Lyric Theatre

213 W. 42nd Street,
New York, NY 10036

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42ndStreetMemories
42ndStreetMemories on December 24, 2019 at 6:54 am

In what year did they stop updating the billboards, with posters from coming attractions, above the Lyric?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Lyric in 1971 among others in below link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21612362@N05/sets/72157629137226648/with/6948877089/?fbclid=IwAR1yqOGPN-v1_cRyUSinKoWV4hCX4HXAmeEfPLKcRvwAq8Q2QU9sBzMfxZk

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on September 3, 2019 at 4:59 pm

Since this page and introduction are about the original Lyric Theatre, then Joe’s comments are perfectly apt.

Perhaps the introduction should stop at the end of the second paragraph, and omit the new Lyric’s information and history as a legitimate play house.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on September 3, 2019 at 3:42 pm

Hello-

to Comfortably Cool- I am well aware the current Lyric Theater which houses the truly spectacular play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not the same Lyric that William Fox used for exclusive engagements of his most spectacular films of the 1910s and 1920s. since the intro at top is for the original Lyric Theater I’m surprised the info about Fox’s leasing of the theater wasn’t included.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on September 3, 2019 at 3:26 pm

The current Lyric Theatre is not the same Lyric that was originally “legit” and a cinema in its final life. History detailed here

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on September 3, 2019 at 1:57 pm

Hello-

the intro should also note that filmmaking pioneer William Fox rented out this theater for some of his big films such as A Daughter of the Gods and The Queen of Sheba and Sunrise.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on December 16, 2018 at 11:50 am

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on December 16, 2018 at 8:25 am

And “I’m Not a Robot” for security purposes.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on December 15, 2018 at 9:07 pm

Mike, love this! Ken Roe how about a “like” button on CT?

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on December 15, 2018 at 9:02 pm

Excerpt from a New York Times review March 31, 1966:

“Twentieth Century-Fox opened [The Murder Game] yesterday at the Lyric Theater on 42d Street. At this showcase yesterday, where a boisterous mob had piled in to see "Our Man Flint,” topping the double bill, the first twenty minutes of the little picture were inaudible. Suddenly, though, you could have heard a pin drop. Why? Well, there’s this guy who suddenly catches on to a plot by his pretty young wife and a blackmailing handyman to do him in. For money, of course…"

42ndStreetMemories
42ndStreetMemories on March 21, 2018 at 12:53 pm

I don’t know. Kind of liked it better when I saw Navy vs. The Night Monsters or Astro Zombies there.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on March 21, 2018 at 12:03 pm

Five views of the interior renovations for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” can be found here

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on March 21, 2018 at 11:54 am

What’s now known as the Lyric Theatre had been closed for a year for EXTENSIVE auditorium renovations for the stage spectacular “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which is currently in previews and expected to replace “Hamilton” as hottest (and priciest) ticket in town. Seating capacity was reduced by 400 seats, from 1,900 to 1,500, according to press reports, which also claim that the Lyric’s main entrance has been moved around the block to 43rd Street.

robboehm
robboehm on March 3, 2017 at 7:35 pm

Clarifying some of the above. As a movie theater the Apollo used 42nd Street as it’s entrance. When it was reopened as a Broadway Theater with On Golden Pond, the entrance, albeit small, was on 43rd Street. I don’t remember either the Apollo or Lyric having other than exits on 43rd Street despite the fact that the 43rd Street side of the Lyric was quite elaborate for only an exit situation. The detail on the exterior is still in place, which might be why the joint structure is now called the Lyric. As the Ford Center access was from both streets.

markp
markp on March 3, 2017 at 3:46 pm

My wife currently works at the new Lyric on Paramour, for a few more weeks till it closes. She tells me Harry Potter is going in there and they are removing close to 500 seats and extending the stage.

vindanpar
vindanpar on March 3, 2017 at 1:19 pm

Two wonderful theaters turned into an airplane hangar in which musicals disappear like doing The Fantasticks at the Music Hall.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on January 9, 2017 at 7:38 pm

No. B.B. Kings is further west, past the Selwyn (American Airlines).

42ndStreetMemories
42ndStreetMemories on January 9, 2017 at 6:40 pm

Does the B.B King club occupy any of the Times Square footprint?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on January 9, 2017 at 6:29 pm

The Apollo and Lyric combined into one theatre (now the Lyric). Both had entrances on 42nd street but the auditoria were on 43rd street. The Times Square was on 42nd street and remains vacant.

TorstenAdair
TorstenAdair on January 9, 2017 at 6:00 pm

“… it joined the neighboring Apollo Theatre in being razed.” The Apollo’s marquee was on the other side of the Times Square theater. (The lineup was: [unknown], Rialto, Victory, Lyric, Times Square, Apollo…) Isn’t the Apollo and Times Square part of the vacant theater between the Lyric and American Airlines? Or did the Apollo have an entrance on 42nd, but the theater was on 43rd, much like the current Lyric?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 16, 2015 at 10:39 pm

That’s the New Amsterdam, of course.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on September 16, 2015 at 10:06 pm

1953 photo added courtesy of Al Ponte’s Time Machine – New York Facebook page. If someone names the large theatre marquee on the left in the photo, I’ll post it on that page too.

robboehm
robboehm on August 25, 2014 at 9:34 am

Glad they went with Lyric. The remaining facade on 43 Street is what it’s all about.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on August 24, 2014 at 7:52 pm

So, the theatre was re-christened sometime in the last week or so. I have pics I’ve uploaded showing some of the new signage.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on March 8, 2014 at 6:02 pm

Oh, and I’m thrilled to have the name back in place over that marquee. Fitting, since the original Lyric’s entrance serves the same purpose for the new house.