Hudson Square in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Today’s IFC Film Center Building in 1926
Photographed by Larry Gertner, December 29, 2020
1. Today’s IFC Film Center Building in 1926 Marker
The building that houses the IFC film center (sic) at Sixth Avenue and Third Street wasn’t always a movie theater.
It began life in 1853 as a Reformed Dutch church – hence the peaked roof, which still exists. In 1893, the church leased the building to J&R Lamb Studios (left), which converted it (sic) a factory for the manufacture of stained-glass windows, such as “William Penn, Peace Movement” (above), circa 1905, now in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
Lamb moved to New Jersey in 1934, after which the building became the Waverly movie theater. The Waverly is remembered today for its raucous midnight screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” beginning in the 1970s.
After the Waverly closed in 2001, the building reopened four years later as the IFC Center, which shows independent films. Now nearly 170 years old, the building has served everyone from devout churchgoers to spaced-out cult movie fans.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Saw Mill on King Street 1830 (here, next to this marker); Father Fagan Park (within shouting distance of this marker); 203 Prince Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District
Photographed by Larry Gertner, 2010
2. as the IFC Center, 2010
Another marker is no longer nearby. Father Fagan Park (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. This is very much an ad-hoc affair by someone interested in the area's past. It has since been replaced by similarly styled "Saw Mill on King Street 1830" (qv).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The "Saw Mill on King Street 1830" replacement
Also see . . .
1. A Church Turned Studio Turned Theater - The IFC Center (Waverly Theater) 325 6th Avenue. Daytonian in Manhattan website entry (Submitted on October 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. IFC Center. Theater website homepage (Submitted on October 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. New York's very own Waverly Theatre and how it got that way.
via New York Tours from Gary, 1932?
3. as J&R Lamb Studios, circa 1932
4. Waverly Theater. Rocky Horror Wiki entry (Submitted on October 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
via Forgotten New York, 1940
4. as the Waverly Theater, 1940
via Pinterest, 1976
5. First Midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. April Fools Day, 1976
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 683 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
