Morosco Theatre- Page 2

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:42pm

The Adelphi/54th Street/George Abbott opened as the Craig.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 9:57pm

I remember seeing George C. Scott in a comedy "THE SLY FOX" at the Morosco in the 1970's, and MARY,MARY with Barry Nelson and Barbara Bel Geddes at the Helen Hayes in the 1960's, the latter a comedy by Jean Kerr, wife of the fine theatre critic Walter Kerr, which ran for over 1000 performances. And at the Bijou I saw the Arthur Koppit play with the unlikely title of OH, DAD, POOR DAD, MAMA'S HUNG YOU IN THE CLOSET AND I'M FEELING SO SAD. I didn't make that up.

The wonderful ON THE TOWN, the 1944 musical by Leonard Bernstein, Comden & Green played the 54th Street/Adelphi/George Abbott/Craig Theatre. I hadn't remembered that "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney was filmed there before a live audience in 1955-56. The one hour weekly "Jackie Gleason Show"(which was a wonderful variety show with the June Taylor Dancers, Ray Block & his orchestra, and different skits--including the Honymooners and Reggie Van Gleason) was broadcast live in the early 1950's at what was then called CBS Studio 50, the former Hammerstein legitimate theatre, now called the Ed Sullivan Theatre where David Letterman is taped.One of the most exciting nights of my life was being in the audience in 1952 at the live performance of the "Jackie Gleason Show". The pop singer Kay Starr performed her then hit "Swampfire" in addition to everything else already mentioned. Ah, memories.

I'm going to research the Times Square Theatre, Michael Bennett.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 10:06pm

The original Sly Fox played the Broadhurst. But perhaps you saw Da at the Morosco around the same time Sly Fox was playing?

EDIT: And actually, Oh Dad, Poor Dad... played the Morosco, not the Bijou!

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 10:06 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 10:51pm

So...where do they dress in Drowsy?

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 10:56pm

I have a bit of an obsession on going for little scavenger hunts for where theatres which are now torn down used to be.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:16am

I walked past the theatre (on the other side of the street) in the early morning. The next day that day, I walked past again and it was gone.

Nothing lasts forever, but theaters come down particularly fast. They're hollow inside and easy to knock down. (Filled only with the souls and angst of the performers who performed there).

What a shame.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 1:21am

What is on 54th Street now where the Adelphi/Abbot/54th St. theatre stood? What avenues was it between?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 6:11am

Believe it is a skyscraper - what else

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 7:35am

The Craig/Adelphi etc. was between Sixth and Seventh. It had an entranceway on 54th Street, but the main body of the auditorium was on 53rd Street. After its demolition, the plot was subsumed by the nearby New York Hilton for an addition.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 9:09am

I found this online... randomly searching for info on the New Amsterdam (as I see Poppins tonight) It was for an architecture thesis and outlines a modern style renovation of the theatre, turning the orchestra and mezzanine into one level of stadium style seating.. I think the New Amsterdam is a brilliantly beautiful venue and would never change that, but I find thsi very interestinga nd would maybe like to see it carried out on another venue. I must admit, I enjoy classic, ornante theatre architecture, but I feel that more modern 'industrial' architecture in theatres has its place as well.... like plays vs musicals, comedies vs drama. All have their place

http://www.artwestdesign.com/right_architecture_thesis.htm

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 9:52am

Smaxie, I stand by my details on "Sly Fox" at the Morosco (Maybe it transferred there) and "Oh Dad, Poor Dad" at the Bijou. I have an excellent memory on where I saw particular shows.

Michael Bennett, according to my book "Lost Broadway Theatres" by Nicholas Van Hoogstraten (a fascinating book to own), The Times Square Theatre was built in 1920 and had stage productions up until 1933 when it became a movie house, and then in 1940 a retail store was constructed on its stage!!!Movies returned there at some point into the late 1980's. I do not know of its present status.

