Lost Broadway/New York theatre related landmarks- Page 2

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:34am

Dave's did not last long. My wife and I went in and after looking at the menu and the carbs & calories etc it was even too much for us. We walked out. Believe the kitchen was manned by Chef Boyardee & Marie Callandar.

A shame that another piece of NY history is going - the iconic wraparound billboard on the side of the theater. A great pictorial book could be done on all those billboards over the years. NY is devouring its past and spitting out garbage in its place.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:35am

This article brought me a little more up to speed on The Mayfair

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:58am

Shocked the theater lasted as long as it did. Another piece of old New York vanishing before our eyes. The carnage continues unabated.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 12:04pm

Thanks to the Republicans!

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 2:34pm

I don't think all examples - or even most examples - of modern New York architecture is "garbage". That they are choosing to tear down some beautiful old buildings has more to do with location. I wish that urban renewal was limited to only dilapidated condemned buildings, but that would require very different zoning laws and a willingness of New Yorkers and to a lesser degree tourists to see New York as more than just a few prime neighborhoods.

Anyway, my point is that there are some extraordinary new buildings.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 2:39pm

There are but the rush to tear down our past in the name of what's new has left a gaping hole in our history.

You do make valid points re rezoning. Unfortunately real estate prices & tourists drive this city. We have lost so much over the years that it is really heartbreaking.

Updated On: 4/8/14 at 02:39 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:01pm

In my high school days, the Copa or the Latin Quarter was where you'd go after the prom. We went to the Latin Quarter. Bobby Darin was the show. During my favorite song, Dream Lover, he took me by the hand and brought me into the act. Boy was I excited!

Question-does anyone remember the name of that restaurant/bar which was famous for serving those sweet cocktails in coconuts with the little umbrellas? The place was decorated in the tropical style, palm trees and all.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:03pm

I believe it was Hawaii Kai by the Winter Garden. There used to be a doorman about 3 feet high with a Phillip Morris type pillbox hat. I regret to say I was never in it.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:06pm

In my high school days, the Copa or the Latin Quarter was where you'd go after the prom. We went to the Latin Quarter. Bobby Darin was the show. During my favorite song, Dream Lover, he took me by the hand and brought me into the act. Boy was I excited!

Bobby Darin grabbed you by the hand and SANG to you?!!! I officially HATE YOU!

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:07pm

yes, I think that was it. Thanks Roxy

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:08pm

Carlos, wasn't he a cutie?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:24pm

He was! I had such a crush on him when I was kid. I was glued to the television set every time one of his films were shown. He's also one of my all time favorite singers. <3

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:26pm

Long before the Disneyfication of Times Square, Hawaii did an aloha and went out of business. That was the type of old New York I miss and that will never return.

More Times Square trivia. Between 50 & 51 st by the Hotel Taft was a Hawaii Kai wanna be restaurant downstairs called South Pacific Ports. All I remember of it was small booths and beaded curtains. It went aloha long before Hawaii did. By the Plaza was Trader Vic's which is no longer with us either.

Updated On: 4/8/14 at 03:26 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:31pm

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e55/Lolivier/Unknown-1_zps9a59ebcb.jpeg

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:37pm

Re Bobby Darin

A great career cut short much to early. By the way, if you have not already see it, catch Darin in Pressure Point where he plays a Nazi loving prison inmate and the shrink who tries to help him is Sidney Poiter. Try Netflix as not sure still in circulation and rarely on TV.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 4:30pm

McHale's Bar & Grill. Practically home away from home for most of New York's stagehands. Legend has it that Tharon Musser would drink every one of those stagehands under the table and still be perfectly sober.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 7:30pm

So many gone-but-not-forgotten landmarks in a lifetime of theatregoing.

The automat on Broadway. That was such fun. I loved the mural depictng the Broadway theatres. I liked the food, too.

Howard Johnson's, already mentioned. I loved the retro look, and how it maintained that look to its very last day! A sad day, that was. i went there to say goodbye to the staff. They had a delicious ice-cream roll, and their sundaes and ice cream-sodas were exceptional. They served the glasses on a small plate, because invariably, soda and whipped cream would fall over. That, too, was fun.

