Sunnyside Theatre

I noticed Warren Harris' post mentioning the 43rd Street theater. I thought you guys forgot about it. It was on Greenpoint Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets in Sunnyside. I attended the last picture show (that would make a good movie title) where they pasted envelopes under some of the seats and told us after the movie ended to look under our seats. I forgot what the prizes were, I guess because my seat didn’t have an envelope taped under it.

Looking at the photos of the marquee protruding under the el, which came first the theatre or the el. I would presume the theatre why else would the marquee extend under the el. And I would presume that the Merrick in Jamaica also preceeded the el since the one shot shows a vertical which would be ridiculous if the el were also present.

When I moved to NYC, from Schenectady, in 1958 I attened Bryant High School. I remember in January of 1960, my senior year, I used to go to this theater with my friend Tom Trivisone after we took Regents exams. It was a pleasant way to relax after the tension of studying for and takeing these exams. I belive one of the movie we saw during that month was “Operation Petticoat” with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. I remember the theater being very spacious and well maintained compared to the Deluxe which was closer to me on Roosevelt Ave and 62 Street. I am glad to hear that one part of the theater is still left, namely the pitch of the parking lot.
Tom Halstead