Question: What about the old theatre near the present Hilton Hotel on 42nd Street. It was either the Liberty or the Candler(re-named the Harris, after the famous producer Sam Harris), with the original entrance on 42nd street but with the auditorium on 41st Street like the New Amsterdam. When the new Hilton Hotel was being built, the stage door on 41st street was open and I asked a construction worker if I could go in and he said OK. The old lighting board was still in place backstage and the auditorium was in a seedy, tattered condition. Supposedly Abbott and Costello played there in the late 1930's, before their entrance into movies. The building still stands, surrounded by the Hilton Hotel. This is not to be confused with the new Hilton Theatre, is it?I am confused.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:18am

The Bijou was used as a movie theatre throughout the 1960s, reopening as a Broadway theatre in 1970, so Oh Dad, Poor Dad couldn't have played there.

And according to IBDB.com, Sly Fox opened December 14, 1976 and played through February 19, 1978 at the Broadhurst. During that time, the Morosco had the following tenants, opening dates as noted:

The Innocents - opened October 21, 1976, 12 performances
The Eccentricities of a Nightingale - opened November 23, 1976, 24 performances
Something Old, Something New - opened January 1, 1977, 1 performance
A Party w/ Betty Comden & Adolph Green - opened February 10, 1977, 92 performances
The Shadow Box - opened March 31, 1977, 315 performances
Golda - opened November 14, 1977, 93 performances
Side By Side By Sondheim - opened February 22, 1978, 384 performances

So the Morosco was fairly consistently booked during Sly Fox's run.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:19am

The Liberty is the "hidden theatre" behind the Hilton Hotel. It was used for The Angel Project a few years ago, but otherwise it's completely off-limits. There *are* a couple of doors if you know where to find them but they are guarded like Fort Knox. However...if you're on 41st St. next to the hotel, you can find a large brick facade with green doors, that clearly looks very old; it's the theatre. From what I know, they have to keep it as a theatre, it cannot be demolished or converted to retail space. I'd love for it to be rescued.

The Harris was located where the McDonald's on 42nd Street is now. It was demolished because for whatever reason it was not landmarked. Terrible shame there.

The Hilton Theatre is an amalgam of the old Apollo and Lyric Theatres. The 43rd Street entrance is actually the old Lyric facade, and the name is still there. When they combined the theatres they were obliged to save much of the interior and replace it in the new house. I believe the auditorium of the Hilton is pretty much that of the Apollo with a few adjustments.

The Times Square Theatre is becoming retail. Apparently the issue with making it a B'way house again was that of traffic and space--there's no 43rd Street egress, so they would have had to load in sets, etc. on 42nd Street proper. In terms of foot and car traffic it would have been too much. It's a shame because from the photos, it's a beautiful house.


Updated On: 10/25/06 at 10:19 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 10:28am

The Candler (also known as the Harris) was torn down.

The Liberty's auditorium is still standing, with the theatre's facade mostly obscured by signage. Last I heard, it was going to be used by Cipriani as a restaurant space.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:43am

That is the exterior of the Liberty as it stands now. The diamonds on the two sets of pillars surround the entrance way, and it is the original facade.

According to IBDB, the interior of the Liberty was torn down in 2000 for the Wax museum.

So, to whomever said it was next to the hilton, I guess it's not, or is something confusing me?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:49am

The Times Square Theatre is the theatre next to the Hilton that supposedly still has most of its auditorium still intact (though in bad disrepair)...

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 5:33pm

According to IBDB, the interior of the Liberty was torn down in 2000 for the Wax museum. So, to whomever said it was next to the hilton, I guess it's not, or is something confusing me?

