The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, originally the Globe Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 205 West 46th Street in the Theater District of

Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan and serves as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Buildin ...

in New York City. Opened in 1910, the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was designed by Carrère and Hastings in the Beaux-Arts style for Charles Dillingham. The theater is named after theatrical couple Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne; its original name was inspired by that of the

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, on land owned by Thomas Brend and inherited by his son, Nicholas Brend, and gra ...

, London's Shakespearean playhouse. The current configuration of the interior, dating to 1958, has about 1,519 seats across two levels and is operated by the

Nederlander Organization The Nederlander Organization, founded in 1912 by David T. Nederlander in Detroit, and currently based in New York City, is one of the largest operators of live theaters and music venues in the United States. Its first acquisition was a lease on ...

. The facade is a

New York City landmark The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and cu ...

. The theater's only surviving facade is on 46th Street and was once the carriage entrance. The ground level contains the theater's entrance on the east, as well as exits from the auditorium and stage house. On the upper stories, the facade contains a five-

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a Gulf (geography), gulf, sea, sound (geography), sound, or bight (geogra ...

-wide central pavilion with arches, flanked by simpler pavilions on either side. Another entrance on Broadway, with an ornate lobby, was demolished in 1958. The auditorium originally contained three levels and box seating prior to its reconfiguration. The tiled roof and the auditorium's ceiling were designed with retractable sections, which are no longer in use. The Globe Theatre opened on January 10, 1910. Most of the Globe's early shows were revues and musicals, including several productions by Dillingham. The Globe was converted into a movie house operated by the Brandt chain in the 1930s. City Playhouses Inc., a partnership between developers Robert W. Dowling and William Zeckendorf, bought it in 1957. After the firm Roche and Roche completely renovated the interior, the former Globe was renamed and reopened on May 5, 1958. City Playhouses sold the Lunt-Fontanne to producers

Cy Feuer Cy Feuer (January 15, 1911 – May 17, 2006) was an American theatre producer, director, composer, musician, and half of the celebrated producing duo Feuer and Martin. He won three competitive Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theat ...

and

Ernest H. Martin Ernest Harold Martin (born Ernest Harold Markowitz; August 28, 1919 – May 7, 1995) was an American Broadway producer who wrote the book for a musical, owned a Broadway theater and produced motion pictures, including ''Guys and Dolls'', ''How t ...

in 1960, and it was then sold to developer

Stanley Stahl Stanley Stahl (1924–1999) was an American banker and real estate investor from New York City. Early life Stanley Stahl was born to a Jewish family on June 16, 1924 in New York City.Eighth Avenue and Broadway, near Times Square in the Theater District of

in New York City. The rectangular

land lot In real estate, a lot or plot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner(s). A plot is essentially considered a parcel of real property in some countries or immovable property (meaning practically the same thing) in ...

covers . The theater has a

frontage Frontage is the boundary between a plot of land or a building and the road onto which the plot or building fronts. Frontage may also refer to the full length of this boundary. This length is considered especially important for certain types of ...

of on 46th Street and a depth of about . The Lunt-Fontanne shares the block with the Paramount Hotel (including Sony Hall) and Lena Horne Theatre to the west, as well as the Hotel Edison to the north. Other nearby buildings include the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre to the northwest; the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and Morgan Stanley Building to the north; the

Palace Theatre Palace Theatre, or Palace Theater, is the name of many theatres in different countries, including: Australia *Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria *Palace Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales Canada *Palace Theatre, housed in the Robillard Block, Mo ...

, Embassy Theatre, and I. Miller Building to the east; the

New York Marriott Marquis The New York Marriott Marquis is a Marriott hotel on Times Square, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Designed by architect John C. Portman Jr., the hotel is at 1535 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets. With 1,9 ...

to the south; and the Richard Rodgers Theatre, Music Box Theatre, and Imperial Theatre to the southwest.

Design

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was designed by Carrère and Hastings in the Beaux-Arts style. It was constructed for Charles Dillingham, opening in 1910 as the Globe Theatre.; ; The Lunt-Fontanne is the only surviving theater of four that Carrère and Hastings designed, as well as the last theater designed by that firm. Thompson–Starrett Co. was the main contractor. The

operates the theater.

