Riverside Theatre
2561 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
2561 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 49 of 49 comments
There was an article related to this show rehearsing there. There was no heat in the space, something that David Merrick had not noticed as he had looked at the space in late summer. Also I do not think that there was any real mention of what the space had been once upon a time.
Among the Broadway shows that were rehearsed in the Japanese Gardens space above the Rivera was “Prettybelle,” starring Angela Lansbury, directed by Gower Champion and with a score by Jule Styne. The show was a disaster and it closed in Boston.
The mural above the proscenium appeared to be Christopher Columbus discovering “America”. There seemed to be that theme running through this house. A panel in the ceiling depicted Columbus taking his case to the King and Queen of Spain.
Thank you Joe. These images appear to be rare.
Thank You so much for posting this. As you can see from the above postings, I am more than obsessed with The Riverside and The Riviera.
Here are two small photos depicting the Riverside and Riviera theaters, featured in an ad for the builder, Libman Contracting Company, from the Year book of the Architectural League of New York, 1914.
Although the Riverside did have a long run of “American Graffiti”, it was still open after that and was showing a double feature of “The Super Cops” and “White Lightning” in May of 1974, which may have been the last bookings.
Check out “The Seven Ups” with Roy Scheider (I think that is how you spell his name). Great car chase, French Connection /Bullit good.
Thanks! Those marquee shots of these theatres seem to be rare.
You are correct sir as I have gone frame by frame with the DVD.
I believe a glimpse of the Riviera and Riverside marquees can be seen in the 1962 version of “The Manchurian Candidate” as Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh take a taxi ride home from the police station.
Can anyone confirm it was these two theatres?
I know two different people who rehearsed two different shows in the former Japanese Gardens. The first show was rehearsed around 1960. The second show was either Bubblin' Brown Sugar or Eubie. The latter show could have been in there after Riverside was demolished.
It might be of interest that above one of the theaters was a rehearsal space that was used for Broadway shows. Possibly that might have been the roof garden described above. At the northwest corner of 96 street and Broadway was a luncheonette, and I remember having breakfast there once, and seeing Jason Robards, John Baragray , and other cast members of a play called The Devils, by John Whiting,which was rehearsing in the space above. This would have been in September or early October of 1965.
Which part was mentioned by Bob Hope?
This was mentioned by Bob Hope on the Dick Cavett Show DVD.
Ed,
the club that you are refering to was on Broadway between 95th and 96th streets. The Riverside was demolished around 1973, after Amercian graffiti played there for 6 months.
RobertR,
I saw that movie in that theatre.
Movie Place NYC
A 1969 horror matinee
View link
There’s an ad for a club at 2551 Broadway in this 1985 clipping from the Spanish language publication El Diario:
Club Broadway – El Diario 9/20/85
I know the Riverside’s address was 2561 and the Riviera was 2575. Would 2551 have been on the wrong block – the one between 96th and 95th streets? I was just curious if this club might have used some of the old theater building. I’m not sure when the Riverside was demolished.
Warren,
oh my gosh, where did you get the picture? It is fantastic. I have an earlier view and a later view taken from practically the same spot. Do you have any interior shots? I have one vintage shot of the interior and a bunch of color slides from the THSOA. Did the Skouras people remodel the Riverside?
nycmovieplace
Thank you for clarification of the address, Warren. (And for the photo!) In my efforts to discover the street addresses for every Manhattan theatre listed on the site, I’ve only got three question marks left:
Camelot Twin
Jean Renoir
Juliet I & II
Any assistance on these three would be appreciated. (My personal list also includes each theatre’s zip code, to help avoid ever posting any duplicate entries. Speaking of which, thank you as well for setting me straight on the Uptown and Audubon.)
Might the address for this theatre be incorrect? Could it have been 2551 Broadway?
I’ve read references to this theatre being closer to 96th Street while the Riviera is mentioned as being in the vicinity of 97th, which would make sense if the address provided for the Japanese Roof Theatre (2559 Broadway) elsewhere on the site is accurate. The current address listing for this theatre puts it up by 101st St.
Oy, glad I missed those.
On 8/10/69 the Riverside was playing a showcase double bill of Cher in “Chastity” along with “3 in the Attic”. The only other Manhattan theatre playing it was the Harris on 42nd St which appears in the ad. In Queens it’s at Astoria, Bayside, Boulevard, Lefferts and Midway and Oasis. In the Bronx at Kent, Interboro and Marcus. In Brooklyn Albermarle,Fortway, Dufield and Marine. In Nassau Alan, Cove, Gables, Rivoli, Rockville and Valley Stream. In Suffolk Islip, Lindenhurst and Rialto. In Westchester at the Bronxville and Larchmont. I guess Staten island was spared of these gems.
The Riverside was a B.F. Keith Theatre (in 1917-18). In a copy of the “Program” of the theatre in Jan. 7, 1918, it states that Performances are at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Julius Lenzberg’s Riverside Orchestra entertained theatre patrons. Darras Brothers were “equalibrists on the flying trapeze.” Eddie Borden was on the bill, in “The Law Breaker”. Also appearing, was “Ota Gyg, Court Violinist to the King of Spain.” “Little Billy” was a “tiny” Vaudeville Headliner. In addition, Flanagan and Edwards appeared. Then, song hits from “Miss 1917” ( Kern ). In addition, “The Japanese Prima-Donna, Haruko Onuki.” The one and only “Mme. Sarah Bernhardt, in "Du Theatre Au Champ D'Honneur”. ( From the Theatre to the Field of Honor.“) Next,was "Herman Timberg, The Versatile Comedian”, followed by “Color Gems, a Study in Colour, Light and Form.” Last, came “Hearst -Pathe News Pictorial” followed by an “Exit March-When the Yanks Come Marching Home.”