Without question 3rd avenue being torn apart couldn’t have been good for business. From what I’m told and what I’ve read Robert Moses was very good at ripping a neighborhood in half.
I spoke to “The Sheriff of Windsor Terrace” recently and asked him about this theater. He told me that the older residents of the neighborhood remember it well. They told him it was nicknamed the “The Bed Bug” and/or “The Itch”.
AWESOME PHOTO. I wonder what the seating capacity was? The place looks tiny. I’ve actually been inside the building. They sell candy and other products wholesale there. I can’t recall have far back the building runs from 3rd Ave.
I pass this place all the time. It was a movie theater? Until 1964? As for the El track post, I believe the Gowanus Expwy was built atop the BMT third avenue line.
mp775-Great link! My first time ever seeing a photo of the RKO Shore Road. I have to be honest. When I did the scroll through the 1980’s shot blew me away too. I almost forgot about the “Martin Paint” and “fayva” shoe store. When I was a young kid durning the 80’s I never realized that building was once a movie theater. I could always tell by looking at the building up the block (The RKO Dyker) that it once was a movie theater.
I worked for Cineplex Odeon for a few years. Correct me if I’m wrong but I remember the Kingsway had an auditorium that had it’s own separate entrance around the corner from the main lobby. Always thought that was odd. I’m sure the separate entrance was do to an engineering obstacle when the Kingsway was multiplexed.
AlAlvarez-Hello Sir. Would you be the same AlAlvarez who was a district manager for Cineplex Odeon? I grew up in Bay Ridge and worked in the Fortway. THe “Bay Ridge Police” you refer to are the officers of the 68 Pct. The 68 Pct covers both the Alpine and former Fortway. The two theaters are roughly ten blocks apart. I don’t see why the “Bay Ridge Police” would intimidate a group in one place and not intimidate that same group ten blocks away at a similar venue.
techman707- I appreciate all these great theatre facts. I heard stories about Mr. Goldberg. I’m sorry to hear that he has passed. I still wonder why that the Fortway was closed and not the Alpine? To me the Fortway was a much nicer theatre. If I can remember right Cineplex Odeon gave the fortway the bigger movie releases over the Alpine. Also if memory serves the Fortway’s largest theatre held plenty more than the Alpines largest auditorium.
techman707-Wow thanks again. I remember seeing The Oceana from the B1 bus on my way to class at Kingsborough. I heard it had a very steep balcony. What ever happened to GTM? Did GTM sell all of their theaters around the same time has the Fortway and the Alpine in 1989? I heard the man who ran GTM ruled with an iron fist! True?
The Great Wall supermarket isn’t the only tenant in the building. Around the block on the southeast corner of 9th Av and 67th St. is the entrance to Bounce U.
On the corner of 92 St. & 4 Av there was a White Castle. This White Castle was just a few feet from the Harbor Theatre. I’m pretty sure it was the White Castle in Saturday Night Fever. First the Harbor Theatre closed then the White Castle. Two sad days in Bay Ridge history.
techman707, I also remember being told a story about the multiplexing of the Alpine. We had a retired NYPD cop who worked at the Fortway. He ran the security detail for a few of the Cineplex Odeon theaters in Bklyn. He told me that Loews brought in their engineer to multiplex the Alpine beyond a twin. The engineer told Loews that it could not be done for some reason or another. Loews then sold the Alpine to the Golden Theatre chain. Golden’s engineer had no problem
multiplexing the Alpine beyond a twin. I was then told that Loews never again employed that engineer. Im not sure if this is true or false
techman707, I was an usher at the Fortway from 1994 to 1997. I really miss the place. When I was there the two projectionist were Alan and Mike. Maybe you knew one of them? From what I remember Alan was there in the 80’s. If it’s not too much trouble I would love to know what the Fortway looked like before it was multiplexed. I know when it tripled there was only one screen on the ground floor. I believe it was 1982 when theatre #’s 4 and 5 were added on the ground floor. Also I remember it being part of the Golden Theatre chain before Cineplex Odeon took it over,is that correct?
I can’t believe there were rock concerts in this place.
Anyone out there have a vintage photo of this theater?
Without question 3rd avenue being torn apart couldn’t have been good for business. From what I’m told and what I’ve read Robert Moses was very good at ripping a neighborhood in half.
I spoke to “The Sheriff of Windsor Terrace” recently and asked him about this theater. He told me that the older residents of the neighborhood remember it well. They told him it was nicknamed the “The Bed Bug” and/or “The Itch”.
