Garden Theater

113-12 Jamaica Avenue,
Richmond Hill, NY 11421

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Showing 1 - 25 of 32 comments

EyesForwardNoTalking
EyesForwardNoTalking on April 7, 2015 at 8:49 pm

Nice, detailed, front page article in the local Leader-Observer weekly paper from around the time of the opening:

The Leader-Observer, October 22, 1914

EyesForwardNoTalking
EyesForwardNoTalking on February 5, 2015 at 3:21 am

Regarding the Crescent Theatre noted earlier as shown in the AMPD at 2125 Jamaica Avenue: there is an ad in the January 1, 1914 issue of the Leader-Observer — the East New York/Western Queens local newspaper — showing the 2125 Jamaica Avenue address as being the “Blue Cat Theatre” and in the Brooklyn Hills section of Woodhaven/Richmond Hill.

robboehm
robboehm on August 13, 2012 at 2:49 am

The article shows the Garden as being on Webster Av. The Garden referred to above shows Jamaica Av. I know a number of name changes occurred in Queens but I was not aware that Jamaica Av. was one of them. There was also a Garden in Springfield Gardens. But, I believe, there is a Webster Av. in the Bronx.

Bway
Bway on May 4, 2009 at 5:22 pm

What year was the Garden torn down? Was it anything after it was a theater?

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 24, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Based on something Ed Norton said on “The Honeymooners” in February 1967, I thought Perth Amboy, NJ, was the sun and fun capital of the world.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on February 24, 2009 at 1:20 am

I guess the Greenpoint Garden was so called to promote Greenpoint as the “Garden Spot of the World” – a term proudly touted by the local politicos that – during the time of this theater’s existence, and long after – would have required one’s tongue to be firmly placed in one’s cheek.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on February 23, 2009 at 3:02 pm

Well I guess there were two Garden Theaters in Brooklyn. Here is the link to the one in Greenpoint.

/theaters/11234/

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on February 23, 2009 at 2:46 pm

Bway, the Brooklyn Garden was situated on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, accross the street from the Meserole. It was strictly a silent era house that closed in the late 1920’s and became a catering hall. Since an elevated subway never existed on Manhattan Ave., this wasn’t the place depicted in the picture.

By the way, the Brooklyn Garden has a short Cinema Treasures page that is worth exploring.

Bway
Bway on February 23, 2009 at 12:57 pm

What street was the Brooklyn Garden on?

Bway
Bway on February 22, 2009 at 5:42 pm

It’s very possible. I see the el up ahead. There is a photo on nycsubway.org that shows the upper part of the Garden:

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6626

PeterKoch
PeterKoch on February 21, 2009 at 12:19 am

Welcome, jgbohm, and thank you for posting here !

jgbohm
jgbohm on February 21, 2009 at 12:03 am

If “philmem” is still available-

I lived in Richmond Hill from 1938 until 1950 on 108th st. My twin sister and I went to the Garden Theatre whenever my parents wanted to get rid of us for an afternoon…we were there a lot! $.05 was the admission then My grandmother lived just south of Jamaica Ave on the east side of 112th st, and, coincidentally, since childhood was best friends with Mrs Marx{Evie)who lived next door to you, and they had three boys.

PKoch
PKoch on June 18, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Thanks, Warren. Too bad about those opening night ticket refunds.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on June 4, 2007 at 2:47 pm

Warren; Regarding your above post on May 29, 2007, I have the Cedar/Richmond Hill Theatre listed earlier than 1921. In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 it is the Maple Theatre.

Lost Memory; Regarding your above post on June 25, 2005 in which the newspaper article states ‘the Garden Theatre was built in 1919’. In the American Motion Picture directory 1914-1915 there is a Garden Theatre listed on Jamaica Avenue (no number given). I wonder if there were two Garden Theatres or if that 1919 date is incorrect.

Warren; There is no Majestic Theatre listed in 1914-1915 so maybe it remained open after the Garden or the other Garden (if there was more than one) had opened?(well until at least 1921).

For the record here are the Richmond Hill theatres listed in 1914-1915:

Amus. Palace Theatre, 2818 Jamaica Avenue
Crescent Theatre, 2125 Jamaica Avenue
Dreamland Theatre, Oxford & Jamaica Avenues
Garden Theatre, Jamaica Avenue
Library Square Theatre, 304 Lefferts Avenue
Maple Theatre, 2923 Jamaica Avenue

PKoch
PKoch on May 29, 2007 at 7:42 pm

Thanks, Warren.

