This 990 McDonald theatre was directly under the el so the noise problem may have been a factor in it’s closing. The other Ditmas theater appears in the photograph to be closer to East 2 Street where the elevated train noise wouldn’t be a big problem.
After the El opened in 1920 trolley cars used the street trackage until 1956. And also the occasional freight train until 1978 when the tracks were permanently removed in places during the repaving of McDonald Avenue.
McDonald Avenue was never a desirable business location because of the El. A lot of stores would come and go, along with chronic vacancies.
The ceiling is very high and IIRC you could see evidence of where the projectionist’s booth was. Maybe one of the Brooklynites on the board can pay a visit to 990 McDonald Avenue and tell us if any evidence of it’s 80 years ago movie theater days is still visible.
Ken, thanks for finding the “mystery theater” of 990 McDonald Avenue. That’s my old neighborhood and I remember back in the 1980s the owner of the soda place telling me that it was a theater. But 1920, how did you research this?
The BMT Culver El on McDonald Avenue was opened in 1919. Prior to that the BRT railroad ran at ground level with a stations at 18th Avenue, and near Elmwood Avenue, which may explain why two (and later three with the Culver Theater) were located on this small stretch of McDonald Avenue in the days before the automobile was common.
With a $20k installation fee, this system will only pay for itself afer viewing approximately 2000 movies, based on a $10 ticket price. Makes no sense until the price comes down, as it ultimately will.
“Hmmm… I wonder if the fact that we are a restored 1933 art deco single screen theatre that still uses curtains, uniformed staff, no screen ads, and only charges $3.00 for tickets and no more then $3.00 for even our large concession items has anything to do with it? – posted by RickWolfe”
Rick, where is your theater? Charging $3, you can’t be in a major metro area. Glad to see your theater is doing well.
CT reports over the past two days that two theaters are closing partially because their a/c systems conked out. This Warner Theatre and the Houston Angelika. I guess that new a/c systems are so expensive that the cost of installation makes shutting down the better financial option for a struggling theater. What a shame.
And the gushing post by ‘KJA’ for the Lorraine Theater was put there by someone who just created their profile on 8/31/2010. What a sales pitch! If I win MegaMillions this week I just may by it myself!
The “501c3” movie theater is apparently a growing trend. I guess it’s way of saving a beloved but unprofitable movie theater. I used to assume that these “non-profit” places are more revival/art theaters than first run but now I’m not sure about that. Anyone here have better info on this type of theater??
“Sounds like someone at Carmike gave this guy the brush off.”
It does in a way, but if you read the full story the town’s mayor has signed the petition which now has over 3000 signatures. Still unlikely for all the reasons others have posted. I still give Fielder credit for at least trying to do something positive for his community.
The naming trend will only continue. Can McDonald’s, Microsoft or IBM be far behind. BTW, will this Best Buy Theater be run as a traditional movie theater? I wonder if they will acquire any more theaters in NYC?
Movie theaters may never totally disappear but may end up like “legitimate” theaters with locations only in the large cities. I live in Staten Island, NY. Basically a middle-income community. The population here is about 500,000. We are down to three movie theaters and one of those will probably be closing soon. I just think that people’s preferences have changed over the years and that movie-going is losing out to HDTV home theaters. That seems to be the trend all over the country.
“ I wonder when the first new R-rated T & A schlockfest is coming. I’d love to see something like The Stewardesses remade in better technology.”
Funny. IIRC in the 1970s there were a few 3D porn movies. I can just imagine what they were like. A grungy run-down movie house filled with sweaty guys wearing those old 3D glasses. Not too inviting.
This is a bad economy in which to raise ticket prices. 3D has had a burst of interest but once the novelty wears off moviegoers may return to 2D movies. These price increases may hasten that development. Consumers are not stupid.
Two blocks north of this theater at 990 McDonald Avenue & Webster Avenue there is a soda distributor (Culver Narrows Beer & Soda). Years ago the owner told me that the building was a former movie theater. The ceiling is very high and IIRC you could see evidence of where the projectionist’s booth was. I searched this site and found no entry for that address. Does anyone here have better information about this one time movie theater? Maybe it’s on this site and I couldn’t find it.
This 990 McDonald theatre was directly under the el so the noise problem may have been a factor in it’s closing. The other Ditmas theater appears in the photograph to be closer to East 2 Street where the elevated train noise wouldn’t be a big problem.
After the El opened in 1920 trolley cars used the street trackage until 1956. And also the occasional freight train until 1978 when the tracks were permanently removed in places during the repaving of McDonald Avenue.
McDonald Avenue was never a desirable business location because of the El. A lot of stores would come and go, along with chronic vacancies.
