Kinema Theatre

2505 Pitkin Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11207

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FatMan1059
FatMan1059 on January 31, 2010 at 3:01 pm

Raym-Do you remember Kaye’s discount store on Essex and Pitkin, the Men’s Store, Italian Deli and Dry Cleaners on the same store? How about the Brower family. We also went to the City Line on Liberty Avenue?
http://myspace.com/berriman64
I went there to see The Birds also.

FatMan1059
FatMan1059 on January 31, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Well Gary I also went there to see the Raven. I once was accused of throwing bottles on the screen during a film. It was scary the picture froze and it began burn. Many began to scream and some did curse and threw things. Lucky for me the beat cop was there when they called the police and he walked my friend and me out and told us not to go there for a couple of weeks. Moe’s was next to the housegoods store on Pitkin Avenue. They also had some great franks. Yummy fries A OK!!! I also went to the Premier on Sutter Avenue. I graduated in 1965 from Berriman JHS. I have a page of memories of JHS on MySpace it is Berriman64. I don’t remember what happen to Moe but I will ask my friends Michael and Kevin Brower and post it.

GaryCohen
GaryCohen on November 15, 2009 at 4:42 pm

The Kinema was the other theater in East New York that I went to when not going to the Biltmore. The Kinema was located on Pitkin Ave. around the corner from JHS 64 which I attended. I would go over to the Kinema each Wednesday when the shows changed and look into the lobby to see what was coming the following week.
Saw many great horror and Sci-fi films at the Kinema, many starring my favorite Vincent Price: The Fly, House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, etc. Saw many other wonderful films from many of my favorites there: George Pal’s “The Time Machine,” Ray Harryhausen’s “Mysterious Island” and “First Men in the Moon,” the Disney rerelease of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,"in 1963 etc. etc.
On a cold day in January 1963, the G.O. of JHS 64 rented the movie out for a closed showing of Poe’s "The Raven” starring Price, Karloff and Peter Lorre. The next day I read where Boris and Peter Lorre would be making a personal appearance by the Kinema to publicise the film. I begged my father to take me, but since I already saw the film, he took my sister instead. That Saturday night, a massive blizzard hit New York and it took them several hours to get home, despite our living only about 7 or 8 blocks away. I was home at the time watching “Have Gun, Will Travel” and “Gunsmoke"in my nice warm house. Oh well.
The Kinema had numerous Saturday matinees featuring Sci fi or horror films. Like most other theaters it had these bitter, angry old maids known as "matrons” to control the kids. During one rather raucous matinee I can remember one kid flinging his sneaker and hitting the matron right in the head. I wasn’t concerned because they were rather nasty women, I always felt they would have been right at home working in the concentration camps.
The Kinema was not as big as the Biltmore, but I think it might have had a small balcony. I remember on weeknights my mother would go there with he friend, as the theater gave away free dishes.
By the way, does anyone who went to this theater or attended 64, remember a small deli a block away owned by a balding man named Moe?
I still remember his potato knishes which he would slice open with a sharp knife, spray a dollop of mustard in and a ton of salt.I keep trying to recreate his knishes but I’m never quite successful We also loved his watered-dpwn ketchup which we would douse our fries with. Does anyone know what happened to Moe? I remember his place so clearly. There was also a chinese restaurant across the street that was owned for a while by the family of my brother’s friend. In the summer sometimes my father would take me to eat dinner there and we would go across the street to see films like “The Long Ships” or “633 Squadron” there. It was great.
The Kinema, the Biltmore, I practically spent half my childhood in those theaters. What great memories of better times.

Brooklynboy
Brooklynboy on September 2, 2009 at 3:10 pm

My sister and I loved the Kinema! I’ll remember Abbott and Costello meet6 Frankenstein seen there all my life. we lived on Essex Street. I went to P.S. 158 thru 4th grade and my sister went to BJHS in the early fifties. Does anyone remember the pizza place on Pitkin somewhere between the Kinema and Essex Street? That specific pizza taste has stayed with me like a Proustian memory. And does anyone remember St. Rita’s street fair that went on for blocks, especially at night when the string lights were on? Is it possible to start a blog about this neighborhood in the 50’s?

red60
red60 on June 22, 2009 at 12:57 pm

anyone remember Sutter Ave. and Dan’s Supermarket across from Cypress Hills projects? There was also a dentist right next to Dan’s. It was Dr. Friedman, I think. Also a luncheonette at corner and dentist was inbetween diner and Dan’s market. sorry, but I’m going crazy with all this nostalgia!

red60
red60 on June 22, 2009 at 12:54 pm

Gee-what nostalgia reading this. Lived in Cypress HIlls Projects in 1950’s. Attended P.S. 202 and BJHS 64. I remember Kinema theatre. Took my younger sibling there to see “The Blob” and “Rodan”. Anyone recall a very nice, clean luncheonette/diner across from Kinema. They had the best grilled cheese and vanilla shakes. Anyone remember a candy store that had an entrance joining two corners. It was not far from Fountain Aven. We used to call it Cock eye Louie, because the owner had one roaming eye. The best egg creams and soft salty pretzels. Yum.

AldoCP
AldoCP on March 21, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Everyone called it the “Kineema”, with the accent on the second syllable.
It was well loved by everyone.
“What’s playing at the Kineema?"
The Kinema was where you went to see movies.
There was no need to leave the neighborhood.

MsEastNewYork
MsEastNewYork on October 15, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Correction the movie theatre I was is the one on Pitken ave in Brownsville.

