BOSTON may be known as the “Hub of the Universe” but the south Bronx has its very own Hub where four roads converge: East 149th Street and Willis, Melrose and Third Avenues, while Westchester Avenue begins its journey to Pelham Bay Park just a block to the north. Arrayed along Third is one of the Bronx’ biggest shopping areas (eclipsed only by Fordham Road), some mini-skyscrapers near some deserted lots and a number of ghost buildings. The framework for the dome of the United States Capitol was cast here, and Arthur “Dutch Schultz” Flegenheimer ran his speakeasy ring from a command post on East 149th.
A small sliver of property along East 149th east of Bergen Avenue where the #2 and #5 trains emerge from the subway tunnel features lamps and benches and has been declared a “drug-free’ zone, as long as the junkies cooperate. A grand building on the south side of East 149th, facing the plaza, is the former Italian Renaissance-style Bronx Opera House, now a hotel. It was constructed in 1913 [George Keister, architect] on the site of a former stable.
The “C & H” on the cartouches stands for the opera house’s founders, George M. Cohan, the “Yankee Doodle Dandy” of Broadway fame, and partner Sam H. Harris. The Harry Frazee production “Fine Feathers” was the first play presented. Frazee later owned the Boston Red Sox and sold Babe Ruth, who was holding out for more money, to the New York Yankees after the 1919 season. Over the years, well-known names such as the Marx Brothers, John Bunny, George Burns and Harry Houdini appeared at the BOH.
After some years as a movie theater, a Latin music dance club and a church, by which time it had become considerably rundown, the BOH was converted into a boutique hotel in 2013. Oddly, the Bronx Opera House wikipedia entry is quite comprehensive.
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3/27/23
7 comments
I worked in The Hub from 1972-74. It was decaying when I arrived in the summer of 1972 & the decline had accelerated by the time I left for greener pastures at the original World Trade Center in the spring of 1974. This isn’t an exaggeration on my part; there were arson & narcotics epidemics that caused The Hub to resemble post-World War 2 Berlin. Dutch Schultz’s Murder Inc. had its HQ on 149 St but now near social anarchy has decentralized crime in most American cities transforming them into murderers’ rows. It’s sad & frightening that some actually consider this progress.
Dutch Schultz had nothing to do with Murder Inc., other than it was they who killed him in Newark. They were based out of Brownsville Brooklyn, and headed by Albert Anastasia and Lepke Buchalter
I stand corrected. However, how much different from Anastasia & Buchalter was Schultz? It’s barely worth disputing. .It’s like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrw2hDjnl4
Loved the place in the mid 60’s. Three movies for 99 cents.
Don’t know why you included that video, but i do agree with you on the mobsters. They were all in the mob together, just didn’t agree on everything, and their viciousness was equal
Just my way of saying it’s OK to occasionally disagree (because we’re not mobbed up). Enjoy the weekend.
I worked on 149th & Willis from’75 to ‘81 and being from Brooklyn I endlessly explored the neighborhood which was, as all say, burning down more each and every sad day. That said, I never discovered it. Shame on me, bless you for the picture and story. Bob