Victoria Theater (New York City)

Located on 125th Street in Harlem, New York City, the Victoria Theater was designed in 1917 by Thomas W. Lamb, a notable and prolific theater architect of the era, for the Loew’s Corporation. ["New York Times" May 17, 2006]

The Loew’s Victoria Theater, as it was known until 1977, opened as a 2,394-seat, luxury vaudeville and motion picture theater. [http://www.empire.state.ny.us/RFP/victoria.htm#I.__________INTRODUCTION RFP: Victoria Theater ] ] Typical of movie palaces of its era, it contained a stage and backstage dressing rooms and provisions for live music, including an organ. It cost $250,000 to build and was hailed “as one of the largest and most beautiful theaters in greater N.Y.” by a contemporary publication. When the Victoria was built, it joined many other Harlem theaters including the Proctor, Hammerstein Opera House, the Alhambra as well as the nearby Apollo, then the Hurtig & Seamon’s New (Burlesque) Theater.

In 1977, the Harlem Community Development Corporation acquired the building.

The Victoria has experienced numerous changes since its opening, the most radical being its conversion to a multi-screen movie theater; in 1987, five movie theaters were created from the large auditorium, mezzanine and stage areas. The theater closed in 1989 and in 2005 several proposals for redevelopment were made. [ [http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5716 Groups Vie to Reimagine Loew's Victoria Theater - Wired New York Forum ] ] Only two proposals call for reusing the theater's interior, which has angered some community leaders, according to the "New York Times". [ [http://www.therealdeal.net/issues/JULY_2006/1151682442.php The Real Deal - Take the A Train - to your Harlem hotel ] ]

External links

* [http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5716 Photo at Wired New York]

References