Square Theatre

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

was there ever a theater across Mt Carmel on Newtown?? We called this building the “Institute” and lots of school functions were held there. Building still stands. Any info or memories would be appreciated. Thanks so much

I have jogged and walked by this address for years and I am flabbergasted that the the garage was at one time a movie theatre. I would have never guessed. I had heard that at one time the square, the confluence of Astoria Blvd., Newtown Avenue & 21st Street was the center of Astoria. In looking at the buildings earlier this afternoon, I can understand why one would think the moving company building was the theatre. It looks a lot more like a theatre than the repair garage.

Thanks Warren. I’m sure people’s memories are fuzzy since it was so many years ago.

I show the original address of the Meriden Theatre as 16 Newtown Avenue.

Thanks LM. I’ll talk with Mom again later and ask her how many stories the theatre was.

I’ve lived a block away from the site my entire life (54 years). Not that it makes me an expert, but my Mom (who unlike me actually remembers the theatre) says the building housing the moving/storage company is definitely where the Meridan (or Square) was. There has been a moving company there for as long as I can remember. I don’t know what it’s called now, but at one time it was Macray Moving and Storage. Also, judging from the architecture of this building, it definitely looks like it was a theatre. The building where the garage/auto repair shop is looks too small to have been a theatre. This is interesting, and hopefully someone else can solve the mystery.