Times Square Theatre
217 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
217 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
26 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 202 comments
Building is obviously under renovation with all the “drapery” on the facade.
The NY post reports that under a revised schedule, construction will begin this month and “Broadway 4D” will open in June 2014. I have posted an artist’s rendering of the completed theatre in the photos section.
Things are starting to move with the 4d moving into the Times Square Theatre. Contractors being motivated to provide bidding at least.
A bit more detailed information about the renovations to the theater in this article. Sounds very promising.
The Harris remains the most notable casualty on the block, in terms of the New 42nd Street Org’s charter to preserve and restore the Duece’s historic theaters. Coming up close behind would be the Lyric and Apollo, the interiors of which only bits and pieces remain within the Foxwoods Theatre. Lamentable as those losses may be, I think I’d have to heave a sigh and consider the overall success ratio, in terms of theater preservation on 42nd Street, to be much better than the norm. By comparison, the collective fates of the old movie houses around the corner on Broadway and Seventh Avenue would evidence a monumental FAIL on the part of the City, with respect to preserving its storied legacy of cinematic exhibition.
Very encouraging to know that the architects have much experience in theater design and restoration, as evidenced by their official website. Hopefully, any redesigns of the Times Square will be respectful of theater’s history and retain as much of the original interior and exterior decor as possible (even more than the LPC’s requirements of keeping only the dome and proscenium intact).
Excerpt from article:
Naughty, bawdy 42nd Street is in for a touch of classy.
After standing vacant for 20-odd years, the historic Times Square Theatre at 217 W. 42nd St. will soon become Broadway 4D — a permanent musical attraction managed by a trio of accomplished entertainment executives, The Post has learned.
Climaxing a long effort to find the right user for the 1920s-vintage colonnaded venue, landlord New 42nd Street has signed a long-term lease with Broadway 4D Theatres. What the company calls Broadway Sensation — a 4D Musical Spectacular is expected to launch by late spring or early summer 2013.
Architects John Sergio Fisher and Associates have come up with a “schematic” redesign of the theater based on the original. The next step is up to the Historic Preservation Committee.
Among other guidelines, the Times Square must retain its domed ceiling and the stage proscenium arch.
Producer and theater owner Jimmy Nederlander, who’s not involved at the site, termed it “a great project that will only expand the audience for Broadway.”
Direct link to NY Post article.
It’s official! Per today’s NY Post, the Times Square Theatre will be coming back to life after a 20 year slumber as the new home to Broadway 4D; expected to open in the Spring/Summer of 2013! Read all about it:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/it_showtime_Qb9B0E4J2d7gIXqIErcbFK
The good news is that it’s still standing.
Normally I do not post. I was actually looking for pictures of this theater to email my dad for Christmas, and stumbled on this thread.
I have special memories of this theater. My dad was the projectionist for the last 20 years of the theater’s life.
I was there when the last show played in December 1988, then my dad shut the equipment down…for the last time (very sad night for me). I grew up in this great former movie palace, and sincerely hope someone will renovate her one day.
So, here we are nearly a year later, and I wonder – yet again – what is the progress on the conversion of the Times Square Theatre? I can’t find any articles on the web more recent than the one posted above in January.
Las Vegas show? Hey, they’re going to have to take down the old “ALWAYS TWO ACTION HITS” sign.
I would hope that extensive pix be taken of the interior as it is now before any renovations take place so there is some historical record.
Thi is wonderful news.
Great news. Hope it comes to fruition.
The New York Post is reporting that plans have been made to renovate the Times Square and use it as a special purpose venue to house a Las Vegas-style multimedia show called “Broadway 4D”: View link
Thanks JM. The club is misidentified in the description as “Dance USA” but then, I should stop talking about the Forum on the Times Square page :)
The Forum is listed under the last name it operated as…Movieland:
/theaters/2925/
Club USA was the Forum Theatre and it was a spectacular club, the likes of which New York will likely never see again. There are simply no more old movie palaces (well, one) hanging around waiting to have a disco ball hung over the orchestra. But back in the day: Studio 54 (Gallo Opera House), Xenon’s (Henry Miller), Palladium (Academy of Music), Club USA (The Forum), Bond’s International Casino (forget the theater name) and the most spectacular of them all, The Saint (The Loew’s Commodore. They were all very creative adaptive reuse of old theater spaces and discos kept them around many years longer than they otherwise would have lasted, but alas, only Studio 54 is still around today. The only true palace worthy of the name which could assume a legendery disco mantle would be Loews Canal but the land is just too valuable and besides, any effort should be geared towards bringing the Loews Canal back into a performing arts use. The Times Square Theatre, however……why not make it a dazzling spectacle of a club? There is no better location.
Should be a nightclub like Club USA back in the day (although the current NYC administration would never allow it). There are brief glimpses of the theater interior of Club USA in this clip. Located at 218 West 47th St. What theater was this? Closed in 1994 as a club and was demolished for a hotel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oScb2Tw6e0
Can anyone tell me if this space has been leased yet? LOVE the idea of a restaurant venue on 42nd! Such a great use of vintage space!
Going back to “brucec’s” comment about a restaurant venue, any general thoughts on that? I believe it would make a great location for a new venue of sorts and at the same time be profitable enough to withstand the renovation and lease costs. Any comments in this regard?
The problem with a venue for a Talk Show is a TV production or station would have to spend money. They would have to restore the theatre back up to code. And then why would they spend on this location when they have their own studios to film in. The parent companies of these TV stations are not looking to spend extra money, they want to cut costs and locations.
As for a movie theatre it’s a large single screen. We are down to the Ziegfeld Theatre in the city. Large single screen movie theatres do not make any money any more. The landlord manys something that will make money, like retail. The cost of operating the theatre as a movie theatre would cost in payroll, electric, insurance and the films.
I wonder if a true IMAX (not a mini-Imax) would fit in here?
Here is a crazy thought for the TS. It probably won’t ever reopen as a live theater nor even a movie house. What about a venue for a talk show? If Rosie gets back into the circuit, and she certainly supports Broadway, it would seem a natural fit. Certainly Letterman makes it work in the Ed Sullivan/Hammerstein theater.
Making it financially feasible is anyones guess.
But it would be an interesting way to get it fixed up and in use.