Amphion Theatre
614 9th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
614 9th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10036
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Amphion Theatre, 620 9th Avenue, New York, NY.
I recall visiting the “movie house” as late as 1932. ( I was six at the time )
They were still running “silents”. As most New Yorkers know it was within the boundaries of Hells Kitchen. At the time the theatre employed a person to play a piano, located directly below the screen. It is too long to include here but he was sacked for playing songs that were inappropriate. The management ran a weekly give away. It was possible to get a complete set of China, one plate at a time.
LM, it appears the Brooklyn Amphion was a major theatre since the nineteenth century with Manhattan dated talent making an appearance before leaving town. I found several NY Times stories about the shows but no mention of movies. The Williamsburg location assured the eventual tilt towards Yiddish Vaudeville and it seems it was a major drawing card.
In one story, when the femele lead failed to show up for a performance, the manager cancelled the show and refuse to pay the troupe. They promptly beat him up. You don’t need an address to figure that was Brooklyn. My Film Daily shows it was closed by 1934.
The Manhattan Amphion is more illusive.
Yes Ken. I live near Vauxhall and to NY often as I consider it home.
Al; Thanks for adding further details to the Amphion Theatre’s (Manhattan & Brooklyn). Always good to read your interesting comments on this site.
Yes, I am based in London(South Tottenham in the North of the capitol). I read on your profile you are here too?
I will be in NYC in late May for 5 weeks, again checking out more theatres.
Thank you, Ken. This is one of the most obscure NY theatres I have encountered so far. It appears in my 1934 Film Daily (as Ampion) and an obituary for owner William Yoost. (He died in Miami Beach, like all hard working New Yorkers deserved to in 1940.)
The obit does confirm that all his theatres were in Manhattan. (Chelsea, Circle, Royal, 34th Street, Chaloner, and REGENT!)
By the way the 1934 address is 614 Ninth Avenue, as above, and to make matters even more convoluted, the Brooklyn Amphion was really off ninth street, not Division.
Are you based in London?
The Film Daily Yearbook;1930 edition lists the Amphion Theatre, 614 Ninth Avenue, Manhattan, New York with a seating capacity given as 578.
In the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 there is an Amphion Theatre, Brooklyn listed at Bedford Avenue and Division Avenue. It is not listed under Brooklyn in the F.D.Y. of 1926 or subsequent editions, only the one in Manhattan.
The Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition lists the Amphion Theatre, 620 9th Avenue, New York, NY. with a seating capacity of 600.