President Theatre
247 W. 48th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
247 W. 48th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
No one has favorited this theater yet
Related Websites
Additional Info
Architects: Paul C. Hunter
Previous Names: Edyth Totten Theatre, Midget Theatre, Artef Theatre, Caruso Theatre, Hindenburg Theatre, Acme Theatre, American Show Shop Theatre, 48th Street Theatre
Nearby Theaters
With a long history of showing movies in between flop stage shows, the President Theatre deserves a listing here as possibly the only specialized Scandinavian movie theatre in New York. This was during the 1938-1945 war years when it was a full time cinema. It also showed films as the Edyth Totten Theatre (1927), as the President Theatre (1931, 1937, 1945), the Hindenburg Theatre (1932) showing German movies, the Caruso Theatre (1935) showing Italian movies, the Acme Theatre (1937) and the American Show Shop Theatre (1938).
It opened as the Edyth Totten Theatre on October 6, 1926 with the play “Secret Sands”. It bacame the Midget Theatre when it was taken over by an all-midget company and then became the Artef Theatre. Best known as the President Theatre from around 1929 with several other names in between until 1955 when it became Erwin Piscator’s Dramatic Workshop, closing in 1956. It was taken over as additional space for the adjacent Mamma Leone’s Restaurant, and was demolished in 1988.
Contributed by
Al Alvarez
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
For more information about Manhattan theatres which had legitimate status at one time I recommend the book, Broadway’s Lost Theatres. It is soft cover black and white and has photos of every theatre contained therein. Most times it also lists seating capacities and the architect’s name and gives a very interest history. It is very sad because it’s so visual.
The Italian film Figaro e la sua gran giornata, by Mario Camerini, began a run here in late October 1933 when it was known as the Caruso Theatre. The New York Times found it entertaining; Variety magazine lamented the lack of subtitles.
Were there any Scandinavian midgets?
This photograph of the Artef Theatre marquee and the Longacre Theatre along West 48th Street was taken in 1935 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto and Mann.
No doubt, this theater’s name change to the President was associated with the opening of the President Hotel, across the street. The Hotel, dating to the late 1920’s – and depicted in the 1935 photo posted above by Brad Smith – is still in operation today, under the Best Western banner.
On September 2nd, 1944, this had a re-launching as the 48th St. Cinema, advertised as “New York’s Newest Luxury Theatre.” On opening day, and again on the Labor Day holiday, special matinees for children were held, offering a “live” puppet show.