Columbia Theatre
1324 Amsterdam Avenue,
New York,
NY
10027
1324 Amsterdam Avenue,
New York,
NY
10027
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This was listed as the Pershing Theatre in the 1926 and 1927 editions of Film Daily Yearbook. It was on the west side of Amsterdam Avenue between 125th Street and LaSalle (or 123rd Street).
In the 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it had been re-named Columbia Theatre, a name it retained until closing in the early 1950’s. The 1951 Film Daily Yearbook gives a seating count of 590. I believe it was demolished in around 1954.
I remember it from my childhood back in the early 1950’s when it played ‘family’ movies. I don’t remember it surviving the urban renewal around that time that built the projects on the south side of 125th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. I just remember going to the Saturday kids programs.
Contributed by
Lou Roque, Ken Roe, Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
A certificate of occupancy dated November 3, 1922 shows a motion picture theater located at 1324-1326 Amsterdam Avenue. Seating was 485 on the first floor and 113 in the balcony. The name of the architect appears to be Simeon D. Bioendrath. Its difficult to read the name.
The name of the architect is Simeon B. Eisendrath. Thanks to Bryan Krefft for deciphering the name.
Make that Simeon D. Eisendrath.
I wish my Grandparents were still with us so I could ask them about this theater. I remember my Grandfather used to play “448” for the daily lotto number because my Grandmother lived at 448 W. 125th Street in the late 1930’s when they were dating. That address was on the block between B'way and Amsterdam that was bulldozed to make way for the projects that also claimed this theater. I imagine they might have enjoyed a few dates at the Columbia.
A Robert-Morton theater organ was installed in the Pershing Theater in 1927.
The Pershing Theater was operating in 1921.
NY Times November 13, 1921
MOVIE AUDIENCE IN FRIGHT.; Basement Blaze Works Up Into Theatre in Amsterdam Avenue.
Fire in the cellar under the hardware store of Louis Weschsler, 1326 Amsterdam Avenue, seeped into the Pershing Moving Picture Theatre in the same building last night and threw the audience of 500 into a fright.
This 1947 photo comes courtesy of LIFE …
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According to the NYT, a man shot himself in the chest here in November 1929 which may have triggered the name change in order to escape the notoriety of the suicide.
I think the Life photo is the Columbia in Paducah, KY.