Star Theatre

1716 Lexington Avenue,
New York, NY 10029

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters, Fox Circuit, Harris Theatrical Enterprises

Architects: Joseph J. Furman

Previous Names: Fox Star Theatre, Teatro Boricua

Nearby Theaters

Star Theatre

More information is needed about the Star Theatre, which was one of William Fox’s first vaudeville-movie theatres in Manhattan but might have been an acquisition rather than one that he built himself. During the Star Theatre’s heyday, many top names performed on stage, but it eventually fell victim to competition from the Proctor’s 86th Street Theatre and Loew’s Orpheum Theatre, which were given exclusive first-run status for that area of the Upper East Side.

Reduced to playing late-run movies with several program changes per week, the Star Theatre closed in the early-1950’s. In 1952 it was taken over by Harris Theatreatrical Enterprises and renamed Teatro Boricua, presenting Spanish language movies and stage acts. It was still open in 1955, but was eventually demolished.

Contributed by Warren G. Harris

Recent comments (view all 19 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on September 26, 2005 at 7:04 am

The Star Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915. The address given is 1716 Lexington Avenue.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on September 26, 2005 at 12:05 pm

It could be that such a large theatre had several entrance doorways that spread along the block. The Film Daily Yearbook editions 1926 and 1927 give a street number of 1716, by 1930 and beyond they give 1714.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on September 26, 2005 at 12:07 pm

Maybe the post box was moved from one side of the set of entrance doors to the other?

beckyJane
beckyJane on September 26, 2005 at 7:16 pm

ok.. I guess the star theater that I’m talking about was not a movie house.. unless it got turned into one with the advent of moving pics.

Bway
Bway on June 13, 2006 at 6:40 am

This was actually a pretty big theater judging by the exterior photos. Any interior ones available?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on December 25, 2006 at 2:32 am

This theatre is mentioned in Rogelio Agrasanchez, Jr.’s excellent book MEXICAN MOVIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

In 1952 it switched to Spanish language films and broke all previous first-run records. An excellent photo of the BORICUA can be found in the book.

Bway
Bway on May 18, 2009 at 10:15 am

There appears to be a large apartment building now on the site:

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on February 19, 2010 at 8:30 pm

I suspect this is the same 1928 image from the broken links above.

View link

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.