Riverside Theatre
2561 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
2561 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
5 people
favorited this theater
The Riverside Theatre was built for the Shubert Brothers in 1912, along with the next-door Riviera, which has another theater in the same building called the Japanese Gardens. All three theaters were designed by Thomas W. Lamb. The Riverside Theatre could seat 1710. It, along with the Riviera Theatre, was part of the so-called “Subway Circuit” of legitimate houses in its earlier years.
In its later years, the Riverside Theatre (and Riviera Theatre) were part of the Skouras Theaters Corp. chain and later United Artists chain. All three theatres have long ago been razed, and an apartment tower sits on the site today.
Contributed by
Jean
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Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
I know two different people who rehearsed two different shows in the former Japanese Gardens. The first show was rehearsed around 1960. The second show was either Bubblin' Brown Sugar or Eubie. The latter show could have been in there after Riverside was demolished.
I believe a glimpse of the Riviera and Riverside marquees can be seen in the 1962 version of “The Manchurian Candidate” as Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh take a taxi ride home from the police station.
Can anyone confirm it was these two theatres?
You are correct sir as I have gone frame by frame with the DVD.
Thanks! Those marquee shots of these theatres seem to be rare.
Check out “The Seven Ups” with Roy Scheider (I think that is how you spell his name). Great car chase, French Connection /Bullit good.
Although the Riverside did have a long run of “American Graffiti”, it was still open after that and was showing a double feature of “The Super Cops” and “White Lightning” in May of 1974, which may have been the last bookings.
Here are two small photos depicting the Riverside and Riviera theaters, featured in an ad for the builder, Libman Contracting Company, from the Year book of the Architectural League of New York, 1914.
Thank You so much for posting this. As you can see from the above postings, I am more than obsessed with The Riverside and The Riviera.
Thank you Joe. These images appear to be rare.
The mural above the proscenium appeared to be Christopher Columbus discovering “America”. There seemed to be that theme running through this house. A panel in the ceiling depicted Columbus taking his case to the King and Queen of Spain.