In 1901, workmen began the process of demolishing the Star Theatre located at the northeast corner of Broadway and Thirteenth Street, just south of Union Square in New York City. The theatre first opened its doors in 1861 and was built by James W. Wallack, a noted actor and theatre manager of the time. Originally known as Wallack’s Theatre (one of four in NYC to bear his name), it was once considered one of the finest theatres in the United States.
Over the years, changes in ownership, a neighbourhood now focused on the garment trade and newer theatres in other parts of the city kept theatre goers away. The theatre eventually closed and was demolished to make way for a clothing manufacturing company.
The Star was located across the street from the American Mutoscope—an early motion picture company. The company captured the demolition for posterity,setting up a camera to take images every four minutes during the day as the demolition progressed and releasing the images as the short film “Demolishing and Building Up Star Theatre.”
In a strange twist of fate, today a 14 screen multiplex now stands at the Star’s old site at the corner of Broadway and Thirteenth.
The Final Curtain 
Wow, no wrecking ball. Just brick by brick. Seeing the horses and carriages and the men in their bowler hats and the women in their long skirts was mesmerizing. Just a snapshot from a series of days 113 years ago.
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