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Morosco Theatre

Coordinates: 40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.75801°N 73.98567°W / 40.75801; -73.98567
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Morosco Theatre
The Morosco Theater as seen from across the street at night. Under the marquee are a group of people. There is a sign displaying the theater's name and the name of the play "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Etc."
Morosco Theatre in 1963, when it was hosting Arthur Kopit's comedy Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad
Map
Address217 West 45th Street
New York City
United States
Coordinates40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.75801°N 73.98567°W / 40.75801; -73.98567
TypeBroadway
Construction
OpenedFebruary 5, 1917
Demolished1982
ArchitectHerbert J. Krapp

The Morosco Theatre was a Broadway theatre near Times Square in New York City from 1917 to 1982. It housed many notable productions and its demolition, along with four adjacent theaters, was controversial.[1][2]

History

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Located at 217 West 45th Street, the Morosco Theatre was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shubert family, who constructed it for Oliver Morosco in gratitude for his helping them break the monopoly of the Theatrical Syndicate. It had approximately 955 seats. After an invitation-only preview performance on February 4, 1917, it opened to the public on February 5. The inaugural production was Canary Cottage, a musical with a book by Morosco and a score by Earl Carroll.[1][2][3]

The Shuberts lost the building in the Great Depression, and City Playhouses, Inc. bought it at auction in 1943. It was sold in 1968 to Bankers Trust Company[1] and, after a massive "Save the Theatres" protest movement led by Joe Papp and supported by various actors and other theatrical folk failed,[4][5] it was razed in 1982, along with the first Helen Hayes, the Bijou, and remnants of the Astor and the Gaiety theaters; it was replaced by the 49-story Marriott Marquis hotel and Marquis Theatre.[3]

Notable productions

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The Morosco Theatre as seen from an angle during the daytime. There are buildings on both sides.
1981

Source:[1]

References

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Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Morosco Theatre at the Internet Broadway Database
  2. ^ a b "Morosco Theatre Opens Its Doors" (pdf). The New York Times. February 5, 1917.
  3. ^ a b Morrison, William (1999). Broadway Theatres: History and Architecture (trade paperback). Dover Books on Architecture. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. p. 101. ISBN 0-486-40244-4.
  4. ^ Epstein, Helen (1994). Joe Papp: An American Life. Little, Brown. p. 403. ISBN 9780316246040. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  5. ^ Gottlieb, Martin (April 15, 1984). "City Panel Near Vote On Save-The-Theaters Proposals". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
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Media related to Morosco Theatre (New York City) at Wikimedia Commons

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