Facade

46th Street

The primary elevation of the Lunt-Fontanne's facade is on 46th Street and was originally the carriage entrance. It is symmetrically arranged, though the facade is shorter than its width. The first story, at ground level, was designed as a raised basement. The facade is divided into a central pavilion with five vertical

bays A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a narr ...

, which is flanked by slightly recessed outer pavilions.; This arrangement, described as being in a modified Italian Renaissance style, was reminiscent of Carrère and Hastings's earlier design for the Century (New) Theatre on Central Park West. The westernmost portion of the facade contains the stage house, which is faced in brick and is recessed behind the main portion of the facade. The first story contains a granite water table, blocks of rusticated stone, and doorways in each bay. The recessed doorways are originally designed as archways, which are partially concealed by the marquee. The westernmost door is the stage door. The easternmost two sets of doors lead into the ticket lobby, and the other doors contain auxiliary exits from the auditorium. Each of the lobby and auditorium doors contain paneled-wood doors with bronze handles, and the openings are also flanked by display boxes. The marquee above the doorways was added after the theater opened; it contains a band with foliate decorations, above which acanthus leaves rise vertically. The first story is topped by a frieze containing foliate decorations and flowers. Above the five central doorways are archivolts with sculpted heads, as well as

modillion A modillion is an ornate bracket, more horizontal in shape and less imposing than a corbel. They are often seen underneath a cornice which it helps to support. Modillions are more elaborate than dentils (literally translated as small teeth). All ...

blocks with alternating somber and snarling faces. The arches and faces served to identify the building's theatrical use. On the upper stories, the five central bays form a pavilion with double-height arches. A terrace projects slightly from the second floor, above the first story's modillions, with a

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its con ...

made of wrought iron. This terrace was originally connected to the auditorium's first balcony level. There are pilasters between each arch, topped by

capitals Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

in the Ionic style. Each of the archways contains a multi-paneled window, with a broken pediment and a spandrel bar dividing the second and third floor. Above the centers of the arches are terracotta cartouches. The spandrels at the arches' corners contain semi-nude or nude female figures, holding theatrical masks that depict comedy and tragedy. The fourth floor of the center bays has square openings with

sash window A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes". The individual sashes are traditionally paned window (architecture), paned windows, but can now contain an individual sheet (or sheets, in the case of double gla ...

s, which are surrounded by eared frames and flanked by carvings of caryatids. The caryatids are topped by depictions of bows and helmets in the center three arches, as well as musical instruments in the outer two arches. A wave molding also runs above the fourth floor. The outer bays are faced in

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...

. These have double-height windows at the second and third floors, with molded window frames and projecting

lintel A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...

s above. There is a circular window at the fourth story above each double-height window. Simple sash windows are placed on the side of the western pavilion, which projects from the stage house. A frieze with panels, as well as a

course Course may refer to: Directions or navigation * Course (navigation), the path of travel * Course (orienteering), a series of control points visited by orienteers during a competition, marked with red/white flags in the terrain, and corresponding ...

with dentils, runs above the outer pavilions. Above that is a cornice, which runs the whole width of the facade. The central pavilion has a deeply projecting parapet, below which are brackets and a decorative band of heads, cartouches, and panels. The theater's tiled roof is above the parapet.

Former Broadway entrance

The Globe Theatre was built with an entrance on 1555 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets.; The Broadway elevation was described in the ''New York Dramatic Mirror'' as the main entrance, though other sources stated that the Broadway entrance was secondary to that on 46th Street. The Broadway elevation was four stories high and measured wide. It had been adapted from a brownstone residence and contained signs in front of it. The facade was flanked by Ionic pilasters and contained interspersed stone panels. The second floor was decorated with "elaborately ornamented" arched

casement window A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges at the side. They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame, in which case they are hinged on the outside. Casement windows are often held open using a cas ...

s. There were also masks, garlands, cherubs, pediments, and a cornice on the facade. The entrance led to the box-office vestibule and a corridor to the auditorium. The Broadway entrance is no longer extant. It was cut off from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1957 when the theater was renovated. While the Broadway elevation physically existed for half a century afterward, it did not serve as an entrance, and tall signs were built in front of the four-story facade. In 2006, the old Broadway entrance was demolished, along with a neighboring Howard Johnson's restaurant at 1551 Broadway. The Broadway entrance was replaced with an American Eagle Outfitters store.

