On August 14th, Rosenwald had it’s opening night in NYC at the Sunshine Theater. The premiere was attended by many relatives of Julius Rosenwald. Also in attendance were Aviva Kempner and editor Mariam Hunter.
The premiere was proceeded by a lovely party hosted by Peter and Lucy Ascoli, who were in from Chicago.
While the Sunshine Theater (located on East Houston Street in Manhattan) opened December 21, 2001, the building has been around since 1898. In the past, the building as operated as the Houston Hippodrome Motion Picture Theater, a Yiddish vaudeville house, and a hardware warehouse. It’s restoration as a movie theater can be attributed to Landmark Theaters- their renovations have brought the theater into the 21st century with stadium seating, surround sound, and gourmet concessions. The theatre also offers attractions such as a Japanese rock garden and a viewing bridge that offers breathtaking city views from the third story spectacular glass annex. The restoration was a team effort—floor plans by TK Architects and interior design by architects Tony Pleskow and Tom Rael of Pleskow + Rael.
The area surrounding the theater played host to a variety of great Jewish restaurants, including Ross and Daughters, Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery, and Katz’s Delicatessen.