RKO Jefferson Theatre
214 E. 14th Street,
New York,
NY
10003
214 E. 14th Street,
New York,
NY
10003
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 90 comments found
The Jefferson was probably the toughest house in Manhattan because it was adjacent to a very tough neighborhood, the Gashouse District. And its vaudeville attendance would have dwindled when thousands of people were evicted from their homes to make way for Stuyevsant Town beginning in 1945. The first resident in Stuy Town didn’t move in until 1947-1948.
The introduction needs correcting. The Jefferson first opened in 1913, not 1910. Please see my previous posts about the Jefferson dated 3/22/04 and 3/27/04.
From Nathan Silver’s “Lost New York”:
“(the Jefferson)…After it became linked to the big time Keith circuit in 1920, its players included The Marx Brothers, Mae West, Jack Benny & Fred Allen. ‘The Jefferson was considered the toughtest house in New York’ said George Burns in his book, "Gracie.” It was a movie house from the 30’s through 60’s and finally demolished in 1999."
bobmarshall
Iremember the huge fish tanks that were in the lobby (circa early 60s) and that I saw a live spook show with “Zacherley”
The Jefferson first opened on January 25, 1913, just two days after the uptown Hamilton. Both theatres were operated by B.S. Moss and Sol Brill: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/hamjeff.jpg
Here is a 1986 photo by Michael Putnam:
http://tinyurl.com/32l4o2
I remember passing by this place in the 80’s. It must be said that it did look like hell.
NY Times November 25, 1921
“BOY FIRES THEATRE TO SEE ENGINES RUN; Audience in East Fourteenth Street House Sits Through Blaze Without Knowing It. STARTED FLAMES TWICE First Failed to Burn, and He Climbed to Roof, Then Into Loft, for Second Attempt.
An audience was attending a continuous vaudeville and motion picture show in B.F. Keith’s Jefferson Theatre, at 214 East Fourteenth Street, and patrons were going in and out of the playhouse at 6:40 o'clock last night, when some one in the street saw wisps of smoke curling out of the windows on the third floor front".
Thanks John – wow- “Pinky”, quite a movie for its time
also noticed the Rangers/Bruins hockey game for 70 cents!!!
I think the cheapest seat now is $28!!!
Celebrate New Year’s Eve (1949) at RKO! Please note that the Jerfferson and several other theatres listed in the ad also had stage presentations:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/rkonye.jpg
A Moller organ Opus 2236 Size 3/14 was installed in the Jefferson Theater in 1917 at a cost of $4,000.
Here are several images, including the front and back cover of a 1931 programme:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3040_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3051_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3043_IMG.jpg
The Jefferson was Spanish speaking movie house in the 70’s.
I photographed it in 1976.
Go to http://drewcarolan.com and look under NewYork
There was an after hours type palce in the loft above the marquee in the late 80’s.
1952 saw a mass release of King King and the Leopard Man
View link
I posted that same question on the page for the Cosmo, these have yet to be identified.
Rob
RobertR: I notice in the above-linked ad that there is a San Juan Theatre in Manhattan, and a Puerto Rico Theatre in the Bx. They aren’t listed on this site (at least not under those names). Do you know where they were?
In 1974 the Jefferson was a Brandt house.
View link
I don’t re-call its name but that must be it. I started living in StuyTown around 1970 and I always re-call the place as being porno. It was a pretty sleazy block for years – its picked up quite a bit in recent years and I’m surprised the Millstein group hasn’t developed or sold the Jefferson site.
Are you talking about the Metropolitan?
Yep- there was a porno theatre there; it was knocked down at some point and there are now apartments; I assume it was once a legit place, probably had a name. And yes you are right – the SRO is gone, think it was called the Sahara.
You are not thinking of a porno theatre that was on the east side of Third Avenue between 14th & 15th Streets are you? I think there was one there. There was an SRO hotel on the northeast corner of 14th Street & Third Avenue that is also gone.
Property is owned by the Millstein family – real estate developers.
Place is an eyesore – surprised given the recent re-birth of Union Square and the NYU dorms nearby.
I vaguely recall another smaller theatre on the north side of 14th street, closer to 2nd avenue – anybody have any ideas?
Here’s a photo ( or two ) I took of the old Jefferson back in the 1980’s.
http://www.kilduffs.com/theatre_NYC_Jefferson1.jpg
http://www.kilduffs.com/theatre_NYC_Jefferson2.jpg
The Palladium was previously The Academy of Music.
This theatre sat empty for years and years. I always wondered what the story was. What was the name of the theatre where the Palladium Disco was?