My uncle was Jerry DeRosa. He managed the Paradise Theatre from about 1930 until his death in 1945. In fact, he actually died of a heart attack in the theatre. His brother was my uncle Eugene DeRosa, who as an architect, along with my father Felix DeRosa, designed a number of famous theatres in New York in the 1920s. If anyone has any information these three DeRosa brothers, I would be very appreciative. I have so little information myself. NOTE: Jerry was born in 1891 in the region of Calabria, Italy. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1897.
I have been meaning to report to this board on my visit to the St. George Theatre as reported in the Advance. Please forgive my silence. Our visit was one of the most memorable events of my life. I was there as Fred DeRosa, Eugene DeRosa’s nephew. I was joined by my sister Maria of Tucson, Arizona; my first cousin, Eugene DeRosa’s son Richard DeRosa of Cooperstown, New York; my second cousins, Eugene DeRosa’s grandchildren, Barbara and David DeRosa. Plus Barbara’s sons Joey and Jesse and David’s son Josh, all Eugene’s great-grandchildren. It was a thrill for us all. We were treated royally by Henry Decker, Mrs. Rosemary, Luane, and Doreen. The people from the Advance were also wonderful. My only regret is that I couldn’t learn anything about my father Felix DeRosa. As an architect who also worked on theatres, he joined his brother Eugene when Eugene left the Lamb firm. I can only assume that he had some in-put on the St. George. The theatre was a marvel and the whole experience was very rewarding. I hope to maintain a special place in my life for the St. George.
I am Eugene DeRosaâ€\s nephew. Late in my life, I have begun to explore some of my family heritage. After the death of my father, Eugeneâ€\s brother, in 1955 when I was seven years old, I had only limited contact with my fatherâ€\s side of the family. Iâ€\m now discovering my Uncle Eugeneâ€\s architectural legacy, including the St. George Theatre.
His heritage, I believe, is also part of my fatherâ€\s. Felix DeRosa was born in 1898, making him nine years or so younger than Eugene. He attended Cooper Union from 1914-18 and worked as a junior draughtsman. Returning to Cooper Union, he graduated as a draughtsman in 1921. He worked with his brother through the 1920s. I would be very surprised if my father did not work on the St. George. Unfortunately, he does not seem to be credited on anything. If any of you have any information that you could share on Felix DeRosa, I would be extremely grateful.
I had always been lead to believe by my mother and my father’s brother and sister, who remained alive during my childhood, that he was an “architect.” Iâ€\m not sure if there was a difference in terminology at the time, or if he was never actually an architect. If anyone can clear this up for me, it would be of extreme interest to my sister and me.
There were three other brothers and a sister. One of the brothers was my uncle Jerry DeRosa. He managed Loews State Theatres, but thatâ€\s all I know about him. He was born in 1891 (?) and died in 1945. Again, if anyone has any information on him, I would be very appreciative.
On August 7 (next week!) I will be in New York and have been invited to see the St. George Theatre. I will be there with my (twin) sister and my second cousin, David DeRosa, who is Eugeneâ€\s grandson. Weâ€\re all thrilled at the prospect of seeing the theatre. All of your comments on this wonderful building are making me even more excited.
Thank you very much for the information on my Uncle Jerry. I wasn’t the least bit surprised that your information varied from mine. I’m wondering what he died of. By the way, if my father had had his way, I would have been named after Jerry!
My cousin Robert, Eugene’s son, told me that his father died in 1942. I have to believe that Robert is correct, and, despite the wording of the obituary, Eugene was most certainly dead by the time of Jerry’s death. The remaining living siblings were listed in order of birth, although I’m not sure if Jerry was born before or after Vincent.
Again, many thanks for your information. I hope that by the end of the summer and a visit with Robert, I’ll have a much clearer picture of my DeRosa heritage. Your help has been invaluable.
I’ve just noticed that the e-mail address in my first entry is incorrect. My correct address is I write for a living, and those inverted letters are the bain of my existence!
Dear “St. George”: I just may take you up on your offer to see the St. George Theatre! I will be staying in Mount Kisco August 3-13, available anytime August 5-11. My (twin) sister will also be there at that time; I’m sure she would love to come along. We hope as well to go up to Westfield, Massachusetts, to visit our cousin Robert, Eugene’s son. And thank you, too, Warren, for your additions about the Shubert Jamaica. I’m thrilled to get this news. I don’t know if this kind of responses is acceptable on this site, but I can’t figure out another way to respond. My personal e-mail address is Many thanks to you both.
Thank you for your response. Yes, the one name and two theatres were a bit confusing to me when I first looked into my uncle’s accomplishments. I guess back in the 20s, branding wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now. Alas, my uncle was the architect of the less famous Apollo, but it was a thrill to learn that he designed the theatre that went on to become the famed Studio 54. Yes, his list of theatres is impressive. My guess is that my father, too, worked on most of them. They were a team, a fact that I’ve always known.
Someday I hope to see it and others. I also hope to see his son, my cousin, this coming August when I go east for a visit. Apparently, he has lots of pictures and stories, so I expect to learn more about the three DeRosa brothers.
