While I always went to Radio City Music Hall as a child, I am sorry that I never went to the Center theatre before it was demolished.
I guess the reason was because it was an NBC studio by that time, and my parents never got any tickets for the shows broadcasted there.
I noticed the statues and many of the orniments(Vases, etc.) on the side were gone. The auditorium’s condition looks very sad. As I mentioned in earlier posts,the religous sector who control the neighborhood will never allow this theatre to be restored. Property is very expensive in this area, and I believe they will eventually rip down this building and put something up that will make a profit.
I thank 55 TBird for letting us see this picture.
Progress seem to be going very slowly. Perhaps some more innovative persons are needed on the committee to come up with ideas to get more financial aid and speed up the project.The longer it takes, the more it will cost.
Cinema North should be made aware of this. It will benefit Johnstown’s parents who are not aware of the manager’s policy. Lost Memory has been nice enough to make it easy to connect to Cinema North.
Pandatear, contact Cinema North who owns the theatre. They have a website and will respond to you. It sounds like there is a new manager there who needs to be talked to as well as his staff).
The Boro Park’s box seats, a few feet above orchestra level,(front decorated with marble)were on each side of the proscenium. The design was neo classic. (Ex. the decorative colums, the dome, etc.)
Starting in the late 1940’s the Boro Park began showing first run films. This is a quote from Warren’s informative April 30th 2004 post:“ The RKO "arrangement” came circa 1949-50, when clearances changed as a result of the Federal anti-trust action against the major companies that owned both studios and theatres. Prior to that, Loew’s Boro Park played split weeks of double features that had already played at Loew’s 46th Street and the nearest RKO that was first-run for that area.“ I personally remember most of my friends and I who lived in Boro Park went equally to the 46th Street and Boro Park. Both theatres had live presentations at times. Both theatres, different in styles, were beautiful and unique.
Bkj, when my Aunt closed her studio all of her photographic equipment, negatives and copies were stored in the celler of that building since she lived on the second floor. Shortly afterwards, the basement flooded and everything left down there was destroyed.
Irwin Corey lived in the apartment building on 12th Avenue. There was a drugstore on the mainfloor called Rooservelt’s Pharmacy over 55 years ago. My aunt, who had a photography studio in the area, took many pictures for the vaudeville stars when they appeared at the Boro Park and 46th Street theatre.
R.C.M.H. was first called International Music Hall when it opened on December 27, 1932. With the failure of the over-long priemiere variety show, S.L.Rothafel became ill, and was ousted as head supervisor of the theatre. Before his death in the mid 1930’s, he was asked to return to run the Roxy on 7th Avenue.
See Garden theatre(Brooklyn) in Cinema Treasures for the outdoor theatre on New Utrecht avenue.(Roof opened). It was next to Loew’s 46th Street. Loew’s 46th Street building is now a furniture store, I think the Mosque you are referring to is in( or was in) a connecting building next to it. (Check it out in Cinema Treasures)
As one of my favorite theatres in the past, it is wonderful to hear that the theatre may be restored! Hoping L.I.U. will follow through.
I am sure a student center could be incorporated into the design.
Under the balcony were ornate glass pannels with blue lights hidden in them- I guess to represent the sky. The theatre was elegant, but unfortuantely not that well maintained by Loew’s throughout the years.
The only picture (exterior front view) I ever saw of the Boro Park theatre was in the book “When Brooklyn Was The World” by Elliot Willensky. Unfortuantely, I do not know of any link that shows the
handsome interior. Perhaps C.T. member Warren knows of one.
While I always went to Radio City Music Hall as a child, I am sorry that I never went to the Center theatre before it was demolished.
I guess the reason was because it was an NBC studio by that time, and my parents never got any tickets for the shows broadcasted there.
Thanks for all the information, Bill. What great memories!
