Center Theatre

My random memories of the Center include a couple of visits to the ice shows staged there in the late ‘40s (I estimate in and after Fall, 1946, when I was four years old). By that time, I had already seen a few shows at RCMH with which to compare those at the Center. My most vivid recollection is of one scene deploying a transparent skrim, a revelation to my childish imagination as I wondered how we were able to “see through” an apparently tangible curtain.
Like RCMH, the Center had a cream-tan velvet contour curtain, but with ten folds rather than the fourteen at the larger theater. The walls were of mahogany veneer. The proscenium opening was 60’ with a stage depth of 44’. Like the one at RCMH, its stage had three elevators and a revolving platform. And like RCMH, the Center had three shallow mezzanines, with respective seating capacities of 406, 655, and 559. The orchestra accommodated 1,890. Total capacity was 3,509. Like the Grand Foyer at RCMH, it had a wide staircase and elevators to the top mezzanine, and its basement had a Grand Lounge. Its lobby had three ticket offices.
The preceding statistics come from the American Memory web page at the Library of Congress, Digital ID: ppmsca 05843 (I’ll later supply a precise URL if I can find it). I’m certainly not recalling them from childhood memory, but I definitely do retain vivid images of the Center and its impressive ambience. In 1950 I saw a live telecast of the Milton Berle Show there, and remember the stage as being too cluttered with camera equipment to get a good view of the action. I also attended a few radio broadcasts of NBC’s “The Big Show” on Sunday evenings there, hosted by Tallulah Bankhead. One took place in Spring ’51, with Ethel Merman and Edgar Bergen as guest stars.
The last time I remember seeing its façade was in December ’53 after seeing the Christmas show at RCMH; I took photographs of its lighted marquee. The theater was converted into office space and an indoor garage shortly after that.

RobertR: where on that page you sent as a link is the photograph?

Kind of remarkable how there’s been – and continues to be – so much talk about Radio City Music Hall and the Roxy, while the Center is largely forgotten…

The Center Theatre was designed by Edward Durrell Stone, chief designer for Hood and Foulihoux, one member of the architectural team for Rockefeller Center (Associated Architects). When the Metropolitan Opera could not occupy one of the theatres (designed by their chief designer at the time – Joseph Urban) it was taken out of the project.

The Center Theatre used the same stage machinery as the International Music Hall (RCMH’s orignal name) – an orchestra lift, 3 stage lifts with a turntable in the center. There wasa large pipe organ with twin consoles in niches on either side of the proscenium arch. the theatre also had the lighting control at the front of the orchestra pit (like Earl Carroll’s Theatre) and a contour curtain based upon the Ted Weidhas patents.

There are incorrect attributions to design for the Rockefeller Center Theatres – Donald Desky was brought into the Music Hall after it been designed and provided oversight primarily for furnishings, the Roxy apartment and lounges, not shape and design for the auditorium. His partner, Eugene Schoen worked on the Center Theatre and had a greater input, primarily because it was not as far into the design process.

Warren: You'r right,I was wrong. The true answer can be found at http://archiverockefeller.edu/bio/jdrjr.php

The Center Theater was located at 48st.Regency Bruin Theatreth,and was originaly built by Rockerfeller to house the Metropolitan Opera House, but somewhre allong the line the deal fell through and they tried a few shows which floped, “The American Way” was one such show. Then they turned it into an Ice Show venu, then they showed Disney’s Pinnocio. Finally it became the Milton Berle TV studio. It was circular in design and had the signs of the zodiac embossed on the cieling along with twinkling lights.

My father(John Foy) Told Me that his Uncle “George Carroll” was the architect of the “Roxy Theatre” in New York City that was located near the Radio City Music Hall" this is 100% sure. George Carroll also designed “Kreske’s” across the states. Could someone do some research and confirm this. Thank You.

I have in my possesion a full set of architectural drawings of the Roxy Theater of New York City. The drawing were done by my great uncle, Tom Moreford. Does anyone have anyone photos of the theater they could share?

I have an old mirror in the art deco style from RKO studios – It’s about 9feet by 4 ½ feet with RKO letters on top. It may have come from the old theater in New York. I’m looking for a photo of the original – any ideas?????

This theatre was part of Roxy’s Radio City Complex and was to show movies with a stage show. If you will recall The Music Hall was to be just that with no movies. It is curious that Roxy (Rothafel) made such a critical mistake with the Music Hall and opened it w/o movies since his claim to fame was to introduce movies in every other theatre he managed. The Music Hall was a flop and closed several weeks later causing Roxy (who had a heart attack) to be removed as MANAGER. The Roxy Center Theatre was a very beautiful but simply designed theatre. A lawsuit from the original Roxy Theatre made them take off the name Roxy. The theatre had a lackluster performance and ended up with skating shows.