Alhambra Theatre

It seems as if the Day Care center DID close at the end of August. Thus, this space is empty until anything else moves in. Hope some good program moves in here – though I have my doubts.

My statement that the owner might be interested in developing the site for condo housing was sheer speculation that was based upon the prime location of this property. If this is the owner’s intent, the housing in question would certainly not be “affordable”, at least for 99% of Bushwick’s residents. So this would hardly be a conflict between two “social service programs”.

Hopefully, my speculative comment was just that – and I only hope that the owner and the City will be able to work out a deal that will enable the day care center to remain in place after August 31.

The current Times Newsweekly has a pretty extensive article about this rally. While the situation does appear to be prety dire, it certainly does not rule out the possibility of an 11th – or, more accurately, 12th – hour settlement. At least one can hope.

Another possibiliy here is that the City and the landlord are engaged in a continuing game of chicken that might result in an 11th hour settlement that will enable the day care center to remain in operation. Far stranger things have happened.

I really hope this is the case, since the center is a valuable community resource and the building, which, like the old Bushwick, was probably altered beyond recognition when the center was established, is never going to return as a theater.

Hello to all you Bushwicknites:

I am originally from Williamsburg. I couldn’t afford a home or a condo there, so I purchased one of the new homes on Eldert Street in 2004. Update: Theater is now a day care center run by Grand Street Settlement. They are a non-for-profit from the LES. The empty lot is going to be constructed for affordable housing by the local non-for-profit: RIdgewood-Bushwick Senior Citizens Council.

Just passed by the old building today. The day care center is now sponsored by the estimable Grand Street Settlement House, which probably replaced a local group that couldn’t cut it. The building is in fine shape, though only some brick work on the Halsey Street facade provides a faint echo that something theatrical once held sway here.

The old theater is situated across the street from Irving Square Park. In my District Manager days in the 1970’s this place was an absolute horror that could not safely be entered during any part of the day or night. I am now extremely happy to report that the park has been brilliantly renovated and is now serving a large and active community. If the Alhambra were still in business, it would have a terrific neighbor. In any event, the park does a great job in serving the day care center’s kids.

Then perhaps you’d like to start a page for the Ideal Theater.

Thanks, J.F.Lundy. Does the “New Ideal Theater” have a page on CT yet ?

Thanks for this information, Warren.

I wonder when the Alhambra showed its last film.

I commented on the Alhambra theater and someone mentioning my family’s grocery store (Joe Costa) was my father. I sent it to my memories section – so I will try this again. I remember the theater (in the 50’s) and when it closed and eventually turned into a supermarket. My fathers store and grandfather’s building was torn down and sadly I did get to see it a few years ago (I have the photo) now that was published on here. I loved my days in Ridgewood, St Martin’s Church and school, Halsey Park, playing handball against the building, great food! I hope someone else remembers my dad’s store and “The Costa’s”. Those were the days!!

I would love to see any photos of the Alhambra as it once looked. It took a little effort to find out just which theatre I was looking for as I wasn’t sure of the exact location. I used to pass it regularly on the trolley back in the 40s and remember it as a nice looking theatre though I was never inside. Is the posting signed Prattpreservation from a present Pratt student? I’m curious since I attended Pratt 1953-7 with a major in Advertising Design.

Correct me if I am wrong…but wasn’t Alhambra also the name of the theatre in Jackson’s King Kong? Did that theatre ever exist in NY in the 30’s??? Given that Peter Jackson does his homework, I would say that this would be a resounding “Yes”. But thusfar this is the only Alhambra theatre I came up with in NY. So the question remains, did it, or didn’t it exist.

Geo

What was the point of such exaggeration ? Wouldn’t business suffer at such theaters if excessive crowds “called the bluff” of such ads, so to speak, leading to what you once referred to re : the Valencia as “lobby lock-outs” ?