RKO Hamilton Theatre
3560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
3560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
13 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: B.S. Moss Enterprises, RKO
Architects: Thomas White Lamb
Styles: Renaissance Revival
Previous Names: B.F. Keith's Hamilton Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Hamilton Theatre was opened in 1913 for B.S. Moss. It was equipped with a Moller theatre pipe organ. Later taken over by RKO. They closed it in March 1965 with Doris Day in “Send Me No Flowers” and Dan Duryea in “Taggart”.
The building has been used as a church, a boxing auditorium, and in 1985, a disco. Since then, the lobby area of the former RKO Hamilton Theatre was converted into retail space, while the auditorium is currently unused.
When viewed in June 2013, the retail in the former foyer had moved out, and the space was available ‘For Lease’.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 91 comments)
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/future-rko-hamilton-theater-doubt-article-1.1304017
We are losing, by degrees, the structures that make New York City special. Pretty soon this town will look like every other city. When will we learn, that almost every real estate investor is only looking for the fast return? How will a condo on the site of the Hamilton contribute to the history and to what makes New York special? It won’t, but it will make this developer some money.
Is Harry Cipriani the only group that sees potential in these beautiful old spaces? Look at the old Bowery Bank branch across from Grand Central Terminal or the Cipriani Ballroom on Wall Street. The idea is not copy protected, so why isn’t any other developer trying to use what is there. Why do we have to lose the old Loew’s Victoria and potentially the Hamilton?
These places, so much part of the fabric of this city, are irreplaceable on many levels. No one does that kind of plasterwork anymore for one thing. Another aspect of the possible destruction of the Hamilton is, to quote Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, “Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future? Americans care about their past, but for short term gain they ignore it and tear down everything that matters. Maybe… this is the time to take a stand, to reverse the tide, so that we won’t all end up in a uniform world of steel and glass boxes.” We will be judged no by what we have built, but by what we have destroyed.
The New York Times showcases this beautiful theater, slated to be developed but large parts of the theater may be preserved.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/realestate/the-hamilton-theaters-changing-act.html?_r=0
Trying again: [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/realestate/the-hamilton-theaters-changing-act.html?_r=0] (RKO Hamilton)
Hmmm, unable to make the link work but here it is to cut and paste. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/realestate/the-hamilton-theaters-changing-act.html?_r=0
http://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16124coll2/id/28121/rec/7
1917
without the http:// http://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16124coll2/id/28121/rec/7
The RKO Hamilton closed in 1965, still an RKO house. Mr Gabel and Mr Lambros haven’t done their research accurately. I have checked and double checked my files for accuracy. Remember Cinema Treasures is as good as the people who contribute to it. All statements should be double checked, but by who?
There is also the problem of contradictory sources. Always get that from Historical Societies. Also have found totally contradictory newspaper sources.
The RKO Hamilton closed in March along with the RKO Chester. The RKO Marble Hill changed hands later on and the RKO Palace was sold and closed in July and became a Broadway live theatre which it is 51 years later. Another loss was the RKO Greenpoint. “Harlow” closed the Palace first run and also closed the Greenpoint second run with “Operation C.I.A.”. The Hamilton and the Chester closed with “Send Me No Flowers” and “Taggart” in March 1965.