Hyperion Theatre

I totally disagree, and think these historical contexts of the neighborhoods of the theaters are wonderful. Of course, they could also be put on the other link, but to respond to all these superb, not to mention time-consuming, reflections, as if the neighborhoods as they’d evolved over the years did not shed even more light on the theaters which were located in them, is quite ungrateful and pedantic in the worst sense.

You are a pretty good scholar and collector of memorabilia, Warren, but you are often unnecessarily controlling. In this case, where the material is not even wounding to the Puritan consciousness we’ve seen elsewhere, it is totally misplaced, and I, for one, thoroughly loved coronainmymindseye’s memories of Corona. In fact, I am going to print them out and go out there and see what I can see there. For those who want to look at certain old remaining structures, including theaters in Manhattan, the ‘Songlines’ sites for individual streets can be easily accessed—that’s how I discovered the real Tin Pan Alley on 28th between Broadway and 6th, and I’m sure that this horribly OFF-TOPIC notation can be remedied by looking at the Songlines for 42nd Street, which will have THEATERS, even if they have other OFF-TOPIC things on the very same streets!

Some more notable locations and business is Corona were, Contes Supermarket. There was Carvel ice cream, adjacent to the corona plaza train enterance, between national and 104 street, there was the shoe store on the corner of 41st avenue and national street that had the old film violas, where you put in a nickel and as you crank the handle the still pictures would create a moviing film, I don’t know the name of the aperatus but I know it was fun and original. I remember the old supermarket call potash, it was a mega fruit and produce market which was cold and had chipped wood all spread scross the floor. It was on 42nd avenue directly across from the union evangelical church. There was clappers mens store and 103rd 3 stores from 39th avenue. Probably shared part of the lot of the old hyperion theatre with Angelos Pizzaria. Morris Mens shops was also right across the street. With the rosa blanca restaurant 2 stores down. Corona Hardware store right on the NW corner, and right across from the flower shop which was right on the NE corner were the hyperion theatre once was.

does anyone remember newfields on National and 42nd ave, Keyfood was next door. Newfields used to be called the 5 and 10. up 1 block and a half on 41 ave, there were two ialian deli, phils latacini and toms latacini, they sold all kinds of meats and had many types of fresh nuts outside. They would be lined up outside in barrels with burlap bags, we would try to pick at them and run as little kids but the owners would stabd outside with threatening stares, we’d only fake at the bags but never take anything, as the owners looked scary and mean. The delis were across and adjacent from the old union evangelical church, (Big Wooden White Church) The boys scouts used to be in the basement. In Linden park a big Neighborhood gangster called Dutch, was killed, by a sniper.

OK, the Sheer brothers were in fact Samuel and Dan Sheer.

Warren, thanks so much for the additional information. All of the children of Dan Sheer, the theater owner, have passed away and with them the stories of theater ownership. I believe the last of the theaters was sold in the mid 1950’s. If you find the ads from the LI Star-Journal I’d be very interested in viewing them. Thanks again.

The upper facade looks almost like it belongs to a fake studio back-lot set… All plywood and paint, held up by supporting two by fours behind it.

According to the Vincent Seyfried book we used for the FNY Corona page, there were several incarnations of the Hyperion Theater – it kept being moved, renamed, got new owners, etc. So we all may be correct about its location(s). Eddie, the hot dog guy, is supposedly still in business, although he sells out of a van now rather than a cart according to someone who wrote to me about the page.

Thanks, Warren. I spent my early childhood in Elmhurst and Corona, so it was an interesting read. In the section where they discuss Corona’s Theaters, however, they did leave out the UA theater that was located within the Lefrak City apartment complex on 99th Street – ironically, a theater (and development) that never seemed to want an association with Corona in the first place.

Anyway, speculation here as to the location of the Hyperion Theater seems to be a bit off the mark according to the forgotten-ny site. They depict the theater as being located on 103rd Street and 39th Avenue. That places the theater on the north side of Roosevelt Ave, rather than south of the old Loew’s Plaza near Linden Park.

Just to jog some old memories… any locals familiar with the old Linden Park when it had a public above ground swimming pool? I used to go to that pool when I was a kid in the early ‘70’s. They had these open cubbies for shoes and stuff and I recall one day after swimming I found that my sneakers had been heisted. I had to walk barefoot from the park (apologies to Neil Simon) all the way down 41st Ave back to my house on the other side of Junction Blvd. I can still remember looking down carefully at the sidewalk and street in front of me to avoid stepping on any gum, glass or other problematic objects. What a long walk that was. After that, I stuck to the big old Ederle public pool in Flushing Meadows Park.

There was also a guy who sold hotdogs out of a truck outside of Linden Park who we all called “Eddie Hots.” For years after we left the neighborhood, my mom would drive by the park and have me run out to get her a dog from Eddie – with mustard and those red onions. I wonder if anyone here remembers him.