Interior

Original interior

The Globe Theatre's original interiors included ornamental plaster from Crane & Mahoney, metal lath from Arthur Greenfield Inc., and limestone from Farnum Cheshire. The structural frame was made of steel and concrete. The theater had an Italian Renaissance design with a color palette of gold, blue, and ivory white, as well as "rose du Barry" curtains. At ground level, the promenade from Broadway was decorated in gold and rose. The entire 46th Street frontage functioned as a large exit corridor. The entrance vestibule from 46th Street was designed as a promenade with a similar color scheme to the rest of the theater. The promenade from 46th Street measured long and wide. A foyer at the second story (originally the first balcony level) led to the terrace on the 46th Street frontage of that story.; Dillingham's offices were housed on the upper stories, above the auditorium. The Globe Theatre, Broadway, New York (2)

The Globe Theatre, Broadway, New York (2)

The auditorium was designed in a fan shape; according to contemporary publications, that shape allowed both optimal acoustics and sightlines.; The fan shape also allowed the audience to be closer to the performers than in other theaters, creating a more intimate house. The auditorium had an orchestra level, two balconies,

boxes A box (plural: boxes) is a container used for the storage or transportation of its contents. Most boxes have flat, parallel, rectangular sides. Boxes can be very small (like a matchbox) or very large (like a shipping box for furniture), and can ...

, and a stage behind the

proscenium A proscenium ( grc-gre, προσκήνιον, ) is the metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre, usually surrounded on the top and sides by a physical proscenium arch (whether or not truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor ...

arch.; There were 1,416 seats in total; the orchestra alone had 15 rows of seats. The seats could be individually cooled by ice or heated by hot air from vents underneath. At the rear of the second balcony level, three holes could provide spotlight illumination. There were twelve boxes, arranged in two tiers on both sides of the auditorium. The boxes were at the front of the theater and stepped down toward the proscenium; they were separated by Corinthian columns. Rose-colored curtains were also hung above the upper tier of boxes. The auditorium had a coved ceiling when it was built. The original design included a retractable ceiling, as well as a movable roof above. According to contemporary sources, the ceiling had a retractable oval panel, which would be moved "when weather permits" to allow starlight and keep the auditorium cooler in summer. The historian William Morrison could not find a reference to the ceiling ever opening; he said that retracting the roof would have been difficult because of debris buildup. The proscenium arch was surrounded by a molded frame on all sides in a way that suggested "a rich frame to a picture". The large stage was capable of accommodating all the necessary theatrical equipment.; The backstage areas had "modern and convenient dressing rooms", including showers for the actors. An elevator connected the stage to a six-story dressing room wing in the rear. The theater had provisions for fireproofing, such as modern standpipe and sprinkler equipment, automatic alarms, and watchmen's systems.

Modifications

When the theater was renovated in 1958, most of the old Globe's interiors were removed and redecorated in an 18th-century style. According to Robert Dowling, who helped redevelop the theater, the promenade was redecorated in a rococo style with "exotic" wall decorations. The mezzanine contained a lounge with paneled mirrors, as well as murals depicting opera houses in Europe. Blue rococo floor coverings were installed throughout the theater, with a layer of thick foam underneath. In the auditorium, the two levels of balconies were removed, and a single balcony level with 700 seats was installed. The orchestra level was arranged with 800 seats. In both levels, the first few rows were upholstered in rococo blue silk above rubber foam cushions, with additional cushions for short guests. Tickets to the front-row seats were higher than those for the remaining seats, which were salvaged from the old Globe's interiors. Modern estimates of the seating capacity vary: ''

Playbill ''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the show's pr ...

'' cites a capacity of 1,470 seats, while the Broadway League cites 1,519 seats. After the renovation, the proscenium measured across, while the stage was deep. A new curtain with a sunburst design was installed, and a mural with depictions of theatrical muses was painted on the ceiling. The ceiling mural, painted by Edward Melcarth, was decorated with clouds, which hid ventilation openings. The retractable ceiling was also removed with the renovation. The rear (west) wall was moved about west, and the remaining walls were retained.

