RKO Alhambra Theatre
2110 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard,
New York,
NY
10027
2110 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard,
New York,
NY
10027
2 people
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1952 marquee photo added, photo credit Gordon Parks.
My mother worked at the Alhambra in the box office from the mid-fifties until almost the time the theatre closed in the mid-sixties. Spent a lot of time there as a child. I remember that it used to have live shows, like vaudeville. I also remember when Ray Danton and Karen Steel came to the Alhambra to hype their new movie, “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond”. Lots of history in that building.
Jesse Brooks
So, “Cleopatra” not only nearly sunk Fox, but preceded the closing of the Alhambra, eh? In any event, the restaurant that we thought might have occupied part of the former theater space appears to have closed. I’m unable to determine online what, if anything, has taken its place. Also appears that the bowling alley is located on the 3rd floor of the building. Not sure if that exists in what would have been some of the theater space’s upper reaches.
The Alhambra disappeared from the RKO listings after a Thanksgiving 1964 run of “Cleopatra”
We purchased a framed tile as part of an auctioned box lot. It measures approx. 3" x 5". The tile itself is not marked. There is a label on the back of the frame from SLOANE & COMPANY, NO. 309 COLUMBUS AVENUE, NEW YORK***pictures and picture frames. “From the Alhambra” is written in pencil on the back near the label. We are wondering if it is a “momento” from the RKO Alhambra. Pictures are available if might assist with identification. Any thoughts?
On Friday January 26, 1962, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly-Joe DeRita) embarked on a three day promotional tour for their latest feature film, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. They were accompanied by “The Herculean Giant” (almost 8 foot tall Dave Ballard) and popular DJ Clay Cole, who was one of the stars of the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK.
On Friday January 26, they appeared at the RKO Alhambra at 10:25 PM.
“When (Ethel) Waters lived in Harlem she recalled that 125th street was still a ‘white boulevard’ and that the theatres on the street were segregated. ‘Colored people could only buy seats only in the peanut gallery in B.F. Keith’s Alhambra, and none at all in the other white show houses’. “
“Despite civil rights statues in northern cities that prevented racial segregation in theatres, the laws were rarely enforced and managers evaded the law. In 1905, two African Americans sued unsuccessfully when they were not permitted to buy tickets to New York’s Circle Theatre. On another occasion black patrons who obtained orchestra tickets were prevented from sitting in the white-reserved section when the manager broke the seats and ordered them to sit in the gallery. Racial segregation in the big-time venues as well as prejudice against black performers contrasted with the circuits’ publicity which celebrated vaudeville as a ‘democratic’ entertainment open to everyone.
from VAUDEVILLE WARS by ARTHUR FRANK WERTHEIM
Well, after a little more research… Though the Auditorium was projected to be finished in March 1903 (NY Times article, 9/19/1902), another article in “Architects and Builders Magazine” states that it was “nearing completion” in Jan. 1904. Another NY Times article (3/9/1905) reported that one of the partners who built the Auditorium was declaring bankruptcy, this after a 6-month strike halted work, and his partner’s subsequent suicide in May 1904; the article goes on to say that “there were no funds to continue the enterprise.” A further NY Times article (5/14/1905) announced the opening the next night (“for a Spring season”) of the Harlem Alhambra, noting that “it was started two years ago, but was not completed owing to a series of litigations whereby the work was held up for a long period.” Descriptions of the two theater include similar decorations, the presence of a rathskeller and other accommodations; so it would seems that the two are identical.
Just looking at the photos on the site Lost posted a few days back for the Pier 2110 Restaurant located in the Alhambra building, it looks as if the interior was completely gutted. Unless the restaurant occupies some space in the building other than the former theater area.
Intrigued by this question I dug through old binders and found a printout of the “Atlas of the City of New York”, 1906 edition, showing the location of the “Alhambra” at the southwest corner of 7th Avenue and 126th Street, which was the location of the Auditorium noted in the NY Times article. It was right next to the Harlem Opera House, which was also a McElfatrick design from 1889. I’ll keep checking to see if there is anything in print about the one becoming the other.
JeffryB; I believe they are different theatres. The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists the Auditorium Theatre, 80 W. 125th Street, New York. I can’t find it listed under this name on Cinema Treasures.
Is the Alhambra the same as the Harlem Auditorium? I have a drawing of the Auditorium by the McElfatricks that looks very much like the photo of the Alhambra posted by KenRoe.
This vintage postcard shows Seventh Avenue and the B.F. Keith’s Alhambra. It was mailed in 1916. The marquee says “Opens Labor Day, Sept. 1.” Since Labor Day occurred on September 1 in 1913, this image could be from that year.
Here is a July 2003 photograph of the former Alhambra Theatre in Harlem:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/142133303/
Matt: Jerry Lewis appeared at 27 RKO theatres over 2 days promoting his new film. I have the complete schedule, itinerary and photos.
Please disregard my earlier post. I see these theaters were all in the New York area and I guess he did do a day long promotional blitz.
Bob, why are you posting the same thing for many different theaters? I don’t think Jerry Lewis was able to clone himself and appear at 10 or so theaters on the same day.
To promote his new film “The Ladies Man,” Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 13, 1961.
The lobby is gone. I remember how beautiful it was as a teenager in the ‘60’s. With the re-birth of Harlem I hope there will be some real efforts but forth to restore the remaining (?) theatres/cinemas.
Old and solid is ALWAYS better than new and plastic.
It’s great to hear that the ballroom has been restored, but does anyone have any pictures, before or after? I passed by the other day and from a distance the building had an abandoned look. Does any remnant of the lobby exist?
“Rodan” on the RKO run
View link
isaw at least 10 m0vies here. but the one that stands out is no way out with richard widmark and sidney poiter.
The Alhambra had a seating capacity given as 1,435 in the 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook.
The theatre part of the Alhambra Theatre building is now in use as a Shrine Lodge. The upstairs ballroom re-opened in the summer of 2003.
The ballroom has been restored. I attended a function there recently and the restoration is beautiful.