That marquee is one of the worst I’ve ever seen! :–) The steel grates don’t give off an inviting vibe either.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the work done so far on the inside of the theater is incredible, but the theater must be inviting from the outside as well and, hopefully, as financing permits, they will be able to restore or replace the marquee with something more fitting with the stature of Staten Island’s lone remaining “Palace”.
Al, I do not know for sure who controls the Liberty theater space. It might be the Hilton Hotel or it might be the 42nd Street Development Corp. I’m going to do a little research and report back what I find out. What I do know is that it is sitting empty behind all of the 42nd St. retail spaces. Why couldn’t ONE old palacae be restored back into a theater actually showing movies?
That’s painful to hear. That’s too bad. It was one of the few remaining palaces that was still standing in a frozen semi ruined state. I think the only remaining hidden theater is The Liberty on 42nd St which is aparently cocooned somewhere under the Hilton and behind the Ripley’s Museum. The Times Sqaure Theater will reeemerge shortly as a retail space.
movie534…I am totally in your corner. The Dolans are miserable people who appear to make money in spite of their overall incompetence. I can' wait for the city to take away MSG’s tax break which they’ve been enjoying for over 20 years.
Having said that, I do appreciate their renovation of Radio City and their recent commitment to renovate The Beacon Theater (which they also now operate on a lease agreement). But, they didn’t do it out of the goodness of their heart to help New York in its time of theater need. They did it for money. There is nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, that’s great! It saved Radio City, and for The Beacon, it is sprucing up a faded palace, but for Cablevision it all comes down to dollars and cents. Once again, thank goodness, Cablevision doesn’t own The Ziegfeld or the land!
Does anyone know the latest with this theater? Back in October there were comments about a sleazy electronics store moving into the space, but there have been no postings about it since. I believe the For Rent sign was taken down from the theater many months ago. Any info would be appreciated.
I agree with Howard and Bill. The Ziegfeld is the only theater where I almost feel an obligation to buy their concession offerings. While I understand that the lease payments on the theater are pretty low, Clearview still has to make a profit and a large single screen theater is not easy to make a big profit on in the current market environment. That’s why I strongly believe that if Clearview did own the theater and land they would have sold out long ago. Thank Goodness for the Fishers!
Yes, Bill, 40 years is the minimum age requirement. That is why the Chase Manhattan building in the Financial District was just brought up for consideration and passed unanamously. It just turned 40 and could not previously be considered. I believe the Ziegfeld turn 40 next year. I wonder if the Fishers wold be spportive of a movement to landmark. It would be a wonderful way for them to give back to the city that made their fortune. Not that they don’t do so in many other ways; they are a very philanthropic family. That’s why I am hopeful that they’d do the right thing and support a landmarking of their illustrious theatre.
I do believe that the Ziegfeld’s interior could easily be landmarked; not just for it’s interior design, but also for its cultural contributions to the history of film in this city. There have been countless premieres here and, if the theater survives, many more to come. The design of the theater is one of the best for a “modern palace” and is worthy of preservation.
As has been said many times on this web site, they will not build them like this ever again. When we lose them, they’re gone forever. I think an excellent case can be made for landmarking the interior, though not the exterior. I would be interested to hear the opinions of other Ziegfeld enthusiasts.
Yes, Clearview leases the Ziegfeld Theater. The theater and the land are owned by the billionaire Fisher Brothers who own the Alliance Capital office tower accross the plaza. Fisher’s ownership, much more than Clearview’s leasing, gives me hope that this theater will survive for the long term. The Paris Theater, which sits in one of the worlds most expensive retail corridors is owned by the billionaire Solow who also owns the exlcusive 9 W 57th Street tower next door. The Paris has an illustrious history, as does The Ziegfeld and Solow doesn’t necessarily need the extra dollars a higher paying retailer would pay. In other hands, The Paris would already be long gone.
I believe the same holds true at The Ziegfeld. The Fishers have gobs of money. The Ziegfeld is an icon. If Clearivew had title to the land and building, this theater would be a Condo by now. These are The Dolans we’re talking about, who have run The Knicks, The Rangers and The Wiz into the ground.
It’s also why I believe that the Ziegfeld’s interior should be landmarked once it reaches it’s 40th aniversary. That would help ensure that this treasure is here for future generations.
