Central Theatre was aBroadway theatre inMidtown Manhattan, New York City, built in 1918. It was located at 1567Broadway, at the southwest corner with47th Street, and seated approximately 1,100 patrons. The architect wasHerbert J. Krapp. The theatre was built by theShubert family on a site previously occupied by theMathushek & Son piano factory.[1]
The first production at the theatre was the playForever After, byOwen Davis, which opened in 1918.[2] This moved toPlayhouse Theatre for a long run. A musical,Somebody's Sweetheart (music byAntonio Bafunno; book and lyrics byAlonzo Price), was a success at the theatre in 1919–20.[3]Oscar Hammerstein II made his debut as librettist in January 1920 withAlways You,[4] which was followed by a successfulrevue byArthur Wimperis,As You Were.[5] In July 1920,Poor Little Ritz Girl opened, with some songs byRodgers and Hart and others bySigmund Romberg and Alex Gerber.[6]Afgar was another successful musical in 1920–21.[7]The Gingham Girl was a hit musical in 1923 with music byAlbert Von Tilzer.[1]
The theatre introduced movies in 1921 and alternated the new medium with live theatre andAmerican burlesque until 1957, although legitimate theatre was absent from 1934 to 1951. It changed its name to theColumbia Theatre in 1934,Gotham Theatre in 1944 and theHoliday Theatre in 1951. A successful revue,Bagels and Yox played in 1951. A revival ofAbie's Irish Rose played in 1954. Legitimate theatre ended at the house in 1956. Under the namesOdeon, then theForum, and finallyMovieland, the theatre played movies until 1988, when the Shuberts sold it. The building was converted into other uses. The auditorium became a disco, Club USA. The theatre was demolished in 1998.[8] AW Hotel opened on the site in 2005.[1]
40°45′32″N73°59′06″W / 40.759°N 73.985°W /40.759; -73.985