philmem
philmem on November 18, 2006 at 6:48 pm

Hey gardenguy,
I too went to Holy Child fr0m 1932 to 1940 and I remember the Christian Science church and reading room as well as Woolworths. Memory fades on the fish store but I do remember an appliance store but not its name. They featured the early strange looking TV sets which disappeared when WW ll began. The tavern on the northwest corner (south side) of Jamaica and 111th had a set and we used to hover in the doorway and watch it. In 1940 we moved to Brooklyn for a year and then back to Woodhaven next door (almost) to the Wiiiard theater. In fact I was watching a movie in the Willard when Pearl Harbor was attacked. There was an announcement over the PA system for all military personnel to report to their bases but they never said why.
By the way I lived south of Jamaica and north of the Marx home. I think you mistakenly reversed the directions in your message.
philmem

PAULGIFFORD
PAULGIFFORD on November 17, 2006 at 10:46 am

HI PHILMEN I LIVED AT 86-16 112 ST FROM 1943 1955 AND ALSO OWNED PROPERTY ON 125 ST AND ATLANTIC AVE . YES THE NEW GARDEN WAS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF JAMAICA AVE NEXT TO THE GARDEN SWEET SHOP AND ON THE EAST UNEDA HOME APPLIANCES AND JUST ACCROSS FROM WOOLWORTHS . I WENT TO HOLY CHILD SCHOOL ON 111ST IF YOU LIVED NORTH OF JAMAICA AVE BUT SOURTH OF THE MARX HOME YOU LIVED NEAR THE CHRISTERN SCIENCE CHURCH DO YOU REMEMBER STEATS FISH STORE ON 113 ST AND JAMAICA AVE WELL THE OLD GARDEN WAS JUST ACCROSS JAMAICA AVE FROM IT(NORTH SIDE) DID YOU GO TO THE RKO ON 118 ST OR THE ROOSEVELT AND HAVEN IN WOODHAVEN I LOVED THE OLD NEIGHTBORHOOD IT WAS WONDERFUL

philmem
philmem on November 15, 2006 at 8:22 pm

Yes indeed,Warren,Jamaica Ave runs east-west. 111th St runs north-south and has odd numbered addresses on the east side of the street. Mine was 8729. I did not know or had forgotten that Jamaica Ave had even numbered addresses on its south side. Does this imply that the Garden was on the north side? Is 113-12 an odd or an even number? The hyphenated structure is a bit unusual. Usually an address like 11312 implies the 12th postal unit from 113th st, road or whatever. There is usually some logic to these address numbers the trick being knowing what that logic is.
I’m not familiar with Phil M. Daly or his trade paper but must compliment him on his (or his parents) choice of names.
Thanks for the input.
philmem

philmem
philmem on November 15, 2006 at 6:18 pm

I lived on the east side of 111th St just south of Jamaica Ave and north of the Marx brothers' aunt’s house from 1932 to 1940 and saw many a movie at the Garden theater. However I remember it on the south side of Jamaica ave. We walked to it without crossing the avenue. Could I be mistaken?
philmem

PKoch
PKoch on October 30, 2006 at 12:47 pm

Thanks, Paul Gifford, gardenguy, for posting your memories of the Garden Theater and of your old neighborhood. I find them to be very interesting, including 101st Avenue once being Jerome Avenue. Please continue.

PAULGIFFORD
PAULGIFFORD on October 27, 2006 at 12:51 pm

hi my name is paul gifford and the garden theater that is listed is the new garden theater that was closed in the early fifties .it cost .20cents for children and .44 cents for adolts it was owned by the same people who owned the jerome and the casino on liberty ave . jerome ave is now 101 ave . when in was a boy i played in the old garden it was on the north side of jamaica ave just accross from 113 st you can still notice the second floor windows looks like a theater the main bldg was in the back of the stores and was raised in the late fifties to get to it when the enterance was sealed uop you had to go to 112st walk north past king kullen half a bloct till you came to the apartment bldg go up the driveway to the old bldg ,we had a club house inside the stage was not removed and theprojection room was reached by a ladder on the wall in the back i believe it was added on later what great time in that old bldg i think that is when i found my love of theaters

PKoch
PKoch on June 5, 2006 at 3:35 pm

That’s true, Bway. I suppose that was also partly true of the Valencia.

Bway
Bway on June 5, 2006 at 3:25 pm

Thanks for linking that photo Warren. It looks just like I imgined from the nycsubway.org photo linked above on August 22, 2005.
Of course, no one could ever see it’s true beauty as shown in your sketched historic photo, as the Jamaica el always obliterated the view.

PKoch
PKoch on May 31, 2006 at 2:26 pm

Thanks, Warren. Interesting that Richmond Hill once had its own telephone exchange, in addition to the VI(ctoria)(84) exchange.

PKoch
PKoch on March 15, 2006 at 1:54 pm

Thank you, Warren, for your efforts, and for reporting on them in such detail here !