by Geoff Cobb 
It is almost inconceivable today, but in the 1920s Greenpoint had as many as eight Vaudeville theaters. Some of the buildings still survive, but with other uses.
In the days before most homes had a radio, Vaudeville theaters provided cheap non-stop entertainment with shows lasting for up to 15-hour stretches. In those days families were often larger in size with people crammed into their tiny dwellings…
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Thank you for this wonderful piece. I went to the RKO and the Meserole as a child, but didn’t know about the others.
Congratulations and thank you Mr Geoff Cobb
I’m a former Greenpoint resident born and raised
on Russell street, hung out in Winthrop park and McCarron park before refurbished pool.
This story I found very interesting Greenpoint vaudeville past and all the theaters the ones before my time ,thank you again.
I found a handful of flyers for RKO Greenpoint under some flooring I was pulling up in my house. Made me curious and your article was interesting reading. I grew up here and didn’t know about Greenpoint’s vaudeville history. Thank you.
Was reading the story of Greenpoint and saw your name in the comments. Are you Anthony Bukowski that lived on Manhstten Ave near Green St. My name is John Sehn. If that means anything to you please text me at [email protected]
Join the Meserole Theater Group started by John Altyn who is trying right now to save the Meserole Theater! Support the group!!!!!
Sad to report the Meserole didn’t survive despite everyone’s attempts to save it. It’s currently being torn down to make way for more unnecessary housing.
As a child, the Nassau was around the corner from me and I often went to kiddie matinees. I loved the room as the films were grittier than those shown at the meserole. The riot showed film from rko, Warner and twentieth century fox
The mesole had family films from mgm which seemed flimsy to me. I went to the American to see. The country girl, the night that grace kelly won the Oscar for this film. The Winthrop showed films that had had thier runs at other theaters in green point so I did not go often to the Winthrop’s. As a child I often went to two movies a week. Now I live in San Francisco and most of the movie theaters have shut down. I only can walk to one theater. The opera plaza cinema. I grew to movies at those old theaters in greenpoint