Hollywood Theatre
98 Avenue A,
New York,
NY
10009
98 Avenue A,
New York,
NY
10009
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 51 comments
Mayer & Schneider’s new Hollywood Theatre was the subject of an article in the left column of page 462 of The Moving Picture World for April 10, 1926. Scan at Internet Archive.
I managed to get into the Hollywood shortly before demolition. Check out a short post with some photos at After the Final Curtain
In this 1927 map the name seems to be Hollywood Theatre (admittedly it’s hard to make out), which confirms Judith’s comment that it was called that right from the beginning.
Here is a map from 1925, in which the buildings occupying the site look like a row of houses, so it seems unlikely a smaller theater preceded the Hollywood.
Yep, coming down, but doesn’t look like NYU hand….
More inside photos here
I agree with the idea that some of the interior stuff should be saved but the building is not well used.
This old treasure is coming down soon. Just saw scaffolding being put in front of it. Don’t know for sure but it’s GOT to be an NYU project. They are intent at destroying the history and feel and look of New York City, for their own profit. And they have the government, press, media, and every judge in their back pocket. They are the Vito Corleone of Universities.
Hey midnitewriter. Not sure what protocol is, but you should probably contact site administration for such permissions. Several email addresses to contact CT are listed here. I don’t think you’ll have any problems at all.
Hi, this comment is for Ed Solero or anyone else with knowledge of of this theatre. I’m a reporter for Ourtown, downtown and I’d like to include this space as part of a piece I’m writing on abandoned or forgotten buildings downtown. Please let me know. You can email me direct at: . Thanks!
I always have the same problem with that site, robboehm. You have to click on the box that says “Zoom” above the image. Once the new small picture window opens, just pan up, down, left or right as you zoom to see portions of the image. Unfortunately, there is no way that I’ve found to simply enlarge the entire picture on my computer screen.
The side panel on the marquee reads “Visit Loew’s Ave B and Commodore Theatres for the latest hits.” There are no titles advertised on the visible portions of the marquee, but the entrance doors below do appear to be open. I imagine the programming must have consisted of lesser end-of-run fare on double bills.
Why when I try to enlarge the image do I get a different image?
Ed, it worked! that’s the 1st time I’ve tried using these links.
here’s the link
xtinenyc…. Post the link as follows: Enter a word or phrase like “Here’s the link” in brackets and then paste the link between parentheses just like this – [Here’s the Link] (www.websiteaddress.com) except no space between the close bracket and the open parenthesis.
Here’s a picture looking south on Avenue A near 7th St…and a view of the theater. The NYPL digital library is amazing!
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=405661&imageID=715863f&total=35&num=0&word=east%207th&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&imgs=20&pos=14&e=w
http://weburbanist.com/2012/01/26/abandoned-hollywood-theater-hidden-above-new-york-bodega/
Is it worth saving? (And how much would that cost? How many years has the space been unkempt?) There are quite a few performing spaces in that neighborhood… could this compete?
I suggest rescuing what architectural details are worthwhile and move on.
I should add that it’s basically the same story and set of pics regurgitated on three different sites, but figured I’d make them more convenient to access, anyway.
Here are activated versions of some of those links from the last few days:
Death of a bodega
Another look inside
Huffington article
P.S. The theater can always be incorporated into a residential development above. The loss of the remaining ornate features would be detrimental. If the owner cares about his/her reputation, they will work with us.
Does anyone know the owner’s name? Maybe some of us can call for a meeting with the owner & the councilmember. Thoughts?
Just read this on Huffington
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/hollywood-theatre-abandoned-above-bodega-in-new-york_n_1232372.html?ref=new-york
Shots by a local photographer who got in there recently to take some photos before the theater’s impending destruction: http://aleceiffelphoto.tumblr.com/post/16444390776/death-of-a-bodega
Also an article http://evgrieve.com/2012/01/another-look-inside-east-village-farms.html#.TyAK1HaxahE.twitter
Sorry to report that I’ve just heard that the theater will not last much longer. The owner of the Korean Deli told me today that his store will close in February and that the owner plans to have the building torn down. A great loss as the interior is extraordinary.
Here’s the activated link. Nice set of images there, NYCer… thanks for the find! Looks like all the plaster work from about half-way up the proscenium down to the floor has been stripped out of the auditorium. But it does appear that everything from that point up is still in there, though sadly deteriorated. Too bad there are no shots of the balcony. Must have been a very handsome theater in it’s prime.
According to the blog EVGrieve, the building’s days are numbered. The grocery store is closing and building to be demolished. Some current photos of the interior included in this post: http://evgrieve.com/2012/01/inside-old-theater-at-east-village.html
What happened to the old picture of this theater? And how can I get a print of it?
According to the New York City tax assessor’s office, the building known as “98 Avenue A” was built in 1925. You can see the current owner’s name, too, which might help those of you who are seeking permission to photographically document the interior or the theater.
https://a836-propertyportal.nyc.gov/ExemptionDetails.aspx
It doesn’t seem likely, but still I wonder if when they built this theater in 1925, they incorporated some elements of a much older, smaller theater that stood on the site.
Building ID per NYC Dept. of Finance (tax assessor, etc.): BBL : 1-00402-0003 : “1” stands for Manhattan, “00402” means Block 402 (not 42), “0003” means Lot 3.