New Century Theatre: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former theatre in Manhattan, New York}} |
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{{refimprove|date=November 2015}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} |
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{{Infobox theatre |
{{Infobox theatre |
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| name = New Century Theatre |
| name = New Century Theatre |
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| capacity = 1,700 |
| capacity = 1,700 |
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| type = [[Broadway theatre]] |
| type = [[Broadway theatre]] |
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| opened = {{Start date|1921|10|06 |
| opened = {{Start date|1921|10|06}} |
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| reopened = |
| reopened = |
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| yearsactive = |
| yearsactive = |
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| website = |
| website = |
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The '''New Century Theatre''' was a legitimate [[Broadway theatre]] located at 932 [[Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Seventh Avenue]] at West 58th Street in midtown [[Manhattan]]. |
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The '''New Century Theatre''' was a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] theater in the [[Midtown Manhattan]] neighborhood of [[New York City]], at 205–207 West 58th Street and 926–932 [[Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Seventh Avenue]]. Opened on October 6, 1921, as '''Jolson's 59th Street Theatre''',<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 19, 1921|title=Jolson's Fifty-Ninth Street Theatre.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/09/19/archives/jolsons-fiftyninth-street-theatre.html|access-date=January 31, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the theater was designed by [[Herbert J. Krapp]] on the site of the Central Park Riding Academy. It was built for the [[Shubert family|Shubert brothers]], who named the house after [[Al Jolson]].<ref name=Morrison1999>{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=William|title=Broadway Theatres: History and Architecture|publisher=Dover Publications|year=1999|isbn=0-486-40244-4|location=Mineola, NY|page=121}}</ref> |
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The house, which seated 1,700, was designed by architect [[Herbert J. Krapp]] for the [[Shubert Organization|Shuberts]], who originally named it '''Jolson's 59th Street Theatre''' after [[Al Jolson]], who opened the venue with a [[Sigmund Romberg]] [[musical theatre|musical]] called ''Bombo'' on October 6, 1921. Two years later, it hosted the [[United States|American]] premiere of [[Konstantin Stanislavski]]'s [[Moscow Art Theatre]].<ref name="IBDb New Century">{{cite web |url=http://ibdb.com/Venue/View/1220 |title=New Century Theatre |publisher=[[Internet Broadway Database]] |accessdate=2015-11-23}}</ref> |
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In 1920, the Shuberts announced plans to convert the Central Park Riding Academy into a theater,<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 1, 1920|title=Shuberts to Build Another Theatre; New Structure Will Occupy Site of Old Central Park Riding Academy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/08/01/archives/shuberts-to-build-another-theatre-new-structure-will-occupy-site-of.html|access-date=January 31, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> hiring Krapp to renovate the old structure.<ref name=Morrison1999/> The Shuberts went bankrupt in 1931 and sold off Jolson's 59th Street Theatre, in part because of the venue's remoteness from [[Times Square]].<ref name=Morrison1999/> The venue was then leased as a film house called the Central Park Theatre.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 4, 1931|title=Jolson to Be Film House; Brecher Leases It and Will Change Name to Central Park Theatre.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/02/04/archives/jolson-to-be-film-house-brecher-leases-it-and-will-change-name-to.html|access-date=January 31, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It was then renamed five more times before assuming the "New Century" name in 1944. The theater was converted to an [[NBC]] broadcast studio in 1953, then to a videotape studio in 1958.<ref name=Morrison1999/> Upon the theater's demolition in 1962, the apartment building at [[200 Central Park South]] was erected on the site.<ref name="Cinema Treasures 1921">{{cite web | title=Central Park Theatre in New York, NY | website=Cinema Treasures | date=October 6, 1921 | url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/44319 | access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> |
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The theatre underwent several name changes over the next several years. As the '''Central Park Theatre''', it was operated as a movie house. It then became the '''Shakespeare Theatre''', the '''[[Molly Picon]] Theatre''', the '''Venice Theatre''', and twice reverted to '''Jolson Theatre''', honoring Jolson, before finally being refurbished and reopened as the New Century on April 8, 1944.<ref name="IBDb New Century"/> |
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Its place in theatrical history was established in 1937 when [[Orson Welles]] and his [[Federal Theatre Project]] troupe marched their production of ''[[The Cradle Will Rock]]'' into what was then called the Venice Theatre and performed the musical from seats in the audience in defiance of [[Actors Equity]]. |
