Republic Theatre

Does anyone know the exact year when the Republic closed? I pass by this site often and never knew till recently that there was a movie house there, along with several residential dwellings.

The Superman serial ad was not on the marquee, but in the bottom of the ad. Im from the west coast, and rko pantages (los angeles) ran the serial matinees only. I thought it was neat, a serial making the first run houses.

Dear Warren, I clicked on the Marquee and did not find Superman. I must be Blind or something. Anniegirl

Before the Republic closed, I also remeber going to a Ice Cream Parlor which was on Grand Street and Union Ave. You had to walk up 2 or 3 steps to enter the place, but I forgot the name. Maybe the Grand Ice Cream Parlor????? I can’t remember. oh well thanks for the pic again J.F. Anniegirl

Photo of Republic circa 1920’s:
View link

Soon after the close of the Republic, the premier showcase booking system was introduced, which had fatal implications for the downtown B'klyn & Times Sq. movie palaces. Although the Republic would have been a likely showcase venue, in its absence that role was played by the Grand Theater, a small subrun house, north of Graham Ave. Odd that Randforce did not position either the Commodore or the Rainbow to fill in.

Dear Warren. Anniegirl here your i8 photobucket is not available now. and neither is the R&f (republic theater) sad to say. I will look for more of your listings. Thanks Anniegirl

I pass this by almost every day. It is a rather large Shell station with some space for parked cars and some wasted space. I do not remember it as a theater (but I do remember hearing about it) so it must have been torn down by the early 1960’s. I do remember its namesake bagel place across the street, which did sell great hot bagels. If I remember right, they only sold by the (bakers)dozen, but my Dad and I would each eat a hot salt bagel on the way home (even better than soft pretzels).

have you seen the site Warren. There is a Shell gas station there now. Anniegirl. posted by louieb Apr 23 2006

Warren,
I really do not know. I only know that I and my friends used to call ot the R&F. We used to go to the Commodore and R&F on Saturday’s in the 50’s. Besides the Williamsburgh Theater, which was a horrible
movie theater clean wise, we went to the Republic. Annegirl. posted by louieb on Apr 20th 2006

Dear Warren, I truly do not know when we were kids we used to call it the R&F. I haven’t a clue what it stands for. If there is anyone my age out there who can answer Warren, Please do. Anniegirl.
posted by louieb on Apr 19, 2006

Republic theatres operated a theatre in New York. I guess this wasnt it. Seems Republic didnt get playdates in New York, so Herbert J Yates got his own theatre. Any one know anything about that theatre.Was mention in Jack Mathis book Republic Confidental

I remember it when I was 7 years old in 1949. On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. the doors open allowing the half block long of kids in to see one hour long movie plus 15 or 20 cartoons and finally had some of the kids go on stage to play a game of musical chairs for prizes. The whole thing took about 4 hours, all for a .26 cent admission. If you had a birthday that week, you just walked into the managers office with any proof and received a gift. The stage was huge. They put in cinamascope in 1954 with 4 equally spaced speakers behind the screen and we marveled at hearing a actor going from left to right with the speakers following. Both sides of the stage had a large frame, probably where a person changed the card when they had vaudeville. It had 3 balconeys but the top was always closed because it’s heyday had passed. The only bad thing is, it never had air conditioning, just many large fans and we tried to sit in an area to catch the breeze.
Posted by Stan of Dallas Texas on Dec 19, 2004