missed that one.
Sorry folks I was just waxing nostalgic about going to the movies with my friends and dating my future wife I didn’t know another “commentator” would turn that into gay porn. My apologies.
In July of 1973 The Benson showed a “Planet of the Apes” marathon. For about $3.50 you saw all five “Apes” flicks and could stay for whatever 2 other “Apes” films they showed after the marathon was over. I remember bringing lunch and dinner in a bag as I sat through 7 monkey movies in a row. It was dark out when I left!
I am so sad this theatre was closed. I started going there in the sixties with my friends and girlfriends, seeing such classics as “House of Wax” in 3-D and “The Lost World” and have taken my kids there till it closed. If I remember correctly the screen was set on fire during the run of the movie “Woodstock” in 1969 or 1970 (one of the cool legends). The Fortway had the classy white arches on either side on the first floor. There was a working water fountain in the entrance after your ticket was ripped. The seats weren’t bad either and I remember sneaking in the side entrances thanks to the Fortway employees who let me in on nights when the theatre was HALF EMPTY. There was even a supposed murder mystery around the rear of the theatre-a woman was supposedly killed and chopped into pieces and left by the rear entrance. Anyone else ever hear of this? It would have been in the 50’s or 60’s.
I remember The Sons of Norway hall at the former Berkshire Theatre…the lobby was a bright blue tiled masterpiece and the Norwegians who owned the hall often had stamp and coin shows…my late mom used to take me there on the one Sunday a month they had the coin shows…now as someone else said it’s a mosque…there used to be a sign that said “Berkshire Theatre” but it was covered over years ago.
Well, I admit it…I went to the DeLuxe as a teen with my friends to see the porno films…I remember a “Coming Attractions” scene for a film called “G*nital Hospital” spoofing the soap opera and my friends and I laughed our butts off at that title! The DeLuxe also showed rock n roll films on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight and I took my wife on our first date there to see “The Song Remains the Same” we never saw the film we were so busy necking!