Roxy Theatre

153 W. 50th Street,
New York, NY 10020

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Showing 276 - 300 of 1,209 comments

BillSavoy
BillSavoy on January 16, 2011 at 5:20 pm

Dear Shanvdk, Your information in hand … will check my files and get back to you. Meanwhile, feel free to email me, any time, at:

shanvdk
shanvdk on January 16, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Thanks so much Bill. I would appreciate any info :) In particular if you see anything about someone named Jim Dougherty. Not sure if I spelled the last night correctly but someone else i had talked to thought that might be the name of the person I’m looking for. Thanks so much Bill.

BillSavoy
BillSavoy on January 16, 2011 at 12:33 pm

Dear shanvdk, I have lists of various Roxy staff members over the years, but, unfortunately, none from the orchestra during the era you mention. When I have access to my files later this week, I will
look again, with your requests in mind. Hopefully, I can come up with something!

Vito
Vito on January 16, 2011 at 7:42 am

GAZEBO ad
Tinseltoes, you forgot Herman the pidgon :)

View link

shanvdk
shanvdk on January 15, 2011 at 7:21 pm

Do any of you have any information on my post above?

BillSavoy
BillSavoy on January 15, 2011 at 2:58 pm

P.P.S. to hdtv267: They’re accurate.

BillSavoy
BillSavoy on January 15, 2011 at 2:16 pm

Dear Tinseltoes, I am intrigued by your knowledge and fascination with the Roxy (Until now, I thought I was the only one so obsessed!). I saw the place only once … when I was 9 years old, my parents brought me to see THE GAZEBO because they knew it was soon to close and wanted me to see the theatre. The irony is this: I remember NOTHING of the theatre … only the movie … but have gone on to build 4 (count ‘em 4) models of the place (one on display in the MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE in Queens) and am planning a 5th! ( a case for the Subliminal??). I worked as an usher at Radio City Music Hall in the early seventies, finding my way into the design department and am now a scenic artist, living in N.Y.C.. I have an extensive Roxy collection (much of it given to me by the late Ben Hal) and I own the original 1925 blueprints. I would love to share our mutual interest, if you are so inclined. Pease feel free to email me: P.S.: Would love to hear from ALL with Roxy memories to share!

shanvdk
shanvdk on January 2, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Hi all, I stumbled upon this website and am hoping you may be able to provide some information for me. My grandmother was a performer as an ice skater at the roxy back in 1948-52 ibelieve or somwhere in that time frame. Her name was Beatrice Lumley and her married name was Beatrice Flanagan. Her ex also worked there and his name was John Flanagan. They did the ice show inbetween the movies. I was wondering if anyone had info on the orchestra that played during those ice shows. I am particularily looking for the name of one of the drummer’s that was in it for a few years. Does anyone know where i might be able to get a list of names of the orchestra members? Thanks in advance for any help you may provide.

Vito
Vito on December 25, 2010 at 8:12 am

The original ad from that first Roxy christmas show in 1927

View link

Joseph
Joseph on December 13, 2010 at 6:16 am

It also should be added to resumption of stage & screen presentations with “The Rains of Ranchipur” in Dec. 1955, that the Roxy sold advanced mezzaine reserved seating similar RCMH to audience members seeking to better plan their attendance. Was this policy continued beyond this engagement?

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on November 24, 2010 at 7:55 pm

From the 1920s postcard view of the Roxy Theatre in New York.

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on November 23, 2010 at 12:39 pm

Great remembrances. Before my time but were you actually there to experience these shows?

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on June 2, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Hello Hank. I no longer live in NYC area so visiting Elmhurst is not possible. I do know Marquee magazine. If you are a subscriber or have those copies of it perhaps you could scan the Roxy destruction pictures and send to me as email attachments. That would be so terific and I sure would appreciate.
PS. I’m from Massachusetts also.

hanksykes
hanksykes on June 2, 2010 at 2:29 pm

Hello Richka,Yes pictures would have been nice,but alas it didn’t happen. However, The Theatre Historical Society located in Elmhurst,Illinois has several publications in their Marquee magazines which show the Roxy during demolition and how the building was constructed. I never worked at the Roxy ,my only link was when I lived in Massauchetts and attended as a patron.

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on June 2, 2010 at 1:19 pm

That really must have been a sad occasion for you, expecially for those of us who actually worked there. If only there were pictures even of the destruction because it would be clearly seen how the structure was actually buil; the stage and backstage area, the rotunda, etc. You do know it was built at an angle from 50th to 51st but always curious exactly HOW they did that.

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on June 2, 2010 at 1:15 pm

oh my goodness! And you didn’t take pictures?? They would be SO fascinating and valuable today.

hanksykes
hanksykes on June 2, 2010 at 12:46 pm

In 1960 I checked into the Bristol Hotel and requested a room high up on the rear of the hotel which would give me a clear view of the Roxy Th. during demolition. Intent on watching how that grand structure had been built during its destruction . After half a day I had to change hotels because it was too painful to view that splendid theater being wrecked! RIP Roxy Theater you were a grandly unique cathedral!

hanksykes
hanksykes on May 19, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Thank you Richka.

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on May 18, 2010 at 4:42 pm

It is the entrance from the rotunda into the auditorium. Richka

hanksykes
hanksykes on May 18, 2010 at 3:39 pm

Having visited the Roxy only once in 1954 I’ve had to make that visual interior tour last a lot of years! I’m puzzled by the picture of Gloria Swanson standing in the great rotunda. Over Gloria’s right shoulder is a door way ,taken while the theater was being demolished,is that doorway the entrance from the street or is it the entrance to the interior auditorium???

Barbbano
Barbbano on April 30, 2010 at 7:00 am

Good morning Richka,

I’ll get on it. Work has been super busy but I will get to it.
Barb

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on April 29, 2010 at 3:12 pm

Dear Richka,
How nice to hear from you.

In response to your question – no – I am sorry to say – both Dad and Mom have passed away. Dad was killed in a car accident in 1983 at the age of 58. It was hard – we still miss him.

I have some photos of him/Roxy and I also have a web site on homestead.com and am thinking I might post them should anyone be interested. The photos are of course, of people, not the building because – who takes photos of buildings?? But some folks might get a kick out of seeing them. I’ll get to it soon.

Again – thank you for responding!
Barb
posted by Babster on Apr 7, 2010 at 12:55pm

I am very anxious to see these photos. I hope you decide soon to post them. Thanx, Richka

Richard G Holden
Richard G Holden on April 8, 2010 at 10:12 am

I totally agree. Some means could have been found to save it. The New York City Opera uses State Theater at Lincoln Center. State Theater was built for DANCE and DANCE only. So why is NYCO even there and always complaining because of acustics, space, etc. when it was built for Dance anyway! The Roxy would have been an IDEAL place for them. Of course there is the matter of parking, but with these big business brains around, surely they could figure out a solution for that. However, sadly, it is now too late and the Roxy has disappeared for good.
I was in Europe when it was being demolished and it is always to my regret that I wasn’t around to take photos, even of its destruction.
Richka