Wyckoff Theatre
247 Wyckoff Avenue,
Wyckoff Heights,
Brooklyn,
NY
11237
247 Wyckoff Avenue,
Wyckoff Heights,
Brooklyn,
NY
11237
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters
Architects: Eric O. Holmgren, Walter B. Wills
Functions: Church
Nearby Theaters
The Wyckoff Theatre stands at the eastern corner of Wyckoff Avenue and Bleecker Street, in the Wyckoff Heights section of Bushwick, Brooklyn. It was opened on May 8, 1915 with “God is Love”, and was designed by architect Walter B. Wills. In September 1918 alterations were carried out to the plans of architect Eric O. Holmgren. The Wyckoff Theatre was closed in 1951. It was before my time, so my earliest memory of it is as a Jehovah’s Witnesses Hall, about 1960 or 1961, a use which continues in 2019.
My oldest aunt went there with her mother to see “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” in 1954 or 1955 for an adult admission of ten cents. It was not air conditioned at first, but my oldest aunt recalls going there as a kid in the late-1920’s and 1930’s for a nickel, and having a “grand old time” there, seeing double features with cartoons, newsreels and short subjects.
Contributed by
Peter Koch
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
As a child one of the places I lived was on Irving Ave and Himrod
St.I was diagonally across from a Public School.A young neighbor
girl asked my parents if she could take me to the movies.
She took me to this movie to see King of the Zombies.I must have
been about 4 or 5 years old.Once again she took me to see another
Zombie movie and I would have to state that this is all I remember
about the Wyckoff.We sat in the front row and those Zombies were
real big.I loved every minute of it.
Not long after, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and my Dad was
drafted into the Navy.
We headed to Williamsburg,Brooklyn where I would be introduced to
other movie houses.
I wonder what theater ornamentation survives in the church. I would assume they changed very little, as theaters lend themselves well to church conversion, without much damage to the integrity of the theater building itself.
Wow, aside from the removal of the decrorative cornice, and the addition of an iron fence, the Wykcoff changed little over the years.
Of course, all the windows were bricked up, as it is now a Jehovah’s Witness hall, and Jehovah Witness churches for some reason are not allowed to have windows.
The Classic Theater on Tompkins was a nearly identical theater to the Wyckoff. It too is now some sort of church. See my March 31st, 2005 posting for photos of the Wyckoff and the Classic Theater. Make sure you click the 7:14 PM photo for the Classic (as I goofed up there), and the 6:55 PM post’s photo for the Wyckoff.
There was another theater that ran German movies in the early to late 60’s on Wyckoff Ave near Dekalb Ave or Stanhope-Stockholm Streets.
Anyone have the name of it or is it listed here?
never mind..I found it..
it was called the Wagner and is listed here…..
I can still see the “Hanseatic” adverts in my mind and remember some of the lyrics
rotf
Here’s a street view of the Wyckoff Theater:
View link
I passed by the old Wyckoff yesterday, and it is still hosting the Witnesses. The building remains in very good shape. I really wonder, however, how 600 people could have fit into such a small building. I guess they knew how to pack them in in those days.
Recently, Tinseltoes posted an interesting ad for this theater which featured several Charlie Chaplin films, at least one of which also featured Mabel Normand. The ad also provided a sketch of the theater – the only record we have of it as a going cinematic concern. This must have appeared in the late 1910’s – early 1920’s period. Interestingly, the theater was described as the “New Wyckoff”. Given the renovations that Peter Koch noted occurred in 1918, I just wonder if the theater adopted that name – at least for a few years – in the wake of the renovation.
In any event, please check out the photo section to view this valuable addition to the record.
I don’t think that’s a sketch, johndereszewksi. It appears to be an actual photo incorporated into the ad.
You are correct Ed. I guess I spoke too soon. The fact that it is an actual photo makes the ad even more valuable.