Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10019
1634 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10019
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 77 comments
Tinseltoes, according to the Schubert Organization’s website, the Winter Garden’s run as a cinema during 1945-1948 was with United Artists (while the previous run from 1928-1933 was under lease with Warner Brothers). Do you know if that is a factual error by the Schuberts or did Universal sub-lease from United Artists – or perhaps take over the lease after UA?
Interesting about Univeral four walling to show their product, thats the first I have heard of that.
Registering.
The old photo which Panzer65 linked to was taken some time in 1919. At the top center is an ad for “Monte Cristo Jr.” at the Winter Garden. It opened in Feb. 1919 and ran for 254 performances, a “hit” in those days. At the Knickerbocker, on the right side of the photo, “Listen Lester” was playing. It opened in Dec. 1918 and ran into the Fall of 1919. Source: “American Musical Theatre” by Gerald Bordman. Both were musicals. The Knickerbocker and the Casino were both located across Broadway from the old Metropolitan Opera House which was in use prior to the opening of the present Met at Lincoln Center.
Thank you Mr. Salters.
Nice old photo, Panzer65. The Knickerbocker and Casino theates were both legit houses specializing in musicals. Maxine Elliot’s was also legit, with mostly regular plays. They were not Vaude houses, and apparently never showed movies, so that’s why they are not listed here in CT.
Sorry, here’s the link:
View link
With the exception of the Winter Garden, none of the other venues that appear are mentioned here at CT. The Knickerbocker, the Casino, and the Maxine Harris, from right to left. My best guess is that these venues are perhaps Vaudeville Houses. It was during this era that these theatres were combining silent films with live stage shows.Later when the talkies arrived, these venues would convert to the more lucrative motion picture on a full time basis. The Casino Theatre intrigues me the most, it has a most unusual facade. And the first generation marquees are also a clue that these indeed are Vaudeville Houses.
I saw “Cats” at the Winter Garden Theater in 1984 when I visited New York – I’m from Canada – it was one of my favorite memories of my visit! My mom and I got the last two tickets available for that performance so we couldn’t sit together but I will never forget sitting in the balcony with the “cats” on the ledge of the balcony looking at us and all the magic of the lights, the junk yard scenes, well, it was magical! I even liked going to the washroom where attendants were handing out towels like they did years ago:) What a grand theater! By the way, if anyone finds a silver belt shaped like a snake – the mouth of the snake attaches to the body like a chain belt, anyway, I lost it in the theater somewhere that night – could you let me know? Okay, just kidding, it was 1984, but I have wondered about it since:) Anyway, I’m a new member on Cinema Treasures and I’m very happy to be here! Such interesting things people have been saying about different theaters!
According to the intro above, movies played from 1928 to 1933 and from 1945 to 1948.
How long did movies play in here?
Nice 1936 shot of the Ziegfeld Follies at the Winter Garden. Since Ziegfeld had been dead for four years by that date, I wonder what kind of show he was able to put on.
Hey folks!
I have been an usher at the Winter Garden for the past 6 years and love every minute of it. Its nice to see all the old photos. We have some ushers still working who were around for Funny Girl. Any questions of comments feel free to contact me!
What a wonderful theatre with a big history. I saw lots of shows here when I lived in New York City.
Athough I’ve never, ever set foot inside Winter Garden, I do know that the original Broadway stage production of West Side Story opened there on September 26th, 1957.
By the way, don, are you related to Russ Tamblyn at all? Just curious.
I have a picture of someone on top of the marque of Winter Garden in 1930 for the opening of “Life of the Party” a WB movie. I don’t have way to post it. If anyone has a site they can post it on to set a link, I will e-mail them the picture.
Before Cats, the Winter Garden hosted 42nd Street in 1980-81 and Othello, starring James Earl Jones and Chistopher Plummer, in 1982. FWIW, Kelsey Grammar played Cassio.
Hey Woody. I was in the same boat with you. I’m still not a fan of ABBA – you’d never find them in my CD collection or on my iPod – but I had a great time after having been dragged to this show as well! Great series of photographs you’ve been sharing around CT lately. Thanks!
photo of the 7th ave side taken nov 2007
View link
ps – for years i rubbished the idea of “mama mia” thinking it would be awful then i was forced to take my cousin to see it a few weeks ago and had one of the best musical theatre nights out ever, the current london cast is amazing
A tragic waste of a very great theater. I haven’t had any desire to go there since 42nd St(and I didn’t like it.)
By the wayI believe the very first Golddiggers played here in two strip technicolor. Film Forum showed the last sequence which is all that is left of the film and I thought it pretty sensational despite or because of the fact the camera just sat there and recorded the whole thing. I far prefer this to the editing of today. In fact I don’t think films are even edited anymore.
Warren I would like to correct you.
The last musical of any merit to open at the Winter Garden was Pacific Overtures.
Thanks so much….that’s it!
Now if only I would have gotten an email saying that you commented here….I can’t get the emails with “someone responded to” to come to me! They stopped about a week ago or two, and completely cut me off from the site…I don’t know how to get them going again, and it’s almost insane that I have to click theaters to see if there are comments…. Luckily, I remembered I left a message in this theater the other day….
Ugh, it’s so frustrating!
End rant….
Thanks for your response….
I don’t know where else to ask this, and I searched for a theater, but since the windergarden is somewhat fairly close….
There’s a building on 8th Ave near 47th St or so, that now houses the “New York Sightseeing” Bus company, which is on the marquee.
Below find a link to a google street level view of it. It’s at around 47th and 8th (not 36th and 8th as the link will say, as that’s where I started when I was looking for it)….anyone know what theater that was (if it was a theater). I looked on the site, but couldn’t find anything on it….unless it wasn’t a movie theater, and only a legit theater. Any help would be appreciated….
Click here for link
What a gorgeous canopy the Winter Garden had in that 1915 shot! Even the marquee from the 1930’s had those lanterns on either corner to lend some charm.
In the very first photo in the series that Lost Memory posted, you can make out the Rivoli Theater to the south on B'way, just under the Camel cigarette billboard.
The shots of the marquee with Musical Revue “At Home Abroad” played at the Winter Garden Theatre, 09/19/1935 to 01/1936. Then it was a move-over to the Majestic Theatre on 01/20/1936 till it closed 03/07/1936. (198 performances). The photo of the marquee for “Showgirl in Hollywood” is from April 1930.