Times Square Visitor Center Gone

#1

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 1:29pm

So disappointed to see that wonderful Times Square Visitor Center suddenly shuttered. What will happen to the Times Square Ball, the Broadway musical costumes, the displayed Broadway memorabilia and that wonderful Embassy Theatre? Anybody know why it closed? Probably the rent was increased again! It was a nice quiet place to rest while strolling with crowds down Broadway.

#2

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 1:32pm

Everything there (which was not much) was all on loan. So nothing will happen to it. It will be returned to it's owners.

#3

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 1:54pm

It used to be a movie theater. Doubt it will be retained in its current state.It will probably be gutted.

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Poster Emeritus

#4

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 1:59pm

It closed because hardly anyone went in there anymore - most of the tenants moved out in 2012 due to a sharp decrease in visitors. It would have shut down sooner but was being used as the entrance to the Actor's Equity building while the regular 46th street entrance was under construction.

#5

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 2:06pm

Hopefully it will be used for something and not just boarded up. They can't demolish it. In 1987, the interior of the Embassy 1 Theatre was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7212

#6

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 2:53pm

Not aware it was landmarked. No idea what will happen to it.

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Poster Emeritus

#7

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 4:09pm

"Hopefully it will be used for something and not just boarded up."

That seems an unlikely solution given its location.

#8

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 7:47pm

The only free Bathroom in Times Square!

#9

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 7:50pm

the few times I've been in there, there was only a hand full of people in there. The few workers always seemed beyond bored.

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A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

#10

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 7:58pm

I thought Seth Rudetsky did his show from there?

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HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

#11

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:14pm

Seth Rudetsky's "Live On Broadway" show moved out in 2011.

#12

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:30pm

Really? No one told me.

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HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

#13

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:35pm

I went to Seth's show a couple of times. One: with Doug Hodge and another with Bryan Batt and Seth's bestie (he was in Gods and Monsters).

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#14

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:43pm

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#15

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:43pm

It quietly closed over a month ago. I think the fact that no one has made a deal out of it speaks volumes.

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"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#16

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:44pm

This was in the middle of the visitor's center.

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#17

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 8:45pm

Years ago, it used to be really good. They had lots of information, brochures, discount coupons, a few vendors with small stands, seating where you could relax for a few minutes, etc. I even remember years ago when you could get tickets for TV show tapings and they even used to have 3 or 4 computers you could use for free web access (those have been gone a while). I was last in there in May and it was a vacant shell with one bored looking guy who basically had no interest in helping anyone with anything. Did all the good stuff leave because people stopped using it or did people stop using it because all the good stuff left? I don't know the answer to that one but I suspect the latter.

#18

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 9:05pm

Lost its relevance when they stopped giving out twofers

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Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 8/15/14 at 09:05 PM

#19

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/15/14 at 9:21pm

The only free Bathroom in Times Square!

The one at the Marriott is significantly nicer.

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#20

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 1:17am

Where is the actual "movie theater" part of it? I'm assuming that part is gone? It's a gorgeous lobby. Maybe they can turn it into a restaurant or some cool bar?

#21

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 4:32am

The lobby was the theater. It was a small theater amongst its bigger brothers who are now long gone.

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Poster Emeritus

#22

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 12:48pm

I thought Seth Rudetsky did his show from there?

About every other week he comments on his current show Seth Speaks that people keep asking him about it and they haven't been there in 3 years.

As I recall they wanted to use the space for more displays and didn't want to have to set up seats every week for the show . . . they didn't realize that losing that led to a few hundred people stopped coming in at all immediately and it immediately started to decline after.

The gift shop shuttered pretty soon after and it just got sad.

#23

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 1:03pm

Their touchscreens with interactive history maps were really well-done for that sort of thing.

Updated On: 8/16/14 at 01:03 PM

#24

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 1:11pm

Why not make it a performance space a la 54 Below.

#25

Times Square Visitor Center Gone

Posted: 8/16/14 at 2:02pm

Oh no. This was the only place I could find free wifi in Times Sq.

Updated On: 8/16/14 at 02:02 PM