From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former theatre in Manhattan, New York
Central Theatre
was a
Broadway theatre
in New York City built in 1918. It was located at 1567
Broadway
, at the southwest corner with
47th Street
, and seated approximately 1,100 patrons. The architect was
Herbert J. Krapp
. The theatre was built by the
Shubert family
on a site previously occupied by the
Mathushek & Son
piano factory.
[1]
The first production at the theatre was the play
Forever After
, by
Owen Davis
, which opened in 1918.
[2]
This moved to
Playhouse Theatre
for a long run. A musical,
Somebody's Sweetheart
(music by
Antonio Bafunno
; book and lyrics by
Alonzo Price
), was a success at the theatre in 1919?20.
[3]
Oscar Hammerstein II
made his debut as librettist in January 1920 with
Always You
,
[4]
which was followed by a successful
revue
by
Arthur Wimperis
,
As You Were
.
[5]
In July 1920,
Poor Little Ritz Girl
opened, with some songs by
Rodgers and Hart
and others by
Sigmund Romberg
and Alex Gerber.
[6]
Afgar
was another successful musical in 1920?21.
[7]
The Gingham Girl
was a hit musical in 1923 with music by
Albert Von Tilzer
.
[1]
The theatre introduced movies in 1921 and alternated the new medium with live theatre and
American burlesque
until 1957, although legitimate theatre was absent from 1934 to 1951. It changed its name to the
Columbia Theatre
in 1934,
Gotham Theatre
in 1944 and the
Holiday Theatre
in 1951. A successful revue,
Bagels and Yox
played in 1951. A revival of
Abie's Irish Rose
played in 1954. Legitimate theatre ended at the house in 1956. Under the names
Odeon
, then the
Forum
, and finally
Movieland
, the theatre played movies until 1988, when the Shuberts sold it. The building was converted into other uses. The auditorium became a disco, Club USA. The theatre was demolished in 1998.
[8]
A
W Hotel
opened on the site in 2005.
[1]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
Movieland and Central Theatre
, IBDB database, accessed April 21, 2014. The Shuberts retained the five-story piano warehouse on the corner, which they transformed into offices and the entrance lobby of the theatre. (
"The Real Estate Field"
,
The New York Times
, July 17, 1917.) It can be seen in
this photograph
, published in 1910.
- ^
"War Play Opens Central"
,
The New York Times
, September 10, 1918
- ^
"
Somebody's Sweetheart
"
,
The New York Times
, December 24, 1918
- ^
"
Always You
Is Amusing"
,
The New York Times
, January 6, 1920. The show went on tour after less than two months. (
"Theatrical Notes"
,
The New York Times
, February 12, 1920)
- ^
Woollcott, Alexander.
"The Play"
,
The New York Times
, January 28, 1920
- ^
"Novel Musical Play Given By Fields"
,
The New York Times
, July 29, 1920
- ^
"Delysia Resplendent"
,
The New York Times
, November 9, 1920
- ^
"Broadway's Central Theatre Demolished"
. April 8, 1998
. Retrieved
October 10,
2022
.
External links
[
edit
]
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Defunct and/or demolished
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Post-1949
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Post-1919
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Post-1866
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Pre-musical
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40°45′32″N
73°59′06″W
/
40.759°N 73.985°W
/
40.759; -73.985