Plaza Theatre
107-09 150th Street,
South Jamaica,
NY
11435
107-09 150th Street,
South Jamaica,
NY
11435
2 people
favorited this theater
The Plaza Theatre was opened prior to 1926. It was a small, subsequent-run movie theatre, which operated for many years in the predominantly black-populated section of Queens known as South Jamaica. It was closed in 1961.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook:1940-1955 editions as a Negro theatre.
this movie was in the italian section of jamaica.also it was near the polish hall which was on sutphin blvd.and about two blocks south of lakewood ave. this part of jamaica was known as dunton or duntin
Plaza Boy was a term used derogatorily to describe the guys that frequented this cut rate movie house.
I think this is the current occupant. The photo is not very helpful.
http://tinyurl.com/63s5ol
The Plaza Theatre was a wonderful, independently run neighborhood theatre. I spent my childhood at the Plaza and have many fond memories of it. My Mother, Jean Bruno owned The Plaza in conjunction with a Belgian gentleman named George. My Mother started working at The Plaza as a ticket-taker, well before 1940, as far as I know (possibly 1933). She and George ran The Plaza until she died in 1961. George then decided to retire and he and my Father disposed of its equipment.
Those of you who fondly remember their visits to The Plaza may recall my petite, Mother and her indomitable spirit.
Despite what The Film Daily Yearbook 1940-1955 editions state: The Plaza was not primarily an African American attended theatre for most of its existence. The demographics of theatre attendees reflected the changing demographics of South Jamaica. Up until at least the mid-Fifties, The Plaza was primarily attended by first generation Italian American, Polish American and other first generation Americans and immigrants of European descent, who lived in South Jamaica. As these individuals moved out of Jamaica to the suburbs, African Americans increasingly made up a larger percentage of theatre attendees.
I don’t know what other writers are referring to when they mention the Plaza Boys. My Mother was a no-nonsense person who never tolerated any roughhousing or other disrespectful behavior.
I have a picture of The Plaza in its heyday.
The term PLAZA BOY OR BOYS was by no means a derogatory term if anything it was a term of endearment.
Old thread, but I wonder if JAB still monitors this page and if he has the means to upload that photo of the Plaza in his possession? Anyway, looks like this is now occupied by a church. JAB says the equipment was disposed of in 1961… did they then sell or lease to a church?
JAB it would be nice if you would share your photo.
To JAB I attended the Plaza while your mother owned it and I remember hearing her death from a friend who thought she was at Sorrentino’s on Liberty Ave. I remember how a group of us from the neighborhood would meet up and go to the movies at the same time every Saturday I have so many fond memories of enjoying the movies with my older sister, friends and other relatives.
As part of my requirements for a college class I had to spend several hours of the week at a community center in South Jamaica in the early 60s. I was surprised to see the Plaza since I was always a movie theater nut. That must have been just after the theater closed.