Bijou Theatre
209 W. 45th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
209 W. 45th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
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The smallest of the Broadway theaters opened by the Shuberts, the Bijou, which sat a little over 600, was situated between the Morosco and Astor Theatres, and was designed by the Shubert Brothers' house architect, Herbert J. Krapp.
Designed in refined Louis XVI style inside, featuring an original color scheme of blue, ivory and gold in its auditorium, the Bijou was planned as the Theatre Francais, and was to have featured French stage classics, but at the last moment, that idea was scrapped, though the French-themed decor remained.
The Bijou opened in 1917 and featured legitimate theater, and continued to serve in this capacity until 1935, when it switched to an all-cartoon movie format, but only briefly, since by 1936, it had returned to legitimate theater. In 1937, it once again was a movie house, but by the end of the same year, was closed.
It remained dark until 1943, when it once more hosted legitimate fare. From 1947-53, movies returned again, followed by another six years staging legitimate theater.
In 1959, when the next-door Astor was being remodeled and enlarged, it required cutting into the Bijou’s auditorium and part of its stage, reducing seating to around 300.
The smaller theater reopened in 1962 with its first name change in its history, the D.W. Griffith, which screened art films. A year later, the theater was renamed again, as the Toho Cinema, and featured Japanese films.
First-run features returned in 1965, along with the theater’s original name, and continued until 1970, when legimate theater once again made a comeback, although just as quickly, so did movies. During the early-to-mid 70s, both live and screen entertainment alternated every year or so at the Bijou, until 1977, when stage shows returned until the Bijou closed in 1981.
A year later, it, along with the Morosco, Astor and a couple other theaters, were all razed to clear the way for a new hotel.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
The Bijou became the Toho Cinema on January 22, 1963, with the opening of Kurosawa’s “The Bad Sleep Well.” The Toho Company of Japan decided to take a lease on the Bijou after some of its films enjoyed success there. The lease was terminated in June, 1965, after a 28-month period. During that time, the Toho presented about 30 Japanese movies in their American premieres, of which only 10 registered profits. The 299-seat house had a weekly operating “nut” of $2,800. The final film was a revival of “Ikiru,” which was the seventh and last booking of a Kurosawa Tribute that started in April, 1965.
Here’s a view of the Bijou’s signage as a cartoon cinema:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bijoucartoon.jpg
Here is an article about the “Great Theater Massacre of 1982”, which included the Bijou:
http://www.jimsdeli.com/landmarks/default.htm
In 1975 showing three Woody Allen films for $1
View link
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I was at the closing night of the Toho Cinema. The film they showed was Kurosawa’s Ikiru…To Live…with Takashi Shimura. A clerk finds out he is dying of cancer and builds a children’s park, to give something back. The movie ends with him on a swing in his park, humming a sad little tune, accompanied by the sobbing of 600 people in the theater, myself included. In the lobby were posters of the great Kurosawa films they had shown. The entire staff of the theater was in Japanese ceremonial dress. They thanked each person individually for attending. Auld Lang Syne was played over the loudspeaker. People were literally staggering, blinded by tears, clutching onto walls and railings. Years later I met someone who had been at the same performance. We agreed that seldom in our lives did we feel as close to suicide.
A couple of European films that played the Bijou:
Magnani, in 1947
Fernandel, in 1953
Images of the Bijou can be found here;
http://www.ibdb.com/VenueImages.asp?Id=1065
With all of the deserved attention given to the restored print of the Red Shoes, it’s hard to imagine that at the time art films had successful runs at venues west of Broadway. Am somewhat hesitant to see Red Shoes at the Film Forum – is that theater up to the task? Would much prefer the BAM.
Came upon a theatre card for Mummenchanz at a garage sale. Had to have it as Bijou memorabilia even though, in black, white and orange (and not glossy) it’s not much to look at.