This black-and-white photograph from the New York City Tax Department shows the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse as it appeared in the 1940s, viewed from across Grand Street. The Playhouse is a three-story red brick building with a symmetrical facade and a low, flat roof topped by a projecting cornice. The main entrance sits left of center of the building beneath a rounded arch framed with light trim. 3 white, contrasting poster cases are mounted on the Playhouse's front, likely used to advertise upcoming performances and features. The upper stories consist of tall, rectangular shuttered windows, with stone lintels and molded trim highlighting their design for a theatrical, sophisticated appearance. To the left of the Playhouse is Joseph Tolmach's Drug Store, with an advertisement for bandages, elastic stockings, and trusses. To the right are taller brick buildings with fire escapes, indicating residential units above commercial storefronts and businesses. In the foreground, 2 pedestrians wait alongside the street. The image captures both the historic architecture of the Playhouse and the active neighborhood life of the Lower East Side that surrounds it. | Date: 26 July 2026 | Source: Written & Recorded by Abigail LewisDownload Original File