Columbia Cinema
2700 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
2700 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
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Built in 1913, this house was located on Broadway between 103rd and 104th Streets. Most of its life was showing second and third run double bills. In the late 60’s it went Spanish, sometimes English films with Spanish subtitles and eventually all Spanish language. In 1988 it was sold and given a mild renovation and the name changed to the Columbia.
With City Cinemas booking it, it opened “La Bamba” and then “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” exclusive on the west side. City Cinemas ran it for two years at which time many of the newer multiplexes had opened and upper and lower west side could play day and date. The last two years it was a $3 discount house, and once in a while would get a first run engagement and charge full price.
It closed in 1993 and became a Lucille Roberts gym. It has now been demolished.
Contributed by
RobertR
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
I believe this theatre was also known as Broadway Theatre and Nuevo Edison, in addition to the other names mentioned in the description and posts.
City Cinemas booked and operated the Columbia under a management agreement with the same owner as the D.W.Griffith, Nick and Justin (although Justin had passed away) in an effort to increase their number of screens and leverage with the studios. The place was a dump, all I remember is it had a hideous yellow wall in the lobby, and the auditorium floor was made of wood. They didn’t have a 306 projectionist – a friend or relative of the owner ran the machines, and we never heard from the union. The ushers were kept busy chasing the rats and hitting them with brooms. After a short time City Cinemas realized what a disaster the place was and got out. It was then converted into a Woolworth store.
I have a lot of pictures of this theatre before and after the renovations (including the yellow wall). When I locate them I will post them.
Here’s a 1985 ad from the Spanish language publication El Diario:
El Carro de la Muerte 9/20/85
The paper also ran a neighborhood movie guide catered to its Spanish speaking and bilingual readers:
Cartelera Cinematografica 9/20/85
Both clippings list the theater as “Nuevo Edison”.
Advertised as the Broadway Photoplay in 1919.
I finally dug out and scanned some pics of the Columbia from a night it hosted a live bodybuilding show.
Marquee shot from across Broadway
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The outer lobby display cases
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Lobby
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The imortal yellow wall
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Auditorium
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I have opening night of La Bamba pics which i will scan and post when I locate them.
As the Edison.
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By the time that City Cinemas came on the scene it was too late to rescue this shabby theatre. Unlike its predecessor chain, Cinema 5, City Cinemas may not have had the inclination nor the resources to accomplish a substantial upgrade as Cineplex Odeon did when it acquired the Olympia. Even in its outer borough venues such as the Avenue U and the Tuxedo, Cinema 5 always ran a class act.
Street View shows that the Edison Theatre/Columbia Cinema has been demolished, and a high rise project has been built on its site. Compare the photo Al Alvarez linked to earlier.
I remember to going to see The Song of Bernadette (film)at this theater in the 1940s. The theater was just down from the Horn & Hardart Automat where my Mom worked.