Port Morris Theater
580 E. 138th Street,
Bronx,
NY
10454
580 E. 138th Street,
Bronx,
NY
10454
1 person
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I can add much to this discussion from my family’s history at that location. In 1921, my grandparents, Aaron and Ida Greenberg, first operated a houseware shop at 574 E. 138th Street which was adjacent to the Port Morris Theater at 580 E. 138th Street. When the Port Morris closed, it was gutted, the sloped floor removed and it was converted into a two floor 9500 sq feet retail store. My grandfather and his brother in law, Herman Miller then opened Greenhill Hardware in the now converted Port Morris theater space in 1929. My father and my uncle later joined the business and they operated it until approximately 1960 when it was sold to another family. The new owner kept the Greenhill name and remained in the 580 E. 138th Street space until the mid 1990’s when the business relocated to E. 132nd Street where it remains to this day. I have some older photo’s, one from the 1940’s and another from the mid 1990’s if anyone would like to see them. If so, email me at Hope this helps! Shep Greenberg
I walked by this location today, and there is a functioning clothing shop in this storefront now. It’s not clear whether the building is still for sale or not.
But the more interesting discovery on my walk occurred 2 blocks to the east, where I noticed a building that is on an irregularly shaped block bounded by 138th and 139th Streets (east-west), and Jackson Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard (north-south). The front of the building faces Bruckner. It currently houses a lumber company. This area adjoins the Port Morris neighborhood, which has always been an industrial/manufacturing district. But what struck me was that the facade of the building and the curved shape of the roof strongly resembled an old theater building. Given its size, I’d estimate it could have held a couple thousand people. However, I’ve had no luck finding references to a theater at this location via any of my sources. Lost Memory, are you there? Got any tips? If you do a google map (satellite view) of E. 139th Street and Jackson Avenue, Bronx, it is the building to the southeast of that intersection.
I have just ‘researched’ Sohmer’s Highway Theatre and found it to be listed here: /theaters/3868/
I have added the newly found information there.
I’ve just looked through the entire NY State in the 1914 -1915 A.M.P.D and it’s not listed either by name or address(:
In Trow’s Business Directory for 1911, Friedman & Petters are listed as operating two “Moving Picture Exhibitions”: 414 E. 149th and 580 E. 138th Streets. Once again Trow’s does not give theatre names.
I agree, this could well be the original theatre building. From what I hear, South Bronx is becoming ‘the’ place to live now it has been tidied up and has desirable loft apartment conversions springing up. Maybe the theatre building will survive and return to movie theatre/theater or some other entertainment/leisure use.
I only have it listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition. Located at 580 East 138th Street, Bronx, NY with a seating capacity of 474.
It is not listed in 1927, 1930 or subsequent editions of F.D.Y. that I have.