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Stunning Vintage Photos Of New York City’s Theatres From the 1930s

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The first theatre in New York City was built in 1750 on Nassau Street, Manhattan. By the 1840s, P.T. Barnum was operating an entertainment complex in Lower Manhattan. In 1829, at Broadway and Prince Street, Niblo’s Garden opened and soon became one of New York’s premiere nightspots. Theatre in New York moved from downtown gradually to midtown and then to the Theatre District. There are many other theatres, restaurants, hotels, and other places of entertainment in the area. There are currently 41 Broadway theatres in operation in New York.

Here below are some amazing vintage photos of New York theatres from the 1930s. These photographs were captured by Brad Smith.

#1 Loew’s Paradise Theatre, Bronx, New York, December 6, 1930

Loew’s Paradise Theatre, Bronx, New York, December 6, 1930

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#3 Side-street view of Loew’s Pitkin Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, May, 1930

Side-street view of Loew's Pitkin Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, May, 1930

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#4 Loew’s Metropolitan Theatre, Brooklyn, NY, April 12, 1930

Loew's Metropolitan Theatre, Brooklyn, NY, April 12, 1930

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#6 Loew’s State Theatre, Manhattan, New York, June 1930

Loew's State Theatre, Manhattan, New York, June 1930

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#7 Academy of Music (later converted to the Palladium), New York, 1931

Academy of Music (later converted to the Palladium), New York, 1931

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#9 Capitol Theatre, New York, NY, February 27, 1931

Capitol Theatre, New York, NY, February 27, 1931

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#11 Loew’s Orpheum Theatre, New York, NY, January 1930

Loew's Orpheum Theatre, New York, NY, January 1930

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#12 Loew’s Pitkin Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, November 1930

Loew's Pitkin Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, November 1930

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#13 Loew’s Rochester Theatre, Rochester, New York, April 26, 1930

Loew's Rochester Theatre, Rochester, New York, April 26, 1930

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#14 Loew’s Valencia Theatre, Jamaica, NY, December 13, 1930

Loew's Valencia Theatre, Jamaica, NY, December 13, 1930

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#15 Loew’s State Theatre (now Landmark Theatre), Syracuse, New York, February 1931

Loew's State Theatre (now Landmark Theatre), Syracuse, New York, February 1931

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#18 Roxy Theater, New York, 1937

Roxy Theater, New York, 1937

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#20 The Roseland Ballroom and Cine Roma Theater, NY, 1938

The Roseland Ballroom and Cine Roma Theater, NY, 1938

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#21 Capitol Theatre, NY, December 1930

Capitol Theatre, NY, December 1930

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#22 Loew’s Gates Theatre, Brooklyn, NY, May 7, 1930

Loew's Gates Theatre, Brooklyn, NY, May 7, 1930

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#23 Loew’s State Theatre (now Landmark Theatre), Syracuse, New York, April 19, 1930

Loew's State Theatre (now Landmark Theatre), Syracuse, New York, April 19, 1930

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#24 Shea’s Buffalo Theatre (now Shea’s Performing Arts Center), Buffalo, New York, January 1930

Shea's Buffalo Theatre (now Shea's Performing Arts Center), Buffalo, New York, January 1930

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#26 Fox’s Great Lakes Theatre (also known as the Paramount Theatre), Buffalo, New York, February 6, 1931

Fox’s Great Lakes Theatre (also known as the Paramount Theatre), Buffalo, New York, February 6, 1931

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#27 Loew’s Rochester Theater, Rochester, NY, February 13, 1931

Loew's Rochester Theater, Rochester, NY, February 13, 1931

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#28 Loew’s Yonkers Theatre, Yonkers, NY, March 1931

Loew's Yonkers Theatre, Yonkers, NY, March 1931

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#30 Loew’s Metropolitan, NY, 1932

Loew's Metropolitan, NY, 1932

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#31 Loew’s Rochester Theater, Rochester, NY, September 23, 1932

Loew's Rochester Theater, Rochester, NY, September 23, 1932

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#33 RKO Coliseum Theatre, NY, January 1932

RKO Coliseum Theatre, NY, January 1932

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#35 Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, New York (now Shea’s Performing Arts Center), February 1932

Shea's Buffalo Theatre, New York (now Shea's Performing Arts Center), February 1932

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#36 RKO Albee Theatre, Brroklyn, NY, 1933

RKO Albee Theatre, Brroklyn, NY, 1933

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#38 Paradise Cabaret Restaurant in the Brill Building, New York,1937

Paradise Cabaret Restaurant in the Brill Building, New York,1937

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#39 Paramount Theatre, New York, 1937

Paramount Theatre, New York, 1937

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