Delmar Theatre
3410 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
3410 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
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The Gotham Theatre was built in 1920 and designed by Carlson & Wiseman. A notice that plans for the project had been filed appeared in the September 25, 1920 issue of Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide. This web page has an overview of the theater’s history.
Philip, so when were they Loews?
Del Mar and Dorset were owned by Harry Harris in the 1940s. Eventually purchased by Loews. My grandfather was their attorney.
http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult_VPage&VBID=24UP1G7O4A3I&SMLS=1&RW=1024&RH=643 and http://harlembespoke.blogspot.com/2012/11/remember-gotham-theatre-circa-1949.html
Still advertising in a Spanish newspaper in 1963 as the Del Mar.
Thanks again,KenRoe.
Actually, the use of the name Gotham for New York City far predates Batman comics. It was first used by Washington Irving at least a century before this theater was built.
Gotham was an interesting name for a 1920’s theatre since the name originated from early nineteenth century satires of New York and Batman comics (1940)had yet to be written.
The Delmar was still listed as a Harris Theatre in the 1959 edition of the Film Daily Yearbook.
My mom used to go to this theater in the 1940s as a child. It was 10 cents for a whole day of movies/newsreels, etc! Things have sure changed since then. Thanks to those who posted pictures.
Going by DOB documents and certificates of occupancy, it seems like the theater was converted into a mixed-use building of retail and dance hall/cabaret by 1957, therefore it probably ceased being a movie theater by then. The former theatre still functions as a mixed-use building to this day.
Wow, I can’t get over how much the facade—the whole block!—has changed since I lived in the area in the mid-90s. The former supermarket tenant, ‘Extra Super Jumbo’, was basically jury-rigged inside the old theatre, with the old vaulted (and frescoed? if I recall) ceiling exposed. It made for a really surreal shopping experience. It looks like this most recent renovation has probably butchered whatever was left of the old theatre = \
This theatre is mentioned in Rogelio Agrasanchez, Jr.’s excellent book MEXICAN MOVIES I N THE UNITED STATES.
The GOTHAM as the DEL MAR filled the 2500 seat house with Spanish Language films. It hosted the World Premiere of superstar Cantinflas’ PUERTA JOVEN.
I forgot one thing. According to the book “On Broadway” Gotham is the original name.
I read that the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp (it’s a Krapp house!). There is a book that was put out by Rizzoli a few years ago Called “On Braodway” about Broadway from the Battery up to northern Manhattan that lists it as well as the other nearby Krapp house, the Rio.
I walked into the loading dock and storage area as I knew That it would be the stage. I was right. I could clearly see the upstage side of the proscenium arch. Way up in the distance I could make out the dome over the auditorium in the darkness. I could also see what looked like chains hanging from the ceiling that held up the false ceiling of the supermarket.
I was on my home from The Cloisters with my daughter and happened to have my camera with me. I was able to snap this head-on shot of the Gotham’s main facade while stopped at a traffic light:
Gotham Facade Broadway
I might have known that KenRoe would post a recent photo – every time I think he’s exhausted the images he captured during his last visit to NYC, he pulls out yet another batch of photos! Anyway, I think this shot nicely compliments the pair that Ken provides. The foliage in the foreground is on the median that runs down the center of Broadway. I passed a number of theaters on the way down that thoroughfare from 187th Street until I turned off onto 125th to head over to the Triborough Bridge. This was the only instance, however, where I was stopped in traffic at just the right spot to snap a decent image.
Ace;I don’t know about a supermarket at the rear.
Here are two views of the exterior of the Delmar Theatre from each end that I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/190991956/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/190992471/
Say, is the supermarket behind the McDonalds part of the original building as well?
Currently a McDonalds Restaurant only takes up the original entrance and part of the foyer space of the building. The auditorium has been converted into a bank and medical center.
I have Film Daily Yearbook editions 1926 and 1930 which list it as the Gotham Theatre with a seating capacity given as 2,500 and 2,600 respectively. By the 1941 edition of F.D.Y. it had been re-named Delmar Theatre with 2,250 seats and still the Delmar with 2,200 seats in the 1957 edition.
As the Gotham, this theatre was in operation, exhibiting motion pictures, by at least 1922.
To add to the confusion, there was another New York City theatre, on 125th Street, which is listed at Cinema Treasures as the Gotham. It was built in 1903 and demolished in 1965.
I think that Chuck1231’s picture might be of the theatre listed at Cinema Treasures under the name Movieland, which was at Broadway and 47th and was called the Gotham from 1944-1951.
It’s still recognizable as a theater when drive by it on Broadway but it’s all retail with a two story McDonalds taking up most of the space…