Sunset Theater
4705 Fifth Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11220
4705 Fifth Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11220
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Anyone out there have a vintage photo of this theater?
The front of the building has been totally re-modeled, but looking around the rear, the original brickwork of the auditorium block still survives. Nothing remains to be seen inside and any features have either been removed or covered with a drop ceilings and panels.
Here is a photograph I took in June 2006 of the Sunset Theatre frontage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210921306/
Looking the the building today, it is incredible to believe that it still exists, but it does.
It is a very old building, which according to records had an alteration done to an existing building in 1902. In 1908 alterations were done and it opened as the Vaudeau Theatre in January 1908 whick was operated by the Bay Ridge Amusement Co. By 1910 until 1913 it had been renamed the Konigswald Gustave Theatre (Swedish for King Gustave). In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 it is listed as operating as the Sunset Theatre.
I would say that the C/O mentioned by lostmemory which was issued in 1926 for an an existing building, was possibly for an enlarged building with a new seating capacity.
The Sunset Theatre actually closed in 1951 and has been in use as a supermarket for many years.
There was another Interboro theater up the Avenue at 56th and Fifth called the Vanity. The Vanity and Sunset did not have air conditioning and in hot weather this was a factor which helped the Park.
There was a Park Theater on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway which was an RKO house for a while in the 1940’s.
In 1948 the Sunset at 47th and Fifth Ave and the Park at 44th and Fifth Ave were both Interboro Circuit houses.
If I’m not wrong, I thought the Sunset was across the street from Sunset Park, which would put it at the site of an eventual Bohack Supermarket between 43rs and 44th—-Now Zaza’s, that was some pizza, especially the Sicilian—-I heard that Rocky and Mike had opened a pizzeria in NJ after they sold ZaZa’s, but I never confirmed
I was born in 1948, and lived at 4413 5th Ave. until 1966. The “RKO Park” theater was on the corner of 44th and 5th.
Never heard of a “Sunset” theater. I hung out at ZaZa’s pizzeria on 47th and 5th. I would have noticed!
Well, I think I may be wrong on this one. I scanned your list of Brooklyn movie theaters, and there was a theater called the “Park”, which was exactly on 44th and 5th Avenue. That is my theater. Apparently there was a “Sunset” theater 3 blocks away on 47th and 5th earlier. I am reserching both with the assitance of the Grand Army Plaza Main Library in Brooklyn. Sorry for the mistake, I could have sworn it was the Sunset. GZ
There may have been another theater at 4705 5th Avenue (if so it pre-dates me), but it wasn’t the Sunset. I will try to get documentation to prove the point. I’ll try to get a photo from the Bay Ridge newspaper.
The Sunset Theatre seated 564 people.
I read Charles' comment. I don’t know exact address, but the theater was on the corner of 44th street and 5th Avenue, directly opposite Sunset Park, my home away from home. Consequently, his address can’t be correct, since it would put it on 5th Avenue between 47th and 48th. Thanks. GZ
One correction. The Sunset Theater closed in 1965. The last movie shown was “Baby, The Rain Must Fall” starring Steve McQueen. I was disappointed because I had just moved into the area when it was closing.
I drove past it the other day, and the site appears now is home for a C-Town Supermarket. By the looks of it, the theater building appears to have been demolished and the modern one-story supermarket now stands in its place.