I can’t say if this photo is of the Kingston Theatre. The area was remodeled under the design of John Pike a local artist from Woodstock. I believe that the building has gone through many changes but today, it is the home on Backstage Productions. It serves as a venue for music, theater, and dance. From what I understand, it continues to have a stage area and that may be the original movie theatre I will check it out ….robbie
In 1978-79, I worked as a waiter in a place called The Brandywine on Lincoln Blvd. I often atended films at The Fox Venice. Lastone I can rmember was Zardoz . Don’t think it was a first run but I can’t recall. It was a great place to enjoy movies . Robbie
Point of View- I know little or nothing about the history or technical information about movie theatres. I come to this wonderful site to learn, and more importantly, to share memories. The movie theatres of my youth are all gone. Also gone are buildings like The Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field , old Madison Square Garden and countless other treasures . No matter how grand they were, they were only buildings, and buildings get torn down. What keeps them alive is the dialogue that takes place between us. We are the ones who bring them back to life. We are the ones who lived it. This site may have begun with the goal of collecting technical data on theatres, but it has evolved into much more than it’s creators could have imagined. True, sometimes we ramble on- but I have seen how this connection has brought great joy to many, who without Cinema Treasures, would have lost touch with the wonder of their youth- much of which was spent at the movies.There is room here for it all .
Robbie
PKoch- Thanks for filling in the names of those gimmicks. I remember one film, not the title, but the promo was divine. They gave out nausea bags because the film was billed as ‘REVOLTING".
The Tingler had some kind of electric vibrating device under a few seats in the theatre. I suppose you all have seen the film MATINEE . It covers all this stuff and more. The Matrons who worked the saturday matinee shift should all be sainted. They had it rough at The Embassy..Robbie
I recall seeing several of the William Castle Horror movies at The Embassy. Does anyone remember the props that were hung in the theatre to add excitement ? Castle did this kind of gimmick to add to the promo for films like The Tingler, House on Haunted Hill etc. For example, they strung a wire down the middle of the center aisle and at a given moment,vaguely cooridinated with the movie, a skeleton was pulled down the wire. It was far fron frightening. As a matter of fact, it got stuck half way down the aisle and we all began throwing candy and anything else we had at the skeleton. This kind of thing happened every saturday during the years i spent at the Embassy matinee’s from 1957-62. Robbie
does anyone remember Brian’s younger brother Keith ? He also went to Lane 59-63. And was also a good singer. Keith never persued a career in music. Nobody smacked him around because he sang in an doo wop group with guys from Fulton and Rockaway. robbie
Great stories of old ENY. I remember all the Fulton street Bars.The Arlington- The Norwood- The Essex Tavern-even the Waikiki on Crescent located under the El where it made the big turn. For a while,in the mid 60’s, there was a wise guy joint on Lincoln and Fulton. called Cloud 9. Anyone remember the pet store near the Embassy ? Robbie
sorry i have been away so i didn’t respond to bway jim- regarding the Highland Park" battlfield" comment- no , I was referring to the gang violence that took over in the 60’s..robbie
Thanks for the tip Brooklyn Jim, I will get a copy asap.
Also, Thanks to Warren- what a great photo of The Warwick. It is the only one I have ever seen.
I just attended the “Independent Film” showing on wednesday night. the theatre is now under new management and is part of a city wide revival in Catskill New York. Nice old town struggling to come back from many rough years.The town was used as a major location in the film “Cake Eaters ” . Nice theatre with positive and creative owner. robbie dupree
Jim- right you are. the second park was the upper park. the indian bridge, reservoir, ball field. many great memories there in the early years. later it was a battleground. i went to st. michael’s grammar school then Lane….life education 101…robbie
Yes indeed. I travelled from Brooklyn to stand in a long line to see Goldfinger at The Continental. If i recall correctly it played many times each day and you had to get lucky to get a seat. robbie
Back in 1970 I lived at 311 w. 103rd street. The Olympia became my neighborhood theatre and I spent many nights catching films there. I believe I still have a small ad poster for a series they ran called “Rock &Rebels” showing The Wild One , and several other films about troubled youth. Great memories – sorry to hear they knocked it down. Robbie
Yes Omni, The YMCA was there last time I drove down Jamaica Ave. Highland Park no longer had the chess and checker tables nor the gym bars and swing in the playground. I noticed that while driving by. robbie
Omni, Yes it was before my time, but not my families. I was there from 52-58'. My grandfater owned the house since 1927 and at one time or another, most of my family lived in the house. It was a large 2 story brick with a living space in the attic as well. Our house was in the middle of the block between Warwick and Ashford.
