I lived on Liberty Ave between Logan and Fountain streets from 1956-1961. I remember going to the Saturday matinees at the Kinema to see many a horror/sci fi film, like House on Haunted Hill (with the skeleton literally traveling from one section of the theatre to another), The Blob, etc. I used to get free passes from the Police Athletic League. Spent some good times there. I remember the matrons. Yes, they were prison like guards. But, I guess they had to be tough in order to keep us in line.

I attended PS 64. Went to school with Georgie, Jim, Pedro, Stephen, Roger, Myrtle, Billy Champion, Zoraida, & Linda. Can’t remember the last names except for Champion. I saw a picture of some of these classmates online; Myrtle and Zoraida were in the pic when they were in first grade in 1954-55. I started second grade at the school. I remember that an assistant principal was a tall fellow that reminded me of Randolph Scott, the actor. I joined the band and attempted to play the violin…not very good. The band teacher took us to Carnegie Hall for a concert. I loved it because my dad listened to classical music at home, so I was familiar with some of the music. I recall playing ball during lunch time at an empty lot about a block or so on Belmont Ave. We got into trouble for that…we all got letters sent home to our parents about it. I was in the play, Peter Pan in the fifth or sixth grade. I played an Indian in the musical. I remember prayers and hymns during our school assemblies (before the Supreme Court ruled against this practice). In the sixth grade, in the fall, Richard and I left school after lunch and went to the United Nations building. Unfortunately, Stephen told the teacher he saw us take off. We were in deep trouble with the school and our parents. I got a spanking and grounding for that educational experience. It was the last day I ever skipped school for the rest of my secondary school days.

I recall playing punch ball at a blacktop park near the school (on Atkin Street?). Some guys could really punch that ball for some distance. I would frequent the deli across from PS 64 on Belmont and the soda fountain shop on Berriman. The soda shop was for egg creams and rock'n roll music from the juke box…“Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis.

I visited the neighborhood several times with my spouse, kids and cousins. It was sad to see the Kinema and PS 64 gone. But what fond memories to share.

@palerder I don’t recall seeing any online but I know that there are sites such as THE EAST NEW YORK PROJECT, FORGOTTEN NEW YORK and BROOKLYN PIX that have quite a bit of pictures. The Brooklyn Public Library and The Brooklyn Historical Society also has many pictures. Most pictures are pre ‘70s. There was one site with pictures of the 70’s. The Link is below.

http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-brooklyn-19070s-2011-6?op=1

@makoreo I remember a few drug stores along Pitkin Avenue, Sutter and even Belmont. If you are intersted there are sites (groups) on FaceBook that are area oriented. Cypress Hills Houses, CypressHills, City Line, etc. There are also school groups. I know the moderator of this site wants us to stay focused on theaters. Go visit this site for Cypress Hills Houses.

Wow what happen to the print.

FatMan 1059. Thank you for the info. The candy store I was refering to was the second store on Belmont right off of Atkins. I do remember that ther was another candy store on Berriman directly opposite PS 64. As I recall there was also a pharmacy on the corner, Bennets. It carried everytrhing from meds to watches. Also perhaps you may know the name, I think she lived on the first floor of the first or second building from the corner of Berriman on the opposite side of the school her name was Loriane Famene.?

Went to PS 64 from K through grade 3. Left East NY in 1959. My old address was 1091 Sutter Avenue. There is nothing left of my old digs. Fond memories. I had Mrs. Worhavtic for K, Mrs. Goldstein for grade 1 , Mrs. Friedman for grade 2 and Mrs. Reily for grade 3. The summer months in our home were murderous. The electric in the aptment couldn’t support a fan, let alone an air conditioner that no one could afford. The Kinema was the best place to cool off. We’d get there at the earliest opening hour and stay until the night. Since it was to hot to sleep in our aptment, we would spend our first few hours sleeping in the dark theater. There was always plenty to see, with a cartoon, newsreel and double feature. Food was no problem, we had plenty packed along with us. So long as we were quiet, the matrons, in those white dresses and matching shoes, would let us stay. Talk about baked goods,there was a great Italian bakery quite close to the theater. The icecrean parlor on Montak and Pitkin would have been grand, but who could afford it. The best we could afford was the penny candy and cookies that we could buy at Geller’s store right opposite PS 64 near the corner grocery. Missed East NY for years. In fact, I kept comming back on weekends just to play with my neighborhood friends.

