There were at least four theatres in Eastern Ontario owned and operated by M. J. O’Brien’s Ottawa Valley Amusements. There are photos of of the one in Renfrew at this URL: View link
Here is a photo taken in January 1951 showing the Tivoli Theater, “Closed for Alterations” with marquee and vertical bearing name ‘BOWAER". The green trolley car, number 6158, is probably running on the Rte 41 Flatbush Avenue line which at this point near the end of its run is on Fulton Street. Trolleys would be gone a few months later but the BOWAER would reopen, once again as the Tivoli, the next year. View link 45
Once again Erik, thanks for the informative links and your insights on the Brooklyn Theater relating to the “1930” photograph. It would seem that the dating of the photo was an archivist’s error. Perhaps this old pre 1890 demolition photo appeared in a 1930 edition to illustrate some feature story in the “Eagle” on 24 November 1930.
Great pictures Warren !
Here is a lesser quality image from election night of 1928 showing part of the marquee as well as the Rialto vertical in the distance: View link
The crowd in the square is there to see the election results as hometown favorite Al Smith was defeated by Herbert Hoover.
In 1948-9 there was a greasy spoon restaurant,long and narrow, with a very high ceiling and brown wood fans slowly turning in the dimly lighted overhead, it was situated in the second storefront from car tracks under the ‘L" in think it was in a different building to that which is next to the 'L" in the current photo above.
It had a second and possibly a third floor with apartments from what I can recall. I would guess it dated from a time before 1930 by the furnishings. The long stone counter was on the side towards the station and tables were along the opposite wall and in the rear.
The trolleys were still running and it seemed to be frequented by motormen and shopmen from the carbarn.
The Suffolk Theater in Riverhead was constructed in the late 1930’s to show movies and was not set up for Vaudville. You may be thinking of the old Music Hall which has been restored or the long gone Riverhead Theater on west Main Street, that was located next to the corner bank, before it was torn down forty or more years ago. It may be that the Suffolk has been altered with a bigger stage, dressing rooms and necessary lighting and rigging, etc. since renovations began some years ago, but when I lasted saw a movie there before it closed, there was no facility for Vaudville.
At one time, until the mid 1930’s, its location was not far from the strand. At that time a major land fill operation was undertaken filling in an arm of Jamaica Bay and creating Marine Park. The theater, when built, was named for Nostrand Avenue which crossed King’s Highway near the site. This was Dutch territory before the Brits stole it and Van Nostrand was an old name in the new Kings County.
Regarding my above post, I should have made clear that the kitchens, sculleries, rest rooms, small dinning rooms and lounges would be in the basement areas, not in the theater.
The Kings has a very large orchestra, divided lengthwise about half way to the stage by a lateral aisle about 12 foot wide and brass railing.
All seating forward of this asile could be yanked and the floor leveled to the elevation at the foot of the stage area. A decorative brass plated grillwork could control movement with gates at the dividing point. This would still leave about 2300 seats with excellent sight lines to stage and screen.
The new area could be fitted with dance floor and tables and operated as a high tone catering hall for weddings, dinners, etc. The kitchens, service areas, and small dining rooms and lounges with modern rest rooms of adequete capacity and legal compliance could be placed there.
The rest of theater would be restored as built. It would serve as a magnet to lure business for the catering and also provide venue for live and film events when catering for civic and social events was not booked. The problem of drawing in people to this site is a matter of promotion and transportation.
Forget public transport. Limos and fancy bus delivery from secure parking areas within 30 minutes drive time is the way to go. A new trolley line from the old Sears parking areas would provide a means of short range transport from limited local parking resources, but cost would put this in phase 2 if operations are a success. A reproduction old time trolley based on 1920’s designs can be had for about $750,000.00 dollars. Track and overhead wire would run about $1,2000,000.
The above link is in error. There is a problem with the Brooklyn Public Library website throwing flyers and not recognizing their own search terms. I originally clicked on this actual link, the text I have cut from the search return page, “Hyde and Behman’s Theater [picture] : Hyde and Behman’s Theater [picture]” while searching through a group of returns provided by use of their search facility. It displayed photo but URL was for another theater when I copied it out to post above. When I ran their own search term to get back there it came up with “not found”. There is such a photo somewhere on the BPL web site.
There is another Brooklyn Theater cited by the Brooklyn Eagle in the form of a photo dated Nov 24 1930 near the intersection of Johnston St and Washington Street. The marquee reads “HR Jacobs Brooklyn Theater”. The building appears quite old for that time, perhaps dating to the 1870’s. It can be viewed at the Brooklyn Public Library web site. It is classified as a movie theater in the description although obviously it was a legit house at one time.
Here is a 1947 photo showing the vertical. It would appear that the theater may have received a moderne style make over sometime in the late 1930’s. View link
There were at least four theatres in Eastern Ontario owned and operated by M. J. O’Brien’s Ottawa Valley Amusements. There are photos of of the one in Renfrew at this URL:
View link
Here is a photo taken in January 1951 showing the Tivoli Theater, “Closed for Alterations” with marquee and vertical bearing name ‘BOWAER". The green trolley car, number 6158, is probably running on the Rte 41 Flatbush Avenue line which at this point near the end of its run is on Fulton Street. Trolleys would be gone a few months later but the BOWAER would reopen, once again as the Tivoli, the next year.
