East Side of Broadway & 40th Street 1913

A Story Of Three Buildings On The Main Stem

This photograph taken by William Roege can be narrowed down to the autumn of 1913. Though photographer Roege engraved the year within the photo, he did not write an exact date.

The Empire Theater

We are looking at the east side of Broadway at 40th Street and the main clue to the time of year is the Empire Theater marquee which announces the appearance of actor John Drew.

Drew was one of the turn-of-the-century’s big stage stars and the uncle of actors John, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore.

John Drew in partnership with long-time manager/producer Charles Frohman put on three shows at the Empire in 1913.

The first play was Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing opening September 1 and closing in less than a month with poor reviews. It was an unexpected flop because Drew had memorized been waiting for 18 years to play Benedick and had memorized the lines in 1895 so Drew was letter perfect in rehearsals. Unfortunately, reviewers found Drew’s delivery “colloquial” and “monotone.”

Before Much Ado closed Frohman and Drew decided to acquire James M. Barrie’s The Will and C. Haddon Chambers, Tyranny of Tears for performances beginning September 29. Drew must have had a truly amazing memory because he would perform in both plays daily. Both shows requiring separate casts played at the Empire until the end of October.

The Empire Theater was demolished in 1953.

Browne’s Chop House

The other buildings in our photograph are Browne’s Chop House at 1424 Broadway, named after actor and restaurant founder George F. Browne, who was a stock member of producer / director/ and stage star Lester Wallack’s acting troupe.

Though almost all the newspaper stories of the restaurant’s origins state Browne’s began business in 1856 or 1857, it did not. Browne actually opened his first restaurant, called The Green Room in 1861. It was conveniently located in the rear of Wallack’s Theater at the stage entrance on 13th Street and Fourth Avenue. As the restaurant grew in popularity Browne decided to move to Harlem. That did not go well and Browne quickly set his sights back to opening a restaurant in the theater district

Browne’s next venture, The Fifth Avenue Chop House was successful, at Fifth Avenue and 21st Street in the 1860s. The theater district’s continuing movement uptown as the city expanded northwards would dictate Browne’s future restaurant location. Now known as Browne’s Chop House, the restaurant shifted locations along West 22nd, 27th and 28th Streets in the 1870s and 1880s several times.

Browne’s Chop House was more like an actors club and hang-out for theater people. Especially because actors were undesirable clientele in many establishments. Besides its food, drink and theater-folk camaraderie, the restaurant throughout its many moves was famous for its large collection of old signed theatrical photographs and programs given to George Browne that were mounted on all its walls.

George Browne passed away in 1885 and he never occupied the Broadway and 40th Street location during his lifetime.

Browne’s widow Louisa Pray Browne took over Browne’s Chop House with her son-in-law Mr. Williamson running it for her. The restaurant was acquired around 1890 by Frank E. Farrington.

In 1892 Browne’s Chop House moved into the five-story building on Broadway seen in our photo.

It wasn’t until September 17, 1911 that women were allowed to dine at Browne’s. It wasn’t  much of a concession to equal rights as ladies would only be admitted on Sunday’s.

Prohibition and the rise of cafeterias would doom Browne’s as it did many of the other famous theater district restaurants. Browne’s Chop House would shutter its doors after serving its last meal on June 30, 1925. The furnishings and theatrical memorabilia were put up for auction on July 28.

The lease was taken over by Schrafft’s, the ice cream and dining chain with the announced intention of making alterations and opening a tea room. Within weeks, Shrafft’s parent company, Frank Shattuck Company, announced they had bought the land and building, and would instead demolish Browne’s to construct a modern six story structure.

Lorber’s Restaurant

Adolf Lorber  began his career as a  restaurateur in 1893 at 274 Grand Street. The food he served was so good that Lorber’s was called the “Kosher Delmonico’s of the east side.” Customers traveled from all over the city to dine in what was considered the ghetto section of New York.

When Lorber’s moved uptown to 40th Street at 1418 Broadway in 1911, the customers came with him. Often the line would stretch out the door, down the block with patrons waiting for seats.

During World War I a cabaret show added to the festive atmosphere at Lorber’s. With the Metropolitan Opera House directly across the street, celebrities such as opera great Enrico Caruso would frequently be seen eating at Lorber’s.

In an area famous for high end restaurants like Rector’s and Shanley’s that featured lobster and champagne, Lorber was known as the “king of the table d’hote.” A sumptuous meal could be had for two dollars,

But as with almost all the big restaurants around Broadway prior to World War I, the coming of Prohibition in 1920 would have a deep impact on Lorber’s revenues.

However, Lorber’s would remain around much longer than many of its contemporaries, closing its doors forever on November 30, 1930. Adolf Lorber said he was not getting any younger, people were not as interested in fine gastronomy and prohibition had cut into profits to the point that it did not pay to continue operating.

Upon retirement Lorber and his wife took a trip around the world. When he returned to New York he said nowhere had he found a meal to match the one he had served at his price.

The building had been acquired in 1927 by real estate developer Abraham E. Lefcourt. Upon expiration of Lorber;s lease the building would be demolished.

Adolf Lorber died at the age of 79 on April 17, 1953.