History
The New York Times wrote, "The Olympia is a beautiful, massive gray stone building, extending 203 feet (62 m) on Longacre Square, 104 feet (32 m) on Forty-fifth Street, and 101 feet (31 m) on Forty-fourth Street. Its material is Indiana limestone, richly carved and ornamented, and it presents one of the most imposing façades on Broadway. The lines of the French Renaissance were closely followed in its designing." It was designed by J. B. McElfatrick & Son.
The building was opened on November 25, 1895 with over 30 performers from Europe appearing. It was the second theater to open in what is now known as the Theater District. The first was the Empire Theatre, on the Southeast corner of 40th Street and Broadway. The Olympia was later named the New York Theatre and Loew's New York.
In 1935, architects Thomas W. Lamb and Eugene DeRosa redesigned the site. Historic sources are unclear as to whether some or all buildings in the complex were demolished and rebuilt, or the shells gutted and remodeled to build a nightclub/dancehall, the International Casino, and the Criterion movie theatre.
In 1989, the Criterion was renovated and opened as a Broadway theatre, the Criterion Center Stage Right. Its inaugural productions were Starmites, Mastergate and Stand-Up Tragedy. For the 1991-92 season, the Roundabout Theatre Company took over the location for its Broadway productions.
Read more about this topic: Olympia Theatre (New York)
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