RKO Bushwick Theatre
1396 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11221
1396 Broadway,
Brooklyn,
NY
11221
13 people
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Showing 176 - 200 of 418 comments
It is sad however that the interior could not be saved, according to previous posts, there are no interior remnants of the theater.
Thanks, John D. and Warren. Warren, your description of the RKO Bushwick’s lobby is about what I would have expected of such a large and beautiful theatre.
The fact that this “flat-ironed” like building site had its entrance at the top of the iron strongly implies that there just was not alot of space for a grand lobby. The glory of the Bushwick would occur as the lobby opened out to support the grand theater. But the available space for the lobby was quite sparse.
In short, the architect made brilliant use of the available space – but there was just so much space that was available.
Thanks for the details of the RKO Bushwick Theatre’s lobby, ebeach. I’m mildly surprised that such a large, grand-looking building did not have a very large lobby.
When I attended the RKO Bushwick in the late 40s I sort of remember that it did not have a very large lobby. And although the exterior of the building was lovely, the lobby was quite small compared to the Loew’s Gates. There was one marble (I think) staircase that was on the Howard Ave side of the lobby building. I think that there might have been a candy concession on the left side of the lobby. I do remember that you could go down that staircase and immediately exit through the front doors.
Thanks, John D. and Warren.
Great discussion.
Just wanted you to know that the Ridgewood Times/Times Newsweekly has just printed its 100th anniversary issue. It contains a treasure trove of old pictures of the Ridgewood, Bushwick, Glendale, Middle Village, etc. communities. Included therein are, of course, MANY pictures of the great movie houses – including the Bushwick – that once served the area. While the edition will probably go on line in a little while, many of the pictures might not be carried over. So, if you can, you really should take a trip to the old neighborhood to fetch a copy – and enjoy.
Yes, just like the Flatiron Building, that corner really gets in one’s face.
Turning the clock back to 1911, one has to guess that most of the real estate in this neighborhood was undeveloped. The architect of this beautiful building most likely surveyed many symmetrical lots that could have been built on, but chose this one. So some credit is due to take on the challenge of building a triangular venue of this magnitude. No wonder why it still stands today so tall and proud.
Panzer65, the unusual design perhaps resulted from the unusual shape of the block that the theater was designed to occupy.
Thanks Warren, as usual you always come through, it is interesting to see that the triangular design is sort of offset to the Howard ave. side, and there appears to be a large foyer type of room to the extreme left of the orchestra. Another peculiar fact is that because of the triangular design, the area behind the stage, which must be the dressing rooms, is vast,and not included in the diagram.
All in all, it is a very unusual design for a Vaudeville house, most likely, unique to other venues.
Thanks, Bway and Warren.
Actually, thinking about this a little more, it was probably the 3rd floor windows I looked into many times on the Broadway side. The 2nd floor part of those windows may or may not have been open to the lobby.
Yes. At least on the Broadway side, those large windows on the 2nd and third floors were rooms. They may have opened up over the lobby on the Howard Ave side, but don’t know.
Thanks, Bway. So, those rooms were not the interior lobby, but above the ceiling of the lobby.
As for the windows, I remember riding by on J trains, and looking in. The windows were all smashed on the Bway side, and you could look in. They were rooms. I don’t know what kind of rooms, but you could see plaster everywhere that had collapsed. of course, you could only get a quick glimpse inside as the trains went by.
Warren, I didn’t know that was that photo. I think that photo was emailed to me by JF Lundy some time ago (I really don’t remember). It came from some sort of a book, as the photo next to it was an exterior photo, with a description on the Bushwick. That photo is also linked above by “someone” some years ago.
Thanks, BrooklynJim. How many stories high was the inner lobby, and what did those large rectangular windows open onto inside ? How about that high circular “porthole” way up near the cornice on the rounded corner ?
Understood, Jim, about Gates & Bway circa 1961.
Perhaps a date at The Roxy in Manhattan would accomplish a second date Brooklyn Jim?
If I’m not mistaken, guys, there was a manager’s office on the 2nd floor above the lobby. Probably included a safe where the day’s receipts could be stored. Management staffers may have had their own restrooms on that floor, as well.
What a memory you have, Pete. ‘61 was my last trip (“Curse of the Werewolf”). You just didn’t bring a Saturday night date to Gates & Broadway in that era and hope to land a second one with her in the future.
You’re welcome, Panzer65. I’ve also privately questioned “BrooklynJim” about this, and am awaiting his answer. I think he said he was last to the RKO Bushwick in 1961.
Thanks Peter, I’m hoping to see another interior photo as well.
Thank you Lost Memory for the excellent interior photo.
I assume that the windows were for office space because of the regularity of the fenestration, like an office building. The offices were probably rentals and not connected with the theatre from the inside. This was a common concept for many theatre buildings.
Panzer65, I think the lobby was triangular, an isosceles right triangle, and the auditorium rectangular, with the long dimension parallel to Howard Avenue. ziggy, I don’t think there was ever any office space within.
The only interior photos I know of were provided by Bway, taken from his copy of the 1987 film “The Believers”, the end of which was filmed inside the RKO Bushwick Theatre. There is probably access to them somewhere on this thread. They show the inner lobby and the auditorium. There is also a photo of the interior available somewhere, taken shortly after the theater opened, taken from the balcony, looking down towards the proscenium arch, stage, and screen.