Lido Theatre

The American Theatre opened, ironically, playing European motion pictures and illustrated songs on May 3, 1912 in a former blacksmith’s shop. The American Theatre was a three-story brick building located in the flats section of Riverdale at the corner of Riverdale Avenue and St. Mary Street. Henry Weiss lunched the theatre as a nickelodeon and its candy bar was called the Nic-O-Let. Mrs. R. Weiss, a relative, took on the theatre in its tenth year of operation. A neighboring ice cream and confectionery was well-placed and featured Breyers Ice Cream from Philadelphia.

Guyanna Amusement Circuit headed by Guy A. Graves took over the American Theatre in 1924. It was refurbished including a new Wurlitzer organ, new floor covering, new seats at a grand reopening on December 12, 1924. The American Theatre was wired for sound and showed German language films in 1931 and into 1932 Monday-Wednesdays including “Die Forsterchristl”, “The Girl from The Reeperbahn”, “Rheinland Madel”, and “Der Wahre Jacob”.

Early in 1932, Alfred Rosenzweig changed the name of the American Theatre to the Lido Theatre. The Depression proved to be a challenging time for the Lido Theatre as it had many ownership changes, and two brief closures - one economic in 1932 and one due to a projection room fire in 1935. Operators included Richard Goldstraub, Harry L. Gilbert, C. Argerinos, Aracato Amusement Corporation, Salvatore Nunziato and Joseph Marcone, Holl-Gold Operating Company (Harold Hollman and Morris Goldman), Lenny Richman, and William Infeld.

Say what you will about the Lido Theatre, but it was a survivor in an era when theatres got larger. The Lido Theatre called itself the “Last of the Nickelodeons”. Not exactly a commitment to large screen and comfy chairs but a working class claim that worked well with the neighborhood. And it continued to mix American and foreign language films to the bitter end including the booking of a Hungarian musical, “Donko Pista”.

Sadly, the Lido Theatre closed likely at the end of a second 20-year lease in 1951. The 19th Century building was razed in October of 1951.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.