Marc Ecko dumps its hold on Times Square Theater

Not too much of a shock - especially in this economy.

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This is wonderful news! I just was killing me to see a Broadway theater turned into a store...lets hope someone picks it up and restores it.

Supposedly it cannot be restored to theatrical use because all entrances and exits to the theatre are on 42nd Street, including load-in, so it poses too much of a problem to traffic. Sounds like a lousy reason, but that's what I think has prevented it from becoming a legit house again. At one time, the stage was also occupied by a retail store, but I don't think that is still a problem. Its interior, though worn, is largely intact, including, as you can see from the picture above, the boxes. It's a single balcony house, with about 1,000-1,100 seating capacity. Shame that New 42nd Street has considered it better served sitting for 5 years for a Marc Ecko store that never happened than by housing shows all of this time...

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Being a frequent visitor to some of the UK's more (and a handful of its lesser XD) attractive theatres, I've never really thought about any Broadway theatres as being especially attractive. But that's a very pretty theatre. I do hope it can be restored to its proper use before too very long.

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There's a huge difference between a theatre with all its doors on 42nd St vs one on, say, 47th. Much more traffic on 42nd.

edit...Rotel beat me to the punch

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Updated On: 2/18/09 at 10:00 AM

Seems like a stupid reason. I think they'd see great returns considering it's awesome location.

Here are some historic images of the Times Square Theatre, which I think contrast nicely with the more recent ones posted by TheaterBoy7777:





http://www.ibdb.com/venueimages.php?id=1365

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I still think it is a stupid reason, point blank. How long does it take to load in a set these days, and isnt 42nd st. a 4 lane street?

I just think it is lame and they probably feel the land will make more $$$ as something other than a theatre.

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They could always do what MTC did with the Friedman and just gut it and remodel the inside. I know it'd take some serious change, but no doubt it'd be worth it in the long run. Another mid-size theater on 42nd street will be a prime spot for new shows.

So when you're walking down 43rd street, and the part right next to the Hilton overhang/marquee, that's all part of the Times Square Theater? I have yet to understand the lay-out of the Hilton. I mean, it's so huge, but I don't understand where it fits on that block. The entrance to the theater is this long hallway, then this huge open breezeway with the staircases to the balconies. I'd love to see an aerial view of the 42nd street area just to understand the layout.

How big is the New Victory Theater? It's such a pretty building.

Man I wish my scanner was working, I have 2 books that have the layout of the hilton and how they combined the 2 theatres.

Basically the holton on 43rd is 2 theatres combined. The 43rd street facade is the original facade of one of them. That same theatre had an entrance on 42nd street (which is the hilton's 42nd street entrance) the other theatre also had a 42nd street entrance (which is still there but i am not sure if it is used)

basically the times sq. theatre is sandwitched between these 2 entrances. personally i think they could use the other 42nd street entrance and make a larger lobby for the times theatre.

as for the little overhand on 43rd, thats an alley for the stage house of the victory theatre (their stage house is totally sandwitched behind buildings so that's the only access)

I still wonder if combining 2 theatres into one monstrous house was really a good idea.

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Hope this makes more sence.

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All of this is so amazing intriguing to me, its like treasure hunting through time.