Trans-Lux Theatre, 1937

Opened on May 16th, 1931, this was one of the city's first purpose-built "twin" cinemas. This second Trans-Lux theatre occupied the retail space of the new Lecourt (later Brill) Building. Its two small auditoriums each had its own box office and entrance, but they shared the wide marquee seen here. Opened during the Depression the twin theatres, which showed newsreels, shorts, and cartoons. The struggling venue limped along until 1937 when boxing champion Jack Dempsey and his business partner took over the space for a self-branded eatery. The Jack Dempsey’s Broadway Bar and Cocktail Lounge opened in 1937 and survived in the Brill Building until 1974.

After vacating this space, Trans-Lux opened a much more successful, single-screen theatre at 1607 Broadway.