History

Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression. Manhattan's theater district had begun to shift from Union Square and Madison Square during the first decade of the 20th century. From 1901 to 1920, forty-three theaters were built around Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, including the Globe Theatre. The Globe was developed by Charles Dillingham, who first was a theatrical critic and then an associate of impresario Daniel Frohman in the late 1890s. Dillingham began to produce more of his own plays in the first decade of the 20th century, upon Frohman's urging.

Globe Theatre

Development and early years

The Dillingham Theatre Company bought a plot at 1555 Broadway and a assemblage at 203-217 West 46th Street in November 1907. Dillingham hired Carrère and Hastings to design a theater along Broadway and 46th Street. The Dillingham Theatre Company took title to the land in January 1908, and plans for the theater were filed that March. Dillingham originally wanted to call his new theater the Gaiety, but George M. Cohan and

Sam H. Harris Sam Henry Harris (February 3, 1872 – July 3, 1941) was a Broadway producer and theater owner. Career Sam Harris was born on Manhattan's Lower East Side to poor Jewish parents. After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris ...

were also planning a theater with the same name across 46th Street. In March 1909, Thompson-Starrett was hired as the main contractor. The same month, Dillington announced he would name his theater in honor of the

, the Shakespearean playhouse in London. That October, Carrère and Hastings filed plans to renovate the existing brownstone at 1555 Broadway, adapting it as the Globe's entrance. The theater opened on January 10, 1910, with the musical ''The Old Town'' featuring Dave Montgomery and Fred Stone.; ; The year of its opening, the Globe also hosted ''The Echo'', which featured the now-popular song

Skidamarink "Skidamarink" or "Skinnamarink" is a popular preschool sing-along song from North America. Originally titled "Skid-dy-mer-rink-adink-aboomp" or "Skiddy-Mer-Rink-A-Doo",

, as well as a four-week limited engagement from French actress

Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including '' La Dame Aux Camel ...

. The theater's early offerings were mostly revues and musicals because Dillingham largely produced musicals. ''The Slim Princess'' with Elsie Janis, which premiered in 1911, was the next musical by Dillingham to be staged at the Globe, and Bernhardt returned for another limited engagement the same year. Janis, Montgomery, and Stone returned in 1912 for ''The Lady of the Slipper'', which was a hit with 232 performances. Montgomery and Stone also starred in ''Chin-Chin'', which opened in 1914 and had 295 performances at the Globe. Dillingham also staged the musical ''

Stop! Look! Listen! ''Stop! Look! Listen!'' is a musical in three acts with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and book by Harry B. Smith. The piece had additional music by Henry Kailimai and Jack Alau and additional lyrics by G. H. Stover and Sylvester Kalama. ' ...

'' at the Globe in 1915, with a ragtime score composed by Irving Berlin. The first straight play at the Globe premiered in 1916, with J. Hartley Manners's ''The Harp of Life''. The play featured Manners's wife

Laurette Taylor Laurette Taylor (born Loretta Helen Cooney; April 1, 1883Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Roll: 1119; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 859; FHL microfilm: 1241119. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1900 Un ...

along with young British actress Lynn Fontanne (a later namesake of the theater). Fred Stone returned the next year in ''Jack O' Lantern'', following the death of Stone's partner Montgomery. ''The Canary'', featuring Julia Sanderson and Joseph Cawthorn, premiered in 1918; the Globe also hosted a limited run of that year's '' Ziegfeld Follies''. The decade ended with ''She's a Good Fellow'' with Joseph Santley and the Duncan Sisters in 1919,; the run of which was truncated by the

1919 Actors' Equity Association strike The 1919 Actors' Equity Association strike officially spanned from August 7, 1919, to September 6, 1919. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the theatre industry was revolutionized by powerful management groups that monopolized and centraliz ...

. Dillingham had produced all of the theater's musicals and plays during the 1910s, while Jerome Kern and Anne Caldwell collaborated on many of the musical scores.

