re: What Times Square Area Buildings Use To Be Theaters?

[RentBoy86]

It's weird to me that a complete theater is just situated back there. You'd think a non-profit with some extra cash (maybe Lincoln Center?) would try to spruce it up. Actually the smallish theater might work well for Lincoln Center since most of the plays it produces in a Broadway house are normally plays.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Sorry! yea its a board for the show at the Majestic. 'Charles Strouse covers 'Golden Boy' very well in his book 'Put On a Happy Face' - worth reading if have time.
it comes across as show he wouldn't want to stage again in a hurry.

[Mr Roxy]

I have the Strouse book. I just need to find time to read it. I ordered the Strouse CD as well from Footlight

A good theater book is Before The Parade Passes By about Gower Champion.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

There is very little stage area left after all the chopping around when it was divided, first into 2 then 3 cinemas. It was a very bad job with very bad sight lines in all three of the auditoriums. A company like Lincoln Centre or Roundabout would have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to make one decent theatre out of the mess thats there. This theatre will either return as full size house or be demolished- the latter getting more and more likely.

[Mr Roxy]

I am surprised that such a prime piece of Times Square real estate was not redeveloped years ago.

Sadly, it will probably be pounded to dust as well.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

A birds eye view of what looks like a a great big building site!

[Mr Roxy]

Its days as it is currently configured are numbered. As soon asthe economy improves, look for it to go

On that site - towards the front - was a castro convertible store with a little girl jumping up & down on a mattress.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

The Mayfair, also known as the Demille, Embassy etc

[Mr Roxy]

Tried to open it but no luck.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Hammersteins Theatre and Roof Garden.
44th and Broadway. demolished and later replaced by the famous Rialto Cinema which in turn is no more.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

I love the statement in the small box on the bottom left!

[Mr Roxy]

The admission price is astounding.

[Mr Roxy]

The admission price is astounding.

The theater opened 1/1/1910 & was called the Columbia It was designed by an architect called Mc Elfatrick. He mostly designed opera houses. In 1930, it was renovated by Thomas Lamb.The house is art deco & the seating capacity was 1735. It could be a big broadway house but it will never happen .

[MamasDoin'Fine]

The Hippodrome Theatre
43rd and 6th
1913
Now i believe just remembered by a building named Hippodrome?

[Mr Roxy]

The Hippodeome was huge. They used to stage huge shows like a reenactment of civil war battles & water shows as the stage opened up & there were, I believe , 3 separate pools. It was a consistent money loser. The office building is simply named the Hippodrome.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Supreme Vaudeville at The Palace 1915

[MamasDoin'Fine]

We still have our Hippodrome in London and that staged the same kind of spectaculars with polar bears, sinking ships etc etc. It still stands but is no longer a theatre. It now houses a burlesque show until next year when it gets converted to a casino

[MamasDoin'Fine]

The Criterion
Toys'R' Us is now on this site.
After life as a live theatre it was converted in to a multiplex cinema.

[Mr Roxy]

The Criterion opened Sept 1936 & was for a while a Loews theater. It finished its life as part of the United Artists chain. The seating was almost 1700. It stood on the original site of the Olympia

Some of the big pictures that played there were:

1.South Pacific
2.Funny Girl
3.Lawrence Of Arabia
4.My Fair Lady
5.Patton

[Madcap Maisie]

has anyone managed to get into the Liberty yet? or at least locate the door?

[cello_dude]

[Neverandy]

BWW Class trip!!!!

[bwaybabe2]

Smaxie, you made me very happy, too Amazing display, and THANKS for the memories!
Wow, those prices were really something, indeed, Mr. Roxy =O
I don't know what you could get for that price, nowdays. Not even one foot (toe?) into a Broadway theater

[Mr Roxy]

= 0 ?

[bwaybabe2]

= 0 ? ...because they were so LOW, it's astonishing! my sense of humor is a bit "offbeat" sometimes (I guess I must be on a roll today, since this is the second "I don't get it" response from someone, to my comments, he, he Well, I'M having fun!

[Mamie]

LIBERTY THEATRE, 1911

Are the columns on the sides with the carvings on top (caryatides) still visible? Do you know if you can still see the eagle and liberty bell on top?

I sure wish I knew somebody in the Mayor's office or somebody powerful enough to arrange a tour of these lost treasures!