Boulevard Theatre
1032 Southern Boulevard,
Bronx,
NY
10459
1032 Southern Boulevard,
Bronx,
NY
10459
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loew's Inc.
Architects: Thomas White Lamb
Functions: Gymnasium
Styles: Beaux-Arts
Previous Names: Loew's Boulevard Theatre
Nearby Theaters
One of the many Loew’s theatres in the borough of the Bronx. The Loew’s Boulevard Theatre opened on November 1, 1913. It featured small time vaudeville and pictures. In 1917 the interior was redesigned by noted theatre architect Thomas White Lamb. It was at this time that a Moller 3 manual 6 ranks with 54 registers organ was installed. It was remodeled again in 1932 to accommodate talking pictures. In June 1940 it introduced ‘one night’ vaudeville which continued into 1950. Loew’s closed the Boulevard Theatre in the 1960’s.
It soon reopened under independent management. As well as movies, there were occasional live shows and in September 1972 it presented a circus. In the late-1970’s it went over to screening Spanish language movies and was closed in the mid-1980’s.
It was converted into a Five Brothers furniture store and the balcony was sealed off by a false ceiling extending from the front of the balcony to the proscenium. In the late-2000’s it became a Planet Fitness gymnasium. The orchestra area occupied by the gymnasium has had its original decorative details removed, but the balcony (although out of sight and out of bounds) still retains its theatre decorative details.
Contributed by
William Gabel, Matt Lambros
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Here is an ad from it’s Puerto Rico days.
View link
Your right! It was never called the Puerto Rico. It kept playing spanish movies as the Boulevard till the early 80’s. When it sadly closed. Remember going to see a couple of spanish movies in the mid 70’s. And was very impress with how awsome it looked. Sorry to see it closed and turn in to what it is today.
Two photographs I took of of the Boulevard Theatre in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225271610/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/225272318/
Lost Memory’s photo posted above on 7/1/08 dates from 1940 as the two features playing are ‘40 releases. Front of marquee reads as follows (best I can decipher):
FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS with RAY MILAND
MEN WITHOUT SOULS with BARTON MACLANE
PLAY TRIPLE SCREENO TONIGHT 8:45 . CASH
See my photos at http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/22276.html
As of 7/15/11 nothing occupies the space. It is an empty shell with forlorn signs on the windows “to let”,
As of 6/30/15, the space is occupied by a T-Mobile, Planet Fitness, and a local clothing store. A portion of the facade, and especially the arch, has been restored and can once again read “Boulevard theater”.
Thanks for the update!
I remember that when I was ten I went with my parents and a neighbor couple to Southern Boulevard for New Years Eve 1951. First we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then went across the street to the Loew’s Boulevard to see An American in Paris. Or, it could have been at the Loew’s Spooner, just down the street on Southern Blvd; which ever had the Chinese restaurant across the street.
Anyone know what the status of the interior currently is?