Equity 48th Street Theatre (1922–25) Windsor Theatre (1937–43) | |
 48th Street Theatre in 1912 | |
 Interactive map of 48th Street Theatre | |
| Address | 157 West48th Street Manhattan, New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°45′35″N73°59′00″W / 40.7597°N 73.9833°W /40.7597; -73.9833 |
| Type | Broadway |
| Construction | |
| Opened | August 12, 1912 |
| Closed | August 23, 1955 |
| Demolished | 1955 |
| Architect | William Albert Swasey |
The48th Street Theatre was aBroadway theatre at 157 West 48th Street inManhattan. It was built by longtime Broadway producerWilliam A. Brady and designed by architectWilliam Albert Swasey.[1] The venue was also called theEquity 48th Street Theatre (1922–25) and theWindsor Theatre (1937–43).
The 48th Street Theatre opened on August 12, 1912, with the playJust Like John byGeorge Broadhurst.[1][2] Early successes at the theatre includedNever Say Die (1912),Today (1913),The Midnight Girl (1914),Just a Woman (1916),The Man Who Stayed at Home (1918),The Storm (1919), andOpportunity (1920) starringNita Naldi.[1] The Theatre was briefly named theEquity 48th Street Theatre from the premiere ofMalvaloca on October 2, 1922, until the premiere ofSpooks on June 1, 1925.[1] During this period they had a successful revival ofHenrik Ibsen'sThe Wild Duck.[1]
On April 18, 1926, the theatre featured the professional debut ofMartha Graham as an independent dancer and choreographer.[3] Graham and three of her students performed 18 short pieces accompanied by the music ofImpressionist composers. Despite poor weather, the evening was a success, which Graham attributed to "curiosity" as people attended to see "a woman who could do her own work".[3][4]
On November 11, 1926, the theatre premieredThe Squall byJean Bart, starringBlanche Yurka,Romney Brent, andDorothy Stickney.[1] During the final act of the performance July 26, 1927, 38-year-old screenwriter and film executiveJune Mathis was stricken and died[5] following a heart attack.[6]
Notable performances at the theatre during this period includedPuppy Love (1926) starringSpring Byington,The Pagan Lady (1930) starringLenore Ulric, andUnexpected Husband (1931) starringJosephine Hull.[1]
The theatre was sold and renamed the Windsor Theatre by producerSam H. Grisman, beginning with the premiere ofWork Is for Horses on November 20, 1937.[1][2][7] The Windsor, along with thePrincess Theatre, was used forLabor Stage, a project of theInternational Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, which produced plays and held lectures and meetings. Perhaps the most notable play at the Windsor was a January 3, 1938, revival ofMarc Blitzstein's controversial political musicalThe Cradle Will Rock, produced by Grisman and directed byOrson Welles.[8]
On September 1, 1943, the theatre once again became the 48th Street Theatre. The most successful play in the theatre's history premiered on November 1, 1944:Harvey byMary Chase and starringFrank Fay, which ran for 1775 performances, won Chase thePulitzer Prize for Drama, and was adapted into a1950 film starringJames Stewart.[1][2] Another success at the theatre wasStalag 17 (1951), which was also made into a successful1953 film.[1]
On August 23, 1955, a rooftop water tank feeding the fire sprinkler system fell through the reinforced concrete roof, and 10,000 gallons of water caused extensive damage to the interior. Dark since the end ofTea and Sympathy in June, the theatre was closed and the building was demolished later that year.[1][2][9] A parking garage was built on the site, which was later replaced by theHard Rock Hotel New York in 2022.[10]
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