RKO Proctor's 125th Street Theatre
112-118 E. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10035
112-118 E. 125th Street,
New York,
NY
10035
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Proctor's, RKO
Architects: John Bailey McElfatrick
Firms: J. B. McElfatrick and Sons
Previous Names: Columbus Theatre, Miner's Theatre, Proctor's Theatre, Keith & Proctor's 125th Street Theatre, RKO 125th Street Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Built by Oscar Hammerstein as a playhouse named Columbus Theatre in 1890. It opened as the Miner’s Theatre October 11, 1899 with a production of “Romeo and Juliet”. It was sold to F.F. Proctor in 1899, and went over to presenting vaudeville. Around 1900 it became Keith & Proctor’s 125th Street Theatre and films were added to the programming in 1908. The Keith/Proctor partnership was dissolved in 1911. It was renamed Proctor’s Theatre and advertised as Proctor’s 125th Street Theatre. In 1926 a Wurlitzer organ was installed, and in that year, the seating capacity was given as 2,200.
It was taken over by RKO in the 1930’s. The RKO Proctor’s 125th Street was closed in late-1953. The building was converted into a church. In 1985, a fire broke out in the front of the building. It was damaged enough to eventually make it a dangerous structure and the theatre was demolished in 1987.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Does anyone know anything about the Harlem Orpheum inside the Majestic Hall building? I have found no signs of it ever showing movies nor Vaudeville but it sure looks like it should have.
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The RKO Proctor’s 125th street on a postcard view here:
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This closed in late 1953 after a run of “So Big” and “The Moonlighter”.
Nice postcard veiw.
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references to proctors opera house 125th St. Near 8th Avenue
???
search harlem
The theater at the address was the Columbus Theater build by Oscar I in 1890. Information on it can be found http://www.npclibrary.org/db/bb_files/00-HAMILTON-THEATER.pdf
Al’s postcard image from February 21, 2010, of the RKO Proctor’s 125th Street states the location as “West of Seventh Avenue.” Actually, the vintage postcard shows the Keith’s & Proctor’s 125th Street. This may have been the opera house that iatse311 found reference to in the Museum of City of New York site he linked to on July 21, 2010.
Here’s an active version to the link WelcometoHarlem posted earlier today. The reference to the Columbus Theatre at this address is near the bottom of page 2 in the right hand column. That AKA has already been noted on this page by CT.
Thank you, Ed. I understand the post now.
By the way, I also thank you for teaching me how to hyperlink!
On a personal note, I think you would ‘need’ to see this: I don’t know how to buffer it. It hurts too much.
http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2012/02/inside-elk.html
Thanks, Al. Know that location well from my travels in and around the area.