1920s and early 1930s

The Globe Theatre, 46th Street and Broadway, New York

Dillingham had originally leased the theater from the Dillingham Theatre Company, operated by the Gould family. In April 1920, he bought the theater outright for $1.25 million, with plans to remodel the property for his offices. That July, W. T. Smith filed plans for a seven-story office wing at 1555 Broadway. Elaborate revues at the Globe, which were staged starting in the late 1910s, continued into the 1920s. These included the 1920 edition of '' George White's Scandals'',; ; the Globe's first show that did not have Dillingham as a writer. It was followed the same year by another Dillingham play, ''Tip Top'' with Stone and the Duncan Sisters, running 241 performances. The 1921 edition of the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was staged at the Globe,; ; and Kern and Caldwell's production ''Good Morning, Dearie'' opened the same year. Further editions of ''George White's Scandals'' premiered in 1922 and 1923. The former edition's score inspired the opera '' Porgy and Bess'', while the latter saw little success. Dillingham leased the theater to Oliver Morosco in January 1923 for the production of ''Lady Butterfly'' at the then-exorbitant price of $6,000 a week. Fred Stone and his daughter Dorothy performed later that year in the musical ''Stepping Stones'',; ; another Dillingham production. This was followed in 1924 by comedian Ed Wynn's ''The Grab Bag'', which ran 184 performances. A major hit came to the Globe in 1925 with the opening of '' No, No, Nanette'', where featured performer Louise Groody became the first musical-comedy performer to earn over $1 million. Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. was slated to run the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' at the Globe the following year, but he was not allowed to use the name due to a disagreement with his partners

Klaw and Erlanger Klaw and Erlanger was an entertainment management and production partnership of Marc Klaw and Abraham Lincoln Erlanger based in New York City from 1888 through 1919. While running their own considerable and multi-faceted theatrical businesses on ...

.; As a result, in 1926, he hosted ''No Foolin'' (subsequently ''Ziegfeld's American Revue'') at the Globe. The same year, Dillingham produced ''Criss Cross'' with Fred and Dorothy Stone, and ''Oh, Please!'' featured

Beatrice Lillie Beatrice Gladys Lillie, Lady Peel (29 May 1894 – 20 January 1989), known as Bea Lillie, was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer. She began to perform as a child with her mother and sister. She made her West End debu ...

. Fred Stone also planned to return to the Globe in 1928, appearing in '' Three Cheers'' with Dorothy, but he was replaced at the last minute with

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

; the play ran through early 1929.

Bankruptcy and cinematic use

By 1930, the Globe Theatre was leased to Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) as a movie house, at least until a new RKO theater was finished on the site of the old Columbia Theatre. That year, the Dillingham Theater Company obtained a $200,000 second mortgage on the theater. Upon the expiry of RKO's lease in July 1931, the Globe returned to legitimate use. The play '' The Cat and the Fiddle'', which opened later that year, was the last legitimate production at the Globe before the theater became a cinema for 25 years.; ; Due to the Globe's financial troubles, ''The Cat and the Fiddle'' was moved to George M. Cohan's Theatre in May 1932. At the time, the second mortgage holder, Spear Securities, sought to foreclose on the theater. Dillingham's friends, including Fred Stone, attempted to recover the theater on his behalf. W 46 St Dec 2021 37

Dillingham ultimately went into bankruptcy in 1933 with debts of over $7 million. A major factor in the bankruptcy was the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

, during which many Broadway theaters were impacted by declining attendance. Spear Securities acquired the theater at a foreclosure auction in October 1932 for $1.125 million. Brandt Theatres subsequently began to lease the Globe for films. By the next year, the theater was owned by the Globe Land Corporation, and the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress ...

held a $1.1 million first mortgage on the theater. Under Brandt's management, the Globe largely showed reruns, which drew complaints from the operator of the rival

Roxy Theatre Roxy Theatre or Roxy Theater may refer to: Australia *Roxy Theatre (Warner Bros. Movie World), a movie theatre within Warner Bros. Movie World, Queensland *Roxy Community Theatre in Leeton, New South Wales, originally called the Roxy Theatre *Roxy ...

