Grace Theatre
2 Whipple Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
2 Whipple Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
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Located on Whipple Street in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Originally opened as the White House Theatre in 1922. By the 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it is listed as the Grace Theatre. It was closed in 1937. It was demolished around 2020
This Grace Theatre should not be confused with another Grace Theatre located on Coney Island Avenue in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Was the entire interior reconfigured to move entrance?
OK folks, Here’s the answer to all the confusion above…..
There were indeed two different Grace Theatre’s in Brooklyn. The opening statement made by Phillip Goldberg now needs to be changed as the Whipple Street Grace Theater/White House Theater has now ‘taken over’ this page.
The ‘other’ Grace Theatre, 1830 Coney Island Avenue needs to be added as a ‘New Theatre’ and to have a page to itself. For the record I have it opening as the Grace Theatre in 1917. It is listed in the 1926 and 1927 editions of Film Daily Yearbook as the Miriam Theatre with a seating capacity of 479. In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. it has been re-named the Navarre Theatre with the same seating capacity. In the 1941 F.D.Y. it had been re-named yet again the to Fair Theatre with 420 seats(Closed). As Phillip stated, it has been in use for many years as a Youth Center.
Now back to the Grace Theater, 2 Whipple Street, Brooklyn…….
Here is another question about the Gracie Theater. Even though it closed during the depression, what is the building now? Could it still be a “movie theater in disguise.” I am sure it has no treasures left inside, but since Williamsburg needs a theater, it could be a good place to start.
Also, does anyone know about a new multiplex theater going up on Metropolitan ave somewhere in the Burg?
I used to attend the Community board 1 meetings because it was around the corner from my apartment so I called someone on the board whom I knew. He told me a movie theater will be opening on Metropolitan ave, but would not tell me exactly where but hinted it would be between the BQE and the water.
Does anyone know anything more. This is all I get out of him.
What’s the status of this theater? It’s listed as “open”, but I don’t believe that is the case. Also, is this the theater building seen in this street view?
View link
It is also a mystery to me how this building can still be listed as “Open”. In any event, the Brooklyb Theatre Index clearly notes a 1937 closing date, which seems about right.
Although the building should, for now, be listed as “Closed”, it will, in all probability, be demolished when and if the long delayed Broadway Triangle housing development plan ever gets off the ground. Given the degree of litigation that has, to date, plagued this project, the old Grace may be with us for quite a while.
The attached article in the Brownstoner blog provides an update regarding the long delayed Broadway Triangle project that I referenced above. The map included therein also clearly includes the old Grace Theatre site in the project area.
Hope the link works.
View link
Thanks, site manager, for such a prompt response.
Given the current non-residential nature of the surrounding community, it is hard to believe that a movie theater could have drawn an audience base to sustain itself. But far more people did live here in the past, since many of the current vacant and parking lots that dominate large portins of this area once suppported housing. This was an area that was especially devastated by the 1961 zoning ordinance, which pretty much wrote off any future residential development here. We have now come full circle and the Broadway Triangle plan will – whenever it gets off the ground – bring back housing to this community for the first time in over half a century. Who knows, perhaps a movie theater will follow!
Finally, I noticed that the Brooklyn Theatre Index stated that this building was once somewhat higher than the remaining ediface, with residential apartments situated on the second and third floor.
There is a building on Graham Avenue, it was Schetcters furniture. It looks like it was a movie theatre. It’s small so it was probably a very cheap place.
An article in a local blog indicates that the construction of a large seven story yeshiva is proposed to occur on this site. This has now become a very large and very orthodox Jewish community.
This building has Been DEMOLISHED - See Google Street View dated 2020…