Hillside Theatre
90-29 Sutphin Boulevard,
Jamaica,
NY
11435
90-29 Sutphin Boulevard,
Jamaica,
NY
11435
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 125 comments
In 1946 the Hillside had Joe Palooka and Wimpy on stage. Also the Jamacia theater had vaudeville acts during the same period. I saw a stage show at the Loew’s Gates when I moved there in 1948. If I remember correctly it was during the re-distribution of “The Lost Weekend” with Ray Milland. I just turned 10 and my older brother would always take my twin and I to shows at the Gates. We would also go to the Broadway Arena to see Antonio Rocca, The French Angel and the Dussek Brothers wrestle. Still remember the smell of that place. The wrestlers bodies would turn a deep pink when hit. We always saw wrestling on a black and white tv screen. Something as simple as that!
Thanks for this info, Warren. I hope the infamous “Curse Of The Little Rascals” didn’t descend upon the Hillside as a result !
Thanks, Lost Memory.
Thanks for your post, billmarshal, and for sharing your memories. I remember those Aurora models well.
Hi everyone!
Just saw these post on the Hillside Theatre. I lived in jamaica from ‘73 to '85, on 88th ave., yes the street with the cobblestones(really just red bricks). I Never knew there was a hillside theatre there on jamaica avenue. It was gone by the we arrived there. I remember nedicks and a little newsstand located underneath the train steps, i rememer buying the shadow #1 by Dc comics from him. there was also a bookstore across the street that you could buy old comic books in a big brown shopping bag, he would keep behind the counter, and only if a parent was with you. There was also a woolworths around the corner, thats where i bought my aurora models. The theatre we mostly went to was the RKO keiths on main street. Good Memories lol!
-Bill
When the Stones do “Little T & A” they’re a menace to society, but when it’s a number in “A Chorus Line”, it’s “that heartwarming Bway musical : bring the family !” Double standard.
Thanks, Warren.
Who WAS the Hillside’s new management ?
What “Truths” and “Facts” were parents being urged to bring their sons and daughters to learn ?
Yes, those “World’s 2 Most Amazing Attractions” : it could be a Lenny Bruce bit about T & A : I think he had it down by June 1958 :
“You can’t put that up on a marquee ! That’s dirty !”
“Well, how about ‘tuchuses and nay-nays’ ?”
“or, ‘gluteus maximus and pectoralis majoris’ ? Then it’s dirty to the Romans !”
I think I had one, or something like it, at A & S in downtown Brooklyn as a kid.
Frozen custard served in a tall glass. Got it.
Thanks.
Warren, what exactly was “the drink you eat with a spoon”, and on what theater’s page did you post about it on ? The Valencia ?
MojaveByrd, the dessert you are referring to was posted about by Warren elsewhere as “the drink you eat with a spoon”. Custard or vanilla yogurt, perhaps ?
ummm?
I tried to look up the Jamacia Theater and it doesn’t come up. Anyone know why?
I don’t remember that at Gertz’s Department store. I do remember how they would have the best Santa Claus at Christmas time. Down the street it always seemed that Montgomery Ward would always be in competition with Gertz. I left there in 1948 and revisited Jamacia frequesntly when I lived in Brooklyn. The Jamacia and Merrick theaters were near by and would usually take a trip into Montgomery Ward and go to there camping area. Dreams!
Someone mentioned Gertz. I remember going there as a little girl with my mom. There was a refreshment stand in the middle of the store that served some kind of milkshake, but it wasn’t a milkshake. It was thicker and creamier. It was served in a large glass and at the bottom was a spoonful of chocolate or strawberry syrup. I’ve never tasted anything like it since. Does anyone remember this? Does this product still exist anywhere?
Thanks, Warren. I should have asked about “Sutphin” with a capital “S”.
Roy, for old photos of Sutphin Blvd, you might try that link to the past history of Jamaica that Lost Memory posted on the Loew’s Valencia page, queenspix.com, or the archives of the central Queensboro Public Library on either ….. you guessed it, (duh !?)Sutphin Blvd. or Hillside Avenue.
Anybody know what a “sutphin” is, anyway ?
My brothers responded. Yes! It was on Sutphin Blvd several door down from the Hillside. We left there in 1948. It was going strong then. I’ve tried to get old photos of Sutphin Blvd but to no avail. Sorry! Those were fun times.
Roy
It was spelled McGuinesses. I sent an email to my brothers to verify if I am hallucinating or that it really existed. I am sure it was on the corner of the Hillside theater going toward the Court House. They had orientals working in the kitchen and we would play hide and seek behind the restaurant in the summer. People from the big Court House would come in for lunch. Saturdays and Sundays were big days there. I’ll wait to hear from my brothers.
Roy
It was on Sutphin near the Hillside. I lived there until 1948 and then moved to Brooklyn. They served seafood and steaks. It was a pretty nice place from the eyes of a nine year old.
BrooklynJim, you missed the Savoy, and if you’re old enough the Jamaica. Leroyeliston, I remember the Jamaica shopping district from the 50s and 60s reasonably well, but I don’t remember McGinnis'. Where was it?
Warren, do you remember McGinnis' restaurant?
Thanks for all the details, guys. Maybe I’ll comment on some of them later.
BklynJim, good for you on your “A Hard Day’s Night” double-disc DVD purchase. I seem to recall someone, a Glendale, Queens native, commenting on this Hillside theater page, about taking a break from a boring philosophy class at St. John’s U Jamaica campus to see “Hard Day’s Night” at the Hillside.
What ever happened to McGinnis' restaurant?