Square Theatre
21-20 Newtown Avenue,
Astoria,
NY
11102
21-20 Newtown Avenue,
Astoria,
NY
11102
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Auto Repair Shop
Previous Names: Meriden Theatre, New Meriden Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Meriden Theatre opened in 1910 and was one of the first movie houses built in Astoria, Queens, which is just across the East River from Manhattan. In the 1920’s, the theatre was renovated and re-named the New Meriden Theatre and eventually the Square Theatre to denote its proximity to Astoria Square, which is at the junction of Newtown Avenue, Astoria Boulevard, and 21st Street.
Never more than a late-run nabe, the Square Theatre closed in the 1950’s and was soon converted into an auto repair garage. Some of the original decor is still visible in the interior.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
Hi All, I just found this site and I lived at 21-26 Newtown Ave from 1951 – 1972 and went to that theatre all the time as a kid and the most I can remember was it was tiny but the ceilings were high. It was called the Square at that time or the rat hole or roach trap but it was so wonderful to have.
Hi All, I just found this site and I lived at 21-26 Newtown Ave from 1951 – 1972 and went to that theatre all the time as a kid and the most I can remember was it was tiny but the ceilings were high. It was called the Square at that time or the rat hole or roach trap but it was so wonderful to have.
The theater had to have been where the auto repair shop is today. Why else would there yet be remnants of the theater’s past in its interior?
A very interesting thread about a very historic theater …. I look forward to visiting this place when I have the opportunity … Newtown Avenue was, in its day, one of the most important roads in this vicinity, and the Square Theatre was certainly situated in what, at one time, had been the center of a newly developing commuity …. Thanks TOMBOCHI for re-starting this thread … if it had not been for your comment, I would not have known that this theater ever existed … I hope the Site Administrator will add the 11102 zip code to the title, since it would make this page far more accessible … Just a hint.
John, unless you specifically ask them to update they usually don’t do so from comments posted.
Actually, I have found the Site Administrators to be quite responsive to the requests I had previously made in the comment section – particularly with regard to providing a street address, zip code or the name of the architect. I guess it just depends on how you ask them. So, along these lines, Site Administrator, please add the 11102 zip code.
I don’t think they monitor the comments. You actually have to go to “about” in the heading and then “contact” on the next prompt. Then you choose whether it’s an update or site problem.
Thanks again site manager for adding the zip code. I was getting a little worried for a second or two, but I knew you would come through …. I think the only areas where you need to obtain more direct contact concern such things as adding or changig a picture at the intro or reconfigurating the google map.
As the New Meriden it was listed as one of many theaters participating in a special exhibiting event in the September 1920 Paramount Week.
Oh wow, before I read the first sentence of the second paragraph of the description for this listing (“Never more than a late-run nabe…”) I had never heard of the term “nabe” before. How often have any of you heard the term used in reference to a cinema?
A Google search for “nabe meaning” results in “a local movie theater”. The Wiktionary page says “Neighborhood theater, neighborhood cinema”, and seems to indicate it was mostly a New York City thing. (I grew up on Long Island in the 1970’s-80’s but I wasn’t from the city and rarely interacted with it.)