G & M Theatre
448 Bushwick Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
448 Bushwick Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
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The G & M Theatre is listed in the 1914-1915 edition of American Motion Picture Directory. The address is given as Bushwick Avenue and Flushing Avenue.
In the same edition of A.M.P.D., there is also a Sunset Theatre listed at Bushwick at the corner of Flushing. Maybe the same theatre? A mention in the Eugene Armbruster’s history of Brooklyn’s Eastern District (published in the 1920’s) mentions a theatre at this location.
Whatever the case is, there is little evidence of a movie theatre operating at this corner location in later years. It seems that a gas station was operating on the northwest corner site around 1946.
Any further information on this forgotten theatre (or theatres) would be appreciated.
Contributed by
Ken Roe, John Dereszewski
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
A number of comments regarding this theater were entered on the Echo Theater page before this page was established. The Echo link appears below.
/theaters/8167/
The Bushwick/Flushing intersection is quite historic. It was the site of a small community – called the Crosswalks – that existed during colonial times. The last remnants of this old settlement disappeared about 100 years ago. The prominence of the two cross streets made this a most appropriate site for a theater during the early 20th century. However, whatever cinematic presence that once existed here probably did not survive beyond the silent era. It probably could not compete with the large theaters situated nearby on Broadway and Graham Ave.
Thanks John! It’s a while since we found a “new” old theater in this area!
The picture of the old G&M site appears at the end of a slideshow that accompanied an article that I recently ran in the terrific BushwickBK blog about old Bushwick theaters. In case you are interested, I have now attached the full article. Hope you enjoy it.
View link
The Brooklyn Theatre Index provides additional documentation for this theater. It also notes that it was probably known as the Bushwick Palace in the late 1910’s – early 1920’s.
One problem that emerges from this is that the Index and the 448 Bushwick Ave. address suggest a location at the Northwest corner of Bushwick and Flushing, which would place it – like the old Echo Theater – within the grounds currently occupied by the Bushwick-Hylan housing project. This is inconsistent with the information that I gleaned from Armbruster, who placed it at the Southwest corner, where a gas station currently exists. However, while the EXACT location of this theater remains in some doubt, it was good to find its actual existence more definitively documented.
Wherever it ulmimately proves to be located, the old movie house rests on historic grounds. The Northwest corner hosted the Crosswalks Inn, which was a haven for Tories during the Revelutionary War and would, after 1812, become the village of Bushwick’s town hall and main meeting venue. The Southwest corner, on the other hand, contained a blacksmith’s shop that was owned by a fervent patriot and – at least according to Armbruster – what we would now refer to as a FOB – or Friend of George, Washington that is. This obviously presents a much different picture than the banality – and worse – that confronts the eye today.
Once upon a time this was known as S&M Department store. I have long suspected this was a former movie theatre because when you go to where the cash registers are now it’s like an L shape similar to many other theatres.
Here is an aerial view
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qsdkbj8v9kbz&style=o&lvl=2&scene=2000607#Y3A9cXNka2JqOHY5a2J6Jmx2bD0xOS4zOCZkaXI9MS42MyZzdHk9byZxPTYwJTIwNjIlMjBHcmFoYW0lMjBBdmVudWUlMjBicm9va2x5biUyMG55
Since Cezar de Valle’s Brooklyn Theatre Index, which is very comprehensive, does not list a movie theater at this location, I doubt if it did exist – though stranger things have happened. The closest noted cinematic site was situated accros the street, at 71 Graham. It was called the Graham Palace and existed during the 1910’s. I do not believe it has a page here – at least when I last checked.
The interior of what is now Shopper’s World looks like it was a movie theatre.
Whether this address ever or not once hosted a movie theater, it did not involve this building.