Empire Theatre (New York City)
Encyclopedia
The Empire Theatre in New York City was a prominent Broadway theatre
in the first half of the twentieth century. It opened in 1893 with a performance of The Girl I Left Behind Me by David Belasco
. The Empire continued to present both original plays and revivals until 1953. Its final show, in May 1953, was a performance of The Time of the Cuckoo
. In the same month the theatre hosted a benefit celebrating sixty years of the Empire.
were the owners and developers of the uptown vacant lot that became the Empire Theatre. Hayman suggested that theatre producer Charles Frohman
have the Empire Theatre built there, believing everything theatrical was moving uptown at the time.
The original lessees were listed as Charles Frohman and his partner William Harris
of the firm Rich & Harris who were set to take possession of the building on January 23, 1893 which was also set to be the theatre's opening night.
The Empire Theatre's business manger was Thomas F. Shea for over 20 years from its opening till the death of Charles Frohman. After Frohman died on the RMS Lusitania
in 1915, Al Hayman took over ownership of the Empire Theatre.
The theatre was sold in 1948 to the Astor estate; in 1953 it was announced that the building would be torn down to make way for an office tower.
The theatre community reminisced and performers gathered to celebrate the venue in a retrospective farewell performance.
December 2, 1892 it was reported in the New York Times that the building had been completed and was in the hands of the plasterers and decorators.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in the first half of the twentieth century. It opened in 1893 with a performance of The Girl I Left Behind Me by David Belasco
David Belasco
David Belasco was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright.-Biography:Born in San Francisco, California, where his Sephardic Jewish parents had moved from London, England, during the Gold Rush, he began working in a San Francisco theatre doing a variety of routine jobs,...
. The Empire continued to present both original plays and revivals until 1953. Its final show, in May 1953, was a performance of The Time of the Cuckoo
The Time of the Cuckoo
The Time of the Cuckoo is a play by Arthur Laurents. It focuses on the bittersweet romance between Leona Samish, a single American executive secretary vacationing in Europe, and Renato Di Rossi, a shopkeeper she meets in Venice...
. In the same month the theatre hosted a benefit celebrating sixty years of the Empire.
Ownership and management
Frank Sanger and Al HaymanAl Hayman
Al Hayman, also known as Raphael Hayman, was the business partner of the better-known Charles Frohman who together with others established the Theatrical Syndicate in 1896 and as theater impresarios and booking agents helped develop the theater district in New York at the turn of the 20th...
were the owners and developers of the uptown vacant lot that became the Empire Theatre. Hayman suggested that theatre producer Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman
Charles Frohman was an American theatrical producer. Frohman was producing plays by 1889 and acquired his first Broadway theatre by 1892. He discovered and promoted many stars of the American theatre....
have the Empire Theatre built there, believing everything theatrical was moving uptown at the time.
The original lessees were listed as Charles Frohman and his partner William Harris
William Harris
William or Will or Willie Harris may refer to:*William Harris , past president of Columbia University*William Harris , NFL player...
of the firm Rich & Harris who were set to take possession of the building on January 23, 1893 which was also set to be the theatre's opening night.
The Empire Theatre's business manger was Thomas F. Shea for over 20 years from its opening till the death of Charles Frohman. After Frohman died on the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
in 1915, Al Hayman took over ownership of the Empire Theatre.
The theatre was sold in 1948 to the Astor estate; in 1953 it was announced that the building would be torn down to make way for an office tower.
The theatre community reminisced and performers gathered to celebrate the venue in a retrospective farewell performance.
Building
Charles Frohman hired architect J. B. McElfatrick to design the Empire Theatre; it was the first of the seven theatres designed by McElfatrick. The Empire was the first theatre to have electricity and was said to be thoroughly fireproof. The building was the only stock theatre at that time to be on the ground floor and to have no steps entering from the street.December 2, 1892 it was reported in the New York Times that the building had been completed and was in the hands of the plasterers and decorators.