Colonial Theatre

Joe Vogel on May 5, 2019 at 8:39 pm

The Theatre Historical Society’s card for the Colonial says the building was built in 1910, and was called the Bronx Lyceum in September that year. It had 299 seats, expanded to 494 by 1921, and was listed with 600 seats later. The original architect in 1910 was Robert Lyons. Alterations were made in 1915, with plans by architect Maximilian Zipkes.

Another THS card says that the name Bronx Lyceum was in use by a theater on Courtlandt Avenue near 154th Street in 1912, so this house might have become the Colonial by that year.

Other sources, including a 1929 article in indicate that the name Bronx Lyceum belonged to yet another theater, this one on 170th Street, in the 1920s.