American Theatre

1168 E. 92nd Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11236

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Functions: Retail

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The American Theater, East 92nd Street (corner Flatlands Ave), Canarsie, Brooklyn, Ny   11236

One of three theatres in Brooklyn to have been named ‘American’ (the other two were located at 3904 Ft. Hamilton Avenue and 910 Manhattan Avenue) and all are listed in the Film Daily Yearbook 1930 edition.

This American Theatre is listed in the 1926 and 1927 editions of F.D.Y. as being located at East 92nd Street and Flatlands Avenue with seating for 600.

It is not listed in the 1941 edition of F.D.Y.

Any further information would be appreciated.

Contributed by KenRoe

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

wasu
wasu on June 15, 2006 at 10:38 am

The American Theater at 910 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint,Brooklyn, New York is my first memory of a theater.

It was 1926 and I was seven years old. I stood on the other side of Manhattan Avenue holding my mother’s hand as we viewed a large banner above the facade of the American Theater,proclaiming; “Rudolph Valentino: Son of the Sheik.”

No, I don’t remember if we ever saw that performance, but I visited it many times after that..

(No, I couldn’t read – but my Mom was my interpreter.)
WASU

jflundy
jflundy on June 30, 2007 at 3:58 pm

There is a photograph of the American Theater in Canarsie on a website of photos of old Canarsie. View link

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on January 1, 2008 at 4:16 pm

The American movie house at 910 Manhattan Ave. was the strongest of the second run movie houses in Greenpoint and the last to close. It also reopened for a time – under the name of the Chopin Theater in the 70’s and 80’s, but closed before Greenpoint could really support a local movie theater. It would be a cinematic gold mine today!

The most defining element of the American is the large American Eagle that still soars above its former entrance. In its hay day, the American was a second/third run movie theater that featured two and three movies per day plus a dish night every week. Part of my dear mother’s dinner set was initially acquirred during American Theater “Dish Nites”!

I passed by the old American recently and was really depressed by its most recent use; it is a Starbucks!! Ugh.

Bway
Bway on June 9, 2011 at 11:25 am

When looking at the old photo on the Canarsie site, comparing it to the street view, it appears theat the whole right side of the theater was pulled off when they expanded Flatlands AVe! You can see the middle is still there, and the left side, but the right is all gone! Interesting.

Bway
Bway on June 9, 2011 at 11:25 am

When looking at the old photo on the Canarsie site, comparing it to the street view, it appears theat the whole right side of the theater was pulled off when they expanded Flatlands AVe! You can see the middle is still there, and the left side, but the right is all gone! Interesting.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on June 19, 2011 at 11:14 am

In retrosprect. I regret placing my commets about this theater, which concerned the old American in Greenpoint and later the Chopin, on this page. I was a real rookie in placing comments and confused this site in posting this comment.

Sorry, and I look forward to hearing more comments about this “other” American.

I hope that many interesting comments regarding this site will now be posted on CT.

Bway
Bway on April 22, 2013 at 12:35 pm

John, did you ever compare the street view with the historic photo posted? It appears the whole right side of the building was ripped off some feet in, and a new side wall placed ¾ of the way in when they widened Flatlands Ave!!

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 23, 2013 at 5:16 am

Good catch, Bway. Looks like they lopped off about a quarter of the building’s width! It’s remarkable how often that practice occurred over the years in NYC, as thoroughfares were widened to increase traffic capacity. Perhaps it speaks to the quality of construction from the early 20th century, that these structures could withstand such alterations.

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