Grimaldi’s Adds Cinema Flare to Surf Ave.

We visited Grimaldi’s Pizza of Surf ave. recently to check out the black and white films of old Coney projecting on it’s walls. It made us think of the Coney Island Bowery of the early 20th century, where some of the first commercially viewed moving pictures were presented to the general public. There was no charge for admission as long as you had enough change jingling in your pockets to order a few mugs of ale.

Known for their world renowned Brooklyn pizza, the owners at Grimaldi’s really know how to capture the attention of the passerby. Two years ago the Dreamland Bell, discovered by diver Gene Ritter was on display near the front window of the restaurant.

Recently they have been showing the 60% accurate but awe inspiring 1991 Coney Island documentary by Ric Burns. We suggested quite a few other Coney Island films such as Morris Engel’s The Little Fugitive and the 1917 Buster Keaton/ Fatty Arbuckle silent film simply called Coney Island.  Of course anything by the Marx Brothers who performed their first show with brother Harpo at Coney Island’s Henderson Vaudeville Theater back in June of 1908 would suffice.

So let’s go check out what’s playing at Grimaldi’s. Admission is free; however, we may have to buy a pizza pie.