Harlem Opera House
211 W. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10027
211 W. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10027
1 person
favorited this theater
Oscar Hammerstein I opened the Harlem Opera House in 1889, his first New York theater. It was designed by architect John B. McElfatrick, who designed numerous late-19th century theaters around New York and the country. Among those who performed on its stage during its early years included Edwin Booth, Lillian Russell and Sophie Tucker.
The Opera House was located on the same stretch of 125th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues as the Victoria Theatre and the Hurtig & Seamon’s Music Hall (after 1934 renamed the Apollo Theatre).
From around the turn of the 20th Century into the early-1920’s, the Harlem Opera House was part of the Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit. In 1922, it was taken over by Frank Schiffman, who previously operated the LaFayette Theatre on 135th Street, and who later took over the Apollo Theatre.
For many years the Opera House presented big name jazz acts on stage, and motion pictures on screen.
It closed long ago, and the building which once housed the Opera House has since been demolished.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 33 comments)
The 1930 Red Book Guide for Manhattan and the Bronx list the Harlem Opera as a Loew’s house.
In 1922, the Victoria is listed at 233 W.125th Street, seating 2463. Hurtig & Seamens New Theater seating 1863 is listed on W.125th near 8th Avenue.
My late grandfather, Harry Hinkel, grew up in a living area behind the old Harlem Opera House, sometime between 1904 (his birth year) and the 1920’s when he left New York. His mother ran a boarding house in the space, and his father was the opera house electrician. I have no evidence or photos of anything to back this up, only stories from my grandfather. It would be great to learn more about this! Thanks!
A Moller organ opus 1815 was installed in the Harlem Opera House in 1914 at a cost of $10,000.00.
Here’s a 1949 image, with signage for Loew’s Victoria and the Apollo in the background:
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Still listed as open in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook.
Still listed as open in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook and operated by Leo Brecher.
ccording to the Google Maps, the Harlem Opera House’s address is a little bit down to the east from where the Apollo and Victoria are located. There is no sign of the building now- a modern building is on the site. The Apollo and Victoria are right next door to each other; in fact, the Apollo’s auditorium goes off to the right from the lobby, and the Victoria’s goes to the left, so the back of their respective stage houses are butting up against each other.
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search harlem…proctor’s 125th, and harlem opera house among others…
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the marquee of the bowling alley after conversion