| Building Address: | 3560-3568 Broadway, New York NY 10031 |
| Building Name: | Hamilton Theatre |
| Zip Code: | 10031 |
| Neighborhood: | Upper East Side |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 0 |
| Year Built: | 1912 |
| Building Class: | B |
The building at 3560-3568 Broadway in Manhattan, known as the Hamilton Theatre, was constructed in 1912-13 as a combination vaudeville and motion picture theater. It was designed by Thomas W. Lamb, a prominent theater architect of the period, and commissioned by B.S. Moss and Solomon Brill, leading figures in New York City's early 20th-century vaudeville theater industry.
Originally intended to be called the Lafayette Theatre, the name was changed to Hamilton before its opening. The structure embodied an imposing three-story design clad in white terra cotta atop a polished granite water table, featuring grand bronze and glass marquees and majestic two-story arched windows supported by cast iron caryatids. The facade was crowned with a terra cotta cornice adorned with theatrical masks.
The Hamilton Theatre had a large seating capacity of 1,857 and was equipped with a pipe organ from the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Company. Vaudeville performances initially took center stage, supported by an in-house orchestra, before motion pictures became more dominant in the 1920s.
In 1928, the Hamilton was sold to Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) Radio Pictures, Inc., becoming one of New York City's first movie theaters to show talking pictures. The theater continued operation until 1958, after which its auditorium was repurposed for sports events like boxing, a discotheque, and eventually by a church that purchased the building in 1965. The storefronts continued to be leased out during these periods.
The building's original ornate lobby was modernized in 1954, reflecting the declining era of movie theaters at the location. The church vacated the property around 1989, and it was sold to real estate developer Alex DiLorenzo. Proposals in 2020 by developers Omni New York and Brisa Builders suggested demolition of the theater's interior while preserving the facade (facadism) to build affordable housing, acknowledging that rehabilitating the auditorium was not cost-effective. The fate of the historic interior structure remains undecided.
The Hamilton Theatre's terra-cotta facade remains a significant architectural reminder of the important role vaudeville houses and movie theaters played in New York City's early 20th-century neighborhoods and stands as a tribute to Thomas W. Lamb's architectural legacy.
3560-3568 Broadway in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood is the historic Hamilton Theatre building constructed in 1912-1913 by vaudeville promoters Benjamin S. Moss and Solomon Brill. Designed by theater architect Thomas W. Lamb, the four-story structure features white terra cotta cladding and original theatrical elements.
Key Details
- Location: Northwest corner of Broadway & W 146th Street
- Building Class: Commercial/Residential (B)
- Size: 25,629-35,000 SF (sources vary)
- Zoning: R7 - Medium-density residential/commercial
Historical Timeline
| 1913 | Opened as 1,857-seat vaudeville/movie theater |
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| 1947 | RKO renovation for sports/discotheque use |
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| 1965 | Converted to church with retail storefronts |
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| 2020 | Proposed demolition/redevelopment for affordable housing |
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Architectural Features
- Polished granite base with cast iron caryatids
- Original marquees on Broadway and 146th Street
- Ornate terra cotta cornice with theatrical masks
Current Status
The 4-story structure faces potential redevelopment with competing proposals for 14-18 story towers while preserving portions of the original façade.
Amenities at 3560-3568 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC
- Remarkable and protected light and air on three sides
- Original architectural details throughout
- Historic Landmark designation
- Prime location near West 145th Street Subway Station
- Potential for residential or community facility development
- Bus line access
- Metro/Subway nearby
Currently, there is limited information available about specific office tenants at 3560-3568 Broadway in Manhattan, NYC. The building is a mixed-use property with storefront retail and office spaces, constructed in 1912, and classified as a Class B building. It has a total area of 25,629 square feet and stands at four stories high, with about 21% of its space currently leased.
Historically, the location was once home to the Hamilton Theatre, with various commercial tenants over the years, including Foot-Rite shoe store, Wafex, Inc., and the Cushman Bakery. By the 1980s, tenants such as Broadway Fried Chicken operated from the site.
In recent years, plans for redevelopment have been proposed, though no specific office tenants are mentioned in these developments.
Internet Providers at 3560-3568 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC
Residents and businesses at 3560-3568 Broadway have access to several major internet providers offering a range of connection types and speeds suitable for various needs.
Spectrum
Spectrum is available directly at 3560 Broadway. It offers cable and fiber internet services with speeds up to 1 Gbps. Spectrum plans provide reliable, high-speed internet suitable for streaming, gaming, and multiple device connectivity. Additional services include TV and mobile bundles. Spectrum maintains a local store at this address for in-person assistance and service management.
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios is known for its high-speed fiber internet service in Manhattan with speeds starting at 300 Mbps and reaching up to 2 Gbps. It offers bundled packages with phone and TV, known for good customer satisfaction and reliable fiber-optic connections in this area.
Astound Broadband Powered by RCN
Astound Broadband, formerly RCN, provides both cable and fiber internet services in Manhattan, including the Broadway area. It offers competitive pricing, unlimited data usage, and fiber plans that cover much of the city, delivering speeds up to 1.5 Gbps.
Location
3560-3568 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC, Harlem neighborhood
Cross Streets
Broadway between West 145th Street and West 146th Street
Transportation
- Subway: 145 Street Station on the 1 line (New York MTA Subway), located a half block away
- Bus Lines: Available along Broadway
Nearby Office Tenants Leased- LivingSocial leased 60,405 SF at 101 Fifth Ave
- Phoenix Constructors leased 55,000 SF at 100 Broadway
- RDA International leased 14,000 SF at 100 Vandam St
- Postworks New York leased 11,000 SF at 100 Avenue of the Americas
- Digital Color Technologies leased 10,000 SF at 1001 Avenue of the Americas
- Moadel Eye Specialists leased 7,500 SF at 104-110 E 40th St
- Wedding Atelier leased 3,100 SF at 103 Fifth Ave
- Audio Help Hearing Centers leased 1,500 SF at 1036 Park Ave
- Jared Finkell, MD leased 500 SF at 10 Downing St
- Century Pharmacy leased 500 SF at 10 Rutgers St
Nearby Retail Tenants Leased- Daffy's leased 18,000 SF at 111 Fifth Ave
- Polo Ralph Lauren leased 11,000 SF at 1055 Madison Ave
- New York Kids Club leased 4,000 SF at 11 Fifth Avenue
- Hickey Freeman leased 4,000 SF at 111 Broadway
- 10 Downing leased 3,400 SF at 10 Downing St
- Clean Table leased 2,000 SF at 101 Seventh Avenue
- Duane Reade leased 1,888 SF at 100 Broadway
- Litter & Leashes leased 1,852 SF at 1100 Second Ave
- Simit and Smith leased 400 SF at 11 Waverly Pl
- Sundaram Tagore Gallery leased 400 SF at 1100 Madison Ave
