Hillside Theatre

I remember going to a burlesque show at the Hillside Theatre in the early sixties for a bachelor party thing,the comics were funny, so were the women (older). Also, I L O V E D the Nedick’s on the corner and my first fancy restaurant meal was at McGuinesses – I remember my mother ordered lobster (what the hell was lobster?) My First Communion suit was bought at Robert Hall’s across the street from the Hillside. Later on I would go to the DMV for my drivers license. And of course the Court House for Jury duty.

I spent years at this theatre starting in 1955 through early 1960s. I lived two blocks south of the LIRR station in Jamaica NY and my mother was a cashier at the Hillside for many years. I worked as a cashier through 1962 (just as the theatre was going out of business). It was a magnificent place with marble floors, staircases and crystal chandeliers hanging from a mezzanine ceiling that was 50 feet off the ground floor. I wish I had taken pictures, but …

In the late 50s there were many stage shows and because this theatre was located right under the Queens BMT Sutphin Blvd stop, it was very convenient. It was called the “Hillside” but Hillside Avenue was at least ½ mile away (and that’s where the IND E and F trains stopped. The theatre was also a short walk from the LIRR station on Archer Avenue.

Two popular shows were JEWEL BOX REVIEW and the MURRAY- the-K ROCK CONCERTS. Both ran in the late 50s, but I can’t give you specific dates. JEWEL BOX REVIEW was a transsexual show which I watched from the candy counter while I waited for my mother to get off work. This adult show featured male performers who were awesome, talented and mostly very feminine. It ran for a couple of weeks at least two years in a row.

Murray the K was a local disc jockey and hosted the two annual ROCK CONCERTS at the Hillside Theatre which included most of the popular mo-town singers and groups of the 50s. I was in junior high in the 50s but I remember Little Anthony and the Imperials and the Echoes who were my favorites back then. I stayed backstage for these performances and loved every minute.

The theatre itself was a gathering place for my family and friends during those years. There was a children’s section with its own usher and there was a balcony for smokers and there was a marble staircase that went all the way to the top level of the theatre to the projection booth. There was a trap door in the cashiers' booth that took you under the theatre to the back stage – but no one ever used it to my knowledge.

I would love to hear comments from anyone else who spent time at the theatre. Her sister theatre, the VALENCIA, was even more majestic – a mile down Jamaica Avenue around 160th Street. This was all before the elevated trains were demolished. Many, many years ago. Great memories. I

Great area! I remember the Robert Hall clothing store. As a kid it took forever to walk past it. Also the sports store, the take-out chinese restaurant, and the Nedicks. My brother and I would go, and for a buck we could pay for admission with enough left over for a box of ice cream bon bons. I saw “The Greatest Show on Earth” there and had dreams for weeks about the train hitting one of the circus cars. Also saw “The Wizard of Oz” there and was at first disappointed when it was in black and white, before it turned to color. Also Mondo Cane and one of those Smell-O-Rama films, where they cut into an orange, and had an Indian funeral pyre. In the 50’s there always seemed to be at least one fight after the rock and roll show. Amazing times!

Photo added

It should be noted that the Hillside was no longer operated by Loew’s by that time, and that the Loew’s name had been removed from signage and advertising/publicity. Yet Marzlock starts his article by incorrectly stating that Loew’s Hillside went burlesque in December 1965.