American architect (1894–1945) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eugene De Rosa (1894 – c. 1945) was an Italian Americanarchitect, named at birth Eugenio. He worked in New York City and specialized in the design of theatres.
De Rosa's business flourished from 1918 to 1929, particularly during the Roaring Twenties, but it largely declined during the Great Depression. During the 1930s he spent some years in London and settled for a while in Naples. Toward the end of World War II he was reported to be back in New York and beginning to work on post-war theatre projects, just before his death.
De Rosa was born in Calabria, in the far south of mainland Italy, in 1894. While he was a small child, his parents emigrated to the United States, arriving through Ellis Island and settling in New York City, where they were living by 1898. De Rosa had four brothers, Felix, Jerry, Vincent, and John; and a sister, Sylvia. His brother Felix also became an architect.[1]
By 1918, De Rosa was practicing as an architect, quickly choosing to specialize in theatre design.[2] An early project was his Vanderbilt Theatre, New York (1918).[3] By 1919 he was in a partnership called "De Rosa & Pereira", and that year he represented several clients in appeals against decisions of the superintendent of buildings of the City of New York.[4]
De Rosa's business was largely destroyed by the Great Depression of the 1930s,[1] during which he took the opportunity to travel overseas. He spent some years in London and settled for a while in Naples, where in 1935 he was reported to be "wonderfully helpful" to American and English visitors.[7] His brother Felix De Rosa, also an architect, sold insurance during the Depression.[1]
Before or during the World War II, De Rosa returned to New York City, where by 1944 he was working on new theatre projects.[8] However, his death in 1945 prevented the revival of his career.[1]
Interior of Lafayette Theatre in 2005
Several of De Rosa's theatres are still standing, among them the 1000-seat Lafayette Theatre, Suffern (1924), an Adamesque building with a combination of French and Italian Renaissance influences ornamented in the Beaux Arts manner. An improvement scheme in 1927 added six distinctive opera boxes and further balcony seating. Unlike many others, the Lafayette was spared from demolition and multiplexing and continues to be used as a single-screen movie theatre.[9]
Another surviving work is the Broadway Theatre, built in New York City in 1924, and originally known as the "B. S. Moss's Colony Theatre".[10][11]
Gallo Opera House in New York City, built in 1927 for Fortune Gallo, was renamed as the Gallo Theatre, then Studio 52, and since 1977 has been known as Studio 54, a nightclub and theatre.[12]
De Rosa's huge 2,800-seat St. George Theatre in St. George, Staten Island, begun in 1928, cost $500,000 for the theatre alone and was part of a greater development project (an office complex is attached) worth some $2,000,000. The theatre opened on December 4, 1929, only weeks after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and remains in use. It is now owned by St. George Theatre Restoration Inc., a non-profit organization which aims to restore the building and to develop it as a performing arts and cultural center. Most of the ornate interior was designed not by De Rosa but by Nestor Castro.[13]
Cameo Theatre, 138 West 42nd, New York (1921), renamed Bryant (1938), 1970s became an adult film, closed in 1983[15]
Capitol Theater, Jamaica, Queens (1926), renamed Cort Jamaica Theater (1928), Werba's in 1929, and later named Carlton Theater (1930), which closed in 1958 and was demolished in 2002 (now the home of PS268).[19]
Central Theatre, Jersey City (1920; closed in the 1960s and is now defunct)[20][21]
New York Theatre, 1480 Broadway, New York (1939), renamed Globe (1950s), Rialto East (1976), Line 42 (1981), Line 1&2 (1983), Big Apple 1&2 (1984) [15]
Norworth Theatre, 121-3 West 48th Street (1918), renamed Theatre Parisien (1919), Belmont (1920), demolished 1952[15]
Colin Chambers, Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (2006), p. 32: "As in Britain, some architects became specialists in theatre design; among these were Herts and Tallent, Thomas Lamb, William Lehman, Eugene de Rosa, Walter Ahlschlager, Frank Grad, John Eberson, and Rapp and Rapp."
Building age and national builder, vol. 47, issues 7–12 (1925): "the phenomenal growth in popularity of motion pictures... This house, which was opened recently, is the design of Eugene De Rosa, architect, of New York, who is by way of being a specialist in theatre architecture, having to his credit, among others, the Times Square, Apollo, Klaw".
David Goldfarb, James G. Ferreri, St. George (2009), p. 75: "By 1929, the large edifice designed by Eugene De Rosa on Hyatt Street at St. Mark's Place was constructed to house stores, offices as well as the grandest theater on Staten Island, the St. George."
Clara Elizabeth Laughlin, So you're going to the Mediterranean!: And if I were going with you, these are the things I'd invite you to do (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1935), p. 202: "... the Italian Tourist Company. In the Naples office of this company ask for Mr Eugene L. De Rosa, who has spent years in London and in America and is wonderfully helpful to English and American travellers..."
Pencil Points, vol. 25, part 2 (Reinhold, 1944), p. 124: "Eugene De Rosa, New York architect, is recognized as an expert on theatre design and now on his boards are a number of postwar theatre projects."
Don B. Wilmeth, The Cambridge guide to American theatre (2007), p. 129: "Broadway, NYC [Architect: Eugene De Rosa]. Opened as B. S. Moss's Colony Theatre in 1924."
