Lafayette Theater
2227 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard,
New York,
NY
10027
2227 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard,
New York,
NY
10027
1 person
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The Lafayette Theater opened as a legitimate theater which also presented vaudeville. It stood on Seventh Avenue (now Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard) at 132nd Street in Harlem. It was one of the first theaters in New York City to de-segregate and allow African-American theatergoers to sit in orchestra seats instead of only in the balcony. Later, like so many other former live theaters, the Lafayette Theater switched to movies.
Around 1950 the Lafayette Theater was converted to a church. It is now home to the Williams CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal) church.
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Bryan & Ken
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The Lafayette is significant as the home of the Lafayette Players, the first black professional theater troupe in the country. Organized by Anita Bush, the troupe first performed at the Lafayette on Dec. 27, 1915 in a play titled “Across the Footlights.” The troupe had begun life a month earlier as the Anita Bush Players, performing at the Lincoln Theater, but soon moved to the Lafayette.
The five original members: Bush, Charles Gilpin, Carlotta Freeman, Andrew Bishop and Dooley Wilson (of ‘Casablanca’ fame). All of them went on to long careers in show business.
A favorite note about the players: In January 1916, they performed ‘The Octoroon" in which most of them performed in white face! It must have been an exciting experience for black audiences accustomed to seeing white minstrel performers in black face.
The House of Good Plays.
The play of the month – Cheating cheaters.
Click on images to expand them.
Here’s a 1930 ad when the Lafayette called itself “America’s Leading Colored Theatre.” Programs changed weekly, and consisted of a stage revue and movie. The next screen attraction would feature Stepin Fetchit, “Greatest Colored Star”:
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Looking for a copy of the Play Bill from the Lafayette Theater’s production of “Haiti” My late sister (Sugar Pie Nowlin) (nee:Beatrice Lewis) was in the chorus and took me to see the show.
We are in the process of doing a family history and this would be a treasured addition.
madam gary
You should try the NYPL’s Schomburg Center in Harlem and the Billy Rose Theatre Collection at Lincoln Center. If neither have it, you might be out of luck. Happy hunting!
View link great pic among others halfway down…
and the macbeth opening night pic
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http://www.bigapplejazz.com/tree_of_hope.htm
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According to James Trager’s book “The New York Chronology” the Lafayette Theater opened in November, 1912. It was designed by architect Victor Hugo Koehler. Only white patrons were admitted to the orchestra floor until August of 1913, when the Lafayette became the first New York City theater to integrate.
Incidentally, the Office for Metropolitan History’s Manhattan Database lists three theaters designed by Koehler that I’ve been unable to track down. They are: a 1902 project for a four story theater and loft building, 100x100, at the southeast corner of Grand and Chrystie; a 1913 two story movie theater, 41x90, at 11-13 W. 116th Street; and a one story movie theater, also 41x90, at 385-387 Third Avenue. Maybe somebody familiar with Manhattan will be able to identify these theaters.
Joe, The Grand Street theatre on Chrystie and Grand was operating in 1923. I have not entered it to CT as I can find nothing else about it.
The Grant/Jewel at 11 West 116th Street and the Argus/Regent at 385 Third Avenue are already identified as Koehler sites.