Bronx Theatre
436 East 149th Street,
Bronx,
NY
10455
436 East 149th Street,
Bronx,
NY
10455
1 person
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When first opened in August, 1913, the Bronx Opera House was considered the most beautiful theatre in the borough. The auditorium had two separate balconies, and was dominated by a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. The stage opening was 62 feet wide, but as far as I know, operas were never performed there. For many years, the theatre presented only vaudeville and plays, including a long run as part of the so-called “Subway Circuit”.
By the 1940’s, it had become a late-run movie house, with the name simplified to Bronx Theatre. The seating capacity was reduced to 1,400 by shutting down the top balcony. The theatre eventually fell victim to the overall decline of the South Bronx.
In the 1980’s, plans were announced to restore and re-open it as a performing arts center that would help to rejuvenate the area, but that has yet to happen. In 2004, the dilapidated auditorium was being used for a Spanish evangelical church. By late-2010, the church had moved out and the auditorium has been razed. Construction is underway to convert the front part of the building into a hotel.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Four photographs of the Bronx Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226186895/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226187423/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226188287/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/226188864/
THEATRE LOSES LICENSE; Bronx Movie House Where Girl Was Raped Is Closed
NY Times April 6, 1943
The license of the Bronx Opera House, has been suspended by License Commissioner Paul Moss. The manager of the theatre and seven youths are in custody in connection with the raping of a 17 year old worker in the theatre last month. Chief Assistant District Attorney Sylvester Ryan described the theatre as a rendezvous for degenerates and thugs.
8 SENTENCED FOR RAPE; Bronx Youths Denounced by Court for Attack in Theatre
NY Times June 8, 1943
Judge Harry Stackell sentenced eight youths in Bronx County Court yesterday to indeterminate terms in the reformatory for the rape of a 17-year-old girl on March 11 in the Bronx Opera House, a motion picture theatre. Six of the youths were convicted by a jury and two pleaded guilty during the trial.
Here is a photo of the Bronx Theater. It appears to be from the early 1970s.
The Bronx Theater can be seen in this undated photo.
Here is a new link for the undated photo.
Listed at 438 E. 149 in the 1960 yellow pages.
On a recent visit, we discovered that the office building seems to be in the process to be converted into an hotel. Unfortunately, the auditorium has just recently been demolished.
Wasn’t there another Bronx Theater at Melrose Avenue and East 151st Street that was opened by Keith in 1909? Does anyone know anything about this theater? I believe I located a 1909 article describing some of it’s interior decorations. (“Trenton Advances Ceramic Interests to Extent Never Before Approached in U.S.” in the Trenton Evening Times, Sept. 7, 1909, p. 1)
This building is indeed being converted in to 3 star boutique hotel. Complete details available at this link:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/manhattan-developer-hard-work-boutique-hotel-forgotten-south-bronx-opera-house-e-149th-st-article-1.1061219
Except for the facade, there doesn’t appear to be any of the interior left to save though the history of its former life will part of the interior decoration of the new hotel property.
Another loss.