Paradise Theatre
810 4th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11232
810 4th Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11232
1 person
favorited this theater
The Paradise Theatre was a neighborhood house that stood on 4th Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
It closed in the 1950’s and the building was eventually demolished.
Now a KFC occupies the former theatre’s site.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
The Paradise Theater was owned by Anthony Paolillo. He sold it and the new owners built the Bowling Alley in its place.
I’ve always wondered if my late parents ever went here, because when I was born, they lived on 28th St. between 3rd & 4th Aves. I know my neighbor across the street from me now on 22nd St. remembers going here, and she’s about 80 !
I lived on 4th Ave. between 23rd & 24th Streets in the late 50’s. I always remembered a movie theater being close to my house but forgot the name. My friends would say that there was always a bowling alley at that site. Now I can see I was right. As a kid I remember walking to the Paradise with my parents,it was only a few blocks away. I must have been 4 or 5 at that time. I have great memories of that neighborhood.
Did you live in the Garden Apartments, or one of the buildings across the street ?
I also lived on 4th Ave. between 23rd & 24th Street. When I was very young my mother worked at the Paradise Theatre.
My Grandfather was Ciro Paolillo and owned the Paradise. He bought it during the depression and ran it until he sold it in the 1950’s. My Dad Jerry (Ciro) worked then until right before it closed. He met my late mother Lucille Bergonzi there. Jerry is 95 now and still lives in Bay Ridge. I have a picture of the theater. It also had an outdoor theater right next to it too.
My mother began sending me to the Paradise with my older sisters on Saturday mornings in 1955 when I was five years old. This bought her a few hours of peace. The place was always packed with kids whose mothers had the same idea as mine. She would give me just enough for the 25 cent admission and a five-cent bag of potato chips. The kids used to squirt mustard on the side of the bag and use it as dip for their chips. The chips were “Treat” potato chips. The bag was made of glassine paper. An older man named “George” ran the concession. Ice cream cones cost ten cents. The first film I ever saw was at the Paradise. It was the horror film “Tarantula”, about a giant spider. I was afraid of the dark for a long time after that. Despite this, my mother still sent me with my sisters every Saturday morning for more scary films like “The fifty Foot Woman”, and The Colossal Man". It was a strange way to spend my most imaginative years. I remember watching my sleeping grandfather turn into the Werewolf right before my eyes. I flew out of the room like a rocket. When I saw him again he had turned back into grandpa, but I already knew his secret. Saturdays usually featured two rock and roll films,, or a rock and roll film and a horror film with three cartoons in between. When they demolished the place, I remember walking through the rubble finding strips of old movies. I was probably nine at the time. Years later, when the great italian film “Cinema Paradiso” came out, it reminded me of the Paradise and the kids and the people of the neighborhood it entertained.
I have to correct the above post. This Theatre was indeed owned by my great Grandfather Tony Paolillo. This is where he met my great-grandmother. My great uncle FRANK had an office in the back with my GREAT GRANDFATHER. I’m sorry Vermonter, but I think your family told you that in error. I’ve been looking for info about this theater forever, thank you.
Upon Further Exploration, it would seem that vermonter is my distant cousin. Ciro is FRANK, FRANK is Ciro.
Photo added to Gallery 12/10/2017. Bill (Homecrest Guy).