Central Theatre
790 Yonkers Avenue,
Yonkers,
NY
10704
790 Yonkers Avenue,
Yonkers,
NY
10704
2 people
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In 1948, the Central Theatre became the Trans-Lux Central. That ten-year agreement lapsed in January of 1957. After months of closure, Raceway Theatre Inc. took on the theatre relaunching it as the Central Theatre, to show art and foreign films that failed quickly. Finally, an independent operator rebranded the Central as a family-oriented movie house in September of 1957 and closed after a short unsuccessful run on February 1, 1958. In 1960, the city agreed to allow a plan that converted the Central to a bowling alley.
The Central theatre opened on May 14th, 1936 with “Petticoat Fever” and “Charlie Chan at the Circus”. Grand opening ad posted.
I believe I saw a film at this theater in the mid 1960’s. I remember the cartoon. It would have been about 1966-1967 I was 3 or 4 years old. It was probably turned in the bowling alley after that. Anyone know the date it was closed as a theater?
Two interior photos of the Central as it appeared on completion (or after a remodeling- the article doesn’t say) in 1936 are at the bottom of this page of Boxoffice, November 11, 1936. If the lobby and foyer were typical of the house, I’d say it was of Art Moderne design.
A May 15, 1937, Boxoffice item says that RKO had taken over the Central at Yonkers from Herman Sussman. A June 24, 1939, item says that RKO had dropped the Central and the house had been picked up by Harry Brandt. I believe Harry Brandt later controlled the Trans-Lux circuit.
The Paradise Lanes website says it’s been part of the community for 46 years. I remember going bowling there about 40 years ago. It was called Harness Lanes and the sign was posted on the old movie theater marquee.
As I little boy, what I mean, when I was a young boy, (I was tall for my age) about 8 to 10 yrs old, I attended this theater in the 1950s. What I remember is that on Saturday afternoons, they still showed serials (Zombies of the Stratisphere) and there were “matrons” who tried to keep the kids in line. I remember seeing a revival of “Gone with the Wind” here (for the first time) and a newer movie, “The High and the Mighty” too, but not much else, except that the theater was undistinguished architecturally and its CinemaScope screen was not very impressive, just a regular “wide screen” with the top masking pulled down a little which made the screen smaller. not bigger.
Designed by William I. Hohauser
who wants to go bowling with me.
I am dead serious here.
I am compelled to check this place out.
The Central is currently a bowling alley. A floor was built inside the auditorium creating two floors of bowling lanes. The projection booth area functions as a locker room.