South of Union Square logo
South of Union Square
Place
The Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street

Posts & Stories(3)

Freewheelin': Bob Dylan's Village image

Freewheelin': Bob Dylan's Village
Walk

A guide to the places Bob Dylan worked, played and created in New York's Greenwich Village.
The Theaters of Greenwich Village image

The Theaters of Greenwich Village
Story

Since its very beginnings, Greenwich Village has been a breeding ground for artistic free expression. Nowhere is this more evident than its historic theaters.
The Lucille Lortel Theatre image

The Lucille Lortel Theatre
Post

The Lucille Lortel Theatre, ca. 1984. This landmark theater is the Lucille Lortel Theater, formerly known to many as the Theatre de Lys. The facade of the theater today does not reflect the rich overall history of the site. In fact, who knew the theater was converted from two row houses and rear stables dating back to 1868? Before becoming a motion picture house and theater, the two homes were owned by a rug and carpet merchant named Jeremiah W. Dimick. It is not certain if he and his family lived at this home because Dimick was a bit of a real estate mogul. Shortly before his death in 1896, Dimick was shamed in the New York Times with other property owners for creating unfathomably terrible housing for lower class tenants. His rear stables at 121 and 123 Christopher Street were converted into housing; piling 14 and 10 tenants into each respectively. His son, also named Jeremiah, would take over the property and allow the site, with rear stables and all, to be converted into a motion picture house, called the New Hudson Theater, around 1913. In 1932, the Dimick family no longer owned the property and the theater would change hands several times as the Hudson Playhouse, Theatre de Lys and finally its current owners, the Lucille Lortel Foundation. The theater today is still going strong with a performance almost every day.

Photos(1)

The Lucille Lortel Theatre image

The Lucille Lortel Theatre

\[The Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street.]
Privacy PolicyTerms of Service