Daly's 63rd Street Theatre
Encyclopedia
Daly's 63rd Street Theatre was a Broadway theater, which was active from 1921 to 1941. It was built in 1914 as the 63rd Street Music Hall and had several other names between 1921 and 1938. The building was demolished in 1957.
for the Davenport stock company. Construction began in 1909, but financial issues stalled it soon after. Later on, architect Erwin Rossbach was hired by the Association of Bible Students to complete the structure. The organization intended it to serve for religious lectures and screening Biblical films. It was completed in 1914, and named the 63rd Street Music Hall. From 1919, it served as a children's cinema.
On 31 January 1921, the Cort 63rd Street Theatre was opened in the building. In 1922, the theater was renamed Daly's 63rd Street Theatre, in honor of Augustine Daly. The theater's name was changed on several occasions: it became the Coburn Theatre in 1928 and was renamed Recital Theatre in 1932, only to become the Park Lane Theatre several months later. From 1934 to 1936 it was known as Gilmore's 63rd Street Theatre, and afterwards as the Experimental Theatre. From 1938 until its closure in 1941, it returned to be Daly's 63rd Street Theatre. The building was demolished in 1957.
The first production in the theater in 1921 was the premiere of Flournoy Miller's and Aubrey Lyles' musical Shuffle Along
. Other notable premieres at the theatre were Mae West
's Sex
in February 1926 and the English-language version of Friedrich Wolf's Professor Mamlock
in 1937.
History
The building which subsequently housed the theater was originally designed by architect Thomas W. LambThomas W. Lamb
Thomas White Lamb was an American architect, born in Scotland. He is noted as one of the foremost designers of theaters and cinemas in the 20th century.-Career:...
for the Davenport stock company. Construction began in 1909, but financial issues stalled it soon after. Later on, architect Erwin Rossbach was hired by the Association of Bible Students to complete the structure. The organization intended it to serve for religious lectures and screening Biblical films. It was completed in 1914, and named the 63rd Street Music Hall. From 1919, it served as a children's cinema.
On 31 January 1921, the Cort 63rd Street Theatre was opened in the building. In 1922, the theater was renamed Daly's 63rd Street Theatre, in honor of Augustine Daly. The theater's name was changed on several occasions: it became the Coburn Theatre in 1928 and was renamed Recital Theatre in 1932, only to become the Park Lane Theatre several months later. From 1934 to 1936 it was known as Gilmore's 63rd Street Theatre, and afterwards as the Experimental Theatre. From 1938 until its closure in 1941, it returned to be Daly's 63rd Street Theatre. The building was demolished in 1957.
The first production in the theater in 1921 was the premiere of Flournoy Miller's and Aubrey Lyles' musical Shuffle Along
Shuffle Along
Shuffle Along is the first major successful African American musical. Written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1921.-Plot:...
. Other notable premieres at the theatre were Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
's Sex
Sex (play)
Sex is a 1926 play, written by, and starring, Mae West. It was very popular for about a year before the New York Police Department raided West and her company in February of 1927...
in February 1926 and the English-language version of Friedrich Wolf's Professor Mamlock
Professor Mamlock (play)
This article is about the play. For the film by Herbert Rappaport, see Professor Mamlock . For the film by Konrad Wolf, see Professor Mamlock .Professor Mamlock is a theater play written by Friedrich Wolf at 1933...
in 1937.
Selected Productions
- Shuffle AlongShuffle AlongShuffle Along is the first major successful African American musical. Written by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1921.-Plot:...
(1921) - Liza (1922)
- Desire Under the ElmsDesire Under the ElmsDesire Under the Elms is a play by Eugene O'Neill, published in 1924, and is now considered an American classic. Along with Mourning Becomes Electra, it represents one of O'Neill's attempts to place plot elements and themes of Greek tragedy in a rural New England setting. It is essentially a...
(1925) - SexSex (play)Sex is a 1926 play, written by, and starring, Mae West. It was very popular for about a year before the New York Police Department raided West and her company in February of 1927...
(1926) - Africana (1926)
- Keep Shufflin' (1928)
- Lady Windermere's FanLady Windermere's FanLady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman is a four act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced 22 February 1892 at the St James's Theatre in London. The play was first published in 1893...
(1932) - Awake and Sing!Awake and Sing!Awake and Sing! is a drama written by American playwright Clifford Odets. The play was initially produced by The Group Theatre in 1935.-Summary and characters:...
(1938) - The MiserThe MiserL'Avare is a 1668 five-act satirical comedy by French playwright Molière. Its title is usually translated as The Miser when the play is performed in English....
(1936) - Professor MamlockProfessor Mamlock (play)This article is about the play. For the film by Herbert Rappaport, see Professor Mamlock . For the film by Konrad Wolf, see Professor Mamlock .Professor Mamlock is a theater play written by Friedrich Wolf at 1933...
(1937)
External links
- Daly's 63rd Street Theatre on the IBDB.