Brooklyn Heights Cinema I & II
70 Henry Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
70 Henry Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11201
3 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Brooklyn Heights Cinema (Official)
Additional Info
Previous Names: Brooklyn Heights Cinema, Brooklyn Heights Pavilion Cinema
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 7, 2014 — Brooklyn Heights lives to see another day
- Jan 24, 2012 — Neighbors fight to protect Brooklyn Heights Cinema
The building originally housed a chicken slaughter house. The Brooklyn Heights Cinema opened in the 1960’s. This is a lovely little twin art house in a historic neighborhood. The Brooklyn Heights Cinema I & II screened a hand picked selection of art, foreign and independent titles.
It was closed August 27, 2014 and will relocate nearby.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan, aj mascena
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
Apparently, Brooklyn Heights Cinema will be saved. The landlord will be giving them a basement space in the new building. While I will miss the old space, which is charmingly small and quaint, I am glad the Cinema will be able to remain in business and hope the new space will work out for them.
Exterior and lobby photos from July 2010.
According to a number of newspaper and blog reports, the Brooklyn Heights Cinema will vacate this site soon – perhaps by the end of the month. The good news, however, is that the owner will relocate the theater to a site in nearby DUMBO. Since he will retain the current name, I guess we will call it “The Brooklyn Heights Cinema Now in DUMBO”!
Where is Dumbo?
First, DUMBO is NOT the place where elephants go to die! Instead, it is an area situated along Brooklyn’s waterfront, roughly between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges – hence DUMBO’s M and B. As has occurred in many other situations, the name was basically coined by the local real estate developers. Originally an artist loft community, DUMBO has become extremely gentrafied during the past decade.
Since it is only situated a short walk from the cinema’s present site, the new location should not inconvenience its current patrons – and will probably attract new moviegoers in its future community.
Went to one of the final screenings last night. A very bittersweet experience for me. I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences here, particularly a sold-out screening of True Grit a few years back where you could just tell that everyone in the audience just loved the film. Conversely, a screening of Drive wherein the already small audience of mostly older people rapidly dwindled with each increasing scene of graphic violence (not the usual fare for this place).
I am happy that Brooklyn Heights Cinema will soon have a new home but sad that one of the last independent neighborhood cinemas had to move at all. Places like this are a dying breed and they need our support. I loved this location a lot and won’t lie and say I wasn’t a little choked up when I left.
I believe the acronym Dumbo stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass.
I hate for any cinema to pass, but this did seem to have the smallest screens in town, and that includes the Quad and the Cinema Village…!
I was at the Quad last night and their screens are definitely smaller. Not sure about Cinema Village, haven’t been there in awhile but Brooklyn Heights screens were roughly the same size as Film Forum, maybe a little larger.
The quest to relocate the Brooklyn Heights Cinema appears to be over. An interview with the owner gives a nice history of the place but states that his aim to re-open has been dashed by NYC’s insane real estate costs:
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/82571
Hello fellow movie theater lovers,
I’m doing a project for my photojournalism class at NYU about closed down independent movie theaters in New York. I hope to gain information about people’s past experiences at these movie theaters, recollections of favorite memories or not so great experiences, perhaps economical insight, contacts with owners/managers, etc. On a larger level, I hope my project is able to show the significance of the role that these establishments play in our city and the importance of keeping them afloat.
If anyone would be willing to answer a few questions via email about your personal memories at the theater, please let me know! It could be as simple as recounting a favorite movie you remember seeing back when it was open. I would greatly appreciate your insight.
You can contact me at:
Thanks,
Gabi