Alba Theatre

This is one of the theatres that I hope to see an interior picture of. The others are the Broadway, Gates, Marcy, and Aster.

Woodhull Hospital now stands in that spot. Here is some trivia for you: the abandoned lot (formerly know as the Alba Theatre) is can be seen in the santa claus French Connection foot-chase scene (do you pick your feet in Poughkeepsie CT?)

I’m just glad that we finally have a few photos of the Alba (thanks to those who supplied them).
I saw the movie “The Window” at the Alba and I recall when they displayed a big wood crate outside when they were promoting “The Thing” in 1951.
Those were happier days for me.

JoeB

All this is gone. Now there is a hospital, Woodhull Medical Center. There were so many movie theaters in this area and they’re all gone. I have to take the train into Manhattan to see a movie. When I hit Lotto I plan on purchasing the old Rainbow Theater on Graham between Messerole and Montrose and show old movies, cartoons, present live shows.

I was reminded after seeing a vintage movie poster in a Vermont drug store, that local theatres would often not advertise their features in newspaper ads. Instead they would print two-color, simple lettered posters announcing what was playing for the week. These posters were then distributed among local merchants who would display the placards in their shop windows, probably in exchange for a few movie pases. Probably a very inexpensive form of advertising.

As often as has been noted that the Randforce circuit did little to advertise their theatres it should be considered that during the depression the regular purchase of a newspaper was often a luxury in most households. Added to that, despite the acculturating influences of movies, many immigrants were not able to read in English. I suspect that the major form of “advertising” was along the elevated subway circuits. What better way to know what was showing than to ride the BMT Jamaica line along Broadway from the Williamsburg Bridge to Eastern Parkway and grab a glimpse of all the theatres marquees along the way. A ride along Manhattan’s Third Ave. el must have served a similar purpose at major stops such as 14th St. & 86th St.

The only time in my life that I took the Jamaica El to lower Manhattan, was as a special treat, being a Long Islander. The only thing I remember from that trip is being on the left hand side of the train and seeing the old marquee from the Alba. Obviously, I was a theatre nut, afficianado, at an early age. Thank goodness for the internet, I can spend my waking hours with other kindred souls and remember the long, lost theatres (rather than spending an arm and a leg to go to some glorified cubicle.

Here’s a 1951 image of the Alba:

View link

Thanks Ken for posting the 1946 photo. The marquee and the blade sign appears to have been the original. The marquee that I recall from the ‘50’s was less stylized and more “modern” and minus the blade sign. I prefer what I assume is the original and was curious as to when the replacement was installed.

Piracy at the lowest level permeates this blog. Many thanks to misterboo for the marvelous photgraph. I must concur with Astyanax that the surrounding neighborhood was also part of the theatre experience. One should not be forced to separate the two.
George

Hi Astyanax: I can understand Warren’s view, as this website is devoted to Motion Picture Theaters——-and I understand your view-point also, since after going to the theaters like the Alba and others, many times we would go to a local candy store or pizza joint; so the surrounding stores do have a connection——-At BushwickBuddies, we have all topics, including the old movie theaters from that area including photos of the Alba, Rogers, loew’s Broadway and others, of which many are not shown here at Cinema Treasures———So why not give BB a try——-and tell Eleanor that Joe From Florida sent you——-It’s a great website to talk about everything in the old neighbrohood———Joe From Florida

Hi folks: Warren is right, as this website should be about the old theaters that we enjoyed going to years ago————anyone from the Bushwick area of Brooklyn, or surounding areas should check out BushwickBuddies.com————There, we discuss old times in old Brooklyn from the 1940s through the 1960s———Many Cinema Treasures members belong to BB, and you will find it to be the place to talk about the old days in Brooklyn——-Joe From Florida——aka JoeR at BB

Good Old Brooklyn – Just caught your post from last year. Can’t believe that anyone still remembers Angelo the chicken market owner with one milky colored, blind eye, as well as Sal the barber. My dad would place bets with the owner of the fruit & vegetable store next to Linden’s. The best was the bread bakery across from 849 Flushing Ave. The owner was a no-nonsense Italian woman who turned out Italian & French bread from her brick oven. We got to know the baker’s schedule and when the bread would be coming out of the oven. Nothing like it! Anyone remember the owner’s name?