The Roxy Stage and Orchestra Pit on the day it opened in 1927
Miss Swanson, the ultimate movie queen, among the ruins.In 1927 on this date, Samuel Roxy Rothafel opened the famous Roxy Theatre in New York City. The showplace was indeed a palace. It cost $10,000,000 to build and held 6,200 theatregoers. The Roxy truly was part of the ‘golden age of the movie palace’. The screen was 18-feet by 22-feet. The first feature shown at the Roxy was The Loves of Sunya, starring Gloria Swanson and John Boles.
I went into this theatre for the first time in 1957 when they were still doing stage shows between showings of a movie. I remember they had an ice-skating rink on stage! Such opulence will never be seen again these days!
The photo of Gloria Swanson in the ruins of the Roxy is said to be the inspiration for the Stepehn Sondheim/Harold Prince musical "Follies".
I went into this theatre for the first time in 1957 when they were still doing stage shows between showings of a movie. I remember they had an ice-skating rink on stage! Such opulence will never be seen again these days!
The photo of Gloria Swanson in the ruins of the Roxy is said to be the inspiration for the Stepehn Sondheim/Harold Prince musical "Follies".
4 comments:
One of my favorite pictures! You don't see it in color very often.
We are so lucky we managed to save our Atmospheric theatre here (Fox).
I have acquaintances in the Theatre Organ community.
Liz
Wow, this picture brought back memories. I remember as a kid, my parents took us to the Roxy and for a child, it was a truly an awesome experience. You're right, such opulence. We will never experience it aain. Always wondered why they had to tear it down.
Sondheim said that the photo was the inspiration for Follies,during a lecture/dialogue with Frank Rich that I saw last year at The Newmark Theatre in wacky Portland Oregon.
I love the score to Follies.
What a wonderful source of fun and knowledge you are Richard.
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