Times Square Theatre - History

History

The Times Square Theatre was built in 1920 by the Selwyn brothers to a design by Eugene De Rosa. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, including the Apollo and the Selwyn. It opened on September 30, 1920.

In 1921, G.K. Chesterton spoke in the Times Square Theater on the fallacy of fatalism in human affairs.

Battling Butler, the basis for the Buster Keaton film of the same name, transferred from the Selwyn to the Times Square in 1924. Notable shows presented at the Times Square included the original New York productions of George and Ira Gershwin's Strike Up the Band in 1930 and Noël Coward's Private Lives in 1931. Lawrence Olivier made his U.S. debut at the Times Square Theater in 1931.

Only three years after Private Lives, the Times Square was converted to a cinema. It would remain in operation as a movie theatre until the early 1990s, when it was closed.

The final scene of the 1980 motion picture Times Square was filmed at the Times Square Theater, with Robin Johnson's character performing a "midnight concert" atop the theater's marquee.

The City and State of New York took possession of the Times Square Theatre in 1990. In 1992, it was one of six 42nd Street theatres to come under the protection of the New 42nd Street organization. It was not immediately restored or renovated, as the theatre lacks any entrances not directly on 42nd Street, rendering more difficult to use for loading of scenery and props.

In 1998, three months after agreeing to redevelop the shuttered Times Square Theater as a 500-seat theater, Canadian production company Live Entertainment Corporation of Canada, Inc. dropped the project saying that it no longer seemed a prudent investment. The theater also had near-deals for redevelopment by MTV and Marvel Mania that were not completed.

In 2005, the Times Square Theater was leased to Ecko Unlimited, which planned to make it a supermarket for clothing and other urban youth market items. In 2009, the company walked away from its lease.

In 2012, a long term lease was signed to make the theatre home to a "4D" film presentation called Broadway Sensation, dedicated to the history of Broadway and to be directed by Bryan Singer. The theatre will be renovated as part of the preparation; many interior elements of the theatre are landmarked, and must be preserved. The attraction is expected to open in late spring 2013.