Hi Scott, the city owns the property and this is the process for disposing of it. That said, I do think something will happen this time. Since the last RFP back in October of 2006, Brooklyn’s reputation as a vibrant city of the future has been cemented. Downtown is booming and (though there are housing issues to contend with) I think everyone feels that the future of Brooklyn as a whole is very bright. That bodes well for the redevelopment of the Kings and for the undeveloped parking lots that are potentially quite valuable for residential or retail. In addition, I think the city will chip in money to move this along as well. Markowitz totally has the power to use discretionary earmark money for borough projects. This is his last term and he’ll want to leave a legacy. What better legacy than the restoration of the most beautiful theater in Brooklyn!
Here we go again! The city is asking for RFP’s for The Kings. As part of the process, they are having a tour of the historic property on Monday, April 7th at 2:00 PM. I went on the tour in October of ‘06 and it was an incredible experience. I will be attending once again. Info is included in press release below:
March 17, 2008 â€" New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in cooperation with the Brooklyn Borough President, is seeking a developer and operator for the former Loew’s Kings Theatre (the “Theatreâ€). Responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) must present plans to lease, rehabilitate and operate the Theatre.
The Theatre opened in 1929 as Loew’s Flagship Theatre. Designed in the French Renaissance style, the Theatreâ€\s architecture is heavily influenced by the Palace of Versailles and Paris Opera house. The Theatreâ€\s style is enhanced by high curved ceilings, wood paneling and ornate plaster walls. The seating capacity is 3,195 (2,295 in the orchestra and 900 in the mezzanine). The Theatre is approximately 68,300 gross square feet on approximately 55,000 square feet of land.
Located at 1025-1035 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, the Theatre is in the geographic center of the Cityâ€\s most populous borough, and in the heart of the thriving Flatbush Avenue shopping area. Retail offerings include clothing, appliances, furniture, food, and other goods serving the adjacent residential neighborhoods.
An information meeting and tour will be held at the Theatre on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Those who wish to attend the informational meeting must RSVP with Liliana Ruiz at (212) 312-3840 or on or before Friday, April 4, 2008. The site tour will be conducted immediately following the informational meeting. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend.
Companies that have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as Minority-and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) are strongly encouraged to apply. To find out more about M/WBE certification and NYCEDCâ€\s M/WBE Program, please go to www.nycedc.com/mwbeprogram
RFP responses are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, which can be downloaded at www.nycedc.com/rfp
Thanks for your comment Al. I just googled the below:
“The IFC Center is owned by the IFC network, (IFC Films), which is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media (AMC channel, MSG), which is a subsidiary of Cablevisionâ€"which owns the Knicks and the Clearview Cinemas chain that let the Waverly lapse into disrepair in the first place. Cablevision held on to the lease.”
So yes, the Waverly has not just been saved, but actually vastly improved. This is a rarity! It happens to be one of my favorite Manhattan Cinemas, but it is no longer part of The Clearview chain and that’s my point. A sale here, a transfer there. Soon, no Clearview.
Hi Howard, yes I did mean their Manhattan operations, I was not aware that they owned any historic theaters elsewhere. Second, I should have been clearer. When I think of a cinema treasure, I think of a true movie palace, not the bland boxy multiplexes. It is about the building, the architecture, the attention to detail, the atmosphere in which you saw a film. By that measure, with the exception of the Ziegfeld, Clearview in Manhattan falls short and that is why I wouldn’t miss them. Of course, I would miss the convenience, but a “Cinema Treasure” is about a lot more than convenience (for me).
I agree Al. Clearview Cinemas is not really a going concern. Cablevision has a lot more pressing issues and businesses to take of and they are defintiely not “growing” this business. As a result, I believe that they will in fact continue to find a buyer for Clearview or slowly close individual theaters as opportunities arise. Again, my only concern is for The Ziegfeld. None of the other theaters will be missed.
Stevebob, please don’t misunderstand…I also appreciate a modern design as well. I’m a big fan of The Ziegfeld in New York, which is approaching its 40th anniversary and therefore will become eligible for landmarking. My comment about the Fisher was more about what was lost than what was gained. The old Mayan design appeared to be spectacular and the new design pales in comparison.
By the way, The current Ziegfeld is the latest incarnation of that theater. The original was just down the block and, it too, was an incredibly beautiful theater that was a shame to lose. As much as I love the current Ziegfeld, it too doesn’t hold a candle to the original.
