Kent Theatre

The Kent Theatre was located at 190 E. 167th Street and it seated 599 people.

This small art-deco theatre off the Grand Concourse was built in the mid-1930s by the Consolidated Amusement Enterprises circuit, with Eugene DeRosa as architect. The Kent was twinned in 1985, but I don't know how long it operated after that.

Now a 99-cent store. To view a pic from 2001, click here and scroll half-way down:
http://kraybill.home.mindspring.com/44/44theatres.html

A circa-late 70s view of the Kent can be seen here, the second photo down.

The first movie I ever saw was at the Kent -- I think. I could be wrong, because I was only about 4 at the time, but I know the movie was "The Mouse That Roared" with Peter Sellers, and at the time we lived several blocks down the hill, off E. 167th St. And I know I did see other movies there, but I've forgotten what they were. The theater could be seen out of our sixth-floor apartment window. I have no recollection of the inside of the place, but after seeing the photos linked to above, I was brought right back to my childhood, and that distinctive narrow art deco facade.

A night view from 1938. Note the employee on a ladder at the front of the marquee, probably getting ready to change the lettering for the next program:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/kentbx.jpg

Recent photos of some former Bronx theaters including the Kent theater can be viewed on this website. Caption under the former Kent photo reads "The Star, aka. the Kent, on 167th Street near the Grand Concourse is now a 99¢ store". Was this theater ever named the Star theater?

As far as I know, the Kent opened as the Kent and closed as the Kent. There used to be a 900-seat theatre in the Bronx called the Star at 960 Southern Boulevard, according to the FDYB of 1931, which was well before the Kent was even built.

Very Cool photo's. Perhaps someone else knows about a Star theatre.

I believe that page at Forgotten NY was from several years ago. Kevin is usually pretty accurate, but he could have made a mistake. I'll e-mail him and see if he remembers where he got that Star info.

Thats a great idea Jeffrey. Thanks.

Here's a new link to a night view from 1938. The man on the ladder suggests that the marquee lettering was in the process of being changed:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/kentbx.jpg

This photo looks just like the 1938 photo posted above.

Perhaps it was copied from the one that I originally posted above nearly two years ago on 9/7/06 and changed to a new link on 4/28/08?

Google must had a very small budget for these photographers. Half the time they shoot directly into the sun, or they stand behind a bus that completely blocks the shot. Anyway, here are some photos from the site:
http://tinyurl.com/6a9xdc
http://tinyurl.com/658w3s

Another old pic
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=12&ProductID=30313

This is another photo from 1981.