My uncle was Jerry DeRosa. He managed the Paradise Theatre from about 1930 until his death in 1945. In fact, he actually died of a heart attack in the theatre. His brother was my uncle Eugene DeRosa, who as an architect, along with my father Felix DeRosa, designed a number of famous theatres in New York in the 1920s. If anyone has any information these three DeRosa brothers, I would be very appreciative. I have so little information myself. NOTE: Jerry was born in 1891 in the region of Calabria, Italy. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1897.
I have been meaning to report to this board on my visit to the St. George Theatre as reported in the Advance. Please forgive my silence. Our visit was one of the most memorable events of my life. I was there as Fred DeRosa, Eugene DeRosa’s nephew. I was joined by my sister Maria of Tucson, Arizona; my first cousin, Eugene DeRosa’s son Richard DeRosa of Cooperstown, New York; my second cousins, Eugene DeRosa’s grandchildren, Barbara and David DeRosa. Plus Barbara’s sons Joey and Jesse and David’s son Josh, all Eugene’s great-grandchildren. It was a thrill for us all. We were treated royally by Henry Decker, Mrs. Rosemary, Luane, and Doreen. The people from the Advance were also wonderful. My only regret is that I couldn’t learn anything about my father Felix DeRosa. As an architect who also worked on theatres, he joined his brother Eugene when Eugene left the Lamb firm. I can only assume that he had some in-put on the St. George. The theatre was a marvel and the whole experience was very rewarding. I hope to maintain a special place in my life for the St. George.
I am Eugene DeRosaâ€\s nephew. Late in my life, I have begun to explore some of my family heritage. After the death of my father, Eugeneâ€\s brother, in 1955 when I was seven years old, I had only limited contact with my fatherâ€\s side of the family. Iâ€\m now discovering my Uncle Eugeneâ€\s architectural legacy, including the St. George Theatre.
His heritage, I believe, is also part of my fatherâ€\s. Felix DeRosa was born in 1898, making him nine years or so younger than Eugene. He attended Cooper Union from 1914-18 and worked as a junior draughtsman. Returning to Cooper Union, he graduated as a draughtsman in 1921. He worked with his brother through the 1920s. I would be very surprised if my father did not work on the St. George. Unfortunately, he does not seem to be credited on anything. If any of you have any information that you could share on Felix DeRosa, I would be extremely grateful.
I had always been lead to believe by my mother and my father’s brother and sister, who remained alive during my childhood, that he was an “architect.” Iâ€\m not sure if there was a difference in terminology at the time, or if he was never actually an architect. If anyone can clear this up for me, it would be of extreme interest to my sister and me.
There were three other brothers and a sister. One of the brothers was my uncle Jerry DeRosa. He managed Loews State Theatres, but thatâ€\s all I know about him. He was born in 1891 (?) and died in 1945. Again, if anyone has any information on him, I would be very appreciative.
On August 7 (next week!) I will be in New York and have been invited to see the St. George Theatre. I will be there with my (twin) sister and my second cousin, David DeRosa, who is Eugeneâ€\s grandson. Weâ€\re all thrilled at the prospect of seeing the theatre. All of your comments on this wonderful building are making me even more excited.
Fred DeRosa
Thank you very much for the information on my Uncle Jerry. I wasn’t the least bit surprised that your information varied from mine. I’m wondering what he died of. By the way, if my father had had his way, I would have been named after Jerry!
My cousin Robert, Eugene’s son, told me that his father died in 1942. I have to believe that Robert is correct, and, despite the wording of the obituary, Eugene was most certainly dead by the time of Jerry’s death. The remaining living siblings were listed in order of birth, although I’m not sure if Jerry was born before or after Vincent.
Again, many thanks for your information. I hope that by the end of the summer and a visit with Robert, I’ll have a much clearer picture of my DeRosa heritage. Your help has been invaluable.
I’ve just noticed that the e-mail address in my first entry is incorrect. My correct address is I write for a living, and those inverted letters are the bain of my existence!
Dear “St. George”: I just may take you up on your offer to see the St. George Theatre! I will be staying in Mount Kisco August 3-13, available anytime August 5-11. My (twin) sister will also be there at that time; I’m sure she would love to come along. We hope as well to go up to Westfield, Massachusetts, to visit our cousin Robert, Eugene’s son. And thank you, too, Warren, for your additions about the Shubert Jamaica. I’m thrilled to get this news. I don’t know if this kind of responses is acceptable on this site, but I can’t figure out another way to respond. My personal e-mail address is Many thanks to you both.
Thank you for your response. Yes, the one name and two theatres were a bit confusing to me when I first looked into my uncle’s accomplishments. I guess back in the 20s, branding wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now. Alas, my uncle was the architect of the less famous Apollo, but it was a thrill to learn that he designed the theatre that went on to become the famed Studio 54. Yes, his list of theatres is impressive. My guess is that my father, too, worked on most of them. They were a team, a fact that I’ve always known.
Someday I hope to see it and others. I also hope to see his son, my cousin, this coming August when I go east for a visit. Apparently, he has lots of pictures and stories, so I expect to learn more about the three DeRosa brothers.
It was a pleasure to hear from you.
Fred DeRosa