I noticed the statues and many of the orniments(Vases, etc.) on the side were gone. The auditorium’s condition looks very sad. As I mentioned in earlier posts,the religous sector who control the neighborhood will never allow this theatre to be restored. Property is very expensive in this area, and I believe they will eventually rip down this building and put something up that will make a profit.
I thank 55 TBird for letting us see this picture.
Dennis,thanks for sharing your memories.It was well written. Appreciation also goes to John for posting it.
The building on 60th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway was made for Rogers car dealership(who first sold Pontiacs). It was never a theatre.
Looks like a cute little movie theatre.
Progress seem to be going very slowly. Perhaps some more innovative persons are needed on the committee to come up with ideas to get more financial aid and speed up the project.The longer it takes, the more it will cost.
Cinema North should be made aware of this. It will benefit Johnstown’s parents who are not aware of the manager’s policy. Lost Memory has been nice enough to make it easy to connect to Cinema North.
A unique and charming little theatre. I hope it is restored soon
A magnificent theatre that should be restored. What a loss it will to future generations if this unique theatre is allowed to be destroyed.
Pandatear, contact Cinema North who owns the theatre. They have a website and will respond to you. It sounds like there is a new manager there who needs to be talked to as well as his staff).
Thanks Pat & Ross for improving CINEMA TREASURES.
The Boro Park’s box seats, a few feet above orchestra level,(front decorated with marble)were on each side of the proscenium. The design was neo classic. (Ex. the decorative colums, the dome, etc.)
Starting in the late 1940’s the Boro Park began showing first run films. This is a quote from Warren’s informative April 30th 2004 post:“ The RKO "arrangement” came circa 1949-50, when clearances changed as a result of the Federal anti-trust action against the major companies that owned both studios and theatres. Prior to that, Loew’s Boro Park played split weeks of double features that had already played at Loew’s 46th Street and the nearest RKO that was first-run for that area.“ I personally remember most of my friends and I who lived in Boro Park went equally to the 46th Street and Boro Park. Both theatres had live presentations at times. Both theatres, different in styles, were beautiful and unique.
Ed, the pictures you took of the Hellinger are excellent. Thanks for letting us see them.
Looks like a cozy little theatre. I am glad it has survived all these years.
Bkj, when my Aunt closed her studio all of her photographic equipment, negatives and copies were stored in the celler of that building since she lived on the second floor. Shortly afterwards, the basement flooded and everything left down there was destroyed.
Irwin Corey lived in the apartment building on 12th Avenue. There was a drugstore on the mainfloor called Rooservelt’s Pharmacy over 55 years ago. My aunt, who had a photography studio in the area, took many pictures for the vaudeville stars when they appeared at the Boro Park and 46th Street theatre.
The life of S.L.Rothafel would make a great movie if done creatively.
R.C.M.H. was first called International Music Hall when it opened on December 27, 1932. With the failure of the over-long priemiere variety show, S.L.Rothafel became ill, and was ousted as head supervisor of the theatre. Before his death in the mid 1930’s, he was asked to return to run the Roxy on 7th Avenue.
See Garden theatre(Brooklyn) in Cinema Treasures for the outdoor theatre on New Utrecht avenue.(Roof opened). It was next to Loew’s 46th Street. Loew’s 46th Street building is now a furniture store, I think the Mosque you are referring to is in( or was in) a connecting building next to it. (Check it out in Cinema Treasures)
As one of my favorite theatres in the past, it is wonderful to hear that the theatre may be restored! Hoping L.I.U. will follow through.
I am sure a student center could be incorporated into the design.
Under the balcony were ornate glass pannels with blue lights hidden in them- I guess to represent the sky. The theatre was elegant, but unfortuantely not that well maintained by Loew’s throughout the years.
The only picture (exterior front view) I ever saw of the Boro Park theatre was in the book “When Brooklyn Was The World” by Elliot Willensky. Unfortuantely, I do not know of any link that shows the
handsome interior. Perhaps C.T. member Warren knows of one.
I think most likely it was scaled down. Thanks for the information, Warren.