Fatman – Thank you for the look back at my old neighborhood! You have a picture of my family’s old house. One of the Glenmore Avenue pictures (Between Jerome & Warwick) is my family’s old house. The Mobil.Flying A station is on the N.W. corner & the old house is on the N.W. corner (it’s the one with the tire store on the ground level). I found the picture awhile back & blew it up a bit. Glenmore Hall was on the south side of Glenmore between Jerome & Warwick & was owned by a older slim man named Kenny. I’m a 60s baby, so by the time that I moved there immediately following the ‘65 blackout, things were already beginning to change. Fortunately, I did get to enjoy quite a few years there before things really went to pot. My mother & a few of her sisters & brothers went to JHS 64. I went to I.S. 302. I’d love to see a picture of the Packers Supermarket which was on Atlantic bet. Van Siclen & Hendrix, where the McDonald’s is located. I’ve forgotten what used to be on the site where they built I.S. 292. & would love to see that as well.

Purplehayes, I see that you’re about 10 years older than I, but I found quite a few pictures of the neighborhood on the net. When I locate the links, I’ll post them. Even found one of my grandparents old place, to where I moved following the 1965 blackout. Now what I’d REALLY love to see is a picture of Packers Supermarket on Atlantic between Hendrix & Van Siclen, where the McDonald’s now stands. I loved that supermarket & I wish that that neighborhood never changed. It was perfect for a young kid to grow up in.

My grandmother lived on Glenmore & Warwick right across the street from the Flying A gas station. I moved there in 1965 & that neighborhood was great. First of all, we were black & all of us kids got along. Down the block between Warwick & Glenmore was a bar named Glenmore Hall & on the corner of Jerome was Joe Ragona’s store. His wife was named Mary & he had a daughter named Cathy.

I remember Kay’s 5 & 10 very well because when we didn’t go downtown or the “extension” on Pitkin Ave., we shopped there. I also remember the chinese restaurant across the street named Wing Shing & their food was great! I also remember the Appliance store across the street where we’d buy our records & doesn’t anyone remember Paladino’s on Pitkin & Elton where we’d buy icees & “punks” that we lit to light our firecrackers? I also remember the hardware store & laundry that were on Pitkin between Elton & Linwood Sts. They were on the opposite side of the street from Kays 5 & 10.

Also fondly remembered is the ice cream parlor on Montauk, as well as Liberty Park, before they tore it down & built my I.S., 302. If you remember Liberty park, they you must remember Banner’s Candy, the restaurant on Liberty & Elton with the Pharmacy across the street, the chicken slaughterhouse on Elton between Liberty & Glenmore & the chinese laundry on Glenmore between Cleveland & Elton, where they’d starch & fold your shirts & bundle them in brown paper.

How about the bakery on Ashford & Liberty a block past Engine 225 near St. Michael’s schoolyard where we played softball like crazy? Then there was the Feast that went down Liberty Ave. & Abbraciemento’s Restaurant with the great pizza! If I’m remembering correctly, I recall a butcher shop on Pitkin between Cleveland & Elton, or perhaps Elton & Linwood. I do remember a beauty shop on the corner of Elton St on the north side of the street.

E.N.Y. was the kind of neighborhood where you could get just about anything that you wanted without ever leaving the neighborhood.

I remember when the KiNEEMA (that’s how we pronounced it) had “Dish Night”, where they’d give out dishes. This was around 1967/68. In it’s last days, it was managed by a man named Mr. Johnson. They sometimes held talent shows, but in a short time, it would finally close.

E.N.Y. was a great neighborhood to grow up in back in the 60s & even the 70s. Unfortunately things changed & though I don’t live far from there today, it breaks my heart to see what happened to my old neighborhood. It truly does!

@Don Thanks I forgot the name.
Here is a link to Pitkin Avenue between Shepherd and Berriman, can see the Kinema on the right side.
View link
I mentioned Kay’s Store and the Fruit stand I would help the guy open up before going to JHS 64, I also found a pic:
View link

I do remember a Drug Store on one of the corners of Montauk and Pitkin. I also remember the wonderful ice cream parlor and all the bakeries along Pitkin avenue near there. I worked in a shoe store on Saturdays, and I would help the Fruit Store near Kaye’s Five and Dime on Essex and Pitkin. There was also a drug store on Milford & Pitkin, another one on Shepherd and another on Linwood all along Pitkin Avenue. Mr. Vic Ravens of Berriman is on FaceBook. He was a teacher and AP.

The name of the pizza place down the block from jhs 64 was >Cero’s I can still see the oil dripping of that folded slice of round and listening to the juke box playing the peppermint twist and looking out the pitkin ave window.
then later on go accross the street to Moe’s and have his GREAT french fries that were served in a paper cone.
Then go hang out at Liberty park

Fatman,I can’t believe I found someone else who remembers Moe. I graduated 64 in ‘65 also. I’ll check out your website devoted to the school.