How tall was the Winthrop? Was it taller than the supermarket is today, or like many of the smaller theaters in Bushwick and Ridgewood, like the Wyckoff Theater, Luxor, etc?
John, here is the photo of Winthrob park you asked to have posted here… The theater named for the park apparently….
Perhaps soon a real photo will turn up of the theater itself…
Where is the theater in relation to this photo?
Thanks John! I was wondering how they did it. How did they break up the balcony? is it 5 theaters next to eachother in the old balcony? The downstairs theaters…it’s sounds like some are looking totally backwards from the original screen?
The railing you mentioned…is that original? I remember a fairly ornate railing upstairs in the balcony level of the lobby. I was wondering if that was still there. It doesn’t appear to be on the stairway anymore like it used to be.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the Midway from before the rebuild. I do remember the two story lobby, and it was sort of an ornate iron railing that went up to the second floor on the stairway. Upstairs, they had an area with video games.
I remember the Midway being “old”, but very well kept when I used to go in the 80’s and early 90’s. it was always clean.
And they could have had the same “flowering art and positive energy to creativity” within the building without destroying the historic terra cotta exterior as they did. While I am glad the church is in the building, and that it’s still set up like a theater, what we have now instead of a historic beautiful terra ctta building it’s a typical nondescript faux exterior.
Thanks! It looks great….I haven’t been in the Midway since it was still a 4/plex cut up from the original. I haven’t been in there since the rebuild.
The lobby, looks somewhat similar to what I remember, although much more modern now of course, but I remember the two levels like that.
What are the theaters carved out of? Was the whold theater gutted to a shell, or are there some semblance of where the old balcony was, and the cut up orchestra level? It was easy to tell where they got the “4 theaters” from in the original cutting up, but where did they get the extra 5 from?
Thanks John for the email you sent me about this, sorry I couldn’t make it (did you get my email last week?).
Did you get to go inside the Wayside Baptist church?
I have to agree. A theater converted to a church is “not” lost. This is an excellent example of a beautiful building restored, and still 100% here, even if it’s not a theater anymore. Loews 175th St (United Palace), the Valencia, and a whole string of others are also examples.
The alternative could have been a bad conversion into retail with gutting, or even worse, a pile of rubble.
I don’t think so. That looks like the emergency escape stairway from the balcony or something.
You can also see where the stage area is. It’s much larger than I had thought.
I don’t believe so. The Ridgewood was pretty ornate on the inside. Granted a lot was lost over the years inside in the Ridgewood, but a lot remains too. but what remains inside of the Jackson? Any interior photos (current or recent)?
Very interesting! Thanks!
How tall was the Winthrop? Was it taller than the supermarket is today, or like many of the smaller theaters in Bushwick and Ridgewood, like the Wyckoff Theater, Luxor, etc?
According to reports, this is still a remaining wall of the old Winthrob Theater. Closer looking reveals bricked up emergency doorways.
https://www.google.com/maps?q=135+Driggs+Avenue,+Brooklyn,+NY+11222+United+States
John, here is the photo of Winthrob park you asked to have posted here… The theater named for the park apparently….
Perhaps soon a real photo will turn up of the theater itself…
Where is the theater in relation to this photo?
View link
Wow, great photos!
Thanks John! I was wondering how they did it. How did they break up the balcony? is it 5 theaters next to eachother in the old balcony? The downstairs theaters…it’s sounds like some are looking totally backwards from the original screen?
The railing you mentioned…is that original? I remember a fairly ornate railing upstairs in the balcony level of the lobby. I was wondering if that was still there. It doesn’t appear to be on the stairway anymore like it used to be.
Not a happy sight on it’s 80th birthday….
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the Midway from before the rebuild. I do remember the two story lobby, and it was sort of an ornate iron railing that went up to the second floor on the stairway. Upstairs, they had an area with video games.
I remember the Midway being “old”, but very well kept when I used to go in the 80’s and early 90’s. it was always clean.
I just saw the film, “The Break Up” with Jennifer Aniston, and there is a great scene involving the Riviera, you can see a lot of it.
Wow, that is a great photo, from the theater in “happier” days.
Thanks John…yes, Rudy gave a great report of your tour, with pictures. He had a great time. Sorry I couldn’t make it….
Thanks John for all your great research on this!
And they could have had the same “flowering art and positive energy to creativity” within the building without destroying the historic terra cotta exterior as they did. While I am glad the church is in the building, and that it’s still set up like a theater, what we have now instead of a historic beautiful terra ctta building it’s a typical nondescript faux exterior.
Thanks! It looks great….I haven’t been in the Midway since it was still a 4/plex cut up from the original. I haven’t been in there since the rebuild.
The lobby, looks somewhat similar to what I remember, although much more modern now of course, but I remember the two levels like that.
What are the theaters carved out of? Was the whold theater gutted to a shell, or are there some semblance of where the old balcony was, and the cut up orchestra level? It was easy to tell where they got the “4 theaters” from in the original cutting up, but where did they get the extra 5 from?
Thanks John for the email you sent me about this, sorry I couldn’t make it (did you get my email last week?).
Did you get to go inside the Wayside Baptist church?
OMG, it’s horrible, they built condos in the coutryard! How could the city even have issued a permit for this horror?
38th and Bowne St
Those are great!
Any interior photos?
I have to agree. A theater converted to a church is “not” lost. This is an excellent example of a beautiful building restored, and still 100% here, even if it’s not a theater anymore. Loews 175th St (United Palace), the Valencia, and a whole string of others are also examples.
The alternative could have been a bad conversion into retail with gutting, or even worse, a pile of rubble.
Here’s a great photo looking up Myrtle Ave from the Myrtle Ave and St Nicholas in I guess the 20’s or 30’s:
View link
I don’t think so. That looks like the emergency escape stairway from the balcony or something.
You can also see where the stage area is. It’s much larger than I had thought.
I don’t believe so. The Ridgewood was pretty ornate on the inside. Granted a lot was lost over the years inside in the Ridgewood, but a lot remains too. but what remains inside of the Jackson? Any interior photos (current or recent)?
That was a pretty large building. I have never seen an actual photo of the front though, which would be nice to see.
The writing seemed to be on the wall for this theater….the same owners also operated the Ridgewood Theater, which closed a little over a year ago too.
Thanks John! It’s a while since we found a “new” old theater in this area!