First Avenue Theater

johndereszewski on May 15, 2008 at 5:02 pm

This theater should clearly be listed as “demolished”. A check of the listed address indicates that it was situated on the western side of 1st Ave. between Houston and East 1st St. This area is currently occupied by a City park – First Park by name – and the northside of Houston St., the area that was created when this street was widened to accommodate the construction of the IND subway line in the 1930’s. There is no existing structure in the vicinity that can plausibly be recognized as the site of this theater.

By the way, a wonderful photo of Houston St. in its “pre-enlargement” days was recently posted on the Sunshine Theater page of this site. Judging by the picture’s angle, it was probably shot right next to the old First St. Theater.

Hope this helps to fill in the gap here.

dave-bronx™ on May 6, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Was this on the corner of 1st & 1st? Lobby on 1st Av and back of the auditorium on 1st St.?