Liberty Theatre
234 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
234 W. 42nd Street,
New York,
NY
10036
19 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 164 comments
Yes, the Liberty Diner reused the bar/foyer space that had been constructed for the short-lived Famous Dave’s BBQ. It actually sits in what had been the original footprint of the Empire from before it was moved towards 8th Ave to become the lobby of the AMC 25 multiplex (as does the Applebees and Dave & Busters in part), the Liberty’s original lobby having been used by the Ripley’s Odditorium that closed.
There was an aptly named Liberty Diner taking up the street level. That has since been closed. The Applebees as well as Dave and Buster’s (on the 3rd floor) still remain open.
I just posted a pic I found on the Internet showing the sign being removed. I was wrong about one thing, the Lethal Weapon advertisement on the Liberty marquee was for the Selwyn Theatre. Guess the Liberty had already been shuttered for good. I know that within a year or so, only the Harris Theatre would remain in operation out of all the original 42nd Street grindhouses.
That board had seen a lot of different signs on it over the years - I remember the faded/peeling “42nd St Movie Center” sign during most of the time I frequented - but there was also the lavish (for the times) Make Them Die Slowly signage up there during that engagement. The pic with the vintage looking “Why Pay More” signage is from 1989, when Bronson’s Kinjite movie came out. That would have been around the time the Durst Organization took over from the Brandt’s - which probably explains why the entrance gates were rolled down. The Dursts probably did a bit of cleanup in the theater, and spruced up that big sign to signal the change in ownership. When the sign was taken down off the marquee back in 1992 (with Lethal Weapon III playing), it was still in the same condition. The Dursts probably didn’t expect the city to be moving forward so quickly and brutally with eminent domain on those newly acquired (and still profitable) grindhouses!
There is also something odd about the photo posted on April 3, 2022: Was the “Why pay more” signage up during the end times of the Brandt theaters? If so, I must have missed that last bit of showmanship…
It is/was Ripley.
Ridley’s? Thought it was Ripley’s all of these years….
This haunted house experience is called “Terror” and will be in the space from Sept 29-Nov 6th.
Using 20,000 square feet of space, it must be using some areas of the former theatre and in typical Times Square promo way it claims
“Terror Haunted House is a combination of groundbreaking 4-D experience housed in an authentically recreated haunted environment which produces the most Immersive Horror experience to date. You will hear, see, smell, and feel the fear.”
Well, the Ridley’s Odditorium that had been housed in the former lobby closed last year, but this year that space is being used for a haunted house attraction.
Hello-
the intro at top makes it appear this theater never showed films till 1933. which of course not true. this theater held the exclusive first run engagements of some of the most prominent films of the silent era. The Birth of a Nation, Intolerance and The Thief of Baghdad among them.
1953 ad posted in photos
The opening ads for BIRTH OF A NATION state “all seats reserved”.
According to the ads posted performances were two a day with a variety of prices through the various sections so I assumed it was reserved seats available in advance.
While both Birth of a Nation and Intolerance had long, exclusive runs at this house, it seems neither had the reserved-seat, hard ticket sales that were a feature of most “road show” engagements.
I’m surprised there is no mention in the overview of this being a roadshow house for films in the teens much like the George M Cohan Theater in the 20s. Unless I am mistaken and please let me know if I am this theater held either the world or at least the New York premieres of Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. Sacred ground for a movie buff.
42ndStreetMemories, you say you didn’t pay $2.00 in the 60s. As late as 1986 or even a couple of years later, the first show on a Saturday morning when the theaters opened at 10:00 AM was only $3.00. And that was often for double or even triple features! Oh, those were the days! I’d grab a coffee and danish from a shop on Broadway around the corner, then head down the duece to check out what was playing and be in my seat watching the first flick by 10:00 AM.
1986 photo added courtesy of Steve Thomas.
Actually, the Liberty’s original lobby became part of the Ripley’s Odditorium. Apparently there is still a connecting door between the two that’s kept locked. But it is possible to go through the restaurant into the auditorium.
The lobby may have been gutted (or demolished) but you can walk right through the restaurant to get into the auditorium…
The venue is listed as “a forgotten Broadway theatre” which is then further clarified on the ticketing page as “a long hidden Broadway theatre” at 233 West 41st Street. Looks like they’re using one of the old auditorium exit doors, since the Liberty’s lobby was demolished for an eatery.
Here’s the website that includes ticket info for the new production. The show, billed as an “immersive event” is called Ziegfelds Midnight Frolic and will begin in April for a very limited engagement.
Ziegfeld Frolics in 2015.
http://m.playbill.com/news/article/times-squares-liberty-theater-resurrected-as-playground-for-ziegfeld-and-the-follies-343364
So it seems the Famous Dave’s has closed (I went there once on a Friday night just after all the shows got out; it was pretty empty, so I’m not surprised.) But the front portion, where the bar is, is still operating as the “Liberty Diner”, while the main auditorium is available as a rental reception space. See libertytheaterny.com
Tinseltoes, you are a cinema treasure!
According to Cinema Treasures, New York City has a garment district and a midtown, but no Times Square.
I just posted two photos of the Liberty’s new interior. My daughter and son-in-law attended a Christmas party there last month. Being an old regular of The Deuce, I was thrilled that my daughter got to experience the Liberty albeit a somewhat altered version.