Lincoln Theatre
58 W. 135th Street,
New York,
NY
10037
58 W. 135th Street,
New York,
NY
10037
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I came across this CurbedNY article from 2017 that mentions the impending doom of this building, to be replaced by an apartment building. However, I drove past the Metropolitan AME Church just last night on my way to Yankee Stadium, and saw it still standing, and have since found its website to be current and active. I guess it was spared from redevelopment, somewhere along the way, but not sure of the details.
Hello-
to Al A. its always nice to read one of replies. as I have said in the past your font of knowledge makes me look like an amateur. now to my use of the statement “with the intent of showing films” in a recent post about the Crescent which was a stone’s throw from this theater. in Dec. 1909 when the Crescent opened the use of the word “films” in the phrase “with the intent of showing films” would have of course referred to 1 reelers. granted the Crescent was built as a combo vaudville/film theater the fact it was built with the intent of showing films as part of the program I should think it can be referred to as the 1st movie theater built as such.
Bigjoe, “The intent of showing film” implies that feature length films would be the prime subject. That did not occur until 1906 in Australia. In the United States film showings were not continously a main subject until 1915 when the “THE BIRTH OF A NATION” made it popular.
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with an address of 58 W.135th St. this theater would have been close by the Crescent which was at 36 W. 135th St. and opened on the night of Dec. 16th 1909. using the Manhattan or New York,NY listing the Crescent might very well be the 1st theater built in Manhattan with the intent of showing films.
Ratkat… If you are still following this page, you can upload your photos from the “Photos” tab near the top of this page. You simply need to have them saved on your computer, then you can use the “Add New Photo” function to browse your hard drive for the photo files and upload them. I hope you take advantage of that feature and share your images with us!
I have a few good interior photos (RECENTLY TAKEN)of this theater and I am unable to post them as the link is not active when posted.When you move backward not farward is is called retarding.The site functioned so well before it was retarded.I enjoy these old theaters please return to functioning cinemetreasures!!
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Excellent Large format Photo from 1938 of Lincoln Theatre and street scene on W.135th Street, Manhattan by clicking on above link.
Still listed as open in the 1947 Film Daily Yearbook.
I went by here today on the bus to NYC and as I passed by, it’s quite small and the retro 60s facade looks like those old Cinerama colors.
The 1948 comedy/musical movie “Killer Diller” (made for Black audiences) staring Dusty Fletcher, Butterfly McQueen, Nat ‘King’ Cole and the King Cole Trio, The Clark Brothers and Moms Mabley was filmed inside and on stage of the Lincoln Theatre.
Here are three photographs I took of the Lincoln Theatre in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199808019/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199808231/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/199808512/
The Lincoln Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 so I would imagine that it had some movie theatre use from opening. It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition as having a seating capacity of 1,370. It has gone from F.D.Y. listings in the 1930 edition (live show use?). In the 1941 edition of F.D.Y. it is listed with 830 seats(Closed). It is listed as ‘Open’ again in the 1947 F.D.Y. with 830 seats.
A plaque on the front of the building states that the current Metropolitan AME Church have operated in the building since 1952.