Mr. Barnes Of New York Playing At The Vitagraph Theatre – 1914

This rare postcard view of The Vitagraph Theatre on the east side of Broadway and 44th Street shows the theatre’s marquee with people milling about a horse drawn promotional wagon.

The building opening in 1895 as the Lyric Theatre was part of the Olympia entertainment complex built by Oscar Hammerstein. The complex soon ran into financial difficulty and in 1898 was sold in parcels by Hammerstein’s creditors. Broadway producer Charles Frohman took over the theatre renaming it the Criterion.

On January 1, 1914 the Criterion was renamed for the Vitagraph film company, who began leasing the theatre for $50,000 per year. The theatre started showing motion pictures on February 7, 1914.

By the marquee’s display, we know it is sometime during  the week of April 18, 1914 when this bill opened. The 900 seat theatre was charging the princely sum of one dollar for admission. So what did you get for a buck?

The Films

“Homely” Flora Finch via https://classicfilmaficionados.wordpress.com

Mr. Barnes of New York adapted from a play and novel, was a six part (about one hour) drama starring Maurice Costello. It was said by reviewers that the play did not carry over well as a film.

After Mr. Barnes of New York conclusion and a five minute intermission, the one act comedy The New Stenographer was shown.  According to The Billboard Magazine’s review, “there are plenty of laughs in this offering,” with five foot nine Flora Finch in the title role as a homely stenographer.  A star in those days , Flora would continue to appear in hundreds of films, usually in supporting roles, playing shrewish women until her death on January 4, 1940 at the age of 72.

The final film, a three part comedy Love, Luck and Gasolene, starring early screen personality John Bunny, has some funny moments and unusual scenes including a hydro-aeroplane and motor boat chase.

Modern audiences cannot judge for themselves as all three films are considered lost.

The week before this bill of movies played at the Vitagraph, The Strand Theatre at Broadway and 47th Street had its opening on April 11, 1914. The Strand was the first motion picture palace theatre, a huge building exclusively dedicated to showing films. The Strand seated 3,500 patrons and cost $1 million to build and furnish.

The conversion from stage shows to motion pictures was accelerated during this time in the Times Square district.

Other legitimate theatres would follow the trend and show films. Many theatres would be built catering solely to the increasing demand for larger and fancier film venues. In New York City, the Rialto, Rivoli and Capitol Theatres all opened in the teens, trying to top one another as opulent movie palaces.

The Vitagraph did not last as a motion picture palace, returning to a legitimate house in 1916 and becoming once again, The Criterion. The former Olympia complex including the Criterion was demolished in 1935.