This is a view looking up New Dorp Lane towards the train tracks, if you look close, you can see the two striped railroad guards in the up position, this is way before the SIRT was put below ground level
Seats – 738
Opened – 1916
Closed – 1978
Owners – 1930 Leon Rosenblatt
1940 Rosenblatt-Welt Theaters
The Empire was built in 1916 and closed in 1978. It was also known as “Leo’s Empire” It was solely a motion picture theater. Two castle- like spires are located atop the theater.
It was completely renovated in 1940. They added air conditioning, a new stage, and a new marquee. It was later owned by Mrs. Emily Ellis of Manhattan. The Empire was always known for showing foreign films.
This theater was built and operated by a Mr. Henry Hyams Sr., a well-known auctioneer from State Street Brooklyn. He also built and operated the Park Theater in Stapleton as well as a theater in Brooklyn.
Before its demise, it resorted to showing adult films, much to the dislike of the neighboring residents.
Farrell Lumber has owned the building since 1978 and uses it for their supplies.
Seats – 600
Opened – 1936
Closed – 1958
Owners – Rosenblatt & Welt
From 1911 until 1935 this theater was known as The Park Theater.
When the Rex took over in 1936 and for its first eight years it offered live vaudeville shows and many silent movies. Between the end of the theater as ‘The Park’ and the beginning of the theater as ‘The Rex’ it spent a very short time named ‘The Little Mozart’, showing strictly German films.
This theater was operated strictly as a movie house. In the 1940’s they regularly showed double features. Between films many times they had held contests or had live stage acts, like a hypnotist or an astrologer.
The name of the theatre was changed to The Victory and was run by The Moses brothers untill it closed sometime in the early 60s.
The Victory had no air conditioning but placed large noisy fans in the back of the theater to help move the air around. After a few years of financial difficulties, the theater closed
Seats – 800
Opened – September 17, 1906
Closed – 1948
Owners – Moses & Johnson then Rosenblatt & Welt
The original structure was a small brewery operated by George Seltz, the founder of Constanz Brewery.
In 1896 the building was acquired by a German-American gymnastic group known as The Turners, thus the name “Turn Hall”
On September 17, 1906 the Richmond became the first legitimate theater on Staten Island.
It seated 800 patrons in its orchestra, balcony and box seats. It actually rivaled many a Manhattan stage. The first show was called “The Christian”. From 1906 to 1912 it hosted performances by stock companies. The best seats in the house could be had for just a dollar. This was such a hit that the Richmond Light and Railroad Company ran extra trolleys just to handle the overflow crowds.
For years the dramas in this theater thrived only to be replaced by the comic operas with works by many of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan being performed before the audience. In 1916, the firm of Moses and Johnson took over the operations of the theater and started showing the latest rage, “The Motion Picture” Later owners, Rosenblatt and Welt attracted children with the showing of many western movies. In the mid 1930 the Richmond was shut down for a while for renovations, then in the1940s was closed forever. The insides of the building was scraped for the war efforts and then in 1948 a huge three alarm fire ended the life of that building for good.
Well selected plays that draw a full house at every performance, of which there were six nights a week and a matinée each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The theater was tastefully decorated and well ventilated.
There was a new play each week. for photos of this and many more Staten Island Theaters go to my website
http://www.statenislandhistory.com/staten-island-theaters.html
Lyric theater is in the the 1927 edition of Film Daily Yearbook which lists it, but gives no seating capacity
In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. it has a seating capacity given as 350. for photos of this and many more Staten Island Movie Houses go to my website here http://www.statenislandhistory.com/staten-island-theaters.html
New Dorp Theater Ad from 1938
This is a view looking up New Dorp Lane towards the train tracks, if you look close, you can see the two striped railroad guards in the up position, this is way before the SIRT was put below ground level
New Dorp Theater 135 New Dorp Lane between 8th Street & South Railroad Avenue 1929
Seats – 738 Opened – 1916 Closed – 1978 Owners – 1930 Leon Rosenblatt
The Empire was built in 1916 and closed in 1978. It was also known as “Leo’s Empire” It was solely a motion picture theater. Two castle- like spires are located atop the theater. It was completely renovated in 1940. They added air conditioning, a new stage, and a new marquee. It was later owned by Mrs. Emily Ellis of Manhattan. The Empire was always known for showing foreign films. This theater was built and operated by a Mr. Henry Hyams Sr., a well-known auctioneer from State Street Brooklyn. He also built and operated the Park Theater in Stapleton as well as a theater in Brooklyn.
Before its demise, it resorted to showing adult films, much to the dislike of the neighboring residents.
Farrell Lumber has owned the building since 1978 and uses it for their supplies.
Empire Theater Ad July 23, 1918.jpg (1)
Seats – 600 Opened – 1936 Closed – 1958 Owners – Rosenblatt & Welt
From 1911 until 1935 this theater was known as The Park Theater. When the Rex took over in 1936 and for its first eight years it offered live vaudeville shows and many silent movies. Between the end of the theater as ‘The Park’ and the beginning of the theater as ‘The Rex’ it spent a very short time named ‘The Little Mozart’, showing strictly German films.
This theater was operated strictly as a movie house. In the 1940’s they regularly showed double features. Between films many times they had held contests or had live stage acts, like a hypnotist or an astrologer. The name of the theatre was changed to The Victory and was run by The Moses brothers untill it closed sometime in the early 60s. The Victory had no air conditioning but placed large noisy fans in the back of the theater to help move the air around. After a few years of financial difficulties, the theater closed
Seats – 800 Opened – September 17, 1906 Closed – 1948 Owners – Moses & Johnson then Rosenblatt & Welt
In 1896 the building was acquired by a German-American gymnastic group known as The Turners, thus the name “Turn Hall”
It seated 800 patrons in its orchestra, balcony and box seats. It actually rivaled many a Manhattan stage. The first show was called “The Christian”. From 1906 to 1912 it hosted performances by stock companies. The best seats in the house could be had for just a dollar. This was such a hit that the Richmond Light and Railroad Company ran extra trolleys just to handle the overflow crowds.
Well selected plays that draw a full house at every performance, of which there were six nights a week and a matinée each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The theater was tastefully decorated and well ventilated. There was a new play each week. for photos of this and many more Staten Island Theaters go to my website http://www.statenislandhistory.com/staten-island-theaters.html
Lyric theater is in the the 1927 edition of Film Daily Yearbook which lists it, but gives no seating capacity
In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. it has a seating capacity given as 350. for photos of this and many more Staten Island Movie Houses go to my website here http://www.statenislandhistory.com/staten-island-theaters.html