The theater, if it existed until the 1960’s was probably torn down to make way for Chatham Green, a high rise coop, first of its kind in Chinatown, which was established in 1962. My grandmother, Harold’s wife, and my aunt and uncle were among the first residents.
Chinese films were definitely shown at the Silver Star. In the course of doing some research about my family for an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) in downtown NYC, we confirmed that my grandfather, Harold L. Lee, was an owner of the Silver Star in the 1940’s-1950’s. We have a marble pen and pencil desk set engraved “Given to Harold L. Lee by the NY Chinese Film Exchange”. My uncles worked at the theater, importing Chinese films from Hong Kong and and interpreting them into English for censorship purposes. We also have some letterhead for the Film business. Living relatives remember going to the theater and sitting in the balcony and that the theater, located then at 223 Park Row, was on the present site of 217 Park Row.
The theater, if it existed until the 1960’s was probably torn down to make way for Chatham Green, a high rise coop, first of its kind in Chinatown, which was established in 1962. My grandmother, Harold’s wife, and my aunt and uncle were among the first residents.
Chinese films were definitely shown at the Silver Star. In the course of doing some research about my family for an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) in downtown NYC, we confirmed that my grandfather, Harold L. Lee, was an owner of the Silver Star in the 1940’s-1950’s. We have a marble pen and pencil desk set engraved “Given to Harold L. Lee by the NY Chinese Film Exchange”. My uncles worked at the theater, importing Chinese films from Hong Kong and and interpreting them into English for censorship purposes. We also have some letterhead for the Film business. Living relatives remember going to the theater and sitting in the balcony and that the theater, located then at 223 Park Row, was on the present site of 217 Park Row.