Times Square Theater Likely to Get a New Lease on Life

The New York Post reports this morning that at long last, the former Times Square Theater, which has stood vacant for nearly two decades on 42nd Street, may get a new lease on life.  The 30,000 square foot space, which is located at 217 W. 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, will become what will be known as Broadway 4D, a multimedia venue which allegedly an insider describes as"a kind of Las Vegas version of Broadway past and present."

According to the Post: "All parties involved either declined to comment or failed to return calls. They would rather wait to present the gift-wrapped deal with names of presumably A-list show business types on the creative team, so it doesn't sound ridiculous -- i.e., an out-of-town version of actual Broadway shows in a district full of real ones."

To read the full report in the New York Post, click here.

The Times Square was built in 1920 by the Selwyn brothers. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, along with the Apollo and the American Airlines Theatre. Notable shows presented at the Times Square included the original New York productions of George and Ira Gershwin's Strike Up the Band in 1930 and Noel Coward's Private Lives in 1931. Battling Butler, the basis for the Buster Keaton film of the same name, transferred from the Selwyn to the Times Square in 1924.

Only three years after Private Lives, the Times Square was converted to a cinema. It would remain in operation as a movie theatre until the early 1990s, when it was closed. The City and State of New York took possession of the Times Square Theatre in 1990. In 1992, it was one of six 42nd Street theatres to come under the protection of the New 42nd Street organization. Along with the Liberty Theatre, it is the only New 42nd Street property that has not been restored, demolished or converted. Many interior elements of the theatre are landmarked, and must be preserved. There is no requirement that the Times Square Theatre must be used as a theatrical venue.

In 2004, the apparel company Eck? announced plans to use the Times Square as a retail store. However, to date, the theatre is still closed. In 2007, it was announced that Ecko had walked away from the project.