Star Theatre
1716 Lexington Avenue,
New York,
NY
10029
1716 Lexington Avenue,
New York,
NY
10029
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters, Fox Circuit, Harris Theatrical Enterprises
Architects: Joseph J. Furman
Previous Names: Fox Star Theatre, Teatro Boricua
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More information is needed about the Star Theatre, which was one of William Fox’s first vaudeville-movie theatres in Manhattan but might have been an acquisition rather than one that he built himself. During the Star Theatre’s heyday, many top names performed on stage, but it eventually fell victim to competition from the Proctor’s 86th Street Theatre and Loew’s Orpheum Theatre, which were given exclusive first-run status for that area of the Upper East Side.
Reduced to playing late-run movies with several program changes per week, the Star Theatre closed in the early-1950’s. In 1952 it was taken over by Harris Theatreatrical Enterprises and renamed Teatro Boricua, presenting Spanish language movies and stage acts. It was still open in 1955, but was eventually demolished.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
The Star Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915. The address given is 1716 Lexington Avenue.
It could be that such a large theatre had several entrance doorways that spread along the block. The Film Daily Yearbook editions 1926 and 1927 give a street number of 1716, by 1930 and beyond they give 1714.
Maybe the post box was moved from one side of the set of entrance doors to the other?
ok.. I guess the star theater that I’m talking about was not a movie house.. unless it got turned into one with the advent of moving pics.
This was actually a pretty big theater judging by the exterior photos. Any interior ones available?
This theatre is mentioned in Rogelio Agrasanchez, Jr.’s excellent book MEXICAN MOVIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
In 1952 it switched to Spanish language films and broke all previous first-run records. An excellent photo of the BORICUA can be found in the book.
There appears to be a large apartment building now on the site:
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I suspect this is the same 1928 image from the broken links above.
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Cool photos.
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