Maspeth Theatre

69-20 Grand Avenue,
Maspeth, NY 11378

Unfavorite 5 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Randforce Amusement Corp., Small-Strausberg Circuit

Functions: Bingo Hall, Retail

Nearby Theaters

Maspeth Theatre

This was a neighborhood house located on Grand Avenue in the Maspeth section of Queens. It opened in 1924. I dont know when it closed but the marquee was still up way into the 1970’s.

Today it is used as a bingo hall with its Grand Avenue entrance area used for retail use.

Contributed by RobertR, Warren

Recent comments (view all 69 comments)

Rollingrck
Rollingrck on October 9, 2010 at 5:46 pm

Here is a photo I picked up on Ebay

View link

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on October 9, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Thanks for the terrific picture. It not only evokes the time, which I guess was late 40’s/early 50’s, but provides a picture of Grand Avenue in Maspeth before it was rudely cut in two by the LIE.

Thanks again.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on October 9, 2010 at 6:59 pm

I did a little research and found that the photo was almost certainly shot in the spring or summer of 1949. While both films on the double bill were released in 1948, “He Walked by Night” opened on November 24th of that year. Since the Maspeth was decidedly not a first run theater – and since I clearly doubt that summer arrived in December, 1948 – the films most probably came to Maspeth about six months after being released.

A bit more trivia about these films: (1) the Bob Cummings film – “Let’s Live a Little” – also starred Hedy Lamarr, who played a shrink, and (2) it has been alleged that one of the the other film’s supporting players, Jack Webb, used “He Walked by Night’s” story line as a prototype for a project he was developing – called Dragnet. Well, those are the facts maam!

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on October 10, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Well, I guess it has now been displayed three times!

Bway
Bway on May 31, 2011 at 8:43 am

Yes, I tried to fix it too, but it doesn’t let you get off the Long Island Expressway and onto Grand Ave where the street view belongs. This one will have to require an administrative “fix”, as the link to the street view is WAY off

berternie
berternie on May 31, 2011 at 10:54 pm

After being a reader of ct for years I decided to officially sign up after 30 minutes of searching the google map, getting off the expressway, and finding the Maspeth. Left NY 33 years ago but I still remember taking my mom to the Maspeth 3 times a week for bingo.

Bway
Bway on May 31, 2011 at 11:49 pm

Hahaha! Thanks for getting of the Expressway and fixing it! I have up after some minutes on the expressway where the view originally left us!

berternie
berternie on June 1, 2011 at 12:02 am

My pleasure Bway. By the way ct I like the new web design. Good job.

areacode212
areacode212 on July 6, 2014 at 3:54 am

Just FYI, a large painted reproduction of the “He Walked By Night” photo is on the wall of the new TD Bank that opened on 74th & Grand Avenue. Maybe I’ll take a photo of it the next time I’m there.

robboehm
robboehm on April 11, 2015 at 1:49 pm

Early photo uploaded.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.