Howard, you’re absolutely right! I meant Cablevision which is run by the Dolts, er, I mean Dolans. All of the other comments remain the same. I have no beef with Comcast.
Yes, just because Clearview had a 99 year lease, it doesn’t mean that that lease can’t be bought out for the right price. It appears that they got that “right” price. Besides, as has been evident for a several, the theater business is not on an upward trend and Clearview (being owned by Comcast) is probably not well run. The only Clearview theater that I worry about is The Ziegfeld. None of the others really rate.
It appears that all of Passaic’s theaters (Except for the Palace) were within 2 blocks of each other in the downtown area. All of them were quite large. It must have been pretty impressive for a town of this size to have boasted of a downtown with this type of vitality. The city, though a shadow of it’s former self, would do well to try and preserve what little it has left and save the Montauk.
Back in the 70’s I went to the “Go Ape” marathon at the Crossbay theater in Ozone Park, Queens. It was all 5 movies in order. It was great fun and the most amount of movies I’ve ever seen in one sitting. If The Ziegfeld is advertising this as “Go Ape” week, I would assume they plan on showing all of them. Will The Ziegfeld show all in one day? Will they allow people to pay one admission and stay as long as they like?
Wow, I just saw pics from the Fisher Theater on the winterwonderland.com website. The old photos are beautiful. This was an impressive theater. The 1961 renovation is disappointing to say the least. It’s amazing what was done in the past in the name of modernization. Since Nederlander is only investing $3MM and, per the article, part of that money is going into enlarged restrooms for ladies, it’s apparent that it will just be a sprucing up with new seating, new rugs, maybe some lighting. Nothing major. A shame.
I hadn’t realized there was such a stark difference in the before and after. All the more unfortunate since there are no photos to be found of either incarnation.
I wish the Schuberts owned this theater. They’d take much better care of it. They’d also be more apt to restore original features. The Nederlanders are misers and are notorius in the business for making minimal nvestments in their theaters.
Here’s a copy of the article that appeared last month in The Detroit News announcing a long overdue renovation of this palace. The last one was way back in the early 60’s! Let' hope the Nederlanders go through with it as they are known to be quite cheap.
Fisher Theatre overhaul in wings
$3.5M renovation to add seats, fix up facility could leave venue dark for most of 2008.
Lawrence B. Johnson / Special to The Detroit News
The Fisher Theatre could close for six months, beginning in late February, for a $3.5 million renovation that would improve backstage amenities, add restroom facilities and increase the auditorium’s seating capacity.
The project will be paid for by the Nederlander Co., which presents an annual series of nationally touring shows at the Fisher under the banner “Broadway in Detroit.”
The 2007-08 season will stop in late February, with the close of “Mamma Mia.” That’s when work crews will begin sprucing up the old theater in a project that will continue into November, said Alan Lichtenstein, Nederlander’s executive director.
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“We’re fixing the joint up,” Lichtenstein said Friday. “The women are going to love us. We’re giving them 16 new restroom stalls.”
Other renovation plans call for updating the backstage technology, expanding dressing rooms, adding spaces for party rental and increasing the number of auditorium seats to 2,400 from fewer than 2,100.
It would be the first substantial renovation of the theater since it was leased by the Nederlander Co. in 1961 — just after the theater was converted from its original purpose, as a vaudeville and movie palace, to a legitimate stage for $3.5 million.
Lichtenstein offered the first glimpse of a high-powered 2008-09 “Broadway in Detroit” season that he sees opening in November with the award-winning musical “Avenue Q.”
The lineup already booked for a refurbished Fisher includes “Jersey Boys,” “A Chorus Line” and “Wicked.”
The Fisher Building, designed by Albert Kahn and opened in 1928, is now owned by the Farbman Group, but Nederlander Chief Operating Officer Ray Harris said any improvements to the theater would be paid for by Nederlander, which is in the second year of a new 30-year lease on the venue.
Harris cautioned the renovation plan is still tentative and that it could be scrapped.
“It’s a bit premature to be talking about this before we’ve revisited a number of issues with the architects,” Harris said.
A final decision on whether to proceed probably will be made in January, he said.