View link 45
1942 view of Tivoli after “L” structure was torn down.
View link
This theater was closed and gutted in the early 1930’s. Here is a photo of it after it had been gutted on 26 february 1932:
View link
Here is a photo from October 26, 1921 of the Triangle on Frankstown Avenue,in line of Broad Street Down to Station Street.
View link
Thanks Ed for the informative update.
Once again Erik, thanks for the informative links and your insights on the Brooklyn Theater relating to the “1930” photograph. It would seem that the dating of the photo was an archivist’s error. Perhaps this old pre 1890 demolition photo appeared in a 1930 edition to illustrate some feature story in the “Eagle” on 24 November 1930.
Thank you Erik for the additional information and links on the Montauk.
Have you come upon any information regarding the “HR Jacobs Brooklyn Theater” mentioned above ?
Photo February 1929 “Broadway Melody” at Astor:
View link
Great pictures Warren !
Here is a lesser quality image from election night of 1928 showing part of the marquee as well as the Rialto vertical in the distance:
View link
The crowd in the square is there to see the election results as hometown favorite Al Smith was defeated by Herbert Hoover.
Here is a 1923 photo of the Times Sqaure area showing several theaters.
View link
In 1948-9 there was a greasy spoon restaurant,long and narrow, with a very high ceiling and brown wood fans slowly turning in the dimly lighted overhead, it was situated in the second storefront from car tracks under the ‘L" in think it was in a different building to that which is next to the 'L" in the current photo above.
It had a second and possibly a third floor with apartments from what I can recall. I would guess it dated from a time before 1930 by the furnishings. The long stone counter was on the side towards the station and tables were along the opposite wall and in the rear.
The trolleys were still running and it seemed to be frequented by motormen and shopmen from the carbarn.
The Suffolk Theater in Riverhead was constructed in the late 1930’s to show movies and was not set up for Vaudville. You may be thinking of the old Music Hall which has been restored or the long gone Riverhead Theater on west Main Street, that was located next to the corner bank, before it was torn down forty or more years ago. It may be that the Suffolk has been altered with a bigger stage, dressing rooms and necessary lighting and rigging, etc. since renovations began some years ago, but when I lasted saw a movie there before it closed, there was no facility for Vaudville.
At one time, until the mid 1930’s, its location was not far from the strand. At that time a major land fill operation was undertaken filling in an arm of Jamaica Bay and creating Marine Park. The theater, when built, was named for Nostrand Avenue which crossed King’s Highway near the site. This was Dutch territory before the Brits stole it and Van Nostrand was an old name in the new Kings County.
Regarding my above post, I should have made clear that the kitchens, sculleries, rest rooms, small dinning rooms and lounges would be in the basement areas, not in the theater.
The Kings has a very large orchestra, divided lengthwise about half way to the stage by a lateral aisle about 12 foot wide and brass railing.
All seating forward of this asile could be yanked and the floor leveled to the elevation at the foot of the stage area. A decorative brass plated grillwork could control movement with gates at the dividing point. This would still leave about 2300 seats with excellent sight lines to stage and screen.
The new area could be fitted with dance floor and tables and operated as a high tone catering hall for weddings, dinners, etc. The kitchens, service areas, and small dining rooms and lounges with modern rest rooms of adequete capacity and legal compliance could be placed there.
The rest of theater would be restored as built. It would serve as a magnet to lure business for the catering and also provide venue for live and film events when catering for civic and social events was not booked. The problem of drawing in people to this site is a matter of promotion and transportation.
Forget public transport. Limos and fancy bus delivery from secure parking areas within 30 minutes drive time is the way to go. A new trolley line from the old Sears parking areas would provide a means of short range transport from limited local parking resources, but cost would put this in phase 2 if operations are a success. A reproduction old time trolley based on 1920’s designs can be had for about $750,000.00 dollars. Track and overhead wire would run about $1,2000,000.
This link is to a photo taken under the Bridge showing bills for the Loew’s Delancey Theater circa 1917:
http://www.shorpy.com/node/3308?size=_original
Thanks Joe, I appreciate your help in getting the link right.
The above link is in error. There is a problem with the Brooklyn Public Library website throwing flyers and not recognizing their own search terms. I originally clicked on this actual link, the text I have cut from the search return page, “Hyde and Behman’s Theater [picture] : Hyde and Behman’s Theater [picture]” while searching through a group of returns provided by use of their search facility. It displayed photo but URL was for another theater when I copied it out to post above. When I ran their own search term to get back there it came up with “not found”. There is such a photo somewhere on the BPL web site.
Here is a link to a photo of the original Adams St facade of the Hyde & Behman’s circa 1902:
View link
There is another Brooklyn Theater cited by the Brooklyn Eagle in the form of a photo dated Nov 24 1930 near the intersection of Johnston St and Washington Street. The marquee reads “HR Jacobs Brooklyn Theater”. The building appears quite old for that time, perhaps dating to the 1870’s. It can be viewed at the Brooklyn Public Library web site. It is classified as a movie theater in the description although obviously it was a legit house at one time.
Sorry, unable to correct wrong URL for both above entries.
Sorry for the last posting which shows the New Granada. Enright 1951 photo is here:
View link
An April 24, 1951 view of the Enright View link
Here is a 1947 photo showing the vertical. It would appear that the theater may have received a moderne style make over sometime in the late 1930’s.
View link