Midtown South in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Koster & Bial’s

know NYC

— 34th Street district —

Koster & Bial’s wayside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

1. Koster & Bial’s wayside

Inscription.
Front:
Hello…
My stage name is Carmencita!. In 1890 I made my America debut dancing the Flamenco at Koster & Bial’s Concert Hall on 23rd Street. Three years later, I moved my act uptown to this site on 34th Street where its sister venue Koster & Bial’s Music Hall had just opened.

Back – Top:
Theater owners John Koster and Albert Bial partnered with Oscar Hammerstein to convert his newly built opera house on 34th Street to a vaudeville theater.
Bottom:
“…the spectator’s imagination filled the atmosphere with electricity, as sparks crackled around the swift moving lifelike figures.”
- New York Times description of Edison’s Vitascope, April 24, 1896

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is April 24, 1896.

Location. 40° 45.03′ N, 73° 59.382′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Midtown South. Marker is on West 34th Street east of Seventh Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 142 West 34th Street, New York NY 10001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Here the Motion Picture Began (within shouting distance of this marker); R.H. Macy & Company (about 400 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); Macy’s (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Macy’s (about 500 feet away); Herald Square (about 500 feet away); Broadway at 35th Street (about 500 feet away); In Honor Of Donald W. Distasio (about 600 feet away); The New York Herald (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Regarding Koster & Bial’s. The Vitagraph plaque is directly across the street at Macy's. See "Other nearby markers" link above.

Also see . . . Foster and Bial's Music Hall. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on August 25, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Koster & Bial’s wayside venue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

2. Koster & Bial’s wayside venue

The music hall was across the street, where Macy's now stands.

Koster & Bial’s wayside, front detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

3. Koster & Bial’s wayside, front detail

Koster & Bial’s wayside, back view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 14, 2020

4. Koster & Bial’s wayside, back view

Koster & Bial’s wayside, back detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

5. Koster & Bial’s wayside, back detail

Panel 1

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

6. Koster & Bial’s wayside, back detail

Panel 2

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

7. Koster & Bial’s wayside, back detail

Panel 3.

Photographed By Larry Gertner, July 7, 2020

8. Koster & Bial’s wayside, back detail

Panel 4.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 279 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 25, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.