MsEastNewYork
MsEastNewYork on October 15, 2008 at 5:19 pm

I love to read about the old East New York. My Mom went to Berriman JHS 64 & lived in East New York. We currently still reside there. I’m 32 Yrs old, I remember passing a vacant 64 coming home in 80’s. I pass the movie theatre everyday on my home from work. It’s still standing but unfortunately it’s still vacant. If there are any reunions for old classmates of 64 I’d love to pass the info on to my mother. She graduated around 65..

philsantella
philsantella on March 11, 2008 at 6:01 am

Hi Robbie

Yes , not only do my wife and i remember Henny bill,and his wife Anna. But we were all together this past summer at my Bo-in law house. You may also know him Tommy McAdam from Fulton and Richmond sts. We also got together for the Blessed Sacrament Reunion this past October. And are planning to do the E.N.Y. Reunion this coming June. If you want to get in touch with them,let me know. You can reach me with messages on Tapeshare Message board or e-mail

Philly

robbiedupree
robbiedupree on March 11, 2008 at 1:14 am

do any of the people who hung around at the embassy luncheonette remember a guy named Henny Metzger ?

SunnyLady
SunnyLady on November 26, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Hi phillysantella, I live in Suffolk County. Several of the Berrimanites that graduated from there in 1961 live out here, as well as Nassau County. We get together for reunion luncheons, parties and dinners, and even have a teacher from berriman join us! My husband graduated in 1960. Also, my best friend’s husband graduated from ENY Vocational High. What year did you graduate from there? Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards!

philsantella
philsantella on October 1, 2007 at 7:42 am

Hi SunnyLady

No to your question did i attend Berriman. Our family originally came from Glenmore Ave. between Elton St. and Linwood St.In the late 40,s we moved to Cleveland St. between Atlantic Ave.and Fulton St.
Our crowd hung at the Embassy Luncheonette, next door to the Embassy theatre. Attended St.Rita,s then on to F.K.Lane. Lasted there 5 mo. then moved on to E.N.Y.Vocational high. Stayed in Bklyn until married. Then moved to L.I. Been here ever since. Actually quite a few people i know are intewrested in going to the Reunion next year.
How bout you? Still local?

SunnyLady
SunnyLady on September 28, 2007 at 10:21 am

Hi phillysantella, yes that’s the one. I’m not sure we’re going yet but I’m sure it will be lots of fun. Where did you live in East New York? Did you go to Berriman? It’s always fun to meet up with friends from the old neighborhood.

philsantella
philsantella on September 24, 2007 at 11:11 am

HI Sunnylady, Are you referring to the Reunion that Paula Sorvello
is putting together in Oct. of 2008.? If so this will be quite a blast. Hear there are many people lining up to attend.

Anyone remember when the Kinema Theatre was picketed for the showing of “ The Outlaw” staring Jane Russell . The Nuns and Priests from St.Rita,s formed a picket line outside of the Theatre. This was back in the forties i believe. Us kids were scarred to go in.

SunnyLady
SunnyLady on September 4, 2007 at 6:36 am

I forgot to add, you can reach me at for information about the East New York neighborhood reunion!

SunnyLady
SunnyLady on September 4, 2007 at 6:30 am

The Kinema was my home away from home. I grew up living in the Cypress Hills projects and went to PS 64 from 1954 until I graduated in 1961. I remember paying twenty-six cents admission, which was great since my mother gave me fifty cents, which left twenty-four cents for candy. If I bought the six-cent candies like root beer barrels, Dots, Jujubes, and Good & Plenty, that gave me four treats to last me through two full-length movies, cartoons and a newsreel. Kind of took up a whole day, didn’t it?

Oh who can forget those matrons in the white dresses and white orthopedic shoes? They were like prison guards, weren’t they? The kids used to throw popcorn and candy wrappers at them lol.

I’d love to hear from fellow Brooklynites who went to PS 64 (Berriman Junior High School). There’s going to be a big neighborhood reunion in 2008 for all the schools in East New York. Should be a great time!

tgilmore
tgilmore on June 7, 2006 at 7:42 am

I seen the three stooges in person at the Kinema when they were promoting their movie, The Three stooges in orbit. I also went to JHS 64 down the block, 66' 67'.

Raybo
Raybo on May 29, 2006 at 7:09 pm

robbie – would like to email you regarding kinema. Reachable at

robbiedupree
robbiedupree on May 24, 2006 at 3:22 pm

Raym- i have similar recollections. I went to st. michaels grade school on liberty ave and jerome st. the Kinema was one of my favorite thetares as a kid. My friends and I all went there for the matinee’s when we weren’t at The Embassy or The Earl. I remember hanging out at the 214 schoolyard and roaming the streets of ENY. robbiedupree

Raybo
Raybo on January 25, 2006 at 6:10 pm

Loved going to this Theater as a kid. Saturday matinees in the late 50’s cost 26 cents. Candy Counter was on the right as you entered the theater. The matrons reminded me of the SS. Saw Martin and Lewis movies, 3 Stooge shorts, The East Side Kids, The Delicate Delinquent, April Love and tons of monster movies including Rodan, 20 Million Miles to Earth, House of Wax. I recall they also had dish night for the adults. Once held the distinction of being thrown out of the theater once when the clod I was with started annoying some girls sitting in front of us. The appliance store across the street was where I bought my 45’s.

RobertR
RobertR on June 24, 2005 at 3:22 am

In the late 50’s this was advertised as a Randforce house.

RobertR
RobertR on October 24, 2004 at 6:07 pm

My friends mother was just talking about all the times she went to this theatre in the 60’s.