With the demise of all these neighborhoods it is quite a wonderful thing that neighbors can come together once again around the memories of movie houses. They were once the center of the communities and now again allow us to meet and share an all but lost history. Robbie
My childhood home was at 204 arlington avenue, directly accross the street from the Library. It was an big part of my childhood both as a library and also a place to play on the grounds after business hours. My family has countless photo’s of us using the beautiful building as a background. I haven’t seem it in many years but I am sure it is closed now. I used a photo of me as a child for the cover shot of one of my recordings. The photo only shows me sitting in one of the carved seats but I wanted to use it because of the great significance it held for me. Anyone interested can check out the photo on my website. robbiedupree.com Go to the discography section and click on Vintage Volume One. robbie
Many years ago I saw a film starring Martin Sheen titled The Believers. Some scenes were filmed in an abandoned movie house. I wonder if anyone knows which one ? It looked like it was in East New York or Bushwick but I could never pinpoint it…Robbie
Their was a “wise guy” bar on Crescent and Fulton next to the Post Office called The Waikiki. Paulie Vario owner The Fountainbleu florist on Pine and Fulton. Anyone know if these are still open in some form or when they closed ? robbie
I can’t say if this photo is of the Kingston Theatre. The area was remodeled under the design of John Pike a local artist from Woodstock. I believe that the building has gone through many changes but today, it is the home on Backstage Productions. It serves as a venue for music, theater, and dance. From what I understand, it continues to have a stage area and that may be the original movie theatre I will check it out ….robbie
In 1978-79, I worked as a waiter in a place called The Brandywine on Lincoln Blvd. I often atended films at The Fox Venice. Lastone I can rmember was Zardoz . Don’t think it was a first run but I can’t recall. It was a great place to enjoy movies . Robbie
Point of View- I know little or nothing about the history or technical information about movie theatres. I come to this wonderful site to learn, and more importantly, to share memories. The movie theatres of my youth are all gone. Also gone are buildings like The Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field , old Madison Square Garden and countless other treasures . No matter how grand they were, they were only buildings, and buildings get torn down. What keeps them alive is the dialogue that takes place between us. We are the ones who bring them back to life. We are the ones who lived it. This site may have begun with the goal of collecting technical data on theatres, but it has evolved into much more than it’s creators could have imagined. True, sometimes we ramble on- but I have seen how this connection has brought great joy to many, who without Cinema Treasures, would have lost touch with the wonder of their youth- much of which was spent at the movies.There is room here for it all .
Robbie
PKoch- Thanks for filling in the names of those gimmicks. I remember one film, not the title, but the promo was divine. They gave out nausea bags because the film was billed as ‘REVOLTING".
