New Amsterdam Theatre
214 West 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
214 West 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
19 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 277 comments found
Also needing correction is the “function.” At this website, “stage shows” is taken to mean what was presented in the heyday of movie palaces like the Capitol, Roxy and Radio City Music Hall. The New Amsterdam is now a playhouse. “Legitimate” theatres do not present “stage shows.” The function should read “stage plays” or just “plays.” Dramas, comedies, and musicals are all considered within the meaning of “plays.”
The text of the introduction needs to be changed. “The Lion King” proved to be less than eternal at the New Amsterdam, and was replaced last year by the stage version of “Mary Poppins.” Disney moved “The Lion King” to the Minskoff Theatre.
A rare view of the “Movie Street of the World” sign that was once painted on the east exterior wall of the New Amsterdam Theatre can be found near the end of this long article:
www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/astheywere/astheywere.html
Just got the Mary Henderson book about the New Amsterdam in the mail from Amazon.
Wow!
Re 42nd St. retitlings, my fave was when the Harlan Ellison-based sci-fi film A BOY AND HIS DOG was rechristened PSYCHO BOY AND HIS KILLER DOG. Nothing like a “Lassie”-sounding title to drive customers away, despite the lurid standees, lobby cards, et al to the contrary.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980
New Amsterdam Theater *** (added 1980 – Building – #80002664)
Also known as The New Amsterdam Theater,Rooftop Theater & Aerial Gardens
214 W. 42nd St., New York
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Tallant,Hugh, Herts,Henry B.
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Architecture, Engineering, Art, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Restaurant, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
Some shots I took the other night:
Through a porthole window of the New Victory
Facade 1
Facade 2
Poppins marquee
Outer vestibule
I love that look from the New Victory port hole window (which is in the stairwell going up from the mezzanine to the upper balcony) – it almost looks like the marquee is on fire.
Compare that last shot of the current-day vestibule to this 1962 grind house shot! The wall on the right, which at one time housed a large display case and the rounded corner of the box office, has been broken through to allow passage into the current spacious New Amsterdam box office.
I also cropped this shot of the vestibule from the other night to approximate the view of this shot I took back in 1993. Interesting contrasts, eh?
Also… I noticed that the letters on the blade sign have changed their appearance over the years. The 1953 image posted by Warren above shows thinner and more rounded letters, which had been replaced with squared-off neon letters by at least 1958.
I always loved this shot. 3D on the Deuce. Like it wasn’t scary enough. Also, if you look at the Lyric, there’s an example of how they would frequently alter the titles on the marquee to make them more 42nd Street type fare. Here, a harmless western comedy “ALONG CAME JONES” became “Along Came KILLER JONES”. jerry
I don’t think I have seen that one before Warren.
I’ve seen so many images of the New Amsterdam and 42nd Street that I don’t know if this summer 1953 view has been posted here before. If so, I will remove it immediately:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/summer1953.jpg
Warren… that’s definitely the New Amsterdam. The curvey deco pattern on the box office (to the right under the marquee) is the definite giveaway.
Is this the “New Amsterdam” which is mentioned in Counting Crows' first big hit single “Mr. Jones” (I was down at the New Amsterdam/Mr. Jones strikes up a conversation…“)?
This is supposed to be a 1970 view of the New Amsterdam’s entrance, but I can’t swear that it is. It might be another of the 42nd Street theatres. But in any case, note the discrepancy between the main feature’s title on the marquee and on the overhead sign:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/fondaclub.jpg
I just came back from Opening Night of “Mary Poppins” at The New Amsterdam! Lots of celebs, but the real star for me is this theater. I went with a friend who had never been to this theater and so I was able to see it anew through his eyes. He was awed at its beauty, as was I. This truly is one of the most beautiful and unusual (there are few art noveau theaters) that I have ever seen. While I give the show a “6”, the theater gets a perfect “10”. A nice touch after the performance….as we were leaving we all got Mary Poppins umbrellas……and it had just started to rain!
Halloween 1969
View link
Here’s an image peeking under the advertising into the outer vestibule of the New Amsterdam, circa October, 1970. Here’s another shot from the same image stream showing more or less the same. The movie advertised is Broadway Joe Namath’s “CC and Company”.
Just got my socks knocked off over on eBay. I put in a search for Famous Funnies Comics. Up pops FF #210, beautiful Buck Rogers cover by Frazetta, CGC 9.6 NM+ condition. Buy It Now price through 8/30 – with no interest until 2007???
$5,700.00
choke
Yes, Jerry… I was going to add that the look is very similar to the Heavy Metal magazine covers that Frazetta painted, but I couldn’t think of his name. An amazing artist, Frazetta suffered a stroke some years back and lost a lot of fine motor skill in his right hand and so had to teach himself how to paint with his left! And he seems to have mastered it.
Score one for 42nd Street Memories*Jerry Kovar! In the mid-1950s, the highly-talented Frazetta did a series of covers (including Buck Rogers) for Famous Funnies Comics, a monthly 10-cents reprint book of Saturday/Sunday newspaper continuities. When in decent shape, these FF artwork gems have soared into the low four-figure category. (And that’s without decimal points…)
Ed,
The artist was the great Frank Frazetta. I have the half sheet from The Gauntlet hanging in my garage. jerry
Here’s a couple of websites: http://frankfrazetta.org/ AND http://frankfrazetta.com/
Clint at the New Amsterdam in 1978:
The Gauntlet – NY Daily News 1/25/78
A rare listing for a major studio release that includes a 42nd Street grind house booking in addition to one of the big houses on Broadway (in this case the Embassy 2). I remember this style of artwork was in vogue in the late 1970’s into the 1980’s. I seem to recall the “Conan” movies in particular having a similar look.
“Mary Poppins” in next.
I guess the New Amsterdam will be closed the whole summer then? I guess it will take the summer to get ready for the new show.
“Ashley Brown is an actress that made her Broadway debut in September of 2005 as the lead character, Belle, in the Walt Disney Theatrical production of Beauty and the Beast. In October of 2006 Ashley will move to star in another Disney on Broadway musical, this time as the title character of Mary Poppins”.
Disney’s stage version of “Mary Poppins” opens November 16th, with previews starting October 14th. Ashley Brown will portray the title role. I never heard of her. Has anyone?