Sondheim Theatre — Page 2

Neil Simon had a lot of his best work ahead of him when the Alvin was renamed in 1983.

Ethel Barrymore while quite dead these days, was also at the top of her game when the theatre bearing her name was built in about 1927.

Belasco named his theatre for himself. When Billy Rose owned what is now the Nederlander, it was called the Billy Rose. Ziegfeld built the Ziegfeld at 54th and 6th.

The Broadhurst was named for a then-popular playwright who was still working when it was built.

The first Helen Hayes Theatre on 46th St. was renamed for her (1957?) when her career was winding down, but she was still working onstage and did so occasionally until 1970.

The Lunts last play, The Visit, was the first attraction to play the Lunt-Fontanne. They were not young, but they did this play for well over a year total first in New York, then on tour and then I think London.

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Oh, yeah...Gerry Schoenfeld is opposed to renaming any of the Shubert houses, unless it's being renamed for either him or Bernie Jacobs. Let's face it, people are going to be saying "who?" about the Schoenfeld and Jacobs the way they say "who?" today about the Broadhurst, Cort, and Golden.

"The Ed Sullivan Theatre" had a few names before the name it has now. As stated already by two people who have posted in this thread, in 1927 it was first "The Hammerstein's Theatre" and then in 1931 it became the "Manhattan Theatre" followed in 1933 by "Billy Rose's Music Hall (Manhattan Music Hall)". Then in 1936 it was again named the "Manhattan Theatre" and also in 1936 it became "CBS Radio Playhouse No.1". In 1950 it was called "CBS Studio No. 50" and then finally in 1967 it was named "The Ed Sullivan Theatre".

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