Williamsburg Theatre

To Anniegirl & JoeB, I don’t recall the Charlotte Russes on Graham & Moore St., but they were definitely available at the location that I had mentioned further east, as Graham neared B'way. I do rememeber the entire strip of Manhattan Ave. from Cook St. to Montrose
Ave. as being Brides Row, with a successive number of bridal gown rental shops.

JoeB: That guy even came down Willoughby Ave…..He was all over the place with his bell, and the big round Salt Shaker with Kosher Salt——DELICIOUS——Cannot get a good Knish down here, or Bagel for that matter———-I rmember Shlucker’s Bakery on either Dekalb or Gates——On Sunday mornings, there would be lines out the door for hot bagels and rolls——-especially their Onion Rolls——WOW am I getting hungry——-waiting for the Wife to get home from one of my Grandson’s Little league games, then we will watch Survivor which I recorded on my DVR for us…….So will have to shut down, but these are wonderful memories——-I remember my Singing group sang at the Polish Hall in Greenpoint at an R&R show they had there in 1958—-many local groups and some like the Moonglows, Avons, Jesters. Paragons——was quite a nite——we sang around the NYC/LI/NJ area for over a year before I called it quits because of Payola—-we were called “The Kents” and my song that was out in 1958 was called “The Happy Beat”—-I doubt if anyone remembers——There was another group that were victims of Payola from Bushwick also, The Fascinators who recorded asong called Chapel Bells——We were friendly competitors, but our fan clubs were not so friendly to each other—-lol—-The Girls that is…..alot of fond memories—-and some not so fond—-Man could i go for a Knish right now—lol——-joe From Florida

Hello louieb: I have been enjoying your recollections of Williamsburg with asbag, and I know you are waiting for Astynax to reply; but my Mother also was a seamstress and went to Manhattan & Moore Sts. to get her material also…..I remember the Graham, although I never went there…….How about the old Egg-Cream—-and the knishes!…….My Mother was born on Marcy Ave in 1915, God Rest Her Soul, and my Maternal Grandfather was the fish peddler in that neighborhood in the 1900s to early 1940s——He passed away on Marcy Ave in 1947 when I was 6 years old……but I remember visiting him and he always had a fried Blackfish frying for me in the pan……He lived on the 2nd floor and the aroma would greet us as we got to the appartment———-I lived on Willoughby Ave. between Central & Evergreen, in the Bushwick/Ridegwood section, and moved to Roosevelt, LI in 1959——Then when I got married to Levittown, LI in 1963, where I bought my first home, and in 1976, down here to Florida——-So even though I would go back to Brooklyn on occasion to take my Wife and Mother to Moore st(Best prices on all materials) and walk up to Bway & Flushing——-seeing the old Rogers theater that I went to so many times as a kid in the late 40s and early 50s all closed up(that was in the 60s)…….and after we moved, I worked for Domino Sugar on Kent Ave until 1960, when I got employment on LI——From 1959 to 1960, I would drive my 1953 Mercury Montclair from Roosevelt to Kent Ave & Domino on the Long Island Expwy…..I remember seeing Kruschev’s Soviet ship sailing down the East River when he went to the UN——-The fire aboard the Aircraft Carrier at the Navy Yard; the WPIX Channel-11 Newsplane that crashed covering the fire——and also almost became an extra in a Sidney Lumet movie that he was shooting scenes for on Domino’s dock in 1960, “A View From The Bridge” with Raf Vallone…..My buddy and i worked in the accounting office so we were dressed in shirt abd tie, and Lumet needed Dock workers——-so while thay filmed the Hot Dog Stand scene, we stood on the sideline while they shot the scene once and it took——We met Harvey Lembeck, Raf Vallone, Mickey Knox(who were all very short as I recall)——-at that time span, there was also that terrible plane collison that sent one plane on the streets of Brooklyn and the other off Staten Island, I believe——-Long time ago, so i could be wrong——But reading your recollections have been very enjoyable Lou——Thanks from a former Greaser who came from the old neighborhood——but nobody mentioned the Trolley & El that used to cross over the Bridge and go underground at Essex Street——That was a weird site seeing a Trolly in a darkly lit subway station——-We went to Orchard St to buy clothes & shoes!——Thanks for the memories louieb—-Joe From Florida

