Picture the grandeur of the Central Theatre. It once stood proudly at 1567 Broadway. This magnificent building opened its doors in 1918. Designed by Herbert J Krapp it seated over 1100 theatregoers. The Shubert family built it on the site of a piano factory.
The Central Theatre wasn’t just a place to watch a show. It was a vital part of Broadway’s history. Oscar Hammerstein II made his debut there. Richard Rodgers also premiered a work at the Central Theatre. The theatre hosted a mix of plays and musicals. Successful revues graced its stage. ‘Somebody’s Sweetheart’ ran for two seasons. ‘Always You’ was another popular show.
But times changed. The Central Theatre embraced the new technology of cinema in 1921. It alternated between movies and live performances. Burlesque acts even took the stage for a time. The theatre changed names several times. It became the Columbia Theatre then the Gotham Theatre and finally the Holiday Theatre. A revival of ‘Abie’s Irish Rose’ played there in 1954. Legitimate theatre ended in 1956.
The Central Theatre continued as a cinema until 1988. It had several names during this period: Odeon Forum and Movieland. After the Shuberts sold it the building was repurposed. Its auditorium became a disco called Club USA. Sadly the Central Theatre was demolished in 1998. A W Hotel now stands on its site. This beautiful building is gone but its memory and stories live on. The Central Theatre’s legacy continues to shine.