Name That Theatre!
Name That Theatre!
Timmer
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/06
#1Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 12:53am
Several Broadway theatres have had their names changed. Can you tell me teh names from which these current Broadway houses had theirnames changed?
The Richard Rodgers Theatre
The Neil Simon Theatre
The Helen Hayes Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre
The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
The Walter Kerr Theatre
The American Airlines Theatre
The George Gershwin Theatre
For bonus points, name the three Broadway theatres that were demolished to make room for the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
#2re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:00am
The Richard Rodgers Theatre- 46th Street Theatre
The Neil Simon Theatre- Alvin Theatre
The Helen Hayes Theatre- Little Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre- Virgina Theatre
The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre- Royale Theatre
The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre- Plymouth Theatre
The Walter Kerr Theatre- Ritz Theatre
The American Airlines Theatre- Selwyn Theatre
The George Gershwin Theatre- Uris Theatre
You forgot The Hilton Theatre, which was previously The Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Timmer
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/06
#2re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:02amVery good. And right, all of them. Do you want to takle the names of the three Broadway theatres that were demolished to make room for the Marriott Marquis Hotel?
#3re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:05am
They demolished the original Helen Hayes, the Morosco, the Bijou, and what was left of the Gaiety and Astor.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 01:05 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#4re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:07am
Somethingwicked, I don't think he forgot the Ford Center/Hilton. Every theatre has had its name changed and some others even pretty recently (the Martin Beck to the Al Hirchfeld for example). I think he was just testing for fun.
Timmer, the answer is Bijou, Morosco, Helen Hayes.
#5re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:09amWere any theatres demolished for the Virgin MegaStore?
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#6re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:22amNot that I know of B3TA07. I know that the Acme Theatre (a single screen movie theatre) was demolished to make way for the Virgin MegaStore in Union Square, but I don't think anything was demolished for the Times Square store.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#7re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:30am
Don't know that I'd call it a theatre, but the wasn't the Roundabout's Criterion there?
Also don't know if you know the history, but Joe Papp, with a star-studded line-up, tried desperately to save the Morosco, Bijou, and Helen Hayes. Lovely little theatres, in no way properly replaced by the awful Marquis. People were there right up until the moment they were torn down. I believe there were even a few arrests.
#8re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:42amGhostlight, the Criterion stood where the Toys R Us is now, not the Virgin MegaStore.
#9re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:45amwow! i didn't know that! there were arrests? good for them for standing up for what they believed in!
You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#10re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 2:05am
Some of us still remember the Virginia when it was the ANTA. There may even be a few who remember it as the Guild.
>Every theatre has had its name changed<
There are a few theatres, though, that never had a name change. The Majestic, Broadhurst, Lyceum, Cort, Longacre, Barrymore, Biltmore, New Amsterdam, Minskoff, Music Box, Booth, Shubert, Imperial, Ambassador, Circle in the Square, and for all intents and purposes, the Palace, all feature their original names.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 02:05 AM
#11re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:17pm
Don't forget the Broadway Theatre, whose name has not changed. I believe that it was used to show films at some distant point in the past. It has one of the largest stages on Broadway, making it possible to have a helicopter at the finale to MISS SAIGON.
Another theatre not mentioned thus far is the Winter Garden whose name has not changed.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 01:17 PM
proptart101
Stand-by Joined: 2/26/06
#12re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:30pmIn fact, the Wintergarden was called the Wintergarden before the Shubert Bro.s bought it and renovated it into a proscenium theater. It was an arena for showing horses before it was a theater.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood. "
- Tom Robbins
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#13re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:38pm
Also, the famous helicopter sequence is not at the finale' of MISS SAIGON -- it takes place in the middle of Act 2.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#14re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:41pmAs a Broadway theatre, the Broadway Theatre has indeed had the same name, although it was the Colony when it opened as a film house, which is why I didn't include it. As for the Winter Garden, it had that brief unfortunate stint as the Cadillac Winter Garden, so technically, it did suffer a "name change," although not a major one.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
Wicked63
Broadway Star Joined: 6/18/07
#15re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 1:54pmI HATE theatres named after cars! In the UK we have much nicer names i think. A lot are to do with royalty. Dont get me wrong Broadway has some great theatre names such as Majestic and St James etc. . The other thing is why name a theatre after someone in the theatre the public in general wouldnt know who they were as in the two names given to Plymouth and the Royalty? This is just a comment -polite replies only pretty please.
#16re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 2:01pmTo honor their conribution to theatre. The only ones I don't necessarily agree with are the ones named after critics. It's also tough with actors because there are too many deserving ones. I think they should stick with composers, directors, and the like.
It's just a message board. Let's not take it too seriously.
#17re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 2:06pm
Don't forget the Al Hirschfeld Theatre used to be the Martin Beck Theatre.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 02:06 PM
#18re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 2:37pm
Wicked63: The Royale Theatre(now the Bernard B. Jacobs) and the Plymouth Theatre(now the Gerald Schoenfeld) had their names changed to the two top executives of the Shubert Organization, owner of those two theatres. Sort of self-serving, isn't it? The Shubert Theatre is considered the flagship theatre of the Shubert Organization, named after Sam S. Shubert, one of the founding brothers, who died at a young age in a train accident. His photograph is hung in the lobbies of all of the Shubert Organization Theatres. The Nederlander Theatre where RENT is playing, is owned by the Nederlander Organization. It had at least two prior names: The Billy Rose Theatre, named after a famous showman-producer, and the National Theatre.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 02:37 PM
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#19re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 2:50pmThe Nederlander also was briefly named the Trafalgar in the early 80s. It was going to be designated a house for transfers of British hits, like Betrayal and 84 Charing Cross Road. But I think that policy only lasted about a year or two before it was renamed for David T. Nederlander.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#20re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 6:04pmI was there when they were demolishing The Morosco and one of the construction workers let me go inside the fence a grab a brick. Still have it. On name changes, The Broadhurst? The Majestic? They are just sitting there waiting crying for names that matter. I'd like to see The Majestic become the Gwen Verdon and the Broadhurst, The Fosse. That way they can still be together on Broadway, at least until someone like Tampax comes along with $10 million and names them the Maxi and Mini.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#21re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 8:33pmWhat was the name of the theater that became the 54 th St theater & than the George Abbott which was than demolished ?
Poster Emeritus
Wicked63
Broadway Star Joined: 6/18/07
#22re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 9:26pm
GYPSY9 Thanks so much for your answer. I know the full story of the Shuberts from the amazing book that was published about 2 or 3 years back. My question realy was why name them after people that the public have no idea about. I fully respect that they did a lot fot American (and UK) theatre. They are public buildings so maybe easier names to remember would help theyre recognition with Joe Public..
Many thanks again.
Updated On: 6/24/07 at 09:26 PM
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#23re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/24/07 at 11:08pmThe Loews State Theater in Times Sqaure was torn down to make way for the Bertlesman Building where the Virgin Megatstore is
Poster Emeritus
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#24re: Name That Theatre!
Posted: 6/25/07 at 12:35am
>On name changes, The Broadhurst? The Majestic? They are just sitting there waiting crying for names that matter. <
Playwright George Broadhurst probably would disagree with that statement.
>What was the name of the theater that became the 54 th St theater & than the George Abbott which was than demolished?<
It opened as the Craig, and later was the Adelphi, before becoming the 54th Street, and finally the George Abbott.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
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