Theatre Walks 2014-2015

Award winning author, Cezar Del Valle has had many years of experience developing and leading walking tours of New York’s theatrical and cultural districts.

Mindful of the budgetary constraints facing most non-profits, Del Valle is willing to discuss fees.

January 8, 2012 walking tour for the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP)
“Your amount of historic knowledge was nothing short of incredible”
-Dana Schulz, Program and Administrative Associate, GVSHP

Times Square:
Explore the “Crossroads of the World” to discover some of the lesser known sites along the “Great White Way.”

Lower East Side:
Five walks are available of New York City’s former melting pot of the immigrant working class.

Introductory Walk(s)
Three tours offer a basic introduction to the neighborhood’s showbiz past from immigrant theatre to off-off-Broadway and early television.

Yiddish Rialto
Stroll Second Avenue as Del Valle relates tales of Adler, Picon, Thomashefsky and other greats of the Yiddish stage.

Bowery
The colorful, salty history of the Bowery, once alive with Yiddish, Italian and Chinese theatres, vaudeville houses, dime museums, concert saloons and early film venues.

Downtown Brooklyn:
A former hub of theatrical activity, downtown Brooklyn is currently enjoying a rebirth with the development of the new BAM Cultural District.

Coney Island:
Del Valle invites you to Brooklyn’s “Sodom by the Sea” where Gary Grant walked on stilts, Harpo Marx made his stage début and where the music halls ran early & late.

Visit our Theatre Talks website for information and reviews.

Above photo copyright Betty Sword, all rights reserved.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Book of the year by the Theatre Historical Society. 

Photos, Bowery Walking Tour, May 18, 2014

Photographs of the Sunday May 18, 2014 Bowery Walking Tour for the Lower East Preservation Initiative.

"Thoroughly enjoyable tour of the Lower East Side theaters and other entertainment venues of the 19th and early 20th century."

--Richard Moses

President

L.E.S.P.I.

Photos copyright Betty Sword. All rights reserved.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2014, historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

Along the Bowery in 1867

On  Sunday, May 18, 2014, I will be conducting a walking tour of the Bowery for the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative.

Among the sites will be Tony Pastor's Opera House at 199 Bowery.

 The New York Sun, July 28, 1931:

"Here is a scene along the east side of the Bowery between Delancey and Rivington streets in 1867 before the elevated structure was erected. Rivington street is at the left.
"Near the right side of the picture is Tony Pastor's Opera House, a variety theater at 199 Bowery, where the proprietor made his first appearance in 1865. The playhouse was originally known as Hoym's Theater. The People's Theater, opened in the 80s, was built on the site of Tony Pastor's Opera House."

The street as it appears today on Google Maps:

  

View Larger Map    

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society. 

  
He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2014, historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.  

Lower East Side Preservation Initiative's Moveable Feast

An Afternoon on The Lower East Side

 Sunday May 18, 2014

Part One: Tour the Bowery

2:00-4:00 pm

with theatre historian Cezar Del Valle

Meet in front of the Liz Christy Garden, Bowery and Houston Street

The Bowery entertainment district was once bursting with Yiddish, Chinese and Italian Theatres, vaudeville houses, early film venues, dime museums, and concert saloons. Explore this colorful, earthy history with theatre historian Cezar Del Valle.

Admission: $20  LESPI Members: $15

 

History Quickie: Lower East Side History Project


Part Two:

 LUNCH AT AN HISTORIC GREEK-AMERICAN SYNAGOGUE 

4:00 - 6:00 pm

At the Kehila Janina Kedosha synagogue, a New York City Landmark, enjoy  a delicious lunch of traditional Greek-Jewish kosher yaprakes, bourekas, kourlouia, Greek salad, seasonal fruit, hot and cold beverages.

Tour the beautifully restored 1927 synagogue interior, and visit the synagogue's fascinating museum on the history of the congregation and Greek American Jewish life.

Cosponsored with Kehila Janina Kedosha 

Meet  at: Kehila Janina Kedosha Synagogue at 280 Broome St, between EldrIdge and Allen Streets

Admission: $25

LESPI and Synagogue members $20

SPECIAL COMBINED TOUR AND LUNCH EVENT PRICE: $40   

LESPI MEMBERS: $30

Info@LESPI-nyc.org with any questions.

This program is part of Lower East Side History Month 

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2014, historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.