Broadway Theater History

In the triangle of Duffy Square, north of the main intersection of Times Square, stands a bronze statue of the composer, playwright, and performer George M. Cohan. He is depicted in a double-breasted suit with a flower in his lapel,…

The Palace Theatre is marked by its elevated position thirty feet above the street, a result of an ambitious redevelopment project that raised the entire landmarked structure to make room for new retail spaces below. Built in nineteen…

The Lyceum Theatre on West Forty-Fifth Street is distinguished by a gray limestone facade featuring six prominent Corinthian columns. Opened in nineteen oh three, this Beaux-Arts building holds the title of the oldest continuously…

The Hudson Theatre is recognizable by its ornate, hundred-foot-long lobby, which remains the longest of any Broadway house. Opened in nineteen oh three, the building features a distinct triple-domed ceiling lined with Tiffany glass and a…

The New Amsterdam Theatre is marked by an eleven-story Beaux-Arts office tower on West Forty-Second Street that serves as the grand entrance to the auditorium located behind it. Opened in nineteen oh three, the building was designed by…

The Shubert Theatre is marked by its exterior walls, which feature intricate, pale patterns carved into tinted plaster using a rare technique called sgraffito. Built in nineteen thirteen, this theater was designed by Henry Beaumont Herts…

Sardi’s is defined by the hundreds of celebrity caricatures that cover its interior walls. This restaurant, located at two hundred thirty-four West Forty-fourth Street, opened its doors in nineteen twenty-seven. Italian immigrants Vincent…

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is identified by the three double-height arches of its white brick and terracotta facade, a design inspired by a Renaissance loggia. Built in nineteen twenty-four for real estate developer Irwin S. Chanin, it…