POTW: Coal on the Marquee

Michelle

Black and white photograph of a movie theater marquee over a sidewalk with three people walking further down the block.
[Albemarle Theatre], [1940?], gelatin silver print, THEA_0003; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History. 

Opening to the public in 1921, the Albemarle Theatre at 973 Flatbush Avenue was designed to feature both "photo-plays" and vaudeville acts. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle predicted the theater's nearly 3,000-person capacity and reasonable ticket prices would "...prove magnets for the lovers of nitra attractions", referring to nitrate film base.

The Eagle would be proved correct: the Albemarle would remain open until 1984.

Although this photograph isn't dated, we have some clues to when it falls in the Albemarle's 62-year career; the marquee states that Once Upon A Honeymoon (1942) and Time to Kill (1942) are showing. Additionally, a canvas banner below the marquee reads "This theatre is heated by coal". By 1942, the United States' entrance into World War II had slowed oil tankers reaching the Port of New York and much of the available oil was diverted to military uses. Some Brooklyn theaters advertised their coal heating to reassure customers that they would be kept warm during their movies.

Interested in seeing more photos from CBH’s collections? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images, or the digital collections portal at Brooklyn Public Library. We welcome appointments to research our entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections. Our reference staff is available to help with your research! You can reach us at cbhreference@bklynlibrary.org. 

 

This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.

 

MJ in BKLYN

Directly across Flatbush Avenue from Uncle Irv's 2nd Floor dental office. Somehow, we always had appointments on the first Thursday in June, a.k.a. "Brooklyn Day"...We watched the parade go by from the dental chair...then go to Hamburger Host for their medium-rare masterpieces. I walk around that neighborhood frequently...now mostly "Little Caribbean." Just a long block south of Church Avenue, the Albemarle Theatre is now a Haitian "Eglise"...after all, BKLYN is "the Borough of Churches."
Wed, Oct 23 2024 12:55 pm Permalink

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