The Tingler had some kind of electric vibrating device under a few seats in the theatre. I suppose you all have seen the film MATINEE . It covers all this stuff and more. The Matrons who worked the saturday matinee shift should all be sainted. They had it rough at The Embassy..Robbie
I recall seeing several of the William Castle Horror movies at The Embassy. Does anyone remember the props that were hung in the theatre to add excitement ? Castle did this kind of gimmick to add to the promo for films like The Tingler, House on Haunted Hill etc. For example, they strung a wire down the middle of the center aisle and at a given moment,vaguely cooridinated with the movie, a skeleton was pulled down the wire. It was far fron frightening. As a matter of fact, it got stuck half way down the aisle and we all began throwing candy and anything else we had at the skeleton. This kind of thing happened every saturday during the years i spent at the Embassy matinee’s from 1957-62. Robbie
does anyone remember Brian’s younger brother Keith ? He also went to Lane 59-63. And was also a good singer. Keith never persued a career in music. Nobody smacked him around because he sang in an doo wop group with guys from Fulton and Rockaway. robbie
Great stories of old ENY. I remember all the Fulton street Bars.The Arlington- The Norwood- The Essex Tavern-even the Waikiki on Crescent located under the El where it made the big turn. For a while,in the mid 60’s, there was a wise guy joint on Lincoln and Fulton. called Cloud 9. Anyone remember the pet store near the Embassy ? Robbie
The Bohack came a long time after the Warwick was closed . I remember it being several years while the theatre sat idle and falling apart. Robbie
sorry i have been away so i didn’t respond to bway jim- regarding the Highland Park" battlfield" comment- no , I was referring to the gang violence that took over in the 60’s..robbie
Thanks for the tip Brooklyn Jim, I will get a copy asap.
Also, Thanks to Warren- what a great photo of The Warwick. It is the only one I have ever seen.
I just attended the “Independent Film” showing on wednesday night. the theatre is now under new management and is part of a city wide revival in Catskill New York. Nice old town struggling to come back from many rough years.The town was used as a major location in the film “Cake Eaters ” . Nice theatre with positive and creative owner. robbie dupree
Jim- right you are. the second park was the upper park. the indian bridge, reservoir, ball field. many great memories there in the early years. later it was a battleground. i went to st. michael’s grammar school then Lane….life education 101…robbie
jim, do you remember the “second park ” and the Indian Bridge ? robbie
jim, where did you live in ENY and at what time period..robbie
Thanks Tonino. I was Lane class of 63'…robbie
Yes indeed. I travelled from Brooklyn to stand in a long line to see Goldfinger at The Continental. If i recall correctly it played many times each day and you had to get lucky to get a seat. robbie
Back in 1970 I lived at 311 w. 103rd street. The Olympia became my neighborhood theatre and I spent many nights catching films there. I believe I still have a small ad poster for a series they ran called “Rock &Rebels” showing The Wild One , and several other films about troubled youth. Great memories – sorry to hear they knocked it down. Robbie
tonino- dod you attend f.k.lane ? robbie
Yes Omni, The YMCA was there last time I drove down Jamaica Ave. Highland Park no longer had the chess and checker tables nor the gym bars and swing in the playground. I noticed that while driving by. robbie
Omni, Yes it was before my time, but not my families. I was there from 52-58'. My grandfater owned the house since 1927 and at one time or another, most of my family lived in the house. It was a large 2 story brick with a living space in the attic as well. Our house was in the middle of the block between Warwick and Ashford.
With the demise of all these neighborhoods it is quite a wonderful thing that neighbors can come together once again around the memories of movie houses. They were once the center of the communities and now again allow us to meet and share an all but lost history. Robbie
My childhood home was at 204 arlington avenue, directly accross the street from the Library. It was an big part of my childhood both as a library and also a place to play on the grounds after business hours. My family has countless photo’s of us using the beautiful building as a background. I haven’t seem it in many years but I am sure it is closed now. I used a photo of me as a child for the cover shot of one of my recordings. The photo only shows me sitting in one of the carved seats but I wanted to use it because of the great significance it held for me. Anyone interested can check out the photo on my website. robbiedupree.com Go to the discography section and click on Vintage Volume One. robbie
That must be it. I remember the sign on the second floor. Thanks so much for placing it. robbie
Thanks PKoch for the info on The Bushwick. I had a feeling that it was a broadway movie house…robbie
Many years ago I saw a film starring Martin Sheen titled The Believers. Some scenes were filmed in an abandoned movie house. I wonder if anyone knows which one ? It looked like it was in East New York or Bushwick but I could never pinpoint it…Robbie
Their was a “wise guy” bar on Crescent and Fulton next to the Post Office called The Waikiki. Paulie Vario owner The Fountainbleu florist on Pine and Fulton. Anyone know if these are still open in some form or when they closed ? robbie