Ward Theatre
1546 Westchester Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10472
1546 Westchester Avenue,
Bronx,
NY
10472
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Skouras Theatres
Architects: Charles A. Sandblom
Functions: Retail
Nearby Theaters
The Ward Theatre was opened in 1927 and closed in the mid-1970’s. It was converted into a roller skating rink, then a discount store before becoming a women’s clothing store. It is still standing, with the lobby being used as a store. I don’t know if the auditorium is being used for anything. The front part of the building, a two-story section, has a Spanish-style cornice. The auditorium, which can be seen from the elevated #6 train at the west end of the Elder Avenue station, is covered with graffiti.
In 2015 the marquee is still over the entrance which is being used by a Rainbow (a childrens' show store), the stage end of the theatre is in use by Botanica Spiritual Healing.
Contributed by
dave-bronx
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Found a page with some memories and an etching:
View link
to martin gross weekdays was .12 cents sat was.16 cents sun was.25cents on sat. you would see 3 movies a chapter &10 cartoons the vigalante on some sat. you would have a yo yo contest on stage cheerio/duncan the time frame 1944 to 1952 buying candy in theater was a option but candy king & woolworth 5&10 were the real deal club36
Grew up on Manor Ave between Westchester & Watson, one block from the Ward. I went to PS47 on St Lawrence Ave,my brother went to PS77 on Ward, then both of us went to JHS123 on Morrison Ave, during the 1960’s & 70’s. Spent many Sundays at the Ward theater. At that time it was part of the Pozin’s chain.
Grew up in the Soundview Area & went to C.S 152 back in 81-83 but I remember the Marquee after it closed. Last time I been past there it was a Cookie’s Department Store…
When I was six and seven, some of the first movies I ever saw were scary ones at the Ward Theatre: Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947), where the villain was The Claw with a prosthetic hook, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), which was a very scary movie that included Dracula and the Wolfman. My friends and I hid under our seats for some of the scarier scenes!
Major part of my childhood, from the 1960’s to mid 70’s. I tell people all the time I would see these films, great one unedited. This was the place. I also feel it had a great sound system, It was shabby but comfortable. Saw The Wild Bunch, Little Big Man, Vault of Horror; the list goes on, really good films there, Not new releases and sometime they just played anything, The Grasshopper was one. Lets just say the age issue did not apply. They would also play the holiday specials like The Ten Commandants Easter weekend, people would go because it was big screen and unedited. Does anyone remember Miss Bellinie and her 6'8" son. She kept over 1000 kids in line, or in their seats every weekend for years. Later in the mid 70’s Black exploitation and Kung Fu movies had taken over, but thanks to the owners, I was able to see many classics I see on TCM today and can relive them as the director wanted it to be seen.
Back in the late 70’s, the Ward movie theater later became a roller disco rink before it became a discount store which then later became a Rainbow women’s clothing store
Hello-
can anyone remember the last movie to play here? the only film i can remember seeing here was The Three Stooges Meet Hercules.
An addendum to Jan. 16, 2016: I also liked to watch the Congo Bill serials in the late 1940’s. To see how he got out of his latest peril, you had to wait till next week. It was quite a deal to go to the Ward on weekends. You got to see cartoons, an action serial, the news of the week and two movies! My last movies there were probably in the mid to late 1950’s, when I left the Bronx for college.
The Ward Theater, my late husband used to go there as a child in the sixties. He would tell me about the live appearances they had there, specifically The Munsters. I believe other theaters did this, as well.