Neil Simon/Brooks Atkinson - Are they cursed?- Page 2

[newintown]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 10:52am

"Yes, after coming offstage from Il Trovatore at the Metropolitan Opera, Azucena visits the theatre district and curses Broadway theatres.  She does so to avenge the Broadway career of Irra Petina.  "Sei vendicata, o madre!" she exclaims, as she crumples to a heap in front of the Copacabana."

 

This is very good.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 10:58am

Comden Green said: "This is not 1350.  Science has taught us that each event has a cause.  Come on guys.  Please tell me you don't believe in curses. Realize that this thread is absurd."

 

You must be fun at parties.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 11:02am

The Simon is a big theatre a few blocks removed from the cluster of theatres in the heart of the district; you'd need to have something with a lot of draw to have a success there.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 11:14am

I saw Goodie Simon with the devil!  I saw Goodie Nederlander with the devil!

If only those brilliant commercially appealing and perfect shows like Amazing Grace, Gigi, The Last Ship and Catch Me If You Can had gotten into a "safe" kind theatre, they would have run for years and years and years. 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 11:30am

"The only theater that currently is cursed is the Mark Hellenger. Legs Diamond was the final finger ****on the spindle that has caused the theater to lie trapped in its present state."

 

Oh, poor LEGS DIAMOND, to be blamed again for the sale of the theater to that Church. Actually that theater had a long, long history of flops since way before LEGS showed up. Aside from the one notable hit SUGAR BABIES, since the mid 70's that theater had hosted:

1600 Pennsylvania Ave

Timbuktu

Platinum

Sarava

The Utter Glory of Morrisey Hall

A Doll's Life

Merlin

Grind (a show that should have run much longer)

and Rags (ditto).

 

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 12:07pm

Yes, I admit it. I have personally cursed the Atkinson and Nederlander theaters. To remove the curse, send money to Boxholder, P. O. Box 666, Hoboken NJ 07666.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 12:09pm

How much do you need in total to remove the curse? We need some type of frame of reference.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 12:22pm

While this is kind of a ridiculous thread, there is something to certain theatres being in bad locations and/or too big that can contribute to a flop. As Kad points outs, the Neil Simon is quite large and out of the way, it's hard for someone to stumble on it and the average tourist definitely doesn't walk past the marquee as often as say, The Richard Rodgers. The Lyric is such a barn it would take a massive draw to come close to selling out, sort of a prerequisite for a hit since it can result in pulling discount codes and people feeling the need to buy tickets in advance. It's hard to create a hit off shows that can only fill 80% of a house with abundant discount codes and last minute purchases.

All this to say - I think the Neil Simon and the Gershwin have the disadvantage of being large and out of the way. I think the Lyric and the Marquis have the disadvantage of being so big despite their good locations. And I think Studio 54 and the Nederlander, and to a lesser extent, the Belasco and the Sondheim have disadvantages of being out of the way.

Clearly if a show is a smash hit it doesn't matter where it's playing, people will seek it out. But it would be naive to think producers don't desire certain theatres over others.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 12:44pm

Someone in a Tree,  Oh yes, I know the Hellenger was home to many flops! The spirit of that theater just couldn't take it anymore and Legs Diamond was the last straw. (Don't get me wrong, I love the OBCR and listen to it frequently, but that show was a doozy.)

 

Look at some selected flops at the Martin Beck:

Beg, Borrow or Steal (5 performances)

Semi-Detached (4 performances)

Rape of the Belt (9 performances)

Love and Libel (5 performances)

Midgie Purvis (21 performances)

The Happiest Girl in the World (96 Performances)

Cafe Crown (3 performances)

Drat! The Cat! (8 performances)

All Over (40 performances)

The Grass Harp (7 performances)

Ring Around the Bathtub (3 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)

No Hard Feelings (21 previews, 1 PEFORMANCE)

TWO back-to-back one performance shows

Saturday Sunday Monday (12 performances)

Ladies at the Alamo (20 performances)

Harold and Maude (4 performances)

It's So Nice to Be Civilized (8 performances)

Onward Victoria (23 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)

Bring Back Birdie (4 performances)

The First (37 performances)

A Little Family Business (13 performances)

Requiem For a Heavyweight (3 performances)

Take Me Along (Revival) (7 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)

 

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 12:51pm

Yeah, but at the same time, the Palace, which has arguably the best location of any theater, has had plenty of flops. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 2:22pm

Are people really ambling around Times Square and picking shows based on what marquees they happen to see, though? I usually have advance tickets and don't even pay attention what theater the show is in, just that I need to go to 46th or somesuch...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 2:32pm

No, they aren't.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 2:58pm

Evil spirit:  "I banish you to the Cort in February!"

Actors:  "Oh, no!  Not the Cort in February!"
Evil spirit:  "Mwahahahaha!

 - Forbidden Broadway

(I'm paraphrasing, perhaps someone can clarify the context, but this thread reminds me of that exchange)

[Demitri2]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 3:26pm

One of my first theatre going experiences was at the Alvin Theatre (renamed the Neil Simon). The show was FLORA, THE RED MENACE and had less than a three month run. As for the show being cursed, the star won the Tony Award for her performance that year and this month is headlining at the Broken Arrow Casino in Thackerville, OK (Population: 463). 
  

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 3:50pm

The Grinch was a hit in the Lyric, so has had 1 hit and sure Ragtime would of been a hit, if they didn't share the same accountant as Enron!!!

The Gershwin really struggled until Wicked came along the rest is history.

The present show aside, as it doesn't count as the theatre didn't originate the show, also this theatre has one of the best footfall on Broadway and has never hosted a hit show, the Minskoff is definitely cursed.

Also the Lunt Fontanne has never originated a hit show since The Sound of Music, so another theater for the Exorcist to visit!!

Thank heavens for Disney saved the Minskoff and Lunt Fontanne.

Updated On: 10/21/15 at 03:50 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 4:14pm

What theatre is the least cursed? Schubert? New Amsterdam?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 6:05pm

>What theatre is the least cursed? Schubert? New Amsterdam?<

The Imperial.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 6:10pm

The Gaiety had a spell, not a curse.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 6:40pm

On Your Feet is currently at The Marquis and it will be very successful (I saw it last night, and it was amazing!) so the Marquis is not cursed just modern which is different than having a show in an older theater (which usually have small tiny bathrooms.... Did people not use the restroom as much in the past?) 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 6:47pm

The Lyceum has not had a hit in years.

 

It is a visually beautiful theater but it as uncomfortable and cramped as anything.

Updated On: 10/21/15 at 06:47 PM

[BroadMagTech]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 10:18pm

They should really try to refurbish it to make it more comfortable yet maintaining and not altering its historical design

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 10/21/15 at 10:29pm

A View From the Bridge is starting at the Lyceum. Can't wait to see it and sit on the stage itself. Hopefully it will be successful. To me it looks good!! 

[Patash]

Posted: 10/22/15 at 8:57am

Not sure about theatres, but there are a few posters here I'd be happy to curse!