Bijou Theatre

Constructed by the directors of the Mercantile Library based on plans approved in 1869, this theatre may not have opened until 1875. The Library Hall, as it was first known, was a huge auditorium located behind a 4 story Gothic/Second Empire stone fronted library building which faced Penn Avenue. Seating in the auditorium was on four levels.

By the 1880’s, the theatre was known as the Bijou Theatre, and was run independently of the library, which was struggling financially. The theatre purchased the building in 1890.

By the 1890’s an entrance at 133 6th Street was added, and the 1906 map shows a more formal side entrance through a recently constructed 7 story hotel building. It appears at this point that the original library building had also been replaced by a 7-story building, offering greater commercial and office rental income to the theatre.

The theatre operated until around 1910 at least, although it is not listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. Film use is uncertain, but likely included some showings. The seating capacity, which was originally intended to be around 1,400, is taken from the 1905 Cahn guide. Other sources give a capacity of 2,682. The 1924 volume of the Sanborn maps for this part of town is missing, but the building was apparently demolished in 1936. The present structure is a tacky 1980’s theatre.

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