The information in the IBDB is incorrect. The Liberty is most assuredly still there. As I said, it was used for the Angel Project in 2003, well after Madame Tussaud's was constructed. There's an account here of someone visting the theatre during TAP, along with a small photo: http://www.hotreview.org/articles/somebodyswatching.htm

A current map of the block, showing the theatre still there, from New 42:
http://www.new42.org/MapOfNew42ndStreet.pdf

And here's an interview with the president of New 42nd Street, also confirming that the Liberty exists:
http://www.nytheatre-wire.com/ab00123t.htm

Frankly, they probably want people to think that it's demolished so they don't have to worry about anyone trying to break in.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 7:33pm

MaronaDavies, thanks for clearing things up. Apparently, "expert" web sites such as ibdb.com can make mistakes. The last time I was on 41st Street(a few years ago) I noted the exterior of the old Liberty Theatre and went into the 41st Street entrance of the Hilton Hotel and asked someone at the front desk about the theatre. He said that supposedly the owners of the Hilton Hotel were eventually going to refurbish the interior. From what I saw for myself several years ago that is going to be some task! There are a few large photos of the present interior of the theatre on the walls of this Hilton Hotel entrance, showing its dilapidated state. Incidentally, what was the Angel Project? And finally, I was confused about the new name of the "former" Ford Center where I saw RAGTIME some years ago. I guess now it's called the Hilton Theatre.The 43rd Street facade is beautiful.

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 07:33 PM

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:30pm

Gypsy9, you're so lucky you had a chance to see the interior of the Liberty first-hand! What a great opportunity.

I agree with you, from what I have seen from the photos, rescuing the theatre is going to be a tremendous task. I really wish the Hiltons would refurbish it. They could build a new lobby from that defunct food court if they wanted. Anything would be better than letting it sit hidden behind the wall, rotting away.

The Angel Project was a really intriguing performance art/theatre piece that played through Lincoln Center a few years ago. It took the form of a scavenger hunt: you got a map, a guidebook and a Metrocard, and you had to visit various buildings around Manhattan. Most of the sites were abandoned or closed to the public--like the Liberty and the One Times Square building--and the interiors were filled with art installations, actors dressed as angels, etc. I never had a chance to do TAP myself, but from what I heard, it was a really amazing experience.

I'm not quite sure what happened with the Ford Center to prompt the change to Hilton, to be honest. I remember the change was made very suddenly. As best as I can figure, it had something to do with Livent. They were the original owners/leaseholders of the theatre so perhaps when they went bankrupt, Hilton bought their lease out or something and changed the theatre's name?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:32pm

Marona: Thanks for the info. If the entrance to the Liberty is on 41st Street, then what is the exterior I posted above with the two diamonds?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:44pm

Munk -

What you posted is indeed the Liberty Theatre's 42nd Street facade. The theatre had a long lobby to lead to the auditorium, the body of which is on 41st Street. Think of how you enter the Imperial on 45th Street, but the theatre itself is largely on 46th.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:56pm

This thread makes me think of Stephen Suskind's "Opening Nights on Broadway". He has a list of all of the theaters that used to be around. I read that list and feel to sad. You can practically hear the death knell.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 3:51pm

Just found this picture online of what the Marquis site looked like in its prime. You can see the giant billboard for movies at the Astor and Victoria Theatres, which stayed in use into the 1970s. And looking down 45th Street, you can see the Bijou, the Morosco, and the Hotel Piccadilly.

Updated On: 12/11/07 at 03:51 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 3:54pm

And a shot of when the entire block was covered with one giant billboard, heralding one movie, shot from around 46th Street. (You can see a billboard in the right hand corner for Walking Happy, which was playing right down the street at the Lunt-Fontanne).

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 4:11pm

I was in the Morosco several times. First was Major Barbara (after tranferring from the then-Martin Beck) in 1957, with Charles Laughton, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Burgess Meredith, Eli Wallach Anne Jackson (replacing Glynis Johns) and, in a small role, Myra Carter; The Visit, with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne (show had transferred from the Lunt/Fontanne); and the spectacular revival of Moon for the Misbegotten with Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst (my favorite actress ever at her most magnficent). I was in the old Helen Hayes for revival of The Royal Family in 1976 (Eva LeGalliene, Rosemary Harris and Ellis Robb replacing George Grizzard). My only visit to the Bijou was in 1958 for a short-lived revue called International Soiree (with Patachou). My God, we had actors in those days!