I grew up in Howard Beach in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and remember both the old and new Howard Theater. It probably dated back to the teens or twenties when Howard Beach boomed as a resort destination. The theater apparently was designed for live performances (perhaps vaudeville) as well as movies. The old Howard had a big metal marquee hanging over the sidewalk with sockets for hundreds of small lights, all long gone by my time. There was a wide lobby with a box office window on the far left-hand side. I think there was a balcony, but if so it was never open during my time. The proscenium area had curtains, the front edge of a stage, and a small orchestra pit.
A local family took over about 1957 and renovated the theater as the New Howard. The marquee was replaced with a more modern one set flush against the wall. The box office was moved to the center of the entrance area which was covered with pink and white tile that had a hint of Hollywood glitter in it. I don’t remember much of the interior renovations except for a new heating/air conditioning system. Some attempt was made to book films earlier in their release, but we still had to go to the Crossbay or Lefferts to catch a really new film (I remember going to the Lefferts for “Some Like it Hot†in 1959 and “Psycho†in 1960).
The Howard was a popular place for Saturday matinees, filled with boisterous kids patrolled by a licensed matron. The floor was always sticky with candy and the movie screen often blemished by projectiles. For all its faults, a local movie house such as this provided an essential element in the experience of growing up in America during that time.
I grew up in Howard Beach in the 1950’s and early 1960’s and remember both the old and new Howard Theater. It probably dated back to the teens or twenties when Howard Beach boomed as a resort destination. The theater apparently was designed for live performances (perhaps vaudeville) as well as movies. The old Howard had a big metal marquee hanging over the sidewalk with sockets for hundreds of small lights, all long gone by my time. There was a wide lobby with a box office window on the far left-hand side. I think there was a balcony, but if so it was never open during my time. The proscenium area had curtains, the front edge of a stage, and a small orchestra pit.
A local family took over about 1957 and renovated the theater as the New Howard. The marquee was replaced with a more modern one set flush against the wall. The box office was moved to the center of the entrance area which was covered with pink and white tile that had a hint of Hollywood glitter in it. I don’t remember much of the interior renovations except for a new heating/air conditioning system. Some attempt was made to book films earlier in their release, but we still had to go to the Crossbay or Lefferts to catch a really new film (I remember going to the Lefferts for “Some Like it Hot†in 1959 and “Psycho†in 1960).
The Howard was a popular place for Saturday matinees, filled with boisterous kids patrolled by a licensed matron. The floor was always sticky with candy and the movie screen often blemished by projectiles. For all its faults, a local movie house such as this provided an essential element in the experience of growing up in America during that time.