Harlem Opera House
211 W. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10027
211 W. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10027
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 32 comments found
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the marquee of the bowling alley after conversion
search harlem…proctor’s 125th, and harlem opera house among others…
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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.
Still listed as open in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook and operated by Leo Brecher.
Still listed as open in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook.
Here’s a 1949 image, with signage for Loew’s Victoria and the Apollo in the background:
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A Moller organ opus 1815 was installed in the Harlem Opera House in 1914 at a cost of $10,000.00.
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!
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.
Here’s a new link to an image described above on 7/31/05:
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This might be the same photo that Bryan linked to on Apr 27, 2004. That link no longer works.
Greetings,
Does anyone know where I can view that 1949 photograph of 125th Street that Bryan Krefft mentioned? I tried to view it through the link provided but was unable to. Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Here is a program for the Harlem Opera House from 1904. This is the text that goes with the program:
“Original date of March 14 on program is crossed out and changed to March 16, 1904. "Wednesday Evg.” is written in ink. F. Percival Stevens listed as stage director".
This website has a vintage photo of the Harlem Opera House. The photo is at the bottom of the page.
The Harlem Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. B. Lichtenstein is listed as the “sole prop.” Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The seating was : Orchestra: 553, Balcony: 402, Gallery: 600; total: 1,555 seats. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide x 36 feet high; the stage was 39 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor, had both electric and gas illumination, and had 10 members in the house orchestra.
Good grief, Warren.
Where do you get these great pics? You are the real treasure here!
Here’s an early image of the Harlem Opera House, by which time it had been taken over by Hurtig & Seamon from Oscar Hammerstein, the original owner. One auditorium (with center entrance) was the Music Hall, with vaudeville and burlesque. The other, at right, was a cinema:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3071_IMG.jpg
I recently caught The Pawnbroker (great movie, hadnt seen it before as I was too young when it came out) on TCM and there was a brief scene where Rod Steiger was walking down 125th St. It showed the Apollo and the Loew’s Victoria. Couldnt make out what was playing at the Apollo, but The L Shaped Room with Leslie Caron was on the Victoria marquee….
This is confusing because the original Hurtig and seamon was adjacent to the harlem opera house, according to 1906 postcard. when did the apollo move down the street, or is that just the offices next door to the HOH?
regency
thanks for all of the info on the harlem opera house.
The Harlem Opera House was further east than the Loew’s Victoria and not “right next door” to the Apollo. For proof of that, look at the photograph mentioned above in Bryan Krefft’s posting of April 27th, 2004. Click “here” to view it.
the Harlem Opera House was right next door to the Apollo. The Lowes Vicoria Building is a few doors down, and the building still remains. I believe the renovation is still in the works but on hold for some reason.
Euphrades, I think that you have the Harlem Opera House confused with the ex-Loew’s Victoria, which is just a few doors east of the Apollo on 125th Street. It was the Victoria, not the Harlem Opera House, that was supposed to be renovated by the Apollo management, but I believe that the project is now suspended, if not canceled.
I believe it is being incorporated into the renovations of the Apollo Theatre. You can contact Local Initiatives 212-455-9800 they are involved in the renovations and financing of the project.