Decatur Theater
1674 Broadway,
Bushwick,
Brooklyn,
NY
11207
1674 Broadway,
Bushwick,
Brooklyn,
NY
11207
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 30 comments
Brief history and tax photo published here
Today’s Brownstoner blog reports that this site is now being demolished and will be replaced by a much needed supported housing development.
You all remmember the manager Mr. Shine? I can still see his face…always reminded me of a grouchy, but kind waiter in a deli in NYC. I believe his wife also worked at the theater.
Roy from Cooper Street…3 sewer champ!
Hi Guys: I think I, among others, affectionatly called the Decatur, Rogers, & the Monroe, the “Itch” theaters in Bushwick, Brooklyn———-but they sure kept us kids entertained——-My Mother used to tell me not to use the bathrooms in any of them…..and if you ever went into one of the rest rooms you would know why—-WHEW!————I don’t recall the Decatur having cats running around inside, but I do remember the Rogers had plenty of them patrolling the aisles———the best seats of all three was at the Monroe——at least they were padded——The Decatur had wood seats and after a Saturday Matinee, everyone would have sore butts———-Joe From Florida
Good to see you on this page, leroyelliston. I was rather hoping you would get here. You may have already read, on this page or elsewhere, that the Decatur was known as “The Itch” among Bushwick residents, due to its unsanitary condition. My father’s sister may have gotten lice or nits in her hair there.
There was a theater that you could see a double feature, usually Hopalong Cassidy, Tarzan flicks plus several serials and multiple cartoons for 15 or 20 cents. Mr. Shine was the managers name and he was always there! The theater itself was not kept up and cleanliness was not on their agenda, but they filled the house with the neighborhood kids. Still there are fond memories of this little theater.
supposed to make landfall around Ft. Lauderdale late tonight——-We are 150 miles to the north——-we will get some gusts & alot of rain, but the strongest winds will be to our south———-Please—-we had enough last year———we were out of our home for almost 6 months waiting for repairs, as the house was devestated——But I am getting off the Putor now——Yanks have an afternoon game—-Joer From Florida
Kenroe & Lostmemory: It’s amazing the way you fellows come up with these very interesting facts…….I wish more info was available on the old Rogers Movie house, furthur west on Broadway, as that seemed to look like the oldest, from what I recall, in the old neighborhood…….Joe From Florida…P,S, waiting for the wind and rain to pick up down here from “Katrina”
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists a Peoples Pleasure Palace at 1676 Broadway. Could this have been another name for the Decatur Park airdrome (later Decatur Theatre) located at 1674 Broadway, as mentioned by cjdv in his posting dated April 24, 2005. Or then again it could be totally seperate building?
Joe, unfortunately yes, the Decatur (and the Rogers) have been torn down. A group of one story stores exists on the site of the Rodgers, and the site of the Decatur is currently still an empty lot.
Thanks.
PKoch: There is one started before I came on board……..Just look it up in US theaters——then NYC——and enter Rogers————There were two of them, so make sure you get the one on Broadway in Brooklyn——also the following movie-houses are listed—Alba, Sun, Rivoli, Monroe, Loews Gates, RKO-Bushwick, Madison, Parthanon. Ridgewood, Wycoff, Willimasburg, Colonial, Starr….and all of the Downtown theaters like the Bklyn-Fox, Strand—etc etc——Joe From Florida
Joe From Florida, have you started a page on the Rogers Theater on this site yet ? It may be worth our while for you to do so, to facilitate this discussion of small now-gone theaters by us fond ex-Bushwick-ites.
Hello Bklyn Cinemas: I have no idea of when it was demolished, or if it even was torn down…….as far as any info or photos, your best bet is to e-mail the Webmaster direct, unless somebody else reads your post…….Do you have any photos of the old Rogers Theater that I mentioned on Broadway, or any info?———It also is lacking photos and info, such as when did it open———To me, the Rogers was the oldest movie house in the neighborhood when I was growing up there in the late 40s and early 50s——-check the posts at the Rogers on Bway in Brooklyn——many have no photos that I mention, and would love to see them, just for old time memories———-Joe From Florida, sasheegm user id
When was this building torn down, and does anyone know of any photos of it before it was torn down?
In the late 40s and the early 50s, both the Rogers & Decatur were affectionatly called the “Itch”……The Colonial. up about a block from the Decatur on Broadway was a palace in comparison, and it advertised the Coolest A/C in NY…..and it was cold in there…..I remember that sign hanging down from the Marque…..A great double feature I saw there with my school chums was the Flash Gordon Feature versions of the serials…..after a few days at the Colonial, they went to the Starr theater on Knickerbocker Ave—-check out my post on that oldie but goodie——Joe From Florida—-sasheegm
The theatre opened in the summer of 1914 as the Decatur Park airdome with “temporary entrance on Decatur St.” On August 15th, 1914, it announces that “when the Decatur theatre opens the show will be held inside on nights when the weather does not permit open-air shows.”
The Decatur was one of the oldest Movie houses that I went to in the early 50s….It was very much like the Rogers on Broadway—-One level—-wood floors & Hard seats….I saw a Johnny Mack Brown western there—-I can remember that….Joe From Florida—-sasheegm
That’s a good idea !
Hehe. Peter, Warren is making my mouth water with these photo descriptions. Check the Ridgewood site, this “collection” has photos of the Ridgewood too. I wish this company would at least place small thumbnails of these photos on a website like queenspix.com does.
Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll be taking a trip to Elmhurst, Illinois to see a picture of a now-demolished Brooklyn NY cinema.
Thanks, Warren. Any chance of you scanning and posting a link to the aforesaid image ?
Thanks, Bway. Sorry to read that. At least, now I know. I’ll look for that, next time I ride the Broadway el past there.
That makes 1666 Broadway and the “Dr. Tucker’s 59 for all pain” building that much more special !
Peter, I drove by the Decatur site today and am sorry to report to you that the Decatur Theater building has been demolished.
In fact both sides of Broadway between Cooper and Decatur have been completely demolished from one end to the other, not one building stands on either side of Broadway for that block.
If the Decatur’s address was 1674 Broadway, then I think it was on the southwest side of the street, as other theaters with even number addresses are on this side as well : Loew’s Gates at 1340 Broadway, RKO Bushwick at 1396 Broadway, and the Colonial at 1746 Broadway.