. In February 1936, Harry Brandt of Brandt Theatres announced that he had purchased the Globe for $1.15 million, subject to existing mortgages. He then announced that he would renovate the Globe to serve as headquarters for his company. Brandt announced in 1938 that the Globe would begin to offer five-act vaudeville, followed by one film. The Globe hosted numerous premieres of films, including '' The Road Back'' in 1937 and ''

The Roosevelt Story ''The Roosevelt Story'' is a 1947 American documentary film written and directed by Lawrence M. Klee. The film is a documentary about the private and public life of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The film was narrated by Ed Begley, Gene Blakely, Kelly Fl ...

'' in 1947. Among the other films screened at the theater were '' Souls at Sea'' (1937), '' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (1942), '' Eagle Squadron'' (1942), '' Somewhere in France'' (1943), '' The Macomber Affair'' (1947), '' Anna'' (1951), and ''

On the Threshold of Space ''On the Threshold of Space'' (aka ''Threshold of Space'') is a 1956 Drama (genre), drama directed by Robert D. Webb, starring Guy Madison, Virginia Leith and John Hodiak. It was Hodiak's final film; he died six months before it was released. ''On ...

'' (1956). In 1951, Al Beckman and Johnny Pransky considered acquiring the Globe for their vaudeville circuit.

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Renovation and reopening

By 1955,

Roger L. Stevens Roger Lacey Stevens (March 12, 1910 – February 2, 1998) was an American theatrical producer, arts administrator, and real estate executive. He was the founding Chairman of both the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (1961) and the National ...

, Robert Whitehead, and Robert W. Dowling were negotiating to acquire the Globe Theatre for legitimate use. Stevens and Dowling reneged after conducting a study, which found they would have to spend $400,000 to renovate the theater and that the venue would only be able to fit about 1,300 people. The next June, Stevens partnered with William Zeckendorf in another bid to acquire the theater, with

and Ernest Martin as the producers. Despite some delays in September 1956, Stevens, Whitehead, Dowling, and Zeckendorf ultimately acquired the theater in 1957 under the City Playhouses name.; Stevens and Whitehead were affiliated with Producers Theatre, while Dowling was affiliated with the City Investing Company, both of which had a 40 percent ownership stake. Zeckendorf's company Webb and Knapp owned the remaining 20 percent of the theater. The firm of Roche and Roche renovated the interior extensively, replacing the two balcony levels with a single balcony, as well as closing and sealing the Broadway entrance. In addition, the original decorations were largely eliminated and replaced with 18th-century design details. The renovated theater had a plexiglass marquee on 46th Street with scalloped decorations, under which was a black-and-white sidewalk. When the theater was purchased, it was supposed to reopen in January 1958. The premiere attraction was planned to be the musical ''Zuleika'', which was then swapped with Shakespeare's '' Much Ado About Nothing''. In February 1958, the Globe was renamed in honor of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, who planned to retire after the inaugural show at the theater. The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre opened on May 5, 1958, with Friedrich Dürrenmatt's '' The Visit'', starring Lunt and Fontanne.; ; Dowling, Stevens, and Whitehead had been threatened with a fine if they had not opened ''Visit'' by May 5. This production was the last one to feature Lunt and Fontanne on Broadway. Later that year, Zeckendorf's company Webb and Knapp sold the former entrance building at 1555 Broadway to the Rubinstein-Klein Realty Corporation. The revival of ''Much Ado About Nothing'', with John Gielgud and Margaret Leighton, opened in 1959.; It was followed the same year by the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical '' The Sound of Music'', which had 1,443 performances during the next three years, including some at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.

1960s to 1980s

In 1960, City Playhouses leased the theater to producers

and

for $2 million. The musical ''Little Me'' with Sid Caesar opened in 1962; in spite of critical acclaim, the musical's run ended early due to a newspaper strike. The following year,

Martha Graham Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide. Graham danced and taught for over seventy years. She wa ...

and her dance company performed at the Globe. Richard Burton appeared in a revival of '' Hamlet'' in 1964, the longest run of the play on Broadway; it was followed by several short musical runs. Feuer and Martin obtained total control of the Lunt-Fontanne the same year, when they bought the remaining ownership stake from the Kratter Corporation for $1 million. The partners sold the Lunt-Fontanne to developer Stanley Stahl in 1965. That year, the theater staged ''Skyscraper'' with Julie Harris's first musical appearance,
; ; followed in 1966 by ''

Walking Happy ''Walking Happy'' is a musical with music by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and book by Roger O. Hirson and Ketti Frings. The story is based on the 1916 play ''Hobson's Choice'' by Harold Brighouse. The musical was nominated for six Tony A ...