That marquee is one of the worst I’ve ever seen! :–) The steel grates don’t give off an inviting vibe either.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the work done so far on the inside of the theater is incredible, but the theater must be inviting from the outside as well and, hopefully, as financing permits, they will be able to restore or replace the marquee with something more fitting with the stature of Staten Island’s lone remaining “Palace”.
Al, I do not know for sure who controls the Liberty theater space. It might be the Hilton Hotel or it might be the 42nd Street Development Corp. I’m going to do a little research and report back what I find out. What I do know is that it is sitting empty behind all of the 42nd St. retail spaces. Why couldn’t ONE old palacae be restored back into a theater actually showing movies?
That’s painful to hear. That’s too bad. It was one of the few remaining palaces that was still standing in a frozen semi ruined state. I think the only remaining hidden theater is The Liberty on 42nd St which is aparently cocooned somewhere under the Hilton and behind the Ripley’s Museum. The Times Sqaure Theater will reeemerge shortly as a retail space.
Is that what happened?
movie534…I am totally in your corner. The Dolans are miserable people who appear to make money in spite of their overall incompetence. I can' wait for the city to take away MSG’s tax break which they’ve been enjoying for over 20 years.
Having said that, I do appreciate their renovation of Radio City and their recent commitment to renovate The Beacon Theater (which they also now operate on a lease agreement). But, they didn’t do it out of the goodness of their heart to help New York in its time of theater need. They did it for money. There is nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, that’s great! It saved Radio City, and for The Beacon, it is sprucing up a faded palace, but for Cablevision it all comes down to dollars and cents. Once again, thank goodness, Cablevision doesn’t own The Ziegfeld or the land!
I want to say that that’s probably good news!
Does anyone know the latest with this theater? Back in October there were comments about a sleazy electronics store moving into the space, but there have been no postings about it since. I believe the For Rent sign was taken down from the theater many months ago. Any info would be appreciated.
I agree with Howard and Bill. The Ziegfeld is the only theater where I almost feel an obligation to buy their concession offerings. While I understand that the lease payments on the theater are pretty low, Clearview still has to make a profit and a large single screen theater is not easy to make a big profit on in the current market environment. That’s why I strongly believe that if Clearview did own the theater and land they would have sold out long ago. Thank Goodness for the Fishers!
Yes, Bill, 40 years is the minimum age requirement. That is why the Chase Manhattan building in the Financial District was just brought up for consideration and passed unanamously. It just turned 40 and could not previously be considered. I believe the Ziegfeld turn 40 next year. I wonder if the Fishers wold be spportive of a movement to landmark. It would be a wonderful way for them to give back to the city that made their fortune. Not that they don’t do so in many other ways; they are a very philanthropic family. That’s why I am hopeful that they’d do the right thing and support a landmarking of their illustrious theatre.
I do believe that the Ziegfeld’s interior could easily be landmarked; not just for it’s interior design, but also for its cultural contributions to the history of film in this city. There have been countless premieres here and, if the theater survives, many more to come. The design of the theater is one of the best for a “modern palace” and is worthy of preservation.
As has been said many times on this web site, they will not build them like this ever again. When we lose them, they’re gone forever. I think an excellent case can be made for landmarking the interior, though not the exterior. I would be interested to hear the opinions of other Ziegfeld enthusiasts.
The optimist in me has hope!
Yes, Clearview leases the Ziegfeld Theater. The theater and the land are owned by the billionaire Fisher Brothers who own the Alliance Capital office tower accross the plaza. Fisher’s ownership, much more than Clearview’s leasing, gives me hope that this theater will survive for the long term. The Paris Theater, which sits in one of the worlds most expensive retail corridors is owned by the billionaire Solow who also owns the exlcusive 9 W 57th Street tower next door. The Paris has an illustrious history, as does The Ziegfeld and Solow doesn’t necessarily need the extra dollars a higher paying retailer would pay. In other hands, The Paris would already be long gone.
I believe the same holds true at The Ziegfeld. The Fishers have gobs of money. The Ziegfeld is an icon. If Clearivew had title to the land and building, this theater would be a Condo by now. These are The Dolans we’re talking about, who have run The Knicks, The Rangers and The Wiz into the ground.
It’s also why I believe that the Ziegfeld’s interior should be landmarked once it reaches it’s 40th aniversary. That would help ensure that this treasure is here for future generations.