Dear Astyanax, was that on Graham and Moore Street and do you remember the Charlotte Rousse’s ? My Mom went to Moore Street for material and we always had those sweet treats. But do you remember the Graham Theater? Anniegirl
posted by louieb on Apr 6, 2006

ok asbag. I will I just pulled pic’s from Bedford Ave and Wallabout Street. And some pic’s of Lynch Street. Many places are gone now except the old casket Building on the corner triangle of bedford and lynch street. thanks again for the website.I am making a book of old neighborhood pic’s for my older family members to look at at the wedding. We are celebrating Noele’s Wedding at Windows on the Lake in Lake Ronkonkoma Long Island. We live in Bellport Long Island and I am an old salt of 60 born in 1945 but I love the old days of the 1940’s. Sometimes I feel like I should have been born in that time because I am drawn to that era of time because of my Family members recalling thier time in the forties and we used to play trivia as a child I know all the actors of the 40’s. Also character actor’s. Go figure. Anniegirl. Posted by louieb Apr 5 2006

Anniegirl…..wish your daughter lots of luck on her upcomming marriage.
asbag

Dear Anniegirl….I am glad you liked the local.live.com. It really gives you great shots of the city. Particulary when you use the Birds Eye view. Yes, PS 16 was on Wilson and Taylor. That school was old when even I attended. The boys bathroom had a solid concrete
wall from floor to ceiling that had water running down from the ceiling into a trough and the boys would go against the wall. It was medieval but hard to miss.
I must say that you have a great memory for names and places. Williamsburg was such a mixed bag of things. When you look back you had five theaters with seating compacities that accomodated over 1,000 people per theater, almost every bus line in Brooklyn terminating at Bridge Plaza, factories together with Brownstones. Historic restaurants such as Peter Lugar and historic buildings such as The Williamsburg Savings Bank. Elevated subways, depressed highways, a major bridge, a river, a Navy Yard. What a mix.
asbag

Dear Anniegirl….I really don’t remember the baby carriage store although I remember that Williamsburg had a large one. I just don’t remember where it was. Did you see the building I described on local.live.com? The one with the round back. That looks like it could have been a theater. I called my mother and she doesn’t remember the Wilson either. I have been in touch with several library services such as the Brooklyn & New York Historical Societies and they don’t have anything. I contact the Lincoln Center Arts & Theaters web site and asked them to research the Wilson Theater. I submitted to Cinema Treasures the Wilson Theater name and location with nothing else in the hope that someone who lived in Williamsburg in the 20’s or 30’s or even the 40’s might remember the Theater.
I remember it so vividly because at lunch time I used to leave PS 16 on Wilson Ave. and walk down Lee to Roebling where under the marquee there were movie posters pasted on the boards that closed the theater. I used to color in mustaches on the actors faces.
Who knew that years later I would be searching for the origins of the theater on a means of communication such as the Internet which has every piece of information you could want and come up empty. Annie, thanks for your help.
asbag

To anniegirl…you picked up on the fact that it was on the intersection of Roebling and Lee. You are correct. Roebling and Lee interesect but not at actual right angles so they form a diamond in the front. But the give away I think is the round rear of the building which could have house a screen or perhaps a curved stage.
My mother is still alive and I never thought to ask her if she new what the Wilson Theater was. I think I will give that a try as she lived in Williamsburg for several years before I was born in 1940.
asbag

To Asbag I just had a thought!!!!! Was the Wilson Theater on the curve street that led into Lee Avenue across from PS16. Was it on Roebling St. and Lee Ave. It faced both streets? If so, when I was growing up in Williamsburg, the BABY Carriage store was next to it on Lee Avenue. Let me know ok Anniegirl
posted by louieb Apr4,2006

Oh JoeB you sparked my curiousity. I can’t remember the name of the Moviehouse. What street was it on? and yes Bond Bread. My mom used to buy bond bread. To ASBAG yes that was the Chocolate Factory. The smells were delicious. The 90th Police Pct on Clymer Street moved to Union Ave and Broadway in a new Station House combined with the Fire House that was on Keap and Kent Avenue. When I lived on Penn and Wythe Ave, My dad took me to the Firehouse on Saturday’s to see the Trucks. My husband came from Astoria. Anniegirl
posted by louieb Apr 4th 2006

Back in Jan.‘06 Asbag referred to the Levy’s Hot Dogs, as being right next to the theater. Was this related to the Levy’s Hot Dogs on the other side of the bridge at Essex & Delancey St? If so, it is now Roma’s Pizza, and appears identicial to the way it was 50 years ago.