Coliseum Cinemas 4260-4261 Broadway, New York, NY 10033

Plagued by financial difficulties, the Coliseum Cinemas quietly closed its doors at the end of October 2011. A rumor circulated in the neighborhood that J.C. Penny’s would move into the space.  A poster, on one of blogs, suggested that the area would be best served by replacing the historic theatre with an apartment complex including stores.

The Washington Heights Arts & Movies (WHAM) formed in late December to rescue and restore the theatre. It now boasts 654 members on Facebook.

Coliseum 2006 (photo copyright Betty Sword, all rights reserved)

Excerpts from the New York Clipper. September 29, 1920:
“When more than 3,100 people, or, as the official tabulator announces it, “3,500,” are sheltered under one roof in a new theatre, that house is a mighty big one. Which is what the new B. S. Moss-Keith Coliseum Theatre, at Broadway and 181st Street is; an excessively large and beautiful theatrical edifice, the construction of which, including the land, entailed an outlay of upwards of $750,000. Its opening last Thursday night with a combination vaudeville and motion picture program, tended to more closely cement the recent absorption by the Keith interests of the B. S. Moss theatres.”

“The Coliseum is the largest of  all the Keith houses.”

“With the great financial resources of the Keith interests at his command, Moss finished the new house in record time. And last Thursday night, those who attended the initial performance, did so in a beautiful edifice, the interior of which is finished in ivory, gray, old rose and gold. The walls and the ceiling are filigreed and on the ceiling, over the proscenium, there is a beautiful group in relief which is patterned like a huge cameo.

“The interior of the house extends in width from the front like a triangle, and despite its extraordinary hugeness, that portion of the orchestra floor extending in front of the balcony suggests coziness.

“The large balcony extends upward until it almost reaches the ceiling. There is a promenade above the orchestra floor which contains, besides retiring rooms, a special sort of salon writing room done in yellow with yellow brocade curtains to match. The furniture in this room is French of the Louis XIV period. Mezzotints by American artists adorn the walls.

“The dressing rooms, backstage, have every modern convenience, including pier mirrors. The stage itself has the most modern electrical equipment. Eugene De Rosa was the architect.”

“The orchestra pit, built to accommodate twenty-five musicians, contained nineteen men on opening night.”

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society

Claremont Theatre, 3338 Broadway, New York, NY 10031

The New York Herald, November 22, 1914:                                                                                  “One of the first steps toward the development of this section as a new amusement centre has been the erection by the Riverside Drive Realty Company and the Wayside Realty Company of the new Claremont Theatre, in the block front on the east side of Broadway from 134th and 135 Street.

“The new structure, which has a seating capacity of about 1500, was designed by Goetan Ajello, architect. It has a frontage in Broadway of about two hundred feet and a depth in each street of about ninety feet, contains stores on the ground floor, a dance hall and office, 75×75, in the upper floors and a roof garden, 75×125.”

“The theatre has been dedicated to the production of moving pictures. The operation represents a total investment of about $450,000, and the property has been leased to the Wallingford Amusement Company for twenty-one years.”

The Billboard, November 7, 1914:
“The handsome Claremont Theater, which was recently opened at Broadway and 134th Street, contains all of the latest equipments, including two Powers motor-driven projecting machines.”

The New York Dramatic Mirror, March 17, 1915:
“The first ‘Edison Night,’ which is to be a regular feature of the Claremont Theater, Washington Heights, New York, every week, showing all of the Edison releases for the current week, was hugely indorsed by an attendance which at 8 o’clock filled the 1,400-capacity house. Many exhibitors  were present to watch the idea and see all the films at one showing.”

“At the conclusion of the first evening performance the following Edison players were introduced to the applauding fans: Harry Beaumont, Bessie Learn, Robert Conness, Gertrude McCoy, Mrs. Bechtel, Robert Bower, Julian Reed, Frank McGlynn, Charles Sutton, Andy Clark, Mrs. Erskine, Frank A. Lyon, Harry Eytinge, Harry Linson, John Sturgeon, and director Ashley Miller.”

“The artists then partook of the feast prepared for them by Manager Dollinger in an adjoining ballroom, after which dancing was enjoyed, the players later meeting the theatre patrons in the lobby.”

 

The Claremont Theatre converted to an automobile showroom in 1933.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission, June 6, 2006:
“On the basis of a careful consideration of the history, the architecture and other features of this building, the Landmarks Preservation Commission finds that the Claremont Theater Building has a special character, special historical and aesthetic interest and value as part of the devlopment, heritage, and culttural characteristics of New York City.”

Above drawing and interior photograph from The World’s Greatest Achievement in Music for Theatres, 1916, reprinted by Vestal Press, 1964,  part of the  Theatre Talks LLC collection

For more on this neighborhood and the Claremont Theatre: Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem by Eric K. Washington

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society