Hi Scott, the city owns the property and this is the process for disposing of it. That said, I do think something will happen this time. Since the last RFP back in October of 2006, Brooklyn’s reputation as a vibrant city of the future has been cemented. Downtown is booming and (though there are housing issues to contend with) I think everyone feels that the future of Brooklyn as a whole is very bright. That bodes well for the redevelopment of the Kings and for the undeveloped parking lots that are potentially quite valuable for residential or retail. In addition, I think the city will chip in money to move this along as well. Markowitz totally has the power to use discretionary earmark money for borough projects. This is his last term and he’ll want to leave a legacy. What better legacy than the restoration of the most beautiful theater in Brooklyn!
Here we go again! The city is asking for RFP’s for The Kings. As part of the process, they are having a tour of the historic property on Monday, April 7th at 2:00 PM. I went on the tour in October of ‘06 and it was an incredible experience. I will be attending once again. Info is included in press release below:
March 17, 2008 â€" New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in cooperation with the Brooklyn Borough President, is seeking a developer and operator for the former Loew’s Kings Theatre (the “Theatreâ€). Responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) must present plans to lease, rehabilitate and operate the Theatre.
The Theatre opened in 1929 as Loew’s Flagship Theatre. Designed in the French Renaissance style, the Theatreâ€\s architecture is heavily influenced by the Palace of Versailles and Paris Opera house. The Theatreâ€\s style is enhanced by high curved ceilings, wood paneling and ornate plaster walls. The seating capacity is 3,195 (2,295 in the orchestra and 900 in the mezzanine). The Theatre is approximately 68,300 gross square feet on approximately 55,000 square feet of land.
Located at 1025-1035 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, the Theatre is in the geographic center of the Cityâ€\s most populous borough, and in the heart of the thriving Flatbush Avenue shopping area. Retail offerings include clothing, appliances, furniture, food, and other goods serving the adjacent residential neighborhoods.
An information meeting and tour will be held at the Theatre on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Those who wish to attend the informational meeting must RSVP with Liliana Ruiz at (212) 312-3840 or on or before Friday, April 4, 2008. The site tour will be conducted immediately following the informational meeting. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend.
Companies that have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as Minority-and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) are strongly encouraged to apply. To find out more about M/WBE certification and NYCEDCâ€\s M/WBE Program, please go to www.nycedc.com/mwbeprogram
RFP responses are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, which can be downloaded at www.nycedc.com/rfp
Thanks for your comment Al. I just googled the below:
“The IFC Center is owned by the IFC network, (IFC Films), which is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media (AMC channel, MSG), which is a subsidiary of Cablevisionâ€"which owns the Knicks and the Clearview Cinemas chain that let the Waverly lapse into disrepair in the first place. Cablevision held on to the lease.”
So yes, the Waverly has not just been saved, but actually vastly improved. This is a rarity! It happens to be one of my favorite Manhattan Cinemas, but it is no longer part of The Clearview chain and that’s my point. A sale here, a transfer there. Soon, no Clearview.
Hi Howard, yes I did mean their Manhattan operations, I was not aware that they owned any historic theaters elsewhere. Second, I should have been clearer. When I think of a cinema treasure, I think of a true movie palace, not the bland boxy multiplexes. It is about the building, the architecture, the attention to detail, the atmosphere in which you saw a film. By that measure, with the exception of the Ziegfeld, Clearview in Manhattan falls short and that is why I wouldn’t miss them. Of course, I would miss the convenience, but a “Cinema Treasure” is about a lot more than convenience (for me).
I agree Al. Clearview Cinemas is not really a going concern. Cablevision has a lot more pressing issues and businesses to take of and they are defintiely not “growing” this business. As a result, I believe that they will in fact continue to find a buyer for Clearview or slowly close individual theaters as opportunities arise. Again, my only concern is for The Ziegfeld. None of the other theaters will be missed.
Stevebob, please don’t misunderstand…I also appreciate a modern design as well. I’m a big fan of The Ziegfeld in New York, which is approaching its 40th anniversary and therefore will become eligible for landmarking. My comment about the Fisher was more about what was lost than what was gained. The old Mayan design appeared to be spectacular and the new design pales in comparison.