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In the late 1940s and early 1950s, NBC used the New Century for live television programs performed before a studio audience. The theatre was shuttered in 1954 and demolished in 1962. |
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==Notable productions== |
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*1923: ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]''; ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]''; ''[[Irene (musical)|Irene]]'' |
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*1924: ''[[The Student Prince]]'' |
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*1929: ''[[Naughty Marietta (operetta)|Naughty Marietta]]'' |
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*1932: ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' |
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*1937: ''[[The Cradle Will Rock]]'' |
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*1944: ''[[Follow the Girls]]'' |
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*1945: ''[[Mr. Strauss Goes To Boston]]''<ref>http://www.performingartsarchive.com/Broadway/Mr-Strauss_souvenir_1945/Mr-Strauss_souvenir_1945.htm</ref> |
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*1947: ''[[High Button Shoes]]'' |
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*1948: ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'' |
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*1950: ''[[Out of This World (musical)|Out of This World]] by Cole Porter'' |
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*1951: ''[[Jose Greco]] Ballet'' |
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*1953: ''[[Carnival in Flanders (musical)|Carnival in Flanders]]'' |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Academy Awards venues}} |
{{Academy Awards venues}} |
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{{Broadway theatres}} |
{{Broadway theatres}} |
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{{Midtown North, Manhattan}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1921 establishments in New York City]] |
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[[Category:1962 disestablishments in New York (state)]] |
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[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:Demolished theatres in New York City]] |
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[[Category:Former Broadway theatres]] |
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[[Category:Former theatres in Manhattan]] |
[[Category:Former theatres in Manhattan]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Midtown Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)]] |
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[[Category:Theatres completed in 1921]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:19, 7 October 2023
Jolson's 59th Street Theatre (1921–31) Central Park Theatre (1931) Shakespeare Theatre (1932–34) Venice Theatre (1934–42) Jolson's 59th Street Theatre (1942) Molly Picon Theatre (1943) Jolson's 59th Street Theatre (1943) New Century Theatre (1944–54) | |
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| Address | 932 Seventh Avenue New York City United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°45′59″N 73°58′46″W / 40.766495°N 73.97947°W |
| Owner | Shubert Organization |
| Type | Broadway theatre |
| Capacity | 1,700 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | October 6, 1921 |
| Closed | 1954 |
| Demolished | 1962 |
| Architect | Herbert J. Krapp |
The New Century Theatre was a Broadway theater in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, at 205–207 West 58th Street and 926–932 Seventh Avenue. Opened on October 6, 1921, as Jolson's 59th Street Theatre,[1] the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp on the site of the Central Park Riding Academy. It was built for the Shubert brothers, who named the house after Al Jolson.[2]
In 1920, the Shuberts announced plans to convert the Central Park Riding Academy into a theater,[3] hiring Krapp to renovate the old structure.[2] The Shuberts went bankrupt in 1931 and sold off Jolson's 59th Street Theatre, in part because of the venue's remoteness from Times Square.[2] The venue was then leased as a film house called the Central Park Theatre.[4] It was then renamed five more times before assuming the "New Century" name in 1944. The theater was converted to an NBC broadcast studio in 1953, then to a videotape studio in 1958.[2] Upon the theater's demolition in 1962, the apartment building at 200 Central Park South was erected on the site.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Jolson's Fifty-Ninth Street Theatre". The New York Times. September 19, 1921. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Morrison, William (1999). Broadway Theatres: History and Architecture. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. p. 121. ISBN 0-486-40244-4.
- ^ "Shuberts to Build Another Theatre; New Structure Will Occupy Site of Old Central Park Riding Academy". The New York Times. August 1, 1920. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Jolson to Be Film House; Brecher Leases It and Will Change Name to Central Park Theatre". The New York Times. February 4, 1931. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ^ "Central Park Theatre in New York, NY". Cinema Treasures. October 6, 1921. Retrieved January 31, 2022.