Corona Theatre
Junction Boulevard and 38th Avenue,
Corona,
NY
11368
Junction Boulevard and 38th Avenue,
Corona,
NY
11368
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Skouras Theatres, Small-Strausberg Circuit
Architects: Eugene DeRosa
Nearby Theaters
The Corona Theatre is located at 37-80 Junction Boulevard, opposite 38th Avenue. It was opened in 1926 by the Small-Strasberg Circuit. It was still open in 1953.
Contributed by
Adam (TTbsgbmp@aol.com), William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
While staying with relatives at 41-23-95th St, Elmhurst, L.I., from March to July 1951, I often went to the Corona for Saturday morning kids shows with neighborhood boys Artie Hopkins and Tommy.
I also clearly remember seeing “The Thing” and the marquee had creepy looking things hanging from it.
Upon entering the auditorium, I stupidly sat down where a seat was missing, which caused my parents to laugh out loud during a tense moment in the film.
The greengrocers shop next door was owned by a friendly Italian gent named Sid and he always addressed me as the “Limey Kid."
I went back in 1998 to show my wife… and all was gone, but ah, such happy memories still linger on at age 68!
Growing up in this neighborhood, I didn’t recognize the theater until I saw Warren’s picture of the marquee. However, I can’t ever recall it as showing films. I do remember once going inside when it was used as a bingo hall, probably in the late 1950s.
For those in the know, is this View link the Corona the page is about?
Tinseltoes, You’re right, the map location is totally wrong. The Corona Theatre is (was) at Roosevelt Avenue & Junction Blvd. Besides Loews Plaza, which was at 100th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, the closest theatre is (was) the Polk Cinema at 92nd Street & 37th Avenue.
A little known fact was that the Corona Theatre was used by Mike Todd for a number of Todd/AO tests…go figure.
Meanwhile, Monika, to answer your question posted above on April 25, 2011, the theater depicted in the linked image is indeed the Corona Theatre we are discussing here. The view is from the elevated IRT train platform looking down Junction Blvd to the north. The titles listed on the marquee were released in 1953, so we also have a time frame for the image. The art deco looking clock tower on the right side of the street (corner of Junction and 38th Ave) is no longer in existence.
Thank you, Ed! I appreciate it very much. Is the elevated platform still there?
The photographer, Vivian Maier, spent time photographing urban areas of both New York and Chicago. Thank you with your help putting a spot on the map for me.
Yes. The 7 train still runs along the same elevated tracks above Roosevelt Avenue.
Great, thanks!
While the Corona Theatre is not listed in the FDY until 1930, I suspect it was opened sooner. There is a photo of the Corona with the 1927 silent movie Let It Rain on the marquee. It was certainly possible to show an older movie in 1930, but it would have been odd for even a neighborhood house in a competitive theater market like New York to be running a silent movie as its feature film in 1930.
The Corona was originally operated by S&S Theatres, and an item in the February 3, 1926 issue of Variety said that a theater was being built for Strausberg and Small at Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona. This must have been the Corona. Architect for the project was Eugene DeRosa.
For most of its existence and until closure as a cinema, the Corona became part of the Skouras Circuit in the wake of William Fox’s bankruptcy.