Tappan Zee Playhouse
Also known as: Broadway Theater
Why it's listed
Built in 1911 on Broadway in downtown Nyack, this brick theatre opened as the Broadway Theatre, offering vaudeville and some of the first moving pictures shown in Rockland County. James Kirby and Judge Arthur Tompkins built it, and it was later leased and sold to Michael Mirabel. A balcony and boxes added in 1923 raised seating from 800 to 1,200. The front section has a Neoclassical Revival facade and an auditorium with a horseshoe balcony, ornate boxes and a pressed metal ceiling. The stage house at the rear incorporates a converted nineteenth-century stable. Competition from a newer cinema led to its closure in 1931, and it stood vacant for about thirty years. In 1958 it reopened as the Tappan Zee Playhouse, a summer theatre that drew stars including Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson and Helen Hayes. Fires in 1975 and 1977 and a leaking roof caused damage. A preservation association bought it in 1980 to repair it.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest theatre in the Nyack area and a largely intact example of early twentieth century, Neoclassical Revival theatre design. It opened as a vaudeville house and one of the county's first movie theatres, and later hosted well-known performers as a summer stock playhouse. It also recalls the early twentieth century growth of downtown Nyack.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83001788, listed July 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20 S. Broadway, Nyack |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | July 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001788 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1911) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as deteriorated and unoccupied at the time of nomination. A preservation association bought it in 1980 and has been stabilizing and repairing it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.09011, -73.91874 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83001788.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7684762
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.