Rivoli Theatre
1620 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10019
1620 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10019
31 people
favorited this theater
A “sister” to the nearby Rialto Theatre, this lost theatre was a palatial early delight and once one of the grandest theatres on the east coast. The Rivoli Theatre opened December 28, 1917 with Douglas Fairbanks in “A Modern Musketeer”.
In its middle years, the Rivoli Theatre was one of New York City’s finest ‘roadshow’ theatres and was converted to 70mm Todd-AO with a deeply curved screen by Michael Todd for his feature, “Oklahoma!” which had its World Premiere on October 13, 1955 and was shown for 51 weeks. Other World Premieres of 70mm films included “Around the World in 80 Days”(October 17, 1956 and was showcased for 103 weeks), “The Big Fisherman”(August 4, 1959), “West Side Story”(October 18, 1961 and was screened for 77 weeks), “Cleopatra” (June 12, 1963 and was shown for 64 weeks), “The Sound of Music”(March 2, 1965 and was screened for 93 weeks), “The Sand Pebbles”(December 20, 1966), “Hello Dolly”(December 16,1969), “Fiddler on the Roof”(November 3, 1971) and “Man of La Mancha”(December 11, 1972).
The 1950’s deeply curved screen was enormous and generated the illusion of peripheral vision. The Rivoli Theatre, along with the nearby Capitol Theatre, showed event films and both movie houses showed “2001” on their giant screens. Patrons also recall that the sound quality of the six track stereo was as impressive as it’s visuals.
After it was twinned in December 1981, and the curved screen was removed. It became the United Artists Twin from October 26, 1984. One of the last features to play there was Richard Haines' low budget movie, “The Class of Nuke ‘Em High”. It was closed as the United Artists Twin in June 1987.
Where urban blight had at once shuttered, but saved the Rivoli Theatre from development, a turn around in the city’s fortune made the site too tempting for developers. The Rivoli Theatre, one of the greatest of all New York City theatres, was demolished after closing in June 1987. It has been replaced by a black glass skyscraper.
Contributed by
Richard Haines, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 789 comments)
I miss road shows! Saw THE SOUND OF MUSIC and GONE WITH THE WIND at the Rivoli. Such a beautiful theatre. We just didn’t have anything like it in Springfield, Mo where I grew up. I live in Kansas City now and all the picture palaces have been multiplexed (Main Street), torn down (Glenwood) or turned into live venues like the Midland.
I loved this theatre from the moment I saw it at age 13 in 1968, The film Star! was playing its Roadshow Engagement and the theatre was decked out!. That was always the good thing about the Rivoli,the marquee and outdoor displays for the roadshow engagements were great.
I was only in the theatre once, in 1969 to see Sweet
Charity. If I recall correctly there was an orchestra level as well as a lodge and balcony. And ushers to seat you.
Over the years I took many pics of the theatre, of course for Star!, but also for Sweet Charity, Hello, Dolly! and a little something called Justine. It really upset me when the theatre was twinned, and then torn down for that awful skyscraper w/ Carolines Comedy Club on street level.
Phone number for the theatre was CI 7-1699.There are glimpses of the Rivoli marquee at night in the opening credits of an ABC television show from 1967 called N.Y.P.D..A police car is crusing down Broadway at night-rather quickly- and the theatre appears on the left side of the screen,right after a shot of The Winter Garden,where Mame was playing at the time. The theatre also shows up in an Al Pacino film, cant recall the title,but Al is walking down Broadway late at night,and walks under the marquee of the Rivoli, Star! was playing there at the time, so late 1968 to early 1969 is the time frame
A re-issue of Gone With The Wind was the attraction before the Gala Premiere of Star! which was on October 22, 1968
September 11, 1978, as per The Village Voice, 2001: A Space Odyssey was playing at the UA Rivoli Theatre in 70 MM-6 Track Stereo
As per the Village Voice, April 3, 1969-“Sweet Charity” at the UA Rivoli, 3 shows everyday Easter Week! Showtimes: 10:00 AM, 2:30, and 8:30 PM. You could get tickets at the box office or by mail
Seems the Rivoli went X back in 1969. Before the December 1969 premiere of “Hello,Dolly!”,in November a film starring Kier Dullea entitled “de Sade” was playing the theatre. That same film could also be seen at one of the 42nd St grindhouses.
“De Sade” was an American International Release that played mainstream theatres and drive-in nationwide when X was still mild.
“X” as in “Midnight Cowboy’s rating. Equivalent to today’s "NC-17” – although now would probably get an “R” rating – and by no means tantamount to XXX or pornography.
sorry, I should have clarified that I knew that the 1969 X was not on par w/ XXX. But in 1969 X still was something. And this film was in wide release at multiple theatres, including the 42nd St House. Again, my apologies