'' with Norman Wisdom.
; ; Shows of the late 1960s included Marlene Dietrich's Broadway debut in 1967,; followed the same year by '' How Now, Dow Jones''.; ; Another revival of ''Hamlet'' was staged at the Lunt-Fontanne in 1969, this time with Nicol Williamson.; The theater then underwent a renovation and was leased for one year by Lester Osterman. Afterward, Hal Linden and Keene Curtis starred in the musical '' The Rothschilds''.; ; The Nederlander Organization started operating the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1973. For much of that decade, the Lunt-Fontanne staged many revivals. Among them were ''

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (254–184 BC), specifica ...

'' in 1972, '' The Pajama Game'' in 1973, '' Hello, Dolly!'' in 1978, and '' Peter Pan'' in 1979. The theater also hosted original productions during the 1970s, such as ''Rex'' in 1976.; ; In 1981, Duke Ellington's revue '' Sophisticated Ladies'' opened at the Lunt-Fontanne, running for 767 performances.; This was followed by two revivals staged in 1983 by Zev Buffman: '' Private Lives'' and '' The Corn Is Green''. In addition,

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

made her Broadway premiere the same year in a limited solo engagement.; This was followed by a revival of '' The Wiz'' in 1984, and Jerry Weintraub purchased a stake in the operation of the Lunt-Fontanne the same year. A revival of '' The Iceman Cometh'' followed in 1985. The originals '' Uptown... It's Hot!'' and ''Smile'' were staged in 1986, as well as a transfer of '' The Gospel at Colonus'' in 1988. In addition to these, the Lunt-Fontanne hosted special appearances, including illusionist Doug Henning (1984);

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

vocalist

Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...

(1987); rock band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1989); and singer Freddie Jackson (1989). Stahl and James M. Nederlander considered leasing out the Lunt-Fontanne as a movie theater in 1989, citing a downturn in theatrical bookings; '' The Threepenny Opera'' opened later that year. The theater also hosted the 43rd Tony Awards in 1989, followed by the 44th Tony Awards in 1990. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) had started to consider protecting the Lunt-Fontanne as a landmark in 1982, with discussions continuing over the next several years. The LPC designated the Lunt-Fontanne's facade as a landmark on December 8, 1987, but the modified interior was denied landmark status. This was part of the commission's wide-ranging effort in 1987 to grant landmark status to Broadway theaters. The New York City Board of Estimate ratified the designations in March 1988. The Nederlanders, the Shuberts, and Jujamcyn collectively sued the LPC in June 1988 to overturn the landmark designations of 22 theaters, including the Lunt-Fontanne, on the merit that the designations severely limited the extent to which the theaters could be modified. The lawsuit was escalated to the

New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the New York State Unified Court System. (Its Appellate Division is also the highest intermediate appellate court.) It is vested with unlimited civ ...

and the

Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

, but these designations were ultimately upheld in 1992.

1990s to present

Lunt Fontanne Theatre, New York City, NY

A second revival of ''Peter Pan'', featuring

Cathy Rigby Cathleen Roxanne Rigby (later Mason, later McCoy, born December 12, 1952), known as Cathy Rigby, is an actress, speaker, and former artistic gymnast. Her performance in the 1968 Summer Olympics helped to popularize the sport of gymnastics in th ...

, was staged at the Lunt-Fontanne in 1990, as was a concert by

Harry Connick Jr. Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and television host. He has sold over 28million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top60 best-selling male artists in the Uni ...

A 1991 transfer of ''

Oh, Kay! ''Oh, Kay!'' is a musical with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse. It is based on the play ''La Présidente'' by Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber. The plot revolves around the adventur ...

