Picture this a grand movie palace in Harlem. The Regent Theatre. It opened in February 1913. Its Venetian palazzo exterior hid a Spanish-Moorish auditorium. Walls gleamed with gold blue and red satin. Dark blue carpets covered the floor. A stunning ceiling mural depicted The Surrender of Granada.
The Regent Theatre was a masterpiece. Yet it almost failed instantly. Owner Henry Marvin called on S L Rothafel known as Roxy. Roxy’s showmanship saved failing theatres across the USA. The Regent was his biggest challenge. He closed it for months. He added plants. He installed new lighting and curtains. He hired a huge orchestra. Music accompanied the films perfectly.
The Regent reopened in December 1913 with The Last Days of Pompeii. Roxy’s innovative approach became famous. He soon moved on to the Strand Theatre. The Regent continued to thrive. B S Moss took over adding vaudeville acts. The theatre became the RKO Regent. Minor modernizations happened in 1939 and 1944.
The RKO Regent closed as a cinema in 1963. It was listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. An evangelical church acquired the building. It remains a church today. The church has attempted to restore some of the Regent’s original beauty. It likely looks better than under RKO’s less attentive management. The Regent Theatre a magnificent building with a rich history. It continues to stand as a testament to the golden age of cinema. A lasting landmark in Harlem.