7. The Berkshire Theater, Sunset Park
The Berkshire is also located in Sunset Park, not too far from Brooklyn’s oldest continually operating theater, Alpine Cinemas in Bay Ridge. Opened in 1926 on 8th Avenue between 60th and 59th Streets, the Berkshire played second-run films. It was owned by Interboro Circuit, Inc, a company that ran theaters across New York City, many of which you can still see today.
The Berkshire closed in the 1950s and in October 1955, became the new lodge of The Sons of Norway, a group founded in Brooklyn in 1923 to “promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway.” Today, the lower level is filled with retail shops and eateries, and a mosque occupies the upper floor.
8. The Coliseum Theater, Sunset Park
On 4th Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park you’ll find the small building of the former Coliseum Theater. Now occupied by a church, the theater opened in 1922. According to Cinema Treasures, the theater ran double features and then in the 1960s Spanish language films. In 1986, a new owner turned the theater into a quadruplex and showed first-run films. The theater closed in 1992 and was sold to Templo De La Alabanza (House of Praise), the current owners.
