44th Street Theatre
216 W. 44th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
216 W. 44th Street,
New York,
NY
10036
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The ground site is currently occupied by a tourist attraction known as Encounter Ocean Odyssey, which has a website here
Agreed John. The only question that remains is just exactly what constitutes “some cinematic history.” I know that there was an argument about this very matter on one of the theater pages several years ago. In the end, either Patrick or Ross (I forget which) chimed in that even if the theater had but a single verified cinematic engagement, it should be considered for inclusion. Then we have to decide if a “single cinematic engagement” means a one-night only showing or an actual booked engagement, such as the lengthy road show run of “Gigi” at the Royale Theatre – an otherwise legitimate stage facility.
I, for one, think the Royale should be included on this site. However, I would not be as enthusiastic about including every playhouse that has held a single special event screening.
While I agree with Ron and Ed on this point – and believe that this theater has easily passed the eilgibility bar – I also believe that SOME cinematic history needs to be shown before a site can be added to this list. Recently, I added a couple of theaters in Williamsburg, NY, but only after receiving documentary evidence that movies had actually been presented there. In both instances, the cinematic history was scant – but it did exist. If such an inquiry is not made, many – in some cases wonderful – theaters would be added as Cinema Treasures that had nothing cinematic about them. But, as long as this finding is made, we should be more than willing to be as inclusive as possible.
Agreed, Ron Salters. In fact, I believe that is one of the guiding principles of this website – regardless of dissenting opinions.
The more venues in this database, the better! – Even if the 44th St. Theatre exhibited only one movie on one day during its entire existence.
This showed mostly movies from 1913 to 1924. It was the premiere road show house for RAMONA (1916), JOAN THE WOMAN (1916), HEARTS OF THE WORLD (1918), WAY DOWN EAST (1920), MONTE CRISTO (1921), SCARAMOUCHE (1923), AMERICA (1924), ALIBI (1929), and SONG O MY HEART (1930), all showing for long runs before that MAEDCHEN move-over.
There is a plaque at the eastern edge of the building that commemorates the site of the “American Theater Wing Stage Door Canteen,” which occupied the theater’s renovated basement level from 1942-1945. It reads, in part, “This tablet is dedicated to the men and women of the entertainment world who brought cheer and comfort to the soldiers, sailors and marines of America and her allies.” As best as I can determine from internet sources, the plaque was dedicated around 1950.
Internet Broadway Database has three photos from the Shubert Archive depicting the 44th Street Theatre.
The last movie shown here was “Maedchen in Uniform” in 1933.
JOAN THE WOMAN.
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The 44th Street roof showed movies in 1920 as the NORA BAYES.