The Theatre reopened on March 10, 2010 and is currently a performing arts venue with a busy schedule. The first theatre on this site opened in 1736(!) The current building was built as the Planter’s Hotel in 1809, and rescured and converted into the Historic Dock Theatre in 1937. After renovations, it reopened in 1910. From the seating chart it appears to seat between 350 and 400.
Looks like Teatro ChuperAmigos is doing quite well!
The front facade is quite different from the historical photos because it looks like most of the original lobby was demolished at sometime, replaced with a recessed front and a nice courtyard in front.
Checked out Google. I don’t see anything that looks like a former theatre. There’s a large brick building that looks like a former fire station, and a couple small commercial buildings. Across the street is a parking lot.
I’ve walked through the building many times on shopping trips. It is colonial revival on the outside – the inside is a single level, simple ornate pillars down the sidewalls, the proscenium is still there (sealed off – but I don’t think there was a stagehouse.) From the floor tiles in the former lobby area I would say this has been retail since at least the early 1960s, perhaps back to late 1950s. It has been well maintained, all painted creamy white color; and you can still see the projection windows.
The theatre building was a former church converted to a movie palace. The exterior was gothic revival style, and I would assume the interior was as well. Sad that it operated for only four years before the fire.
From the Google street view, there is no hint of the building’s current use although it is clearly not boarded up. Some signs on the side indicate this may be currently used as a Union hall.
The Apollo is immediately adjacent to the now-closed Victoria Theatre, and half a block west of the site of the noiw demolished Harlem Opera House. As you enter the lobby of the Apollo, the auditorium is off to the right. Likewise as you enter the lobby of the Victoria, the auditorium is off to the left. As a result, the back sides of the respective stage houses back up against each other.
It would be great if the Victoria were also restored and incorporated into the Apollo Theatre complex.
ccording to the Google Maps, the Harlem Opera House’s address is a little bit down to the east from where the Apollo and Victoria are located. There is no sign of the building now- a modern building is on the site. The Apollo and Victoria are right next door to each other; in fact, the Apollo’s auditorium goes off to the right from the lobby, and the Victoria’s goes to the left, so the back of their respective stage houses are butting up against each other.
Accoring to an article in the Montreal Gazette this is not the original builkding – that was demolished and rebuilt some years ago – from the photos above, the current building appears to date from the early 1960s.
I’d like to see an interior photo but from what I’ve heard they were just conventional modern auditoriums sim,ilar to others of the era (seating capacities were approx. 750 and 650 respectively)
The Landsdowne just had a special movie screening on April 17 to kick off restoration efforts. They have already repaired the roof, reconnected the storm water drainage system, installed temporary lighting and a fire detection system, and removed obsolete mechanical equipment throughout the building. Preliminary architectural plans have been completed and planning work and rundraising efforts have commenced to conduct a restoration of the building.
The main facade of the building has a small entrance, a glass door – no sign indicating what’s in it, but the facade is recently repainted – nothing’s boarded up.
Interesting design – a long, narrow and low building – obviously all seating on one level – looks like it could have been a large ballroom originally – there are filled-in windows on the side.
From the 2010 google photos it looks like the building is again vacant. No church sigms in front, although the building is in good shape.
Some articles about the upcoming restoration by ACE Theatrical Group:
http://nyrej.com/38524
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Ace Theatrical Group’s website: www.acetheatricalgroup.com (just a stub at present)
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Older article:
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This is definitely the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx, with the picture reversed.
The Theatre reopened on March 10, 2010 and is currently a performing arts venue with a busy schedule. The first theatre on this site opened in 1736(!) The current building was built as the Planter’s Hotel in 1809, and rescured and converted into the Historic Dock Theatre in 1937. After renovations, it reopened in 1910. From the seating chart it appears to seat between 350 and 400.
Looks like Teatro ChuperAmigos is doing quite well!
The front facade is quite different from the historical photos because it looks like most of the original lobby was demolished at sometime, replaced with a recessed front and a nice courtyard in front.
I checked the google maps. The lobby portion is intact, now retail and restaurants, but the auditorium has been demolished and is now a parking lot.
Checked out Google. I don’t see anything that looks like a former theatre. There’s a large brick building that looks like a former fire station, and a couple small commercial buildings. Across the street is a parking lot.
I’ve walked through the building many times on shopping trips. It is colonial revival on the outside – the inside is a single level, simple ornate pillars down the sidewalls, the proscenium is still there (sealed off – but I don’t think there was a stagehouse.) From the floor tiles in the former lobby area I would say this has been retail since at least the early 1960s, perhaps back to late 1950s. It has been well maintained, all painted creamy white color; and you can still see the projection windows.
A direct link to one of the Staten island Advance articles from January (includes a video of the interior renovations)
View link
Link to Suffolk University’s Moern Theatre website:
http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/34286.html
The theatre building was a former church converted to a movie palace. The exterior was gothic revival style, and I would assume the interior was as well. Sad that it operated for only four years before the fire.
From the Google street view, there is no hint of the building’s current use although it is clearly not boarded up. Some signs on the side indicate this may be currently used as a Union hall.
The Apollo is immediately adjacent to the now-closed Victoria Theatre, and half a block west of the site of the noiw demolished Harlem Opera House. As you enter the lobby of the Apollo, the auditorium is off to the right. Likewise as you enter the lobby of the Victoria, the auditorium is off to the left. As a result, the back sides of the respective stage houses back up against each other.
It would be great if the Victoria were also restored and incorporated into the Apollo Theatre complex.
Checked Google Maps. Nothing there but acres of parking lots.
ccording to the Google Maps, the Harlem Opera House’s address is a little bit down to the east from where the Apollo and Victoria are located. There is no sign of the building now- a modern building is on the site. The Apollo and Victoria are right next door to each other; in fact, the Apollo’s auditorium goes off to the right from the lobby, and the Victoria’s goes to the left, so the back of their respective stage houses are butting up against each other.
The website in the preceding message has some excellent photo galleries with interior photos both then and now
Correct link to the 1908 photo:
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Accoring to an article in the Montreal Gazette this is not the original builkding – that was demolished and rebuilt some years ago – from the photos above, the current building appears to date from the early 1960s.
Here’s an exterior photo of the (now demolished) Chinese II and Chinese II auditoriums that were added in 1979:
View link
I’d like to see an interior photo but from what I’ve heard they were just conventional modern auditoriums sim,ilar to others of the era (seating capacities were approx. 750 and 650 respectively)
The Landsdowne just had a special movie screening on April 17 to kick off restoration efforts. They have already repaired the roof, reconnected the storm water drainage system, installed temporary lighting and a fire detection system, and removed obsolete mechanical equipment throughout the building. Preliminary architectural plans have been completed and planning work and rundraising efforts have commenced to conduct a restoration of the building.
The main facade of the building has a small entrance, a glass door – no sign indicating what’s in it, but the facade is recently repainted – nothing’s boarded up.
Looks like it was demolished a long time ago.
From Google views, this looks demolished.
Currently it is boarded up – somewhat deteriorated but I’ve seen worse.
Interesting design – a long, narrow and low building – obviously all seating on one level – looks like it could have been a large ballroom originally – there are filled-in windows on the side.
From the google street view, the auditorium building has no windows punched into the sides – perhaps some of the original interior still exists?