J. B. McElfatrick explained

John Bailey McElfatrick (1828–1906) was an architect known for his design of theaters in the United States and Canada.^[1] He eventually went into practice with his sons William H. McElfatrick and John Morgan McElfatrick (1853-1891) in the firm J. B. McElfatrick & Sons.^[2]

McElfatrick established a practice in 1851 in Harrisburg and Philadelphia after studying architecture and engineering with his father Edward McElfatrick.^[1] The firm expanded to St Louis, Cleveland, and Chicago and also designed theaters in Ottawa and Montreal. He is credited with the design of more than 100 theaters and for instituting improved sight lines, multiple exits, fire sprinkler systems, and continuous rows of seating without aisles on the ground floor.^[3]

His work includes the Central Colored School at 542 West Kentucky Street in Louisville, Kentucky. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Several theaters that he designed remain in use.

Work

• Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn (open)
• Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
• Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia (open)
• Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania (open), by William H. McElfatrick
• National Theatre in Washington, D.C., an earlier building
• New Victory Theatre in New York City (open)
• Waynesburg Theater & Arts Center in Waynesburg^[4]
• Bijou Theatre (1883) at 1239 Broadway in Manhattan
• Harlem Opera House (1889)
• Columbus Theatre (1890)^[5]
• Holyoke Opera House (1894, refurbishing of galleries and stage)^[6]
• Hammerstein's Olympia (1895)
• Harlem Alhambra (1905)
• Manhattan Opera House (1906)
• Gayety Theater (Baltimore) (1906) in Baltimore
• Howard Auditorium Music Hall (Baltimore) (1895) in Baltimore

Notes and References

1. Web site: McElfatrick, John Bailey (1826 - 1906) -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. www.philadelphiabuildings.org.
2. Web site: J. B. McElfatrick & Son (fl. 1884 - 1906) -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. www.philadelphiabuildings.org.
3. Web site: McElfatrick, John Bailey - Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada. dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org.
4. Web site: Movie Theaters Designed by John Bailey McElfatrick - Cinema Treasures.
5. Book: Columbus Theatre. A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901, Volume 3. 558-565. Brown, Thomas Allston. 1903. Dodd, Mead & Co..
6. News: Holyoke's Fine Opera House; The Interior of the Handsome Building, Which Was Opened so Successfully Last Week. September 23, 1894. Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass.. 9.