This 1920s postcard makes the City College campus in Harlem appear almost pastoral. Where are all the buildings?
Lewisohn Stadium had those magnificent Doric columns, a nice touch. Built in 1915 between Amsterdam and Convent Avenue and 136th and 138th Streets, it served as home field for CUNY’s sport teams and was also a concert venue featuring performers from George Gershwin to Pete Seeger.
It was demolished in 1973. There’s a big academic center on the site now, but the old campus buildings are still gorgeous and worth a subway ride to see them.
Tags: City College of New York, CUNY, CUNY campus, George Gershwin, hamilton heights, Lewisohn Stadium, Pete Seeger
Ephemeral New York 
January 13, 2010 at 9:30 pm |
wow! i never saw it, but google-images has a number of dramatic views.
January 14, 2010 at 12:51 am |
yes, the Lewisohn stadium site was the venue for many summers of musical events; Gershwin, Pete Seeger, but also regular appearances of the New York Philharmonic (who went by the name “Stadium Concerts Symphony Orchestra” for those dates).
Still a very lovely campus!
January 14, 2010 at 1:23 am |
It’s a truly beautiful campus, on a hillside near lovely old townhouses and brownstones. One of the city’s hidden gems.
January 19, 2010 at 1:43 am |
I was student at CCNY when the stadium was demolished. I remember seeing the wrecking ball swinging. Why didn’t I think to take photos?
April 7, 2011 at 9:48 pm |
I think this is the location used in Serpico where Al Pacino and Tony Roberts meet up at one point. That location was a decrepit looking stadium that resembles the postcard in the post.
May 1, 2020 at 11:40 am |
You can still see that clip on You Tube along with a sweeping view of the campus.
May 16, 2012 at 5:12 pm |
I recall summer evening concerts by the Goldman Band in the stadium.
August 10, 2012 at 5:30 am |
My mother took me to the stadium just before demolition. We lived in Harlem then and I would have been in junior high school at the time. I recall her being quite sad about the loss of the stadium. I later went to CCNY for a semester before transferring to State University. I live in Vancouver BC now but whenever i’m in NY, I visit the campus.
September 29, 2012 at 1:43 am |
Now in my eighties and having grown up at the foot of the stadium (St Nicholas Ave 135th Street) I remember the stadium well. CCNY and High School of Music & Arts were the gems of the neighborhood. As an adult I attended many concerts in the safe open air setting. I am glad I grew up during that time. Recently visited NY and drove by CUNY. It is still a lovely campus, but seems crowded by all the glass buildings. Sometimes progress comes at a great cost.
March 7, 2019 at 10:34 pm |
I played lacrosse for three years (’57 – ’59) in old Lewisohn Stadium. The playing field had no grass and literally consisted of just dirt and stones plus a pitcher’s mound for the baseball team. Other users of the field (when not a sea of mud or covered by snow) were the soccer team, track and field teams and the Army ROTC. The summer concerts were a Godsend as one could enjoy Bernstein, Brubeck, Van Cliburn, et.al under the stars.
January 4, 2020 at 2:02 am |
My graduation from CCNY in 1968 was at Lewisohn Stadium. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was that year’s honorary speaker. It seems like yesterday, maybe longer than yesterday.
March 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:43 pm |
[…] close. In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at the now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium in Harlem to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:44 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:49 pm |
[…] Agustus 1946, penghibur Billie Holiday dan Woody Guthrie serta petinju Joe Louis menjadi headline konser amal di Stadion Lewisohn Harlem yang sekarang sudah tidak berfungsi untuk mengumpulkan uang bagi Woodard […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:54 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 4:59 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Vacation and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a profit live performance at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to lift cash for Woodard and his household. The […]
March 30, 2021 at 5:07 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 5:15 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 5:16 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 5:18 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 5:41 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 6:03 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 8:17 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 8:19 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 8:39 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 30, 2021 at 9:35 pm |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 31, 2021 at 3:12 am |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 31, 2021 at 9:47 am |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Vacation and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a succor concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The match […]
March 31, 2021 at 9:47 am |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a benefit concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The event […]
March 31, 2021 at 9:52 am |
[…] In August 1946, entertainers Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie and boxer Joe Louis headlined a support concert at Harlem’s now-defunct Lewisohn Stadium to raise money for Woodard and his family. The match […]
November 7, 2021 at 11:51 pm |
[…] might best be remembered as the man who funded CUNY’s Lewisohn Stadium between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues from 136th to 138th Streets, which met the bulldozer in […]