Folly Theatre
15 Debevoise Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
15 Debevoise Street,
Brooklyn,
NY
11206
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 26 comments
A recent illustrated article about the Folly Theatre and its architectural importance can be found at the Brooklyn Public Library’s website. Click here
If comments are removed by members, the number in the “view all comments” field is automatically reduced. I found a page (I can’t remember which one it was now) that was displaying six comments, but had a “view all 12 comments” link at the top. Clicking on the link, the new page displayed only the same six comments that were on the first page. That has to be a technical issue.
It is likely, though, that the comment on the State Theatre in Tempe that I found in the Google cache but not on the CT page itself was one that had been removed by a member. Google’s cache usually lags a bit behind changes in the pages that have been cached. But probably not all of those comments have vanished entirely from the Internet. At least some of them are bound to have been preserved by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
Joe… Another consideration is that many comments and photos have been deleted by CT members themselves, as they “back themselves” out of CT existence. It seems that some members get so incensed over disagreements or perceived insults or slights, that they then go about systematically removing any traces of their contributions on the site. Most recently, a long time member here passed away, after having contributing over 4000 photos and a great many comments. It seems that, for reasons unknown, the entirety of that person’s photographic contributions were removed by a family member, and, last I knew, all of their comments to theater threads were being eliminated one by one. Sad, but true. I’m hoping that the instances to which you refer are mere technical glitches that can be corrected.
The default to open theaters when searching is a new feature of the site, and not in itself a bug. The introduction of that feature, and the division into theaters that are open, closed, etc., probably has something to do with the bugs that have turned up since the change was made, though. Changing a lot of code at once sometimes leads to unintended consequences. The comments, photos, and listings that have gone missing or don’t go where they should are still on the server. They just aren’t all being fetched properly when requested. I’m sure Patrick will be able to get the problem fixed once he returns from his holiday.
I noticed that when you try to search for name or zip code, you initially only get the “Open” theaters which basically involves only a small percentage of the places. Then, when you limit the search to “Closed” or “Demolished” the theaters that come up do not correspond to the category. For example, when I search for 11221 zip and “Closed” I still get theaters that are situated all over the place.
Hope this helps.
There are odd things going on with the site lately, Ed, but I hadn’t noticed this one until you pointed it out. It’s another thing for Ken to tell Patrick about. Have you noticed anything else?
I just noticed an omission at the top of the page. While both the Brooklyn Theatre Index and a previous comment made by Warren G. Harris indicate that the Folly was constructed by the firm of Dodge & Morrison, no reference to this on the page itself appears. Given the impressiveness of this long gone building, I think a little recognition is due. Hopefuly, the site administrator will agree.
In his comment of April 9, 2008, Warren identifies the architects of The Folly as the firm of Dodge & Morrison. The senior architect of this firm, Stephen Webster Dodge, is the subject of this brief biography in a 1908 book, “Flatbush of Today.”
The biography only mentions three theaters designed by the firm, all of them already attributed at Cinema Treasures. The firm’s junior partner, Robert Burns Morrison, didn’t have a biography in the book. Perhaps he didn’t live near Flatbush.
Thank you Bway and Warren for this terrific vintage picture. I just can’t believe that such a significant theater existed on this corner. I just have two additional comments to add:
When one reads – or re-reads – “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” – one can really think of The Folly as a place where the principal characters of this wonderful novel went to enjoy a silent film and/or a stage performance on a Saturday night. Perhaps Jimmy Nolan even performed here. This was clearly one of the crown jewels of the “Ghetto Street”.
It is interesting to think that the very stately Folly was situated just down the block from the far more mundane Lindy Theater. But I guess that’s how things were those days.
Photo above courtesty of Warren G Harris.
Here’s an old photo of the Folly Theater:
Click Here for Photo
In 1927 the Folly was listed by the Brooklyn Eagle as being at Graham Ave and Debevoise, seating 1975, being managed by H.H. Lipkowitz.
Hey guys, I think I may have discovered a new theater, The Deutsches Theater at 22 Grove St (Ridgewood I presume, by its name)
GERMAN REPERTORY THEATRE STARTED IN GROVE STREET
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Oct 16, 1927. pg. X3, 1 pgs
Abstract (Summary)
IN the little theatre in Grove Street, where not so long ago “The Manhatters” and “The Band Fox Follies” were doing their stuff, a German theatrical company is now definitely established. It is the Deutsches Theatre, 22 Grove Street, incorporated in the State of New York as the Erni Belian Theatre, Inc., with direction, casting and play selection all under the management of Miss Belian.
