Mark Hellinger Theatre — Page 3

It started life as the Warner Hollywood - a theater on the Warner Brothers Circuit. It had a lobby on 7 th Avenue which was a different style from the theater itself. The rent for the lobby got to be too much so the original side entrance became the main one

The architect was Thomas Lamb who designed the Capitol which was located right across the streetr & is now Paramount Plaza. This was over 500 seats where the hellinger was about 1300 or so

Lamb also designed the State (Virgin Megastore) & the little theater that is now the visitors & convention bureau

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I have been in several times over the years and no one has tried to convert me or said anything to me, tho they are friendly if you ask where is the bathroom or something. I think among other times they tend to be open early sunday evenings and when I have sometimes seen Chicago on a sunday eve I've gone in. The person who wants to avoid these churchgoers is only depriving him/herself of seeing a beautiful theater.

That's a fun idea to sit in there and listen to the great Hellinger shows on yr ipod or sit in the 6th row and think about 1600 Penn.

While it would be awesome if it were a broadway thtr again, you can actually visit it more often than if it were a broadway theater. With Cats and Mamma Mia taking up the Winter Garden across the street, a lot of people will only be in the latter thtr once in 10 years! (And if you didn't want to see Mamma Mia, possibly not since 1982...)

The interior was used in the film

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Worked the Hellinger many years ago....loved it, even though the show sank......but there may be some hope yet..........that church is so so rich that maybe in the future they will build a new structute in Times Square and make millions more selling the theatre back to the Nederlanders.......There was a time many years ago when the late Michael Bennett was considering buying this beautiful house.....

The ceiling of the lobby. (Sorry for the size)

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Thanks actor! Now then do any of you need more covincing to get over and see this theatre. I have pics but for some reason they wont post. What show did you have on youriPod actor?

Thanks actor! Now then do any of you need more covincing to get over and see this theatre. I have pics but for some reason they wont post. What show did you have on youriPod actor?

The balcony.

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One thing I wish the church would take care of: The last time I was there (and it's been a few years) I noticed that the fresco on the ceiling was chipping. I wish they would get an artist in to touch it up.

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So all you New York 'theatre' lovers are there any other sleeping beauties like The Hellinger i can check out next time im over. Anywhere in Manhattan is great as my apartment is on 57th. London has a lot but totally inaccessable.

I cant imagine what abuse your gonna get on here now for calling most Broadway theatres ugly and cold!



but its true!


except The Palace!

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 09:33 AM

One of the reasons the Hellinger is so nice is that the interior is like some of the beautiful London theaters.

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The Palace was dark as all hell when I saw Legally Blonde, which was my first time at the theater. Is it usually lit better inside? I could hardly make out the interior at all.

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