By the way, The current Ziegfeld is the latest incarnation of that theater. The original was just down the block and, it too, was an incredibly beautiful theater that was a shame to lose. As much as I love the current Ziegfeld, it too doesn’t hold a candle to the original.
Howard, you’re absolutely right! I meant Cablevision which is run by the Dolts, er, I mean Dolans. All of the other comments remain the same. I have no beef with Comcast.
Yes, just because Clearview had a 99 year lease, it doesn’t mean that that lease can’t be bought out for the right price. It appears that they got that “right” price. Besides, as has been evident for a several, the theater business is not on an upward trend and Clearview (being owned by Comcast) is probably not well run. The only Clearview theater that I worry about is The Ziegfeld. None of the others really rate.
It appears that all of Passaic’s theaters (Except for the Palace) were within 2 blocks of each other in the downtown area. All of them were quite large. It must have been pretty impressive for a town of this size to have boasted of a downtown with this type of vitality. The city, though a shadow of it’s former self, would do well to try and preserve what little it has left and save the Montauk.
Back in the 70’s I went to the “Go Ape” marathon at the Crossbay theater in Ozone Park, Queens. It was all 5 movies in order. It was great fun and the most amount of movies I’ve ever seen in one sitting. If The Ziegfeld is advertising this as “Go Ape” week, I would assume they plan on showing all of them. Will The Ziegfeld show all in one day? Will they allow people to pay one admission and stay as long as they like?
Wow, I just saw pics from the Fisher Theater on the winterwonderland.com website. The old photos are beautiful. This was an impressive theater. The 1961 renovation is disappointing to say the least. It’s amazing what was done in the past in the name of modernization. Since Nederlander is only investing $3MM and, per the article, part of that money is going into enlarged restrooms for ladies, it’s apparent that it will just be a sprucing up with new seating, new rugs, maybe some lighting. Nothing major. A shame.
The Detroit Fox has nothing to worry about.
I hadn’t realized there was such a stark difference in the before and after. All the more unfortunate since there are no photos to be found of either incarnation.
I wish the Schuberts owned this theater. They’d take much better care of it. They’d also be more apt to restore original features. The Nederlanders are misers and are notorius in the business for making minimal nvestments in their theaters.
Here’s a copy of the article that appeared last month in The Detroit News announcing a long overdue renovation of this palace. The last one was way back in the early 60’s! Let' hope the Nederlanders go through with it as they are known to be quite cheap.
Fisher Theatre overhaul in wings
$3.5M renovation to add seats, fix up facility could leave venue dark for most of 2008.
Lawrence B. Johnson / Special to The Detroit News
The Fisher Theatre could close for six months, beginning in late February, for a $3.5 million renovation that would improve backstage amenities, add restroom facilities and increase the auditorium’s seating capacity.
The project will be paid for by the Nederlander Co., which presents an annual series of nationally touring shows at the Fisher under the banner “Broadway in Detroit.”
The 2007-08 season will stop in late February, with the close of “Mamma Mia.” That’s when work crews will begin sprucing up the old theater in a project that will continue into November, said Alan Lichtenstein, Nederlander’s executive director.
Advertisement
“We’re fixing the joint up,” Lichtenstein said Friday. “The women are going to love us. We’re giving them 16 new restroom stalls.”
Other renovation plans call for updating the backstage technology, expanding dressing rooms, adding spaces for party rental and increasing the number of auditorium seats to 2,400 from fewer than 2,100.
It would be the first substantial renovation of the theater since it was leased by the Nederlander Co. in 1961 — just after the theater was converted from its original purpose, as a vaudeville and movie palace, to a legitimate stage for $3.5 million.
Lichtenstein offered the first glimpse of a high-powered 2008-09 “Broadway in Detroit” season that he sees opening in November with the award-winning musical “Avenue Q.”
The lineup already booked for a refurbished Fisher includes “Jersey Boys,” “A Chorus Line” and “Wicked.”
The Fisher Building, designed by Albert Kahn and opened in 1928, is now owned by the Farbman Group, but Nederlander Chief Operating Officer Ray Harris said any improvements to the theater would be paid for by Nederlander, which is in the second year of a new 30-year lease on the venue.
Harris cautioned the renovation plan is still tentative and that it could be scrapped.
“It’s a bit premature to be talking about this before we’ve revisited a number of issues with the architects,” Harris said.
A final decision on whether to proceed probably will be made in January, he said.