in Places & People

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

3.4k Views 7 Comments

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

3 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

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

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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

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

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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

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

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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#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

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

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

The Roseland Ballroom and Cine Roma Theater, NY, 1938

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

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

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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

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

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

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

Avatar of Aung Budhh

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7 Comments

  1. Some of these are still around. Was in the Valencia in Jamaica about 10 years ago. It’s a mega-chuch now but the cool part is the interior of the theater has not really been touched in a long time, still has a deco vibe. A bit run down, but intact in the best possible way.

    0
    Reply