Windsor Theater
4001 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11218
4001 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11218
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Photo from Brooklyn Pics.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo Link:
http://brooklynpix.com/photo1/B/boropark45.jpg
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.
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.
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.
The theatre had an organ installed in 1927, then reposessed by Wurlitzer. They merged it with another organ. It has been in the town hall in Stoneham, Mass., since 1942. As Town Organist I play it before each town meeting.
There were a few stores on 15th avenue. It was a block from the bus,
and the nearest theatres were the Culver on 18th avenue & McDonald, and the Radio on 13th avenue and 42nd street. It managed to survive
for over 25 years.
This seems to be an unusual location for a theater, as the nearest “business” area would be one block over on 16th, Av.From what I saw in the picture from “Brooklyn- The Way It Was”{, it seems to be in an art deco style from the outdide that sort of resembled the Claridge(QV) on Ave P.Maybe when this theater was built, 15th Ave had a business area.Today condo apartments stand where the theater would have been. It will be a fools errand to try to look for a theater-like structure there today. The location of this theater makes it fascinating.Can anyboby tell me more about it?
When I mention that the Windsor was small, I mean smaller when comparing it to Loew’s 46th Street & Loew’s Boro Park-which was also in Boro Park.
The Book you are refering to is “Brooklyn, The Way It Was” by Brian Merils(?).
The Windsor showed second and third run films. It was a small theatre with a plain interior.