6thavenue

Line outside Hippodrome Theater in New York to buy tickets to one of what turned out to be Luisa Tetrazzini's many farewell tours. She sang there on November 30, 1919 and again on May 14, 1920.
query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A03E7D7153BEE32A...

The regular show at the Hippodrome at the time (8/23/1919 - 5/15/1920) was Happy Days -- www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/happy-days-6673

Check out Alexander Woolcott's review: query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D01E4D6133DE5...

6th Avenue, corner 12th St NYC looking north Tall building above lady's hat is 510 6th Ave/65 West 13th Street, n.e. corner of 13th Street

Maybe Merle Alcock, opera singer? www.nytimes.com/1975/03/04/archives/merle-alcock-a-contra...

Bingo! Per Smithsonian:
"This is a Promotional Post Office Department photograph showing opera star Merle Alcock, who is using a new style street collection mailbox, built by the Van Dorn Iron Works of Cleveland, Ohio."

In addition to NYT obit linked above, biographical info under

Good catch! David Pirmann Street view Sept. 1917 www.google.com/maps/place/W+12th+St+%26+6th+Ave,+New+York...

Suburban Life, the Countryside Magazine of February 1916 books.google.com/books?id=VC8wAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA69&lp... mentions the introduction of skating exhibitions at the Hippodrome [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Hippodrome] in an article entitled "A Country Sport in City Clothes."

"The Hippodrome Theatre also called the New York Hippodrome, was a theater in New York City from 1905 to 1939, located on Sixth Avenue between West 43rd and West 44th Streets in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. It was called the world's largest theatre by its builders and had a seating capacity of 5,300" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Hippodrome

swanq and Art Siegel: Thanks for both the info on this magnificent theater as well as that good catch about the skating exhibitions. We will expand the record.