Historic movie palaces / Morningside / East English Village
Alger Theater
Closed – archive entry · 1935–1985
East Warren Avenue's 1935 Art Deco movie house, with a name tower that became a neighborhood landmark. It hasn't shown films since 1985, but the Friends of the Alger Theater have been saving it since 1987 and hope to reopen in 2028.
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1935
- Closed
- 1985
- Architect
- C. Easton Allen
- Style
- Art Deco / Streamline Moderne
- Seats
- 1182
- Screens
- 1
- Landmark status
- National Register of Historic Places (listed 2005)
02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Alger opened on August 21, 1935, with 1,182 seats on East Warren Avenue in the Morningside and East English Village area, designed by C. Easton Allen. Its best-known feature is the name tower, a landmark for the whole neighborhood. It switched to live shows in 1977, went back to films in 1983, and closed in 1985 after a riot and fire during a Friday the 13th Part V screening. The nonprofit Friends of the Alger Theater bought it in 1987 and has been restoring it ever since, hosting occasional events along the way. Volunteers plan storefront screenings nearby in 2027 and hope to reopen the theatre itself in 2028.
- 1935 Art Deco neighborhood house with a name tower
- On the National Register of Historic Places since 2005
- Volunteers hope to reopen it in 2028
Plan your visit
It isn't operating as a cinema right now, but the building still stands on East Warren Avenue and the Friends host occasional events inside. Check the Alger's website for what's coming up.
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