Crescent Theatre
25-24 Astoria Boulevard,
Astoria,
NY
11102
25-24 Astoria Boulevard,
Astoria,
NY
11102
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A new outdoor restaurant has opened directly behind Astoria World Manor, under the same ownership. News article can be viewed here
Here’s the “about us” page from the catering hall’s official website. If you scroll down, there is an image of the hall as it appeared in 1965. I was able to download a copy of this photo and will add it to this theater’s photo galery, along with a couple of shots I took about 5 or 6 years ago. Looks like the facade was redone in what was “contemporary” for 1965 (think of the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows), but it appears that the original marquee may still have been in use, albeit with a good re-dressing.
The photo of the Crescent Theater on Astoria Boulevard is indeed a treasure. Judging from its address from the above post on the holdup at the theater, it seems the theater entrance was located on the corner of 27th Street and Astoria Boulevard (27-18 Astoria Blvd.) If you look at the photo you can see that the left side of the entrance is a wall which is the corner of the street (at least it looks that way in the photo).
Thanks so much for that photo…I’d always wondered what the Crescent Theater looked like and now, for the first time, I get to see a photo of it! Fabulous!
Nice old photo.
My name is Susan Daniell – born Millward. I am trying to find out any information about my great grandpa William Millward. I have been told by my aunt (his granddaughter) that he owned the Crescent and the Popular at some time or the other, also that he acted with Stan Laurel & George Roby and was involved or acted in the movie Her Benny. Apparently many of his films were burnt in a fire in London.
All my grandparents have passed away. Can anyone help me please??
Here is part of a 7/21/35 article from the NYT. I don’t think you can say thugs in a headline anymore. Not PC.
THUGS GET PAYROLL IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; 3 Flee With $400 in Astoria After Binding Manager and Boy and Cutting Wires.
Bandits held up Joseph Yovin of 32-50 Seventy-ninth Street, Jackson Heights, manager of the Crescent Theatre at 27-18 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria, yesterday morning and escaped with a $400 payroll after tying Yovin and a 14-year-old boy in the office of the theatre.
Here’s a new link to the photos I posted back in September. The old links no longer work.
Thanks, Warren. I should have read your introduction a bit more carefully before I posted that comment. Re-reading it now, it seems quite clear.
If you go to the “about us” page on the catering hall’s web site (see the link below) you’ll find an exterior photo of the hall in 1965 as well as a current 2005 photo. In the older photo, it appears that the catering hall was built right up against and to the left of the old theater and that the new sign over the entrance was built right over the old marquee (or at least on it’s frame).
http://www.awm-ny.com/about.html
The introduction above should be corrected to indicate that the theater closed in the 1960’s, not the 1990’s.
Here’s a current view of the catering hall that was built around the remains of the Crescent taken just a couple of weeks back. In the 2nd photo you can see the roofline of the old auditorium just above the glass terrace (I took this from the small adjacent parking lot):
View link
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I’ll try to get back there soon when it’s open and see if I can persuade management to let me snap a few photos of the inerior space of the former theater – assuming there is anything of interest there to shoot.
I never would have guessed that this catering hall was at one time a movie house. I’ve walked by numerous times over the years. That means at one time there were three movie houses west of the subway line/31st Street, the Meriden Square, the Strand and the Crescent. The Strand is the only building that obviously was at one time a movie theatre.
There isn’t much retail business west of the subway line, particularly the further west you walk. There is quite a bit of construction of large apartment buildings on 21st Street from Broadway to Newtown Road/Astoria Blvd. and along Astoria Blvd. right around where the Crescent was once situated.
Warren,
It has been many years since I’ve been to Astoria but I must agree with Barbara. Where I remember the moving/storage company to be the building (at that time) had big glass double doors similar to a movie theater. I also remember looking in through the glass as a kid & asking my parents if this was a theater at one time. I also seem to recall that as a kid I remember the marque was still attached above the doors but removed soon afterwards. (I think the theater closed a few years after my birth). Is it possible that the theater was subdivided into 2 separate parts after it closed?
Ken
This is interesting. There is a moving/storage company on Newtown Ave, and my Mom (who remembers) told me that this was the location of the old Meriden. Other people who remember have also told me the same thing. The building where the auto repair shop is located looks too small to have been a theatre. Is it possible that there were two theatres on Newtown Ave?
Thanks Len & Warren!
Ken
Ken, The name of that theatre was The Meriden, and also known as The Square Theatre due to its location at Astoria Square (21st St., Astoria Blvd., and Newtown Ave.) The theatre was actually on Newtown Ave. near Chappy’s. In the 40’s and 50’s, we all called it the itch along with other derogatory names, yet we went there almost every Saturday other then the summer. Two features, newsreels, a serial, and at least twenty cartoons. I can remember the price being 17 cents. My older sister and brother remember when it cost 12 cents. My Dad referred to it as the Rock Seat. It was very popular in those days.
Len
Len
There was a theater back in the 1940s- very early 1950s off 21 street at Astoria Blvd. It was located next to Chappy’s restaurant. It later was used as a moving/storage company building. Unofficially, it was called the Itch. Officially, I don’t know it’s name (maybe the Square for Astoria Square). Anybody know it’s name?
Ken
Hello me again, according to the website …the address is 25-22 Astoria Blvd, as opposed to 25-24?
Warren if you ever write that book, I would be very into reading and getting it autographed.
Gentlemen, You both obviously care enough about the cinema, so much to actually contribute insightful information to this website..and I for one appreciate your various entries of information.Like for example I will be going to my friends wedding at the Astoria World Manor in November. I wouldn’t have known that that catering hall was once a movie theatre known as the Crescent. See that aspect of its history now fascinates me. Now I will not only be looking at the hall as a building , I will be looking at as a former theatre and will give it its due respects.History is around us and its all about uncovering that history. Thank You Both, VGreenpoint
Warren,
It’s not a crazy conclusion, an error only. Since you know so much about every theatre, why don’t you right a book instead of being a teacher and correcting everyone’s comment. I guess you haven’t anything better to do but think you are the expert in motion picture theatres and that nobody but you is the extreme authority. Cinema Treasures doesn’t check facts prior to listings leaving most of thier listings incorrect until they are corrected by site visitors. It doesn’t seem to bother them as much as it bothers you.
I believe the catering hall at this location was the Broadway Theatre and the Crescent (also on Broadway) became the Strand (which was only gutted two years ago.