I found some great stuff there, but would have spent more (even at their prices) if they'd been just a bit better organized. I'd leave in frustration and look for things online.
But I'm sadder about Dress Circle closing in London. That was always a highlight of my trips and I found amazing stuff there and at Tower's London store, for both Broadway and West End shows.
Yes, it's sad... but they can't compete with the cheaper and direct-to-your-computer digital media. You can find virtually anything you need on the internet for a fraction of the price.
It's a keep up or get out kind of market. Most of you lamenting it essentially admit it was nothing more than a novelty.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
I used to wander back and forth 49th Street from the Colony to the Sam Goody's outlet near 8th Avenue, looking at the full-price records at Colony, hoping to find a bargain at Sam Goody's.
RIP Colony.
RIP Sam Goody's.
RIP records.
RIP my youth
^ What PalJoey posted was me in my youth as well. I went to Graphic Arts on 49th between 9th and 10th from '82 to '86 and Colony was one of my fave haunts....
I hope this doesn't foretell the end of the Brill Building entirely. That WOULD be a New York tragedy. Don't count on Sam Ash for sheet music; they're on the way out, as well.
I don't think Sam Ash is going anywhere. There's really no digital equivalent other than the Sam Ash website. Physical instruments will always be needed.
The 2nd time I went to NYC I wandered into the infamous Colony Music, surveyed the place, and proceeded to make my way out. I wanted to buy something, they had a great selection, but the prices were cra-zy lol Sad they are going out of business though!
Went in once and walked out. Just read a fun book called Meet the Anna's that it was semi-featured in. I pass it every day but it is way too expensive.
Some of the staff at Colony could be unpleasant, but I stopped in once after seeing APPLAUSE at Encores!, and the clerk behind the counter saw my program and asked, "Oh! How was it? Was Christine in it?" and we struck up a nice chat.
If the Brill Building goes entirely, THAT would be a crime.
You had better stick around a long, long, time. You're the best poster here.
"And Howard Johnsons.
God, that place was gross"
I don't think it was gross at all. It had a faded charm, which only became more pronounced with the passage of time. The ice cream sodas were terrific, as was their ice cream cake roll.
I miss it.
Also, since we're fondly reminiscing here, there's a free exhibition at the NY Public Library about lunch in NY. For those who remember eating at the automat before or after matinees, you'll find artifacts from the restaurant, as well as a wealth of facts about it, and a great deal more. This exhibit will trigger a lot of memories.
I've lived within a 5 minute walk of Colony for many years, and have NEVER bought a thing there. I even quit stopping in to browse, because it was becoming increasingly difficult to restrain myself when I'd see some unsuspecting tourist paying outrageous prices for items easily available for much less elsewhere.
Their idea of a going-out-of-business sale will probably be to INCREASE prices since "the stock won't be available once they close".
2016 These Paper Bullets (1/02) Our Mother's Brief Affair (1/06), Dragon Boat Racing (1/08), Howard - reading (1/28), Shear Madness (2/10), Fun Home (2/17), Women Without Men (2/18), Trip Of Love (2/21), The First Gentleman -reading (2/22), Southern Comfort (2/23), The Robber Bridegroom (2/24), She Loves Me (3/11), Shuffle Along (4/12), Shear Madness (4/14), Dear Evan Hansen (4/16), American Psycho (4/23), Tuck Everlasting (5/10), Indian Summer (5/15), Peer Gynt (5/18), Broadway's Rising Stars (7/11), Trip of Love (7/27), CATS (7/31), The Layover (8/17), An Act Of God (8/31), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (8/24), Heisenberg (10/12), Fiddler On The Roof (11/02), Othello (11/23), Dear Evan Hansen (11/26), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (12/21) 2017 In Transit (2/01), Groundhog Day (4/04), Ring Twice For Miranda (4/07), Church And State (4/10), The Lucky One (4/19), Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (5/16), Building The Wall (5/19), Indecent (6/01), Six Degrees of Separation (6/09), Marvin's Room (6/28), A Doll's House Pt 2 (7/25) Curvy Widow (8/01)
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
A visit to Strand Books, a quick glance in the bins at The Colony, one hour at Bloomies, dinner at Beefsteak Charlies and then off to the theater. That was Saturday on my quarterly visits to New York in the mid seventies. Good times.
I actually still have some unopened packages of socks from Macys from that time. (And every one of the programs plus the big stack I'd glom after each show.) Good times indeed.
This makes me sad Visiting them on all my trips was on of the highlights
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS