Superior Theatre

443 3rd Avenue,
New York, NY 10002

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Associated Prudential Theaters Inc., Yost Theater Circuit

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Superior Theatre

Built in the 1870’s as a live theatre. Motion pictures were being exhibited at this site from at least 1919. By 1926 it was operated by the Yost Theater Circuit. In August 1943 the Superior Theatre was badly damaged by a fire which occurred in the second balcony. It was repaired and operated until at least 1953.

Contributed by Damien Farley

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on August 29, 2005 at 9:46 am

Listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1926 and 1927 editins as having a seating capacity of 1,000. The 1930 edition of F.D.Y. gives a seating capacity of 835 and it’s 880 in the 1941 and 1943 editions

In the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it is listed with 846 seats.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on January 29, 2010 at 1:30 pm

A chain called Associated Prudential Theatres, Inc. ran this in 1953 along with the 34th Street (Murray Hill) and the 28th street Regent.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on February 9, 2010 at 5:28 pm

Shows up in a 1919 Paramount Week ad.

Demolition is announced in August 1957 though it is unclear whether it was still operating at the time.

AndrewBarrett
AndrewBarrett on December 27, 2014 at 11:56 pm

Does anybody know how to create a new page for a theatre on this website? Or could somebody do this, or direct me to the theatre’s page if it already exists? (I can’t find it).

I am looking for a page for a “Superior Theatre” which was located at the corner of 81st Street and First Avenue in New York City. The only “Superior” I can find is this one (different address), and when I zoom in on the Google map with different colored “pins” showing locations of theatres in New York City, nothing comes up for 81st and 1st! Anyway, here’s the entry:

In “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ”, pg. 630, author Mr. David L. Junchen lists a Smith organ having been installed at the “Superior Th.” which was “Located at 81st Street and First Avenue.” No other details, such as size of the organ, blower info, install date, nameplate (Seeburg-Smith, Smith, etc) are given in the book for this entry, meaning they weren’t known at publication time.

If anyone knows any more about this theatre, and/or this organ and where it (or its parts) is/are today, I’d be much obliged. Thanks a lot!

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 28, 2014 at 8:10 am

AndrewBarrett: I have now added a page for the Superior Theatre on E. 81st Street.

Texas2step
Texas2step on August 1, 2017 at 7:08 pm

Uploaded a 1943 photo showing the fire at the Superior Theatre mentioned in the article above.

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