John Bailey McElfatrick

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

Early life McElfatrick studied architecture and engineering with his father, Edward McElfatrick.

Career In 1851, he established a practice with offices in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.

His works include the Central Colored School at 542 West Kentucky Street in Louisville, Kentucky, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several theaters he designed, including BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn, Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia, Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, remain in use as of the early 21st century.

Works Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn (open) Bijou Theatre (1883) at 1239 Broadway in Manhattan Harlem Opera House (1889) Columbus Theatre (1890) Court Square Theater in Springfield, Massachusetts (1892) Holyoke Opera House (1894, refurbishing of galleries and stage) Hammerstein's Olympia (1895) Parsons Theatre (1896) Harlem Alhambra (1905) Manhattan Opera House (1906) Gayety Theater (1906) in Baltimore Howard Auditorium Music Hall (1895) in Baltimore