Directors Guild of America Theater

110 W. 57th Street,
New York, NY 10019

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Related Websites

Directors Guild of America Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: City Cinemas, Trans-Lux Movies Corp.

Architects: William I. Hohauser

Functions: Movies

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Normandie Theatre, Cinema Rendezvous, Playboy Theatre, 57th Street Playhouse, Trans-Lux Normandie Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 212.581.0370
Manager: 212.258.0811

Nearby Theaters

Side of awning

The Normandie Theatre was opened on December 6, 1951 with James Mason in “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman”. Seating for 598 was provided on a stadium plan, with a raised stepped section at the rear. Over the years it went through several name changes:Cinema Rendezvous, Playboy, 57th Street Playhouse, Trans-Lux Normandie and possibly more in its many decades of history. It was closed by City Cinemas on May 4, 1995 with Bruce Greenwood in “Exotica”.

It was taken over by the Directors Guild of America and is now used for industry screenings and special events. There was originally as seating capacity of 484, today the capacity is 436 (266 on the main level and 170 in the mezzanine).

In May 2013 it was closed to renovate the theatre by removing asbestos and install air conditioning. It re-opened in September 2013.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 84 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on November 22, 2014 at 5:36 am

Ed Miller; There is a page for the New Century Theatre as the Central Park Theatre #7049. We would love you to post your photo on that page.

zoetmb
zoetmb on March 20, 2015 at 5:10 pm

I don’t think the Festival was ever the Playboy. A December, 1975 NY Times Arts section shows “Jaws” playing at the Playboy (but no address given) and “The Magic Flute” playing at the Festival. Unless there was another Playboy theatre.

mharmon999
mharmon999 on June 20, 2015 at 4:38 pm

I saw the Talking Heads music film Stop Making Sense at this theatre when it was called 57th Street Playhouse

ftm68_99
ftm68_99 on July 28, 2015 at 12:51 am

I remember when “The Wizard of Oz” was shown in re-issue here in June of 1955. Theater was known as the Trans Lux Normandie then.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on August 25, 2017 at 9:12 pm

This was before its tv premiere.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 15, 2017 at 5:09 pm

PDF of Jackie O and a photographer she knocked down while leaving the Rendezvous in 1969.

http://jfk.hood.edu/Collection/White%20Materials/White%20Assassination%20Clippings%20Folders/Kennedy%20Family%20Folders/Kennedy%20Jacqueline%20Bouvier/JBK-103.pdf

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on June 11, 2019 at 5:56 pm

if i am not mistaken this was always a 1st run theater. to which what was the last film to play here before the Directors Guild too kit over?

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on June 11, 2019 at 6:07 pm

When I lived in NYC it was a first run house. Films I saw there were Dressed To Kill, La Cage Au Folles 2.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on July 3, 2021 at 10:56 am

Please update, City Cinemas closed the theaatre on May 4, 1995 with Exotica before the DGA eventually took it over.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on July 3, 2021 at 1:05 pm

Hello-

if I am not mistaken after The Sound of Music finished its record 80? week roadshow engagement at the Rivoli didn’t it move here and on a continuous performance basis ran another 6 months?

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