The Studio 54 Theatre began its life as the Gallo Opera House, opening with La Boheme in 1927. In 1933 it was converted to an elaborate nightclub restaurant called the Casino de Paris, run by showman Billy Rose. The Palladium was the theatre's name when it re-opened in 1936 as an English music hall. It had subsequent names as the Federal Music Theatre for WPA productions, and the New Yorker. In 1942 CBS acquired the theatre and used it for radio and TV productions for nearly 3 decades.In 1976 it was sold to Steve Rubell and a year later it reopened as Studio 54 as the megawatt disco of all time. In 1989 the original Italian Renaissance motiv was restored as the theatre became a rock concert hall called the Ritz. It is now known as the Studio 54 Theatre, owned by Roundabout.
Information for this entry came from the fascinating book, "Lost Broadway Theatres" by Nicholas Van Hoogstraten--a must for anyone interested in theatre architecture of the past and the present.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 12:02 PM