When I lived around the corner from the Berkshire in the early 50s, we went there most Saturday mornings, no matter what was playing.
In 1955 it was converted into The Sons of Norway Home, keeping its marquee. 8th Ave. then was known as “Labscouse Avenue” due to its heavy Norsk concentration. And the 17th of May Norwegian Independence Day parade along 8th Ave. would pass the Home every year as well.
After living in Manhattan for some 25 years, I’ve recently returned to the old neighborhood to find it’s the largest concentration of Chinese outside of Manhattan’s Chinatown. And the Bershire is now a mosque. I went inside to take in the grandeur of the space, and it’s still impressive. At least it’s not another “retail space.”
When I lived around the corner from the Berkshire in the early 50s, we went there most Saturday mornings, no matter what was playing.
In 1955 it was converted into The Sons of Norway Home, keeping its marquee. 8th Ave. then was known as “Labscouse Avenue” due to its heavy Norsk concentration. And the 17th of May Norwegian Independence Day parade along 8th Ave. would pass the Home every year as well.
After living in Manhattan for some 25 years, I’ve recently returned to the old neighborhood to find it’s the largest concentration of Chinese outside of Manhattan’s Chinatown. And the Bershire is now a mosque. I went inside to take in the grandeur of the space, and it’s still impressive. At least it’s not another “retail space.”