Town Theatre
840 Ninth Avenue,
New York,
NY
10019
840 Ninth Avenue,
New York,
NY
10019
No one has favorited this theater yet
At 840 Ninth Avenue, northwest corner of 55th Street, the Town Theatre (originally called the Chaloner) was converted by CBS into a television studio in the early 50s. TV production continued until the building was demolished in October 2002 to make way for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.
Contributed by
Doug Douglass
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
I’m not sure that CBS ever used this as a TV studio. It might have been another company that converted it, and leased it out. It’s also conceivable that CBS no longer needed it and rented it to PBS for “Sesame Street.” After “Sesame Street” moved to one of the Long Island City studios, the theatre/studio was home for tapings of several cable TV programs which required “live” audiences. I don’t recall the titles, if I ever knew them. But I do remember seeing the name Jennie (or possibly Jenny) Craig on the marquee.
The longest running CBS show from this studio was “Mama” starring Peggy Wood, which aired live on Fridays at 8:00 PM in the ‘50s. CBS leased the 94X78 foot studio to Reeves TeleTape for “Sesame Street”. Building sold to Educational Broadcasting Corporation (WNET-13), later leasing to Unitel for syndicated shows including Gordon Elliott, Dr. Joy Browne, and Jane Pratt. “Emeril Live” was the last show here. EBC still owned the theatre when it was demolished in October 2002.
In the late 1970s(?) I went to a taping of the Dick Cavett show (PBS), and I wonder if it was at this theater. The theater was on the west side of a main avenue, west of Eighth Avenue (probably Ninth Ave.), just somewhere south of 57th St. I think around the corner from the theater, was a small off-Broadway theater that might have been on the south side of 55th St.
Also, by the way, while Merv Griffin may have broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater, I’m pretty sure he also broadcast for a while, at least (in the mid-1960s?), from the Little Theater (now known as the Helen Hayes). I believe in the early 1960s, the Little Theater was also used for a while for one of Dick Clark’s Rock ‘n Roll shows — not “American Bandstand,” which was on every day, I believe — but another show that was done as more of a concert, and was done only once a week (maybe Saturdays?). I think it was sponsored by a chewing gum (Spearmint?).
From the 1950s to ‘63, The Little Theatre was home to ABC’s “That’s Entertainment” a weekday variety show plus many quiz shows. After '63 Westinghouse (Group W) leased the theatre for syndicated shows.
This was originally the Chaloner Theatre before being re-named Town. After being converted to a TV studio, it had many tenants, most notably “Sesame Street,” which was there for quite a few years before a move to Long Island City. I don’t recall Dick Cavett being based there, but perhaps he was at one time or another. I do remember Cavett broadcasting from the ex-theatre on West 58th Street between Seventh Avenue & Broadway (since demolished for an Episcopal choir school).
Sesame Street moved its production to the Reeves Tele-Tape facility at 81st Street & Broadway until the late 80’s prior to moving to the Kaufman Astoria Studios.
The theatre and replacement building can be seen here: View link
CBS designated the Town Theatre as Studio 58. Studio 59 was the Mansfield Theatre @ 256 W 47th (now called Brooks Atkinson).
Also, to confirm “Benjamin’s” 2007 entry above re: Merv Griffin being taped @ the Little Theatre — he’s correct. I have a ticket for Merv Griffin dated October 12, 1965 at the Little Theatre. Griffin also had a short tenure at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th St) which CBS occupied. It was designated as CBS Studio 54!
As for his recollection of Dick Clark having a one a week show in the Little Theatre, I recall seeing documentation to that effect.My memory isn’t clear enough to say 100% absolutely though. I can say for sure, however, that Beech-Nut Spearmint Gum presented “The Dick Clark Beech-Nut Show” from ABC’s studio center on 67th Street. Again referencing a ticket, this one dated Aug 11, 1960. Clark also taped “Dick Clark’s World of Talent” at the same studio (26 W 67th St. – likely ABC’s TV-2) on Oct. 6, 1959.
Warren Harris' mention of Cavett at a 58th Street “ex-theatre”: that was ABC Studio TV-15 @ 202 W. 58th St. a.k.a. the Elysee Theatre. ABC owned the theatre for over 30 years. Demolished in 1985, it was home to countless ABC shows, notably Dick Cavett and “The $20,000 Pyramid.” The last tapings to take place there were “Kids Are People Too” in the summer of 1980 after “Pyramid” was canceled in May 1980. And after “Kids” wrapped its season, the syndicated “The $50,000 Pyramid” utilized TV-15 in early 1981. After that, I know of no other shows. There was, though, an ABC Stockholders Meeting held there one morning sometime after the theare went dark for good. I happened to attend it!
Warren, thank you for your Feb 2004 entry re: the Town Theatre. I always wondered about its early history.
A mention is made in Boxoffice Magazine (December 18, 1961) that the Town was to be reconverted from a CBS TV studio back to a first-run movie location in May 1962 by Brandt after 12 years serving as a studio.
That move apparently never took place.
Status needs to be changed from “Closed” to “Demolished.”