What Times Square Area Buildings Use To Be Theaters? — Page 2

this is my new favorite thread!

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Here are some pics of the theaters that were torn down to make way for the marriot marquis

Helen Hayes:








Morsoco Theater:










Astor:
http://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/cph/3b40000/3b40000/3b40700/3b40754u.tif

http://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/cph/3b40000/3b40000/3b40700/3b40757u.tif

Updated On: 11/19/08 at 06:52 PM

The Demile and The Embassy are two different buildings.

I'm gonna try and see where the door is at applebees that leads to the Liberty.

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I wonder if there is someone with the City of New York I could contact about getting a peek inside the Liberty?

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If i remember correctly from when I looked there earlier this year, the entrance to The Liberty was a doorway with, I think, a diamond cut into the stone work on either side.
As you walk from 41st to 42nd thru the Hilton lobby they have displayed, photos of the interior.

This paragraph caught my attention on the New 42nd Street site:

"The New 42nd Street signed a 99-year master lease, during May 1992, with the City and State of New York for six theaters known as the Apollo, Liberty, Lyric, Selwyn, Times Square and Victory. (The Empire theater came under The New 42nd Street's master lease once it was fully restored in April 2000.) A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in July 1995 between The New 42nd Street and Forest City Ratner for the Liberty, Harris and Empire theaters. Construction began in August 1997 on a five-story entertainment complex which includes a 25-screen cineplex operated by AMC (opened in April 2000), the renowned Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and a variety of entertainment-related retail uses."

So, of the nine theatres they acquired, they managed to tear down three of them - the Apollo and the Lyric were demolished for the Hilton, save for preserving the facades and some interior detailing. The Harris was torn down for no discernible purpose and with very little fanfair (or notice in the press). The Times Square is supposed to become an Ecko store, but that project has been at a standstill for years now. They've found no tenant for the Liberty and have marooned its auditorium. The Selwyn was restored as the American Airlines, but the distinguished looking seven-story Selwyn Building that graced 42nd Street magically fell down in the middle of the night one night, when no one was around. And the Empire was not "fully restored". The facade looks great, but the attempt at recreating the detail work of the proscenium arch and ceiling detail looks cheaply done to me, compared to photographs of the original interior. Only the Victory received a complete and beautiful restoration without some aspect of the building being diminished in the process.

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Updated On: 11/21/08 at 05:08 PM

I'm obsessed now. I must see the inside of the Liberty. I found this picture of the elusive door to the theater. Now, can anyone figure out where the heck this door is exactly?

ETA: A blog on the Angel Project from 2003 says that the door was situated behind a "souvenir stand". Does that help at all?



ETA: The souvenir stand?

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Updated On: 11/23/08 at 01:46 AM

Those pictures of the Helen Hayes and the Morosco make me weep.

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No Roxy, it's awful and a spit in the face of New York history. George M. Cohan debuted "Give My Regards to Broadway in that theater for godssake.

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To The Act

I was being facetious. I s***** big time but it is so called progress. In Europe & many other cities they try & save what they can. In NY, if it is old knock it down - screw history.

I got a momento when my local movie palace went down. It was the Loews Triboro. I got a marquee letter. I tried for a T but had to settle for an E - for effort in trying to save it I guess. It is on my wall @ work along with an ornamental plaster knob - many of which were underneath the balcony.It serves as a paperweight. Sad to say, tis is all that remains.

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I know how you feel

Every day I pas by a decaying theater I tried to save (killed by the same public official) & wonder how different it might have been

I remember the DeMille when it played epics in the 1960's . It's huge wraparound billboard was unique & really ushered you into see a big sprawling movie.I remember,during intermissions, going to their huge & comforable lounge.

Some of the biggies that played there:

1. Barabbas
2. Fall of The Roman Empire
3. Spartacus
4. The Cardinal
5. Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines

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Updated On: 11/23/08 at 03:32 PM