Aster Theater
246 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
246 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11211
2 people
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Plaza Theater, New Plaza Theater, New Broadway Theater, Square Theater
Nearby Theaters
The Aster Theater was located in the shadow of the Broadway El near the Marcy Avenue station in Williamsburg. This theater underwent numerous name changes.
It opened as the Plaza Theater in 1913. It became the New Plaza Theater in 1924, and in 1927, the New Broadway Theater (not to be confused with Loew’s Broadway Theatre at Myrtle and Broadway).
In the 1933 it became the Square Theater, and in the 1942, the Aster Theater.
The Aster Theater closed in 1950.. After serving many years in restaurant/retail use, it was demolished in 2012.
Contributed by
Bway Chris
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Recent comments (view all 28 comments)
Dear Astyanax. No I only remember the Alba and the Graham. Debovoise Street was in that neighborhood of those theaters. The Alba was a Spanish Moviehouse. The Graham was further down Graham Ave and Grand Street. Anniegirl
Here is a recent(June 2006) photograph I took of the Plaza/New Broadway/Square/Aster Theater:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/187630477/
That theater must have had a very low ceiling!
The actual auditorium is at the rear of the two shop units and I believe runs parallel to Broadway. It can’t be seen from the angle I took the photograph. It is about the same height as the entrance block which is currently the restaurant.
I believe the configuration of the theatre was…enter through the foyer and then turn left into the auditorium. The projection booth would be in a raised room at the end of the foyer.
I do not remember this movie. It was gone by the time I was a kid growing up in Williamsburgh in the 50’s. I do remember the Concord Cafeteria and the Bowling Alley next door and the Coat Store that was next to the Cafeteria. I am sure many of my Aunt’s friends would remember the Aster Theater. Anniegirl.
Listed as the Square Theater in the 1940 Brooklyn yellow pages. Phone number was EVergrn 4-7834.
I have seen 8mm movies of the last day of operation of the Utica-Reid carline in early 1951 and the Aster marquee can be seen in the background of a shot of a Car turning, but it is not clear enough to see if it still was open or not.
At least the lobby portion of the Aster appears to be a chinese restaurant. I don’t know what the auditorium is today:
View link
This building and some others have been demolished. I am sure they’re going to put up apartments. I will try and get there and take some pictures. The old Williamsburgh Playhouse, now a 99 cent store, is all that remains of the many theaters that once stood along Broadway.
New old picture of Square, AKA Aster, Theater added to CT Photo Gallery.