Belvedere Theatre

64-28 Myrtle Avenue,
Glendale, NY 11385

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Showing 51 - 72 of 72 comments

AntonyRoma
AntonyRoma on October 8, 2005 at 11:48 am

Good comment about the Belvedere being within five blocks of the Acme and Glenwood to provide latitude in selecting a good program on any day. But, you preface it based on cost. The costs were quite different in those days; Acme was cheapest, but it was also known as the “itch” and it showed lowest grade movies; the Glenwood was the most expensive, and it showed 3rd or 4th release movies in the most genteel atmosphere of the three.

(Maybe someone can help me in characterizing the types/release of movies in these theaters. Comparison to the Oasis,Ridgewood, and Madison venues for completeness would be appreciated.(

billmetz
billmetz on October 8, 2005 at 11:33 am

the belvedere had no balcony to my recollection it was agood theatre for 20 cents back in the 40s and if prograam was no good….five blocks to the acme or five blocks in opposite direction to trhe glenwood,,,,seems to me the Grandview, Belvedere And Majestic inn ridgewood were all managed by same men…i would always see this little guy in alll three theatre and sometimes he was on stage givigout screeno prizes

AntonyRoma
AntonyRoma on July 13, 2005 at 3:53 pm

Interesting stuff Sit.
8/7/03..http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2003/Jul.-Sept.2003/080703/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

8/14/03..http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2003/Jul.-Sept.2003/081403/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

We are kindred spirits, althoug you are a hell of a lot more eloquent than I am. I just asked if anyone remembered Cappy’s Pool Hall in a comment I made about the Ridgewood. Shared a few other memories in a Madison post. But you sure brought back a ton of other memories ranging from wrestling at the Rdgewood Grove, beer halls, strip joints,chicken markets,104th precint.

But I’d swear that I used to go to the Acme for less than a dime as a kid.

dang61
dang61 on April 19, 2005 at 6:52 pm

I grew up on 61st street (64-74). Once every two years or so someone would break in to the old Belvedere when it was still closed, prior to being Fredrick’s. We went in with flashlights looking around. It was the spookiest place I ever went to until that time. There was evidence of a bum or two living in there, but we never saw them on the streets. Rats and mice were everywhere. it smelled real bad, lots of mold from leaking walls. The curtains would fall apart when touched. The stage was there, but I don’t remember going up to the camera room, but I did go up to the balcony.
Them of course someone’s parent would call the cops and they would tell us all to get out of there or else they are going to lock us in there.
Every time I go back east, I walk Myrtle Ave and enjoy the memories
Dan G

cevotav
cevotav on March 31, 2005 at 4:47 pm

I wrote about all the theaters in Ridgewood and Glendale along with info about growing up there in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60' s.
See articles in the Our Neighborhood column of the Times Newsweekly
on August 7, 2003 and August 14, 2003.

Bway
Bway on March 12, 2005 at 11:02 pm

Perhaps, but Glendale is not “that” close to Forest Hills…close enough, but I don’t think they would have to compete with each other that much.
Personally, I think the the Ridgewood Theatre is in trouble when the Atlas opens.

Bway
Bway on January 6, 2005 at 3:28 pm

Here’s an article that was in the Timesnewsweekly this past week. It’s an article about what the M subway line is now, but mentions a nice description of the Grandview Theater, as well as the Belvedere in Glendale:

View link

RobertR
RobertR on December 7, 2004 at 3:49 pm

The Ridgewood draws a different audience but there is sure to be some people that will travel to Glendale. Many of the Ridgewood’s customers come from Brooklyn since the Commodore was abandoned.

Bway
Bway on December 7, 2004 at 3:39 pm

Thanks for the information on the new Atlas Theater that will be near Cooper and 80th St. I only hope this does not spell the death of long running Ridgewood Theatre.

romerol
romerol on December 7, 2004 at 10:51 am

I was there recently for church services, the congregation
did a wonderful job in restoring the building and adding
a upper balcony for the overflow.
There is a huge chandelier in the middle of the room, was
it always there or is it an added touch-up ??

Bway
Bway on October 30, 2004 at 4:52 pm

Wow, Brooklyn!? At least with the Madison or Ridgewood Theaters being mistakenly listed in Brooklyn when actually in Queens, at least those are close to the Brooklyn border. The Belvedere isn’t even close! You are correct, 2576 is in the old numbering system, before Queens changed to the new numbering system around the 30’s.

deleted user
[Deleted] on October 30, 2004 at 3:09 pm

If a theatre organ was installed in 1922 then indeed the Belvedere Theatre opened prior to 1930. Just another piece of misinformation in theatre listings.

deleted user
[Deleted] on October 29, 2004 at 2:26 pm

The first listing I find for the Belvedere Theatre is 1930 with a closing date in the mid fifties.

RobertR
RobertR on October 29, 2004 at 2:13 pm

This web site has a picture of a program from when the Belvedere played Quo Vadis

View link

RobertR
RobertR on October 29, 2004 at 1:31 pm

Exactly about two blocks away. I went to St Pancras but it was already the Victorian House by then.

romerol
romerol on October 29, 2004 at 11:58 am

Thanks RobertR, I knew there was a business there before the
church opened.
Was the catering hall I was thinking about further down Myrtle
Ave near a church named ST PANCREAS ??

RobertR
RobertR on October 29, 2004 at 11:41 am

The Belvedere was restored by Erna Friedricks for her clothing store. When she died another store took it over and then it was a flea market for a very short time. It was never used for a gym or catering. You may be thinking of the former Acme which for 20 years was a catering hall called the Victorian House.

romerol
romerol on October 29, 2004 at 11:36 am

Not only is beautifully renovated, the church added a
upper balcony !!
I remember the building in the early 90’s as either a catering hall or a gym. I am open to corrections.

Bway
Bway on October 6, 2004 at 8:02 pm

The Belvedere is in great shape, and is a church. The church has maintained it beautifully.

Here is a current photo of the Belvedere taken today:

Click here for photo

Click here for closeup of “Belvedere” sign still on the building

RobertR
RobertR on August 26, 2004 at 4:09 pm

Does anyone have any memories of this theatre or films they saw here that they could share? I am also curious what year did it close?

RobertR
RobertR on April 15, 2004 at 2:27 pm

Erna Friedricks who had the Belevedere restored had an obituary in the Ridgewood Times headlined by her famous expression…..“If you have 99 cents you dont have a dollar”. Her original store was a few blocks from the theatre. I remember so well when they were renovating the theatre, it had been closed forever and you could smell that old theatre smell a block away. The place was totally intact inside even the curtains were still up. The renovations restored the theatre to the way it had been, only the floor was leveled. It is now a church and they have not only maintained the interior, but have renovated the extrerior of the whole block.

Bway
Bway on April 15, 2004 at 2:14 pm

The clothes store that was located in the Belvedere was “Friedricks” Clothing store.