City Line Cinema
1114 Liberty Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11208
1114 Liberty Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11208
7 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters, Meyer & Schneider
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: City Line Theatre, Earl Theatre
Nearby Theaters
This late-run “nabe” was situated near the Brooklyn-Queens border in the City Line district. Originally known as the City Line Theatre, which opened in 1921. From 1937 to 1970 it was known as the Earl Theatre. In 1972 it became the City Line Cinema and ended its days as an adult theatre, closing around 1979.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
The building is still there, looking as it does in the 2005 photo, though with a different crappy discount store as the occupant.
If the 1939 photo is the same building, the el would be the old Fulton Avenue line, and this portion would have been replaced by underground service in 1956. (The rest of the el from 80th-Hudson Street in Queens is still used by the “A” train.)
I remember going to the Earl on Saturdays in the early ‘60s. For 50 cents you could see two movies, cartoons and a race (they gave out tickets for the race, which was on film, and if your number won, you got a prize.)
I was born in Brooklyn in 1974…and have a VERY GOOD recollection of my mom taking me to see the 1979/Frank Langella version of DRACULA at this theater…so it surprises me to read they were showing XXX movies at this location because my only memories were standard Hollywood fare my mom used to take me maybe once every two weeks (then again, I was only 5 or 6…so my memory is very fuzzy??) I remember walking by the theater the day after the fire & seeing a little bit of the inside & thinking I saw a BODY fused to the seats…what a vivid & borderline “sick” imagination I had! I also recall being saddened as this was the ONLY theater within true walking distance from where I lived (corner of Belmont Ave. & Autumn Ave in Brooklyn)…my next closest one was the Crossbay UA in Queens!
I can also confirm an ‘Odd Lot’ 5-&-dime type store opened in the same location shortly after. My mom recently went back a fwe weeks ago (we live in Florida now) & states there is now a Modell’s in the same spot.
The Earl was located on Liberty Avenue in the area known as “City Line,” the borderline between Brooklyn and Queens. I was there with my father only once in 1964 to see an MGM double-feature of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and Elvis in “Viva Las Vegas.” The only thing I remember was that it was the smallest theater that I had ever seen. Since that time, I can only think of possibly 2 smaller theaters: The Trump in Brooklyn and the various auditoriums that make up the Film Forum in Manhattan. But boy, the Earl was small.
I went to the “City Line” in the 60’s and 70’s and remember it as the City Line it is amazing that it had two names. I remember taking the “12” bus to get to it. I also remember the pizza shop across the street. It’s a clothing store as I write it. It was a small place.
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I remember going there while my friend David’s mother went to the Bingo on Atlantic Avenue and Crescent. We then took the Atlantic Avenue Bus.
Thanks for that google link fatman…I think my mother got confused between the Crossbay UA (which is now a Modell’s) & the old location of the Earl (per my incorrect post above)…hitting ‘terrain’ is the EXACT location of where the theater once was…in fact, the building looks exactly the same & resembles a theater building. I see the ‘Musique’ music store that used to be across the street (Lincoln Ave) is no more…used to be my source for buying all those old-school Freestyle records growing up. :o(
The pizza place accross the street is where my friends and I used to hang out, and then go to boldocs bar down the block next to John’s bargain store on liberty and sheridan ave
I lived on 78 ST off 101st Avenue from 1956 thru 1976, went to PS64/JHS210/John Adams. As young teen me and my friends used to walk over to City Line and go to the Earl, John’s Bargain Store, etc. I remember the Earl showing cartoons, the races (which I won at least once) and 2 movies. I don’t remember it being itchy and scratchy. Remember Aldos, Meats & Treats, Bohacks and the A&P? I even walked to the Lindenwood Diner, besides to Woodhaven and Forest Park.
1978 as Cityline not the Earle http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4244/photos/12253
@Jorge, I bought most my records from from A- appliance on the northwest corner of Berriman and Pitkin on the other side of the corner of the Kinema theater. Then when TSS opened went there. I did buy maybe one or two Musique also.