Guess Williamsburg was always not too desirable a neighborhood. But the Folly must have been important to be referenced in this robbery. Gotta give Mr Finkelstein a big ataboy.
JEWELER THWARTS THIEVES.; Holds One Robber, Though His Companions Fire at Him.
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Apr 7, 1912. pg. C4, 1 pgs
Abstract (Summary)
Harold Finkelstein, a jeweler at 39 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg, frustrated the attempt of three men to rob him at the point of their revolvers yesterday. Finkelstein’s shop is one block from the Folly Theatre, in the shopping district of Williamsburg. A young man entered the shop yesterday and handed the jeweler a silver watch, explaining that he wanted it repaired.
The Folly made 1st page news.
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Jan 7, 1929. pg. 1, 2 pgs
THUGS TERRIFY 2,500 IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; Eight Gunmen Raid Brooklyn Film House, Seize $2,500 and Shoot Way Out. A POLICEMAN IS WOUNDED Robber Also Believed Hit in Pistol Battle During Auto Chase—Car Is Found. Loot Safe of More Than $2,500. Six Thugs Advance on Theatre. THUGS TERRIFY 2,500 IN THEATRE HOLD-UP Six Policemen Speed to Aid. Cash Found in Riddled Auto. Car and License Tags Stolen.
Abstract (Summary)
One of the most daring hold-ups since Commissioner Whalen took command of the Police Department and declared war on gangsters and gunmen took place last night when the Fox Folly Theatre, at DeBevoise …
Thanx Joe S. That is a very cool trick. It is much better then buying a specialized program and it’s cheaper too. haha
I work with lots of pictures as a hobby and have done this extensively with various paint programs.Paint Shop Pro is an
excellent program to work with and there is much to learn through
online documentation.
Use the image copier in the acrobat reader and then paste the image
into Windows Paint program.Save it as a jpg.
In order to copy the image you’ll see a crosshair come up
when you click on copy image.
Just drag from the top left to the bottom right.It will then
be copied to the clipboard.
Warren, I would be curious to know if you are scanning these ads to get them onto photobucket. I have access to a newspaper archive website, but the pages are only in pdf format, which means I can’t upload them onto photobucket. I tried posting the pages directly on CT, but the links fail after an hour or so.
Warren recently posted on the Alba webpage a listing of Fox Brooklyn houses from Sept. 14, 1930. The Folly was not listed. Since it was listed in the 1931 FYDB, had it already been spun-off from Fox?
Any idea when the Folly actually closed? This question has come up in regard to another site, the Aster. I recall in the mid 50’s there being a Friendly Frost appliance store on the corner of Graham Ave & Debevoise St., a fairly modern looking (stark/plain) structure that would not have gone back to the turn of the century.
Warren, any chance you could re-post the above picture, as the link has expired. Thanks!
According to the Brooklyn Eagle the Folly was a Richard Hyde’s new
and magnificant Theater and it would open on October 14,1901.
The Manager of the Folly would be a Mr. Clarke who had worked for
Mr. Hyde a number of years.Many prominent folks would attend and
be well cared for by the management.A good orchestra had been engaged
and they would make the Folly the most popular Theater in Brooklyn.
The opening weeks bill would be Tom Lewis and Tim Ryan in a sketch
“Mixed Tenant’s” revised by Mr. W.J.Hyde;the Three Mortons,Sam,Clara
and Kate,favorite dancers George Felix and Lydia Barry in the sketch
“The Vaudeville”.
Jackie Gleason was from the Bedford section (I photographed his old house on Chauncey street). The name Bedford Stuyvesant stuck in the 1920’s or 30’s. He would come back to visit from time time, many people remember him coming back to play Pool (There was pool hall on Broadway, a couple blocks from the RKO Bushwick). He would also visit his old buddy who worked at 81st precinct (across the street from the old Empire).
That’s what I like about Cinema Treasures, some people take everything that is written so personally as if one can’t make a statement without always being corrected or attacked.
Actually, it was his second, the Comedy Theatre was his first at 194 Grand Street. It was a former 1850’s “speakeasy” that had fallen into ruins by 1903. The Folly, his second undertaking, was leased to William Fox at first and then sold to him, I believe. The Comedy which became the Metro in 1937 lasted until 1953. The Comedy opened in 1918 or thereabouts, closed in 1929. It remained closed until 1937.