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Duo Multicultural Arts Center, East Village

Duo Multicultural Arts Center (1981)

Ex-Metropolitan Assembly Rooms (1889)

Architect: Max Schroff

62 E. 4th St.

East Village, New York

 

This unusual structure was built as a dance and catering hall with a ground floor restaurant and apartments at the top. John Philip Sousa established the first musicians union here.The building was variously known as the Astoria (1906) and the Fortune (1969). By the 1930s, it had been fully converted to a theatre. Andy Warhol rented space in 1969 to screen porn films (motto: “Boys to Adore Galore”): Paul Morrissey came up with the concept, Joe Dallesandro was the projectionist, Jim Carroll took tickets. Francis Ford Coppola shot the operetta scene from GODFATHER 2 here (1973). Duo Arts moved in in 1981. The building recently had a stunning makeover, returning it to its former glory.

 

© Matthew X. Kiernan

NYBAI13-4244

 

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Uploaded on March 12, 2009
Taken on June 5, 2013