Meserole Theatre
723 Manhattan Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
723 Manhattan Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11222
11 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 214 comments
OK. I’ll make a couple of corrections to my previous post – The pharmacy counter is where the concession stand was (under the balcony) and the cahsiers are in the long hallway from the ticket booth to the concession area. The ceiling, the screen, and some of the metal trim are still obvious, as well as various aspects of the exterior. I give them a lot of credit for not just bulldozing or renovating beyond all recognition.
I’m on my way to Eckerds – in the Meserole Theater. I do appreciate that there is enough of the old theater that is still recognizable, right down to the Eckerd promo shots shown on the old screen and the cashiers in the old concession area.
Bob Diamond’s trolley is dead. The whole thing came to a crashing halt, and not a nice crash either. The whole thing was shrouded in controversy, and the trolleys I believe were haulded off in defalt or something. The whole thing was a mess. Not a pretty sight. Too bad.
I never got to take Bob Diamond’s Atlantic Avenue tunnel tour but I did take his trolley ride in 1994. My daughter (who was 2) even got her picture in the paper for being the youngest rider. I haven’t heard anything about him in years. I hope that all the red tape didn’t frustrate him to give up.
Ooops. Wrong Bowling Alley! I remember now the sign saying “Van Wyck lanes”.
That is a great site, it has information on the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. Has anyone heard about the Lost Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. Bob Diamond rediscovered the tunnel around 1980 and it is rumored that a locomotive is still behind the wall of the tunnel. Bob Diamond used to give tours of the tunnel. In 1995, I was lucky enough to take the tour with my sister. Unfortunately, he is not allowed to give the tours anymore and I don’t know if the MTA has dug through the tunnel to see if the train is there..
Check the links below:
View link
View link
http://the-tech.mit.edu/~Subway/Tunnel/mypics.html
Great picture even if it is Van Wyck and not Woodhaven. I may need to spend some time at that site too.
Bway,See Bob D’s answer. He is correct.Anniegirl
Woodhaven Lanes is considered located in Glendale Queens. You can take the E train to 71st & Continental -Forest Hills or take the M train to Metropolitan Avenue-Middle Village and take the Q54 Bus to Metropolitan Ave. and Woodhaven Blvd or drive. A couple years back there was talk that they were closing down but it never happened. They are always packed so I know they won’t be closing anytime soon.
Links to Woodhaven Lanes:
View link
View link
PKoch, microwave popcorn and movies on demand seems more and more appealing. By the way I am planning on going to the movies next week any good movies you guys could recommend..
The train that you show is the “J” train at the station on Metropolitan and Jamaica Avenues. That would be in front of the Van Wyck Bowling alley, where I bowled in a league while I was in high school. They finally built the Archer Avenue extension, and I think they finally tore that part of the line down and put a stop underground. By Woodhaven Lanes, there is some unused LIRR tracks that are heavilly overgrown but not torn down. There is now a Sports Authority and Home Depot right next to it, maybe where that multiplex was going to go, although there is still an abandoned factory there that looks like a candidate for bulldozing.
Woodhaven Lanes…..
Well, those old trainwrecks are gone…the station is gone…and the el is gone, but the Bowl still remains…
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2302
Thanks, Lost Memory, I think I remember now. It’s near the southeast corner of Woodhaven Blvd, and Metropolitan Ave. between Metropolitan and the LIRR tracks, isn’t it, near where there was talk of building a multiplex cinema for awhile ?
You’re most welcome, KarenN, to my reply. My pleasure.
Is anything cheap to do anymore ? Perhaps watch dvd’s at home while eating popcorn popped in one’s microwave.
Where exactly is Woodhaven Lanes ?
Anniegirl, that is something, it is a small world. We normally go to the matinee in Sunnyside and it is still $8.00 a ticket. I wouldn’t mind every now and then paying an extra $4.00 for them to bring the food to us. Do you know how many times I almost dropped the popcorn… Thanks
Dear Karen, My husband used to bowl on a league at Woodhaven Lanes. We now live in Long Island and we took our kids bowling one night and it cost us a small fortune. Nothing is cheap anymore, not even going to the movie with the kids. We usually go with our daughters one is 28 and the other is 17 and it cost’s almost $40.00 not including treats. We go to a moviehouse called Island 16, they have concession stands that if you buy a ticket for the directors studio for $12.00, They take your food order and deliver it to your seat. Can you imagine that. What is next, tables and charis in the moviehouse???????? Anniegirl
Thank you PKoch for your warm reply. micheleandanniegirl, I remember the Chinese restaurant, I had my confirmation party there when I was younger. After it closed down they made it into a karate place and it burnt down, now it is a Polish nightclub called the Europa. Bob D. I used to live two blocks from the bowling ally, my sister and I went there, she was on a league and it closed down just before I was old enough to get on. Bway I know what you mean, I take the kids to Woodhaven Lanes from time to time and it costs a small fortune…. Is anything cheap to do anymore?
Speaking of bowling, and to stay on topic….my first bowling experience was at the converted Glenwood Theater in Ridgewood. The converted the Glenwood Theater to a bowling alley, I guess in the 60’s. It was torn down around 1980 to build the Ridgewood post office.
Yeah, today bowling is an expensive proposition. I went with a couple friends a few months ago…. A few games later, and a couple pitchers of beer, and our bill was well over $100. Bowling is certainly not the “poor” man’s sport anymore….
I remember the Greenpoint Bowl only too well. My brother and I used to go there almost every Saturday back when bowling was an affordable fun thing to do.
KarenN. go on BrooklynPix.com and punch in Greenpoint or go on Locallive.com and get birds eye views of Greenpoint. I used to go to all of the places on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint in the 1960’s I hung out in McCarran Park when I was 15 years old and the Triangle Park on Bedford and Loimer Street with my friends as a kid. Lot’s of fun there. I remember going to the Library on Norman Ave. I grew up in Williamsburgh but always went to Greenpoint to shop. Also went to the Meserole Theater to see First Rate Movies. Also the RKO was still open for a short time when I was a kid. I now the Pizza Prince is still there but they expanded. I used to go there wnen it was a small store back in 1963 and 1964 with my boyfriend Joe at the time. We used to chow down a whole pizza between us. We were skinny kids then. Ask you parents about the Chinese Resturant Upstairs on Manhattan Ave. I got married and had my reception at the Polaniase Terrace. Lots of Memories. Enjoy the websites. Anniegirl
You are most welcome, KarenN., to my comments, and thank you for yours. Yes, Greenpoint could use some movie theaters. Sorry, I do not remember the bowling alley on Meserole Avenue.
I want to thank everyone for their comments. It is nice to see people talk about the history of Greenpoint. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the Meserole as a movie theater but I had so much fun when it was a rolling rink. I used to go to the Chopin until it went down hill. My mom and dad said that the Meserole was the greatest theater. At least I still get to see the disco ball. I really wish a movie theater would open up around here; I have to take my kids to Sunnyside. Does anyone remember the bowling ally on Meserole Avenue? It used to be a factory then a bowling ally now I think GMDC owns it. Thanks again for the comments and the pics, with all the changes going on it made me feel better to see and listen to some of the past.
A fascinating history including fascinating conversions.
It all appears to still be there.
Thanks, KenRoe, for another fine photography job !
Sorry here is the mistyped 3rd link above:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186727398/
A few photographs I took of the Meserole Theatre in June 2006, some auditorium shots included:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186726350/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186726955/
http;//www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186727398/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186727969/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186728458/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186728928/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/186729300/
See Warren’s posting dated July 13 2005 for original 1927 images of the auditorium.