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729 Sixth Avenue

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729 Sixth Avenue image

729 Sixth Avenue
Post

(1886-87, Schwarzmann & Buchman)) The late 19th-century commercial takeover of Sixth Avenue wasn’t limited to just high-end department stores. The area surrounding 23rd Street was once a nexus of theatrical productions, of both vaudeville and legitimate persuasions alike. In 1879, Koster & Bial took over Bryant’s Opera House (established 1870, infamously one of the last minstrel theaters in the city). The partners soon expanded to a 1,200-seat theater on 23rd Street and eventually took up the entire Sixth Avenue frontage as well with a beer garden and a corner annex, which served as a saloon and beer store. The latter’s pediment and corner plaque still proudly advertise “The Corner” and “Koster & Bial.” In 1893, the partners were forced to close their Chelsea operations on charges of “encouraging prostitution.” A few days later they had opened a new venue on 34th Street (later famous for hosting the city’s first motion picture exhibition in 1896).
Six To Celebrate: Chelsea image

Six To Celebrate: Chelsea
Story

In 1750, British naval officer Thomas Clarke bought a Dutch farm to create his retirement estate, named “Chelsea” after the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. His property extended from approximately Eighth Avenue to the Hudson—its shore ran roughly along today’s Tenth Avenue—between 20th and 28th Streets. The estate was subdivided in 1813 between two grandsons; Clement Clarke Moore received the southern half below 24th Street while his cousin, Thomas B. Clarke, inherited the northern section. The two halves developed distinctly different characters due to the split. Today, Chelsea contains a variety of historic architecture, including some of the city’s most intact nineteenth-century residential blocks, significant commercial buildings, and industrial complexes near the Hudson River.

Photos(4)

727 Sixth Avenue image

727 Sixth Avenue

Manhattan: 6th Avenue - 24th Street (West) Sixth Avenue, south from W. 24th Street, showing the "El" structure and its 23rd Street station undergoing demolition. The 19 story office structure at the left (No. 71 W. 23rd Street) is owned and partially occupied by the Masons. On the opposite corner (S.E.) is a 6 story loft building standing on the former site of Booths Theatre. The low units on the west side of this thoroughfare, between 23rd and 24th streets are nondescript, though the corner building at 24th Street identifies itself as being formerly Koster & Bials. This sign is out into the cornice roofing and does not appear here. An additional sign does, bearing "The Corner". The Koster & Bials Concert Hall of the 1890's was located around the corner at 15 W. 23rd Street and this may have been an annex. Two doors to the south is a structure containing a penny arcade, "Playland". This, the writer believes is one of the last, if not the last, of many similar and popular venture. February 19, 1939 F.L. Sperr