By looking at the smooth 1960's stucco finishes of the Greater Refuge Temple on 124th Street and ACP/7th Avenue (lower photo), one would never know that one of Harlem's oldest ballrooms lies beneath the modernist house of worship. The building at 2081 Seventh Avenue, was built sometimes around 1890 and would serve as a live event venue and ballroom called the Harlem Casino until around 1910 when it would become a Loew's Theater. Operating through the 1930's the Loew's would eventually close (2nd photo circa 1941) and be reborn as a church by the 1960's.
Archival photos courtesy of NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses.
By looking at the smooth 1960's stucco finishes of the Greater Refuge Temple on 124th Street and ACP/7th Avenue (lower photo), one would never know that one of Harlem's oldest ballrooms lies beneath the modernist house of worship. The building at 2081 Seventh Avenue, was built sometimes around 1890 and would serve as a live event venue and ballroom called the Harlem Casino until around 1910 when it would become a Loew's Theater. Operating through the 1930's the Loew's would eventually close (2nd photo circa 1941) and be reborn as a church by the 1960's. Archival photos courtesy of NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses.
You can get a postcard version of the top photo for under $10 on ebay...
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