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Coliseum_Theatre_(Washington_Heights) Latitude and Longitude:
40°51′02″N 73°56′07″W / 40.850451°N 73.935275°W / 40.850451; -73.935275
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coliseum Theatre
B.S. Moss' Coliseum Theatre
New Coliseum Theatre
Coliseum Cinemas
Coliseum Theatre in 2013
Address4260 Broadway
New York City
United States
Coordinates 40°51′02″N 73°56′07″W / 40.850451°N 73.935275°W / 40.850451; -73.935275
OwnerThe Greater New York Vaudeville Theatre Corp [1]
TypeTheatre
Capacity3,500
Current useDemolished
Construction
OpenedSeptember 30, 1920
Closed2011
Demolished2020
Years active1920–2002
2004-2011
Architect Eugene De Rosa
Percival Raymond Pereira
BuilderFleischmann Construction [1]

The Coliseum Theatre was a cultural and performing arts center located at 4260 Broadway between West 181st and 182nd Streets in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was full-block building, bounded on the east by Bennett Avenue.

The Coliseum Theatre occupied the site of the Blue Bell Tavern, which stood from 1720 to 1915. [2] [3]

Built in 1920 as B.S. Moss' Coliseum Theatre, the venue was originally a movie palace designed by architect Eugene De Rosa. [4] Marble interiors were done by Voska, Foelsch, & Sidlo Inc, terra cotta by New York Architectural Terra Cotta Company, ornamental plastering by Architectural Plastering Company, Inc., Peter Clark installed the rigging system, windows supplied by S. H. Pomeroy Company, Inc., Sexauer & Lemke Inc. installed the ornamental iron work, draperies and wall coverings by Louis Kuhn Studio, mirrors & console tables by Nonnenbacher & Co, and the pipe organ was installed by M. P. Moller. [5]

The Coliseum was launched by Bow Tie Cinemas before being taken over by RKO Pictures. It housed many vaudeville acts, including The Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Eddie Cantor, Uncle Don’s Kiddie Show, and Gertrude Berg. [4]

During the 1980s, a local arts group wanted to rejuvenate the Coliseum as a community arts center, and put on a fundraiser benefit performance Salute to Ol' Vaudeville. It also was the site of the Dominican Film Festival and Children's Film Festival before closing. [3]

In 2011, the building was denied landmark status, and a shopping mall was slated to be opened after demolition. [6] [3] [7] The theater was demolished in 2020. [8]

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References

  1. ^ a b "Museum of the City of New York - Search Result".
  2. ^ "RKO Coliseum Theater". Washington Heights NYC. 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Megraw, Jeremy (January 13, 2012). "Ghost Light: Illuminating Our City's Theatres: RKO Coliseum". The New York Public Library. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Coliseum Cinemas in New York, NY". Cinema Treasures.
  5. ^ "The Coliseum Theatre, New York". Architecture and Building. W.T. Comstock Company. 1921. p. 53.
  6. ^ Miller, Stuart (November 26, 2018). "Old movie theaters are hoping for a Hollywood ending". Crain's New York Business.
  7. ^ Krisel, Brendan (August 9, 2018). "Washington Heights Theater Could Be Demolished Soon, Report Says". Patch. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "See it: the 100-year-old Coliseum theater in Washington Heights is now mostly rubble". The Curious Uptowner. November 10, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
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