Any neat stores for Broadway memorabilia?

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:51pm

I'm working on an itinerary for my annual trip to NY in a few weeks. Are there any neat stores you could recommend for Broadway memorabilia (reasonable/discount prices on cast recordings, show merchandise, scores, librettos, posters, books, rare items, etc.) I often go to Broadway New York, Theatre Circle, One Shubert Alley, Virgin Megastore, Tower Records, and Triton Gallery. Please help me add to the list. I'm particularly interested in Sondheim stuff. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to PM me, or just post it in this thread for others to benefit as well :)

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:52pm

Just adding to the above:
Where might I find vintage playbills and cast albums on vinyl? I have been successful in a few random Lower East Side antique shops, but specifics would be helpful! Thanks.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 7:04pm

Ebay...

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 7:06pm

Thanks, I appreciate your help. I'm aware that ebay has quite the selection. Is there any store in NY that has these kinds of things?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 7:26pm

Colony has great stuff.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 7:27pm

^ If you like overpriced.

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 7:32pm

That's true. They have some really special things but only if you're willing to splurge. I'll have to see what they've got!

[Dover]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 8:12pm

Theatre Circle (44th between Bway & 8th) is the best for merchandise, books, scripts, vocal scores, posters and stuff. They have CDs but their prices are a few bucks higher than Virgin or another regular store. But of course they have many more obscure recordings than Virgin would carry, and they can't possibly be more expensive than Colony.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 8:28pm

You should try to go to the Broadway Cares Auction in September that is where you can get the coolest things.

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 8:37pm

Okay, cool! Theatre Circle is my favorite. Love it there!
I recently heard something about Triton Gallery switching locations. Can somebody please update me?

[Elphie4ever]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 9:36pm

ok let me reword the question. where is a good place to buy broadway memorabilia at a decent or cheap price?
seriously, the merchandise in the theater is like $40 for a tshirt.?!?!?!?!?!
just wondering where to find stuff that is cheaper lol

[Dover]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 8:43pm

It's not $40 for a T-shirt. Most are $20-25, other kinds of shirts may be more (if anyone is selling a regular tee for $40, it's not the norm -- Wicked?) The stores like Theatre Circle usually have them for a little less, but you have to add the sales tax onto that, so you'd only save a few bucks. What you have to understand is that the stores buy most of their merch from the people who make it, i.e. the companies who sell it at the shows. So they're not going to be severely discounted because they all come from the same place. It's not like somebody is in the back room making homemade Les Miz tee shirts using cheap undershirts and magic markers to sell them for $5. It's all the same stuff everywhere.

While on shirts in particular the stores are usually cheaper, be careful because on certain other items (programs, keychains, pins, that kind of thing) it's sometimes cheaper at the theatre.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 11:47pm

If you go to Colony and you get a lot of stuff, DO NOT ask them to double bag it. They'll give you a dirty look that will last until you're down the block.

[MimiLovesRoger]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 12:09am

I remember there was this store accross from those huge bway posters in times square that was pretty neat. I can't remember the name of it though...it's right accross the street.

[Piercemn]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 1:57pm

Tower Records is closed. I think they went bankrupt. I know, I'm sad about that, because the one up at Lincoln Center was the best place to find Opera. J & R, which is down near the Brooklyn Bridge has cds at good sale prices. I bought A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for $6. Academy Records on 18th Street (I think they have a website) is a good place for vinyl. I'm planning to go there to find a rare opera that MN Opera is doing next season.

The Phantom of Broadway on 7th Avenue had some decent NYC stuff, but Triton Gallery is a good place for posters. The Drama Book Shop on 40th is a fantastic place to find scripts, and Broadway Circle on 44th Street is, too. Samuel French, Inc.
also has a shop for scripts.

If you want old Playbills, your best chance is to contact Playbill and ask. I'm not sure how much they charge, but they should have things in their archives for sale. You can also try One Shubert Alley and the other one across the street, near the Marquis Theatre (or is it the Minskoff). Once you get to Times Square go "window shopping" and check prices, because they vary from store to store.

Have fun.

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 2:21pm

Thanks so much for your help. I'm disappointed about Tower Records. But oh well... Virgin and Footlight are just as good. I couldn't remember the name of the Drama Book Shop so thanks a lot for that. I can hardly wait!!

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 2:24pm

I thought that it was actually cheaper to buy items at the theatre. Most souvenir books are around $10-$15 at the theatre and run about $20 at most stores. Same with the posters.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 2:38pm

Footlights on E.12th Street had the best selection of vinyl show albums and CDs, but I think they went out of business. But they might have an e-mail address.
Triton is great for show posters.

I got a lot of memorabilia of GYPSY and Ethel Merman off of Ebay.com--old Life magazines, theatre souvineer programs, sheet music, etc. Ebay's prices tend to be less than store outlets in the Broadway area.

The Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center is a great center for browsing for all sorts of esoteric theatre memorabilia, some of which can be xeroxed there. You could easily spend a day there and the workers are very helpful. I believe they are open only in the afternoon, but I'm not absolutely certain.

Updated On: 4/7/07 at 02:38 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 2:45pm

When are you going? I am not sure if it is for BCEFA, but are the shows still selling the signed posters and Playbills for charity? A friend of mine wanted to donate while she was there and got the signed Playbill after seeing "Company" on Thursday. She is giving it to me because she knows how much I love Sondheim and that score! I owe her!

[Piercemn]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 5:00pm

Sorry to give you more bad news, but Footlight went out of business. It closed shortly after Spring 2005, which was the last time I was there, and then the online business closed down more recently. I don't know what's happened to their collection. You might check their website, www.footlight.com and make sure it's gone, but I read that it is.

By the way, don't forget the Strand Bookstore on 12th and Broadway. It's a marvelous
bookstore, and I think there's a Border's or Barnes and Noble down there that has a decent theatre and opera selection. I still recommend J & R though. I'm never disappointed and often come out with things I hadn't planned to get. The first time I was there, I found the opera of The Little Prince for $12, and they have a lot of obscure stuff. They also have a website and you can do research on it.

Have fun. I'm there May 3-6 for two operas at the Met, Grey Gardens and Drowsy Chaperone, but also museums. The Museum of the City of New York, up in Spanish Harlem on 103rd and 5th Avenue has a terrific theatre museum and it's $7 to get in.

Good luck!

[bundy5000]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 5:06pm

Theatre Circle

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 5:29pm

That's too bad about Footlight But you would think Virgin would have just about everything, as well as Colony (albeit for slightly higher prices). Right?
I just read about the Strand Book Store. It looks really neat. Do they have a fair performing arts section (scripts/scores/biographies)? What kinds of things do they have?
With regards to the BCEFA stuff - they are selling things right in the theatres? Please explain this to me!
There have got to be some hidden treasures in the city. Think cast recordings, posters, albums on vinyl, scores, Playbills, etc!

[alliez92092]

Posted: 4/7/07 at 5:31pm

I can't remember the name of the store, but it's right near the Marquis Theatre.