Windsor Theater
4001 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11218
4001 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11218
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The Windsor Theatre, in Boro Park, Brooklyn, opened in 1928. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 4 rank theatre organ. The Windsor Theatre was closed in 1959 and was converted into a bowling alley, known as the Windsor Bowl. This operated until around 1963-1964 when it was burnt down. The remains of the building were demolished and in 1982 an apartment block was built on the site.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
The theatre whose organ the Windsor organ was merged with was the Empire in Brooklyn. The combined organ was first installed in WNAC radio in Boston before being moved to Stoneham.
I saw “War Of The Worlds” there with my mom in 1954, and again a few years later with my friends. One Saturday, I remember, we kids were more boisterous than usual, yelling, throwing popcorn, etc. The elderly theatre owners walked down the aisle and threatened to shut the projector off if we didn’t behave. Admission for kids was 25 cents.
Growing up in Boro Park, the Windsor was considered by most to be a dump. Think I went there maybe once or twice. I was strictly a 46th street or Boro Park kid.
Photo Link:
http://brooklynpix.com/photo1/B/boropark45.jpg
J.M. Berlinger (cited above) is Joseph M. Berlinger (a distant cousin of mine): From Who�s Who in American Jewry, 1938, p. 81
BERLINGER, Joseph M., architect. Born N.Y. City, Jan. 16, 1888, s. Morris and Helen Berlinger. Ed. high sch.; Hebrew Tech Inst.; Columbia U.; three years� study abroad. Designed: Mt. Neboh Temple, N.Y. City; Dumont Masonic Temple and Bank Bldg, Dumont, N.J.; First Presbyterian Church Community Bldg, New Brunswick, N.J.; Fenway Country Club, White Plains, N.Y.l also theatres, apt. houses, industrial and commercial bldgs. Delineator of Victor Emanuel monument in Rome, Italy, compiling same with story into book for publication. Mem: Internat. Assn of Artists, Rome; Architectural League, N.Y. City. Married Ruth Taxier, Aug. 29, 1935. Club: Fenway Country. Hobby: golf. Home: 10 Park Ave. Office: 17 E. 49th St, N.Y. City.
Sorry, no. There is probably an architectural society that has more detail on his work. He left no children; I’m trying to find a closer relative that might have more information.
Does this building even exist? Looking at the old photo posted on Feb, 3, 2007 by JF Lundy, and then looking at the street view, no massive fascade like that exist at 40th and 15th.
Well… my mistake. The view is wrong. I am on the wrong corner. According to city records, the address 4001 15th Ave was on the SE corner of 15th Ave and 40th Street. Condominium apartments were erected on that site in 1982, so the theater has been completely demolished and replaced, not gutted and re-purposed as the introductory comments to the page suggest. If someone at CT can unlock the street view, I will make the appropriate adjustments for a proper current view.
I don’t see any mention of the conversion to a bowling alley (Windsor Lanes) in 1959-60 until about 1963-64 when it burned down.
This was the first theatre I ever went to in about 1956. My Grandmother took me to see King Kong and Boomtown. There was a “Matron” who threatened to clear the theatre if the talking continued.
Photo from Brooklyn Pics.