Prospect Hotel, Surf Avenue, Coney Island

The January 1909 New York Times article places the number of store shows in New York City at 560. The early trade publication, Moving Picture World, offers a total of 300 to 400 for 1908. While Trow's Business Directory lists 123 movie exhibitions, not counting vaudeville or legit theatres.

Exact numbers of early store shows can be very difficult. Space was rented in an existing building, owners did not always advertise and in some cases theatres may not have had a name.

Also adding to the confusion of numbers in New York City was Brooklyn's popular resort Coney Island.

The Kansas City Star reported in 1905 that "of the hundred (Coney Island) halls of beer and smoke with stage performances half are run this season with motion pictures."

Movies seemed to be everywhere at Coney Island. All along the Bowery were small movie exhibitions with only cloth curtains separating them from the noisy midway. Many of the cafes and hotels had their own picture shows.

World Theatre

Two photos survive of the World Theatre in operation somewhere in Williamsburg, Brooklyn during the years of 1912 & 13. It is not listed in any directory and its exact location has proven elusive.