Odeon Theatre

According to the date plaque in the stonework on the upper part of the facade, the Odeon Theatre was built in 1910. It was opened in early-1911 by the M. Morgenthau Jr. Co. and was first used as a vaudeville theatre with motion picture use. The 1,100-seat Odeon Theatre was an early theatre designed by noted theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb. It was leased to the 16th Street Theatre Company in August 1911. It is listed as operating as a full time movie theatre by 1925. For many years it was operated by the same chain that operated the nearby Roosevelt Theatre on 7th Avenue and the Douglas Theatre on Lennox Avenue.

It is listed in Film Daily Yearbooks 1930-1933 and 1940-1955 as being a “Negro theatre” catering to African-American audiences.

It is not listed in F.D.Y. in the mid-1950’s, although I believe it closed as a movie theatre c.1961.

It is currently in use as St. Paul Community Church, but has faded painted signs still visible on the upper side walls stating ‘Odeon Theatre, 145th Street’.

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