Greenpoint Star Theatre
257 Driggs Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
257 Driggs Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
1 person
favorited this theater
According to the Brooklyn Theatre Index, published in 2010, the Greenpoint Star Theatre was situated at 255-57 Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, from 1912 through 1922. The proprietor was a Mr. P. Rosenson. The theatre was also known as Rosenson’s Theatre at a 72 Eckford Street address, during the same period. Both addresses reference the same location.
The building that housed this theatre still exists. During my time in Greenpoint, I remembered it as a furniture store in the 1950’s and 1960’s and the temporary home of the Greenpoint Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library during the early-1970’s. This ocurred when the wonderful Carnegie library, situated at the corner of Leonard Street and Norman Avenue was stupidly demolished and then replaced by the insipid building that now occupies the site. Currently, a warehouse type use is situated in the building that once housed this theatre.
Any additional information regarding the cinematic history of this theatre will be greatly appreciated.
Contributed by
John Dereszewski
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I held up posting this theater until I had the opportunity to visit the site. The old building – a very modest theater site – definitely still seems to be there.
Upon subsequently consulting the NYC Building Department data, I believe that 257 Driggs may be the more appropriate address for this theater. For one thing, the building only narrowly abuts Driggs at the corner and is mostly situated along Eckford Street. This was probably where the main entrance was situated. In addition, the Buildings Dept’s data indicates a residencial building at 255 Driggs, though I did not identify such a building on my site visit.
My guess is that this was an old fashioned nickleodium type theater that just could not keep up with the competition – especially when the new and modern Winthrop was slated to open a few blocks away in 1923. But, there are still a lot of blanks to fill in about this old place. Please pitch in with your thoughts.
Site manager, there is a problem with the google map. The location should be at the corner of Driggs and Eckford. My address number is correct. Please address.
I assume this small odd building on the left is the old theater?
By the way, the map link brings me right to that intersection.
Click here for google street view
Bway, you are right. The “odd” building was the old theater. The site manager corrected the initial map discrepency after I had brought it to his attention.
wow as a born and bred Greenpointer…I love reading this and am inclined to do some research on my own….good job John!
I would have never guessed that this building was a theater, but that explains the long narrow design with no windows.
Upon refreshing my memory of my visit to this site, I think that only a portion of the current ediface served as the movie house.
If you walk along the Leonard St. side of the building, the place is constructed, for about the first two-thirds of its length, of bricks that reflect buildings built about a century – or more – ago. However, the last one-third or so is constructed of cinder blocks, and was probably built somewhat later. Thus, the theater was probably contained in the older section, with additions implemented to accommodate later uses.
Given the theater’s tiny 258 seat capacity, however, this does not pose any significant problem regarding the identification of this site as an old movie house.