Lost Broadway/New York theatre related landmarks

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 5:31pm

Hey all,

Was just feeling a little nostalgic today and thought it would be fun to reminisce about old Broadway and theatre related landmarks in New York. Could be anything you remember, a restaurant, a shop, a theatre, whatever. It would also be nice to be updated on locations if they have moved/ gone out of business. This thread could also be helpful for tourists wanting to do theatre related things in New York that are a little more off the beaten path. I'll start-


-The Broadway New York Shop under the Marriott Marquis. I loved this store, yea it was touristy but it was better than whatever is there now, they had a huge selection of souvieer programs and show cards from playing and closed shows. I also loved their website and the "ASK APRIL" section. She knew everything! What happened to you April!!!???

-Samuel French Bookshop. I could get lost in there! I just looked on the Samuel French website and the New York location is gone?? ((( Sad. Anyone have an update?

-Colony Music in Times Square. Yes I know this dump was notoriously overpriced and the service was awful. But gosh I loved to walk around in there. So much history!

Things I wish I could go back in time to see-

Patti LuPone at Les Mouches, I've heard the club is still there under a new name. Is this true?

Studio 54 in its hayday.

Barbra Streisand at The Lion. Where it all started. Seeing her in Funny Girl at the Winter Garden wouldn't hurt either. Is The Lion still there?

Where did all the Broadway stars hang out in the day after shows?

Looking forward to read what others remember!!!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 5:37pm

At the corner of 50 th & Broadway was the Roxy theater & the Hotel Taft

The theater was torn down in 1960 . What was the main entrance is now a food court. The theater area is an office building on 50 th street. The Hotel Taft is now 1/2 a hotel & half condos

The Paramount Theater in Times Square was gutted and transformed into office space in the late 60's

The Metropolitan Opera was demolished around the time the New Met opened in Lincoln Center . There is an office building where it once stood and on the ground floor of, I believe a bank, is a little sign commemorating it.

So much for progress

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 5:40pm

fascinating! Any memories you could share?! :)

Just thought of another one. We saw CATS on our first family trip to New York (I think I was in fifth grade maybe) and there was a cute Broadway shop right across the street from the Winter Garden. Anyone know if its still there? Updated On: 4/6/14 at 05:40 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 6:36pm

I doubt it. Be more specific. Across the street going toward Times Square.

Updated On: 4/8/14 at 06:36 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 6:56pm

Beefsteak Charleys

Howard Johnson's

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 9:57pm

Ted Hook's, Backstage. I was first a busboy then a waiter there, and the memories I cherish to this very day.

BobbyBubbi asked where the Broadway performers hung out... well, there were several places, but one of the most popular was Backstage. Before the theater it was all tourists and tours. They'd come in, be quickly seated and served as their menu was price fixed - and the food wasn't what Backstage was most famous for.

After the theater was another story. Steve Ross would be at the piano and slowly as the night wore on, the stars from many of the shows would work their way over to the restaurant where they'd hold court until closing.

Each "star" had their name on their own table lamp in the shape of a backstage circular staircase. If they weren't already out on a table, they were stored in the front in the coat closet. There was also a machine that made the name tags for those new "names" who'd come knowing that they'd be given the "star" treatment.

I met, served and even befriend, more celebrities than I could list here, and with those meetings there are stories that are truly gems, like the night celebrating Nell Carter's Tony win for, Ain't Misbehaving, where she sang a song from her upcoming new musical, Dreamgirls. Yup, she sang an early version of, I'm Telling You I'm Not Going. Of course, scheduling delays and TV would change fate and Nell Carter would end up on Give Me a Break and Jennifer Holiday would become a star.

Another favorite memory was serving Lucille Ball who had come to see her daughter in, They're Playing Our Song. She was there with her daughter, and husband. I remember her taking out a cigarette and as a good waiter and gentleman, I ran to light it for her. I believe, terrified that I'd light her overly bleached hair on fire, she threw a tantrum and no apologies on my part could calm her. I was moved to a different table in the back and was lucky that I wasn't fired on the spot. Ms. Ball would have preferred that. I was crushed, because I grew up on, I Love Lucy, and was so disappointed to discover one of my idols such a b!tch.

The stories are endless. I was truly blessed to have had those experiences.

Updated On: 4/6/14 at 09:57 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 10:07pm

I used to love to eat at Delsomma which was located directly next to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 10:15pm

"I met, severed and even befriend, more celebrities than I could list here"

ARTc3, I'm more interested in hearing about the celebrities you severed.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 10:24pm

Where the Marriott is now was the Astor & Victoria theaters. Sandwiched in between was Gaiety Records & the original Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. Above all of this was a blocklong billboard hawking the latest epic movie

The Astor Hotel was torn down for the old W T Grant Building. The building is still there but W T Grant is long gone

Around 51 0r 52 nd st was the old Abbey Victoria Hotel. Torn down for the normal skyscraper.

Where the Renaissance Hotel is now was the famous Castro Convertible showroom where the little kid jumped up and down on the bed. Around the corner in the back was the Latin Quarter. Cubbyholed by the LQ was one of those little shops that would print a newspaper with whatever you wanted as a headline.

Updated On: 4/6/14 at 10:24 PM

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:13pm

I love this!!!!! More! More!

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:29pm

laughing... served. I was a waiter, after all.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:31pm

I loved the little lampshades at Ted Hook's with the names of Broadway performers.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/6/14 at 11:32pm

I remember the Latin Quarters. Saw some really cool stuff there: Censored Scenes From King Kong; Pump Boys and Dinettes; and The Madwoman of Central Park West, to name a few.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:10am

Ah yes the Howard Johnson's! It was run down and extremely retro in the early to late 70's. I would "Splurge" and go there after a show during my college years! If not there then the Chockful o' Nuts coffee shop which was that era's Starbucks.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 9:38am

Can't believe no one has mentioned The Gaiety! Stunningly handsome strippers (some went on to tour with Madonna) who, um, rose to the occasion during their second dance numbers, a reasonable entrance fee, and even free refreshments...although I was never brave enough to put my hands into that bowl of chips or drink from the punch bowl.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 9:26pm

To Art

No idea the Latin Quarter played those shows. Thought it only did revue type of shows.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 11:50pm

Towards the end of its life, The Latin Quarter was often used as a theater.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 11:59pm

Very interesting. Did not know that.

[p.s.]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 10:10am

p.s. Iceland, up the street from the old Garden!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 10:26am

Across the street on 50 th from where the Roxy once stood was the Earl Carroll theater where his shows came from. Later on, it housed a giant Woolworth's . When Woolworth's was there, the upper part of the theater was still there above a drop ceiling . It was discovered when the building was being torn down for the office building that stands there now.

Lost Broadway/Movie theaters in Times Square area:

Roxy
Paramount
Loew's State
Loew's Capitol
Paramount
Mark Strand
Rivoli
Earl Carroll

All the picture palaces in Times Square are gone with the exception of the old Mark Hellinger which started out life as Warner's Hollywood theater.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:04am

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:08am

^ Yeah, but the food wasn't great. Basically, traditional Italian fare prepared competently, but without any pizzaz.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:14am

Not lost but I miss their old location. I think they are deserving of a special Tony Award.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:21am

The old Mayfair theater on 47 th Street currently in it's death throes.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:25am

Interesting about The Mayfair. Is it no longer a Famous Daves?
Loew’s Mayfair Comes Out of Hiding at Famous Dave’s