AWESOME PHOTO. I wonder what the seating capacity was? The place looks tiny. I’ve actually been inside the building. They sell candy and other products wholesale there. I can’t recall have far back the building runs from 3rd Ave.
I pass this place all the time. It was a movie theater? Until 1964? As for the El track post, I believe the Gowanus Expwy was built atop the BMT third avenue line.
Life’s Too Short-RobMinichino, Thanks for the info.
I was right outside of this building a few times. Never had a clue that it was a movie theater. Anyone out there have a photo of this theater?
mp775-Great link! My first time ever seeing a photo of the RKO Shore Road. I have to be honest. When I did the scroll through the 1980’s shot blew me away too. I almost forgot about the “Martin Paint” and “fayva” shoe store. When I was a young kid durning the 80’s I never realized that building was once a movie theater. I could always tell by looking at the building up the block (The RKO Dyker) that it once was a movie theater.
The links on this page show some great vintage photos of the Carlton. It seems Brooklyn had so many classic movie theaters that are now gone.
I worked for Cineplex Odeon for a few years. Correct me if I’m wrong but I remember the Kingsway had an auditorium that had it’s own separate entrance around the corner from the main lobby. Always thought that was odd. I’m sure the separate entrance was do to an engineering obstacle when the Kingsway was multiplexed.
My Mom and Dad were from nearby Red Hook. They told me stories about going to the Avon and The Prospect which was a block away.
AlAlvarez-Hello Sir. Would you be the same AlAlvarez who was a district manager for Cineplex Odeon? I grew up in Bay Ridge and worked in the Fortway. THe “Bay Ridge Police” you refer to are the officers of the 68 Pct. The 68 Pct covers both the Alpine and former Fortway. The two theaters are roughly ten blocks apart. I don’t see why the “Bay Ridge Police” would intimidate a group in one place and not intimidate that same group ten blocks away at a similar venue.
Just read an article about the Alpine. It seems that as of a few years ago Jeffrey Deneroff still owned the building which is the Alpine.
techman707- I appreciate all these great theatre facts. I heard stories about Mr. Goldberg. I’m sorry to hear that he has passed. I still wonder why that the Fortway was closed and not the Alpine? To me the Fortway was a much nicer theatre. If I can remember right Cineplex Odeon gave the fortway the bigger movie releases over the Alpine. Also if memory serves the Fortway’s largest theatre held plenty more than the Alpines largest auditorium.
techman707-Wow thanks again. I remember seeing The Oceana from the B1 bus on my way to class at Kingsborough. I heard it had a very steep balcony. What ever happened to GTM? Did GTM sell all of their theaters around the same time has the Fortway and the Alpine in 1989? I heard the man who ran GTM ruled with an iron fist! True?
Does anyone know when the vertical “Loews Jersey” sign was removed from the building?
I’m so glad I live in N.Y.C. This theatre is now on my to do list.
techman707- I want to thank you for letting me pick your brain.
The Great Wall supermarket isn’t the only tenant in the building. Around the block on the southeast corner of 9th Av and 67th St. is the entrance to Bounce U.
On the corner of 92 St. & 4 Av there was a White Castle. This White Castle was just a few feet from the Harbor Theatre. I’m pretty sure it was the White Castle in Saturday Night Fever. First the Harbor Theatre closed then the White Castle. Two sad days in Bay Ridge history.
techman707-Wow,your knowledge of these two theaters is amazing. Yes Dave is the security guy I was referring to.
My parents were from nearby Red Hook. I only heard of this theatre and others close to it because of them.
techman707, I also remember being told a story about the multiplexing of the Alpine. We had a retired NYPD cop who worked at the Fortway. He ran the security detail for a few of the Cineplex Odeon theaters in Bklyn. He told me that Loews brought in their engineer to multiplex the Alpine beyond a twin. The engineer told Loews that it could not be done for some reason or another. Loews then sold the Alpine to the Golden Theatre chain. Golden’s engineer had no problem
multiplexing the Alpine beyond a twin. I was then told that Loews never again employed that engineer. Im not sure if this is true or false
techman707, I was an usher at the Fortway from 1994 to 1997. I really miss the place. When I was there the two projectionist were Alan and Mike. Maybe you knew one of them? From what I remember Alan was there in the 80’s. If it’s not too much trouble I would love to know what the Fortway looked like before it was multiplexed. I know when it tripled there was only one screen on the ground floor. I believe it was 1982 when theatre #’s 4 and 5 were added on the ground floor. Also I remember it being part of the Golden Theatre chain before Cineplex Odeon took it over,is that correct?