Then there was Barrymore's. I went there at the end as well.

On 49th street, opposite the Eugene O'Neill, was Sam Goody's record store. A great place to browse. I remember buying my copies of A Family Affair, The Girl Who Came to Supper, Do I Hear a Waltz, Flora.... so many others, as soon as they came out.

Back on Broadway, between 46th and 47th, was a small bookstore specializing in theatre books. I would walk by expectantly every time I was in the theatre district to see if the previous season's Theatre World had come out. When the magic day arrived and I saw it in the window, my heart raced as if I had discovered a pile of gold. Suddenly to see the faces of Barbara Bel Geddes, Carol Channing or Julie Harris... My heart stood still and jumped for joy at the same time.

Next to the Eugene O'Neill there was a hole-in-the-wall candy store that had small boxes of candy you did not often find then, and never find now, like boxes of little spearmint leaves and orange fruit-gels. I mean, really, how could one ever stop producing boxes of spearmint leaves? It's so disheartening!

And how about the fondly-remembered fixtures at the theatres themselves that are no longer with us: like the brightly- colored tickets, with each color representing a different section of the theatre. The opening night tickets used to have a little "opening night" stamp on the side of the part of the ticket that was ripped off, so you could keep that as a remembrance. I've kept mine. Then there were the "matinee today" signs that used to be placed in front of the theatres on matinee days. And of course, at the concession stand, the overpriced, watery orangeade sold in little wax cartons. I scoffed at them then, and now, I miss them terribly, just as I miss the shows that graced their theatres.

Well, so it goes. But as Bob Hope used to sing, "thanks for the memories."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 8:00pm

Remember, Sam Goody used to have a habit of using a razor blade & they cut a small portion off the bottom of an LP & wrote a price on it.Many memories of Sam's & Howard Johnson's

[FindingNamo]

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

^^^ Never learned what a cut out is. After Eight has you beat in the excellent memories department, Roxy. But then again, you live on the river of Denial in Egypt.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:15pm

Another casualty of the Marriott Marquis.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 11:19pm

Forgot about that one.

[BobbyBubbi]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 12:50pm

I have to reiterate again how much I'm loving this thread. This is the type of grass-roots history they don't teach you about in theatre history class or on any tourist tours for that matter. I love hearing from the locals who have lived in NYC.

When the Marriott Marquee was built, did they take the entire city block? I've stayed there twice. The place is massive. It must have cost a fortune!

One thing I've always wanted to do, just because of its acclaim/history, is have afternoon tea at Russian Tea Room. It was closed down all the times I have previously visited the city, now I see it's open once again.

Has anyone ever eaten there? Is it worth it or just a tourist trap?

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 1:15pm

The Russian Tea Room is both good and touristy. I have eaten there and the food was very good. It is also expensive and IMHO overpriced. Having typed this, I did enjoy my meal and the service was excellent.

The Marriott Marquee doesn't take up the whole block, but a good portion of it. Sadly, to build this, they had to tear down The Helen Hayes Theatre, which I remember to be a lovely space. Sadly, the newer Marquee Theatre isn't nearly as nice and initially - although this has been corrected - much of the house lighting was florescent, which mean that those bulbs didn't dim. It was horrible and I remember being aghast the first time I saw a show at what was the newest Broadway house.

Updated On: 4/10/14 at 01:15 PM

[E.Davis]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 1:57pm

Well the are doing the renovations on The Marriott Marquis right now. I am very much interested to see how they are going to correct the facade and make it more appealing.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 2:33pm

Bobby,

I ate at the Russian Tea Room prior to its closing. It was elegant and atmospheric. I went once after it opened. It was still nice, the food was good, but, for whatever reason, it no longer seemed as special to me. I haven't been there since.

I don't know if it is now considered a tourist trap. But you know what? Tourist trap or not, if it really is not outside your budget, why not just go to experience a New York City landmark? Catch things while you can; they might not be here tomorrow. Roseland is closing. Rizzoli books closes tomorow. J & R records announced its closing.

Gather ye rosebuds....