Werba's Brooklyn Theatre

There is a Montauk Theatre listed under Brooklyn in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, the Guide does not list street addresses. The Mgr. is William E. Sinn (listed as the owner by Lost Memory in his April 1, 2005 posting above). The seating capacity was 1,750 with 2 balconies. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 35 feet square and the stage was 50 feet deep. There were 10 in the house orchestra.

Since I’ve been dragged into this by a phone call from Ken this morning (from London no less). In 1929, there is an announcement for a newsreel theatre at 413 Flatbush. Was this a misprint and did they mean Flatbush Extension. Don’t know. The place never opened and/or was never built for whatever reason. Not enough details.
As concerns a “Moving Picture Show” next to the Crescent. The problem could be that you are looking for a building. This was the site of “Flatbush Park”, an airdome (outdoor movie theatre) during the early 1910s.
Now for the Montauk. It opened on September 1, 1895 with the “Il Trovatore”. It becomes one of Brooklyn’s top playhouses with many great names treading its boards.
When the new Flatbush Extension was announced (and the Montauk stood squarely in the path), the owners built the New Montauk at Livingston. The old theatre became the Imperial presenting burlesque for two seasons.
In August 1907, the theatre minus its Fulton Street lobby was moved back to the Extension. Sporting a new address and a new facade it becomes the Crescent under Percy Williams. Opens as a stock theatre on September 5, 1908 with David Belasco’s “Rose of the Rancho”. In 1912, Williams sells to Keith’s.
After major alterations in 1915, it becomes the Triangle featuring films produced by that company. (Another Triangle theatre can be found on 4th Street and 5th Avenue in Park Slope.)
After two years it reverted back to plays and once again became the Crescent. The Shuberts took over in December 1919. The old theatre proved unsuccessful. In 1923 plans were announced to convert it into a Public market. Enter Lous Werba and it becomes Werba’s Brooklyn Theatre. He presents farces, comedies and musicals (all described as second class). The days as Brooklyn’s dramatic temple are over. In the early 30s it becomes Billy Minsky Brooklyn Burlesque theatre. After Minsky’s license was revoked at the end of the decade, a few film shows kept the old theatre open briefly. The building was reportedly razed in January 1940.
Okay?

lostmemory;
Just spoke to my friend cjdv about this and here is some unconfirmed info that we will possibly never know the answer to.

There was talk of a Newsreel theatre being built at 413 Flatbush Avenue in 1929, but due to the Stock Market crash its not sure if it ever opened. This could be the Flatbush Theatre (listed as closed) in the 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook, although the 1,529 seating capacity given is way over the top for a newsreel theatre and could be a mis-print. So built as a theatre, but never opened could be the scenario of this building. The building at this address today is apparently a grocery store that has indications of possibly being a theatre building, but can’t be sure about that.

Its just 413 Flatbush Ave, but then again, on F.D.Y. listings there are no theatres listed with the word ‘Extension’.

The 1930 Film Daily Yearbook has listed a Flatbush Theatre, 409 Flatbush Ave with 1,529 seats (closed). Could this be the same theatre?

I believe the Montauk at 2001 Bath Ave. was torn down around 1928 and the Deluxe movie theatre was built at the same location.

This theater has a long involved history. It started life in 1895 as a legitimate theater called the Montauk. Shortly after being built, it was threatened by the construction of the Flatbush Avenue Extension. The decision to move it seemed more cost effective than demolition, so in 1907, the 8500 ton theater was rolled several hundred feet to the Extension and Fulton Street (precursor of the Empire rolling down 42nd Street). After the move the theater was renamed the Crescent. In 1912 it was acquired by B.F. Keith and later by the Schuberts in 1917. Fanny Brice was one of the many stars who appeared there. At unknown dates the name was later changed to the Brooklyn theater and finally to Minsky’s, a burlesque house. Its final transformation – into a parking lot – occured in 1940.