***CITY CENTER--A LOOK AT WHAT IT WAS****

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 10:05am

I’ve been reading the posts about GYPSY and the complaints about City Center. So a short history lesson is in order.

For all of those who complain, remember that City Center was built as a theatre for the people at popular prices. Yes, the seats, the stage and everything else were inadequate.
But let us look at what you got at City Center.

First of all, a huge thank you—and my love and affection—for the two people who pushed City Center through, fought for it, pleaded for it and generally raised hell for it: Morton Baum and Jean Dalrymple. I don’t know how many of you remember them today, but back in the forties and fifties they made it possible for NYC Ballet, NYC Opera, faithful revivals of Broadway musicals, to be seen at a fraction of the original cost. And they were forces to be reckoned with. Baum was a high powered lawyer who was also general manager of City Center—with no salary. Having come up the hard way from a poor family, he heeded that old slogan: “we want bread, but we also want roses.” And boy, did he throw roses. As for Jean, I knew her when she was a press agent for Broadway shows. What was she like? Well, let’s put it this way. Cheryl Crawford and Agnes deMille were afraid of her. I guess that sums up Jean in a nutshell.

City Center was a ground for theatre lovers: Gertrude Lawrence, Raymond Massey, Alfred Drake, Shirley Booth, Celeste Holm all appeared in revivals—and without amplification. And the lowest price was something like .85. And, if you got a discount seat, you would pay .45. Forty-five cents to see Gertrude Lawrence. Now that was a bargain back then.

It was also here at City Center with its inadequate stage space, wing space, that Balanchine created Orpheus, Agon, La Valse, Nutcracker, Stars and Stripes, Episodes, Liebeslieder Walzer, Scoth Symphony and Midsummer Night’s Dream, plus the two great revivals of Prodigal Son and Apollo. Balanchine’s audience was loyal, although the stage left a lot to be desired. My husband and I went to the opening night of Balanchine’s Bourree Fantasque, and from where we were sitting it looked as if Jerome Robbins and Tanaquil LeClercq had no feet. But this audience was smart. They knew where to look—and hover. A wonderful example of this is Balanchine’s Firebird., While the fire laws were in order, the audience seemed to ignore it—actually, so did the ushers. For Firebird Balanchine created some of the most difficult, acrobatic steps for Maria Tallchief. Unfortunately, many people could only see it from one angle. Tallchief sensed this and always played it at a diagonal downstage left. Legend goes that Balanchine came to her and said, “Maria, you are not dancing in right spot.” To which Tallchief answered: “I will dance in that spot since my admirers demand that I be seen.”

City Center also hosted the NYC Opera at the beginning and nursed and caressed it through some difficult times. It was also the place where you could hear Phyllis Curtin, Frances Bible, Norman Triegle and the young Beverly Sills when she sang the Mozart repertory brilliantly, and before she went off to shriek in the bel canto roles that killed her voice.

And it was here at City Center where the big foundations began giving money and moving it on to Lincoln Center.

So, when you gripe and complain about City Center, try and remember what it did: incubated and produced some of the greatest works of the twentieth century.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 10:24am

Thank you for this sensational post.

I never take for granted any theatre or landmark in New York City. Ever. Everytime I'm sitting in a Broadway house or theatre I take a moment to embrace all the history making shows and performers who've graced that theatre, etc.

I hope I'm not the only one who realizes all the history these old theatres hold.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 10:47am

i *LOVE* CityCenter & i cant express how much the events there have inspired & propelled my life forward!!!!

thank you for this history lesson!

[thtrbear]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 10:56am

Thanks for your post. To cavil, it was not built as a theater at all, which probably helps explain stage space and possibly the sightlines.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 11:21am

BrodyFosse, I agree. A theatrical experience is almost holy for me.

For example, when I saw Lestat from the balcony of the palace (hold all comments, please) I couldn't help but to look up at the ornate ceilings and think "Wow - what these walls have seen and heard - Judy Garland, Gwen Verdon in Sweet Charity etc." As each patron enters the theater, they enter a haven where thousands of performers have worked and where history has been written.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 11:41am

Thank you for a fascinating history lesson.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 11:48am

Thank you for this beautiful, educational post.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 12:01pm

What was she like? Well, let’s put it this way. Cheryl Crawford and Agnes deMille were afraid of her. I guess that sums up Jean in a nutshell.

That just sent shivers up my spine!
Thanks for that wonderful post.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 1:06pm

I remember that Jean Dalrymple used to produce revivals of major Broadway shows each spring during the 1950's--I believe there were usually three musicals each season. I also remember that after a Broadway musical closed she would somehow get ahold of the scenery(did she buy it?) of a show that she was going to present, and truck the scenery to Philadelphia where storing the scenery was cheaper than it would be in NYC. So, the revivals of these musicals used the actual scenery that was originally used! I remember seeing BRIGADOON, SOUTH PACIFIC, and FINIAN"S RAINBOW during the 1950's at the City Center. Wonderful memories.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 1:11pm

Fosse i agree with you 1000%. walking thru that front door is the beginning of the experience for me. When i visit a theatre for the first time i will usually spend the intermission walking around the different levels etc taking in the history that seeps from every corner.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 1:37pm

I, too, always spend time admiring the architecture of the theatre that I am in. It gives me a thrill to walk around seeing the ornate frescoes on the walls, the chandeliers, and the elaborate proscenium arches of the older theatres. I also admire the exteriors of many of these landmarked buildings. Not so, the Gershwin, the Minskoff, the "hidden" Marquis, and the Nederlander. These four can't compare with most of the others.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 1:44pm

Gertrude Lawrence for only 45 cents? God, I wish I was around.