Times Square Theatre
217 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
217 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
27 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters
Architects: Eugene DeRosa
Styles: Adam, Neo-Classical
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jan 17, 2011 — Plans afoot to renovate, reopen Times Square Theater as a special purpose venue
- Jul 16, 2004 — Former Times Square Theatre to Become Retail Space
- Jan 23, 2004 — Today's Newsreel
- Nov 25, 2003 — Southern California Cameos
One of the last theatres in the Times Square area to not be demolished or saved, this Eugene DeRosa-designed former legitimate house opened on September 30, 1920, for the brothers Edgar & Arch Selwyn. The opening play was “The Mirage” written by Edgar Selwyn and starring Florence Reed, which ran for six months.
Despite having one of the more recognizable facades in the area, complete with a tall row of Neo-Classical style columns, the Times Square Theatre has little to no lobby. The auditorium is decorated in an Empire/Adam style, with seating provided for 512 in the orchestra level, and 529 in the single balcony level. There are four boxes, which seat a total of 16.
Several hit plays ran at the Times Square Theatre, including “Gentlemen Prefer Blonds” in 1926-1927, “The Front Page” in 1928, George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band” in 1930, and “Private Lives” brought the original London cast to Broadway in 1931, starring Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier. The last play to be staged at the Times Square Theatre was Tallulah Bankhead in “Forsaking All Others” in the summer of 1933.
In 1934, the Time Square Theatre was converted into a movie theatre, with the stage being converted into a retail store, therefore virtually ending its live theatre career. It was operated for many years by the Brandt Theatres chain. Ending its run in the 1980’s as a revivals movie theatre, the auditorium has since closed and over the years has sustained fire damage and the wear and tear of time.
It was announced in July of 2004 that the urban apparel retailer, Ecko Unlimited, would be converting the old Times Square Theatre into a four-story store, with architectural elements such as the proscenium arch, ceiling dome, and ornamental plasterwork saved. This never happened.
In early-2011, plans were proposed to renovate and reopen the theatre housing a Las Vegas style multimedia show named “Broadway 4D”. Opening was planned for June 2014, but the project was cancelled. On September 18, 2018 it was announced that the theatre would receive a $100 million renovation to convert into retail use. By 2024 the auditorium had been gutted.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 204 comments)
I remember seeing the scenery on, as you point out, Seventh Avenue, and walking past the entrance on Broadway when I became a theatre goer in the late 1950s and a Long Island commuter in the 1960s. The only time I was in the old Met was for a children’s matinee of Carmen with Irra Petina as part of a 7th grade trip. Before I retired I did, however, attend many performances at Lincoln Center.
As a boy, I thought of the Met Opera House as a very glamorous and beautiful theatre. When I went into it around 1952 I was shocked at how shabby it was inside. Near it, the old Empire Theatre was still open but I never went into it. We used to go to NY on weekends because a trip there (from Boston) was so inexpensive even a school kid could afford it.
There are so many theaters that, in retrospect, I wish I had gone into, no matter what was playing, because now I will never have the opportunity again.
Luckily, I was a steady habitué of all the 42nd St theaters, so at least I have those memories.
Hello-
speaking of the old 42 St. theaters. Disney published a beautiful book on the Mew Amsterdam across the street following its reopening in 1997. while the book contains photos of the interior literally right before the renovation began it oddly contains no photos of the interior when it was still a functioning movie theater in the mid-late 80s.
Some people and/or historians tend the ignore or downplay the five-decade history of successful motion picture exhibition at the 42d Street theaters.
For example, even on this site the description of the New Amsterdam contains the misinformation that the New Amsterdam was a second run theater, when it is well documented that it showed first-run double features for most of its cinematic history.
So I’m not surprised that the Disney book glossed over or omitted the years between 1937 and its re-opening back as a legitimate theater.
The Times Square Theater, was a first run picture house, part of a chain of 10 to 12 theaters owned by Brandt Theaters. I remember going there in the sixties and seventies. I remember that the balcony was usually closed off.
Can’t speak for the 70’s but the programming of the Times Square theatre in the 60’s was revivals of action movies that were more than 3-4 years old. Not 1st run.
I remember the sixties and the seventies at the theater. It was managed by a handsome man, who dressed impeccably in silk suits and French cuff. He brought a lot of class to the theater.
As of 2024 the auditorium of the theater has been almost entirely gutted.
Problem with the Times Square is it couldn’t resume since it no longer was up to code re loading.