Central Theatre
567 Melrose Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10455
567 Melrose Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10455
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The theatre was opened in 1909 by Percy Williams as the Bronx Theatre located at Third Avenue and 149th Street in the Bronx. It was said that the Bronx Theatre was modeled after the Paris Opera House. The lobby was finished with marble walls, elaborately tiled floors and a paneled ceiling with frescos of figures of literature, poetry, art and music.
According to the newspaper at the time the Bronx opened it stated that a complete view of the stage from any seat in the theatre. The aisles were described as much broader and more accomodating.
The theatre was sold to the RKO circuit in 1912. In 1915 it was known as the Miner’s in the Bronx and later when it was closed in 1947 it was known as the Central Theatre.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The correct address for the Central Tehatre was 567 Melrose, Bronx, NY.
The building at this location today houses a Cookies Department Store. My question is whether this is the old theatre building or a structure that replaced it. For pics, click here and go to bottom of page:
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Listed as the Central Theatre in the 1930 and 1941 editions of Film Daily Yearbook (the address is actually mispelt ‘Millrose & 150th St in both editions), it has a seating capacity listed as 1,200.
The 1943 edition of F.D.Y. has the correct address 567 Melrose Ave, Bronx but gives a seating capacity of 1,400. It is not listed in the 1950 edition that I have, giving credence to its closure date of c.1947
The current Cookies Department Store is using the basic outer wall fabric of the former Bronx Theater with a new facade.
The theatre was much larger than 600 seats, and about 1,400 originally. The capacity may have been later reduced by closing down balconies…RKO did not exist in 1914. In that year, Percy Williams sold the theatre to Keith’s, which operated it until 1917, when it became a burlesque house known as the Follies, according to the clippings file for the Bronx Theatre at the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library. In 1918, the name switched to Miner’s in the Bronx, and to America in 1929. The final name change to Central took place in 1931, when the theatre had a policy of a late-run double feature plus five acts of vaudeville, with four complete program changes per week. Since an economic Depression was going on, I doubt that policy lasted very long.
Early images as the Bronx Theatre:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bx01.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bx02.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bx03.jpg
The architect, as in the case of many theatres built by Percy Williams, was W.H. McElfatrick.
My great grandfather was a stagehand at the Miner’s theatre in 1918.
Could anyone tell me if there is a chance there would be employee records or where to find them?
Thanks, Joyce
Warren, – Can you tell me the source of the 3 pics of the Bronx Theatre?
Here is an illustrated article about the Bronx Theatre in the November, 1909, issue of the trade publication Architect’s and Builders' Magazine.
I went to a theater in the Bronx in 1947 to see a friend of my dad’s who was appearing there in vaudeville. Can anyone tell me which Bronx theaters had vaudeville at that time? Many thanks Dave Price