Looks like there was another “Ditmas Theater” a few blocks away at 115 Ditmas Avenue, with overlapping operating dates, each closing in 1920:
Ditmas Theater – 115 Ditmas Avenue
The ceiling is very high and IIRC you could see evidence of where the projectionist’s booth was. Maybe one of the Brooklynites on the board can pay a visit to 990 McDonald Avenue and tell us if any evidence of it’s 80 years ago movie theater days is still visible.
Ken, thanks for finding the “mystery theater” of 990 McDonald Avenue. That’s my old neighborhood and I remember back in the 1980s the owner of the soda place telling me that it was a theater. But 1920, how did you research this?
The BMT Culver El on McDonald Avenue was opened in 1919. Prior to that the BRT railroad ran at ground level with a stations at 18th Avenue, and near Elmwood Avenue, which may explain why two (and later three with the Culver Theater) were located on this small stretch of McDonald Avenue in the days before the automobile was common.
The movie being shown at the time of the photograph is “The Sporting Duchess” (1915). It is a film presumed to be lost.
IMDB: The Sporting Duchess (1915)
With a $20k installation fee, this system will only pay for itself afer viewing approximately 2000 movies, based on a $10 ticket price. Makes no sense until the price comes down, as it ultimately will.
“…wire up the seats to shock the new people that have no idea what will hit them…”
Did they really do that during the original “Tingler” release showings? Forget about that today, the theaters' insurers wouldn’t allow it.
“Hmmm… I wonder if the fact that we are a restored 1933 art deco single screen theatre that still uses curtains, uniformed staff, no screen ads, and only charges $3.00 for tickets and no more then $3.00 for even our large concession items has anything to do with it? – posted by RickWolfe”
Rick, where is your theater? Charging $3, you can’t be in a major metro area. Glad to see your theater is doing well.
CT reports over the past two days that two theaters are closing partially because their a/c systems conked out. This Warner Theatre and the Houston Angelika. I guess that new a/c systems are so expensive that the cost of installation makes shutting down the better financial option for a struggling theater. What a shame.
Numerous local press reports indicate a bedbug epidemic in NYC. People carry them from their homes to offices, restaurants, and now theaters.
And the gushing post by ‘KJA’ for the Lorraine Theater was put there by someone who just created their profile on 8/31/2010. What a sales pitch! If I win MegaMillions this week I just may by it myself!
The “501c3” movie theater is apparently a growing trend. I guess it’s way of saving a beloved but unprofitable movie theater. I used to assume that these “non-profit” places are more revival/art theaters than first run but now I’m not sure about that. Anyone here have better info on this type of theater??
“Sounds like someone at Carmike gave this guy the brush off.”
It does in a way, but if you read the full story the town’s mayor has signed the petition which now has over 3000 signatures. Still unlikely for all the reasons others have posted. I still give Fielder credit for at least trying to do something positive for his community.
BTW, it’s Roanoke, ALABAMA: View link
The naming trend will only continue. Can McDonald’s, Microsoft or IBM be far behind. BTW, will this Best Buy Theater be run as a traditional movie theater? I wonder if they will acquire any more theaters in NYC?
What are the ticket prices?
Is this one of those schemes where the taxpayers get stuck if the movie theater fails?
Maybe one of the old buildings on or near the Coney Island Boardwalk was a nickelodeon way back when.
Movie theaters may never totally disappear but may end up like “legitimate” theaters with locations only in the large cities. I live in Staten Island, NY. Basically a middle-income community. The population here is about 500,000. We are down to three movie theaters and one of those will probably be closing soon. I just think that people’s preferences have changed over the years and that movie-going is losing out to HDTV home theaters. That seems to be the trend all over the country.
Nice concept, maybe small movie places like this can be profitable. Good luck to them!
“blinks Wow, that is some crazy spam right there.”
At least it wasn’t the usual “viagra” spam.
“ I wonder when the first new R-rated T & A schlockfest is coming. I’d love to see something like The Stewardesses remade in better technology.”
Funny. IIRC in the 1970s there were a few 3D porn movies. I can just imagine what they were like. A grungy run-down movie house filled with sweaty guys wearing those old 3D glasses. Not too inviting.
This is a bad economy in which to raise ticket prices. 3D has had a burst of interest but once the novelty wears off moviegoers may return to 2D movies. These price increases may hasten that development. Consumers are not stupid.
Here’s a link to the complete NY Times story—
At a Neglected Movie Palace, Cobwebs Are Given Notice (NYT 02/03/2010)
Based on the even-numbered address the Parkville Theater was on the NorthWest corner of Gravesend (McDoanald) Avenue & Parkville Avenue.
Two blocks north of this theater at 990 McDonald Avenue & Webster Avenue there is a soda distributor (Culver Narrows Beer & Soda). Years ago the owner told me that the building was a former movie theater. The ceiling is very high and IIRC you could see evidence of where the projectionist’s booth was. I searched this site and found no entry for that address. Does anyone here have better information about this one time movie theater? Maybe it’s on this site and I couldn’t find it.