'' closed during previews; ''Catskills on Broadway'' opened later the same year and ran for 13 months. Afterward, several flops were staged at the Lunt-Fontanne, including the musical ''Ain't Broadway Grand'' in 1993, as well as '' The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public'' and ''Comedy Tonight'' in 1994. Carol Channing, who had previously performed at the Lunt-Fontanne during the 1978 revival of ''Hello, Dolly!'', returned for another revival in 1995, which ran 118 performances. The

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

produced ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'' in 1996, and the Sovremennik Theatre had eight Russian-language performances of two productions later that year. The musical ''Titanic'' opened in 1997 and was a hit, earning enough money to fund renovations of the theater. In addition, the theater's owners sold some air rights to the developers of the neighboring Planet Hollywood Hotel in 1998. After ''Titanic'' run ended in March 1999, the theater was closed for much of the year while

Sachs Morgan Studio Sachs is a German surname, meaning "man from Saxony". Sachs is a common surname among Ashkenazi Jews from Saxony, in the United States sometimes adopted in the variant Zaks, supposedly in reference to the Hebrew phrase ''Zera Kodesh Shemo'' (ZaKS), ...

renovated it, changing the lighting and paint scheme. The Planet Hollywood Hotel was being built during the same time, requiring contractors on that hotel to carefully monitor the Lunt-Fontanne for damage. '' Beauty and the Beast'' opened at the Lunt-Fontanne in late 1999, transferring from the

with a downsized cast, and ran until 2007. The Lunt-Fontanne was again renovated, and the bar area was demolished and rebuilt to accommodate a new building to the east. ''The Little Mermaid'' then ran at the Lunt-Fontanne from 2007 to 2009. The Lunt-Fontanne generally hosted shorter musicals and appearances in the 2010s. These included '' The Addams Family'' in 2010 and 2011; '' Ghost the Musical'' and '' A Christmas Story: The Musical'' in 2012; '' Motown: The Musical'' from 2013 to 2015; and '' Finding Neverland'' in 2015. As part of a settlement with the United States Department of Justice in 2014, the Nederlanders agreed to improve disabled access at their nine Broadway theaters, including the Lunt-Fontanne. The theater hosted a limited engagement by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons and Kristin Chenoweth's solo '' My Love Letter to Broadway'' in 2016; the musical '' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' in 2017; and '' Summer: The Donna Summer Musical'' in 2018. Numerous performers had limited engagements at the Lunt-Fontanne in 2019 before the opening of ''

Tina Tina may refer to: People *Tina (given name), people and fictional characters with the given name ''Tina'' Places *Tina, Iran, a village in Khuzestan Province, Iran *Tina, Tunisia, a town in Sfax Governorate, Tunisia * Tina, Guadalcanal, Solomon ...

'' that November. The theater closed on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening on October 8, 2021, with performances of ''Tina'', which ran until August 2022. A revival of '' Sweeney Todd'' starring Josh Groban and

Annaleigh Ashford Annaleigh Amanda Ashford (née Swanson; born June 25, 1985) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her work on television as Betty DiMello on the Showtime period drama ''Masters of Sex'', and on Broadway as Lauren in '' Kink ...

is scheduled to open at the theater in early 2023.

Notable productions

Globe Theatre

* 1910: ''

The Girl in the Train ''Die geschiedene Frau'' (''The Divorcée''), is an operetta in three acts by Leo Fall with a libretto by Victor Léon based on Victorien Sardou's ''Divorçons!''. Conducted by the composer, It opened to considerable success at the Carltheater i ...

'' * 1911: ''

A Gentleman of Leisure ''A Gentleman of Leisure'' is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse. The basic plot first appeared in a novella, ''The Gem Collector'', in the December 1909 issue of ''Ainslee's Magazine''. It was substantially revised and expanded for publication as a ...

'' * 1913: '' Mlle. Modiste'' * 1915: ''

''
* 1916: '' Betty'' * 1918: '' Hitchy-Koo'' * 1918,
1921:
'' Ziegfeld Follies'' * 1920,
1922,
1923:
'' George White's Scandals'' * 1922: ''

The Bunch and Judy ''The Bunch and Judy'' is a musical comedy in two acts with book by Anne Caldwell and R. H. Burnside, lyrics by Anne Caldwell, and music by Jerome Kern. The story centered on a Broadway starlet, who marries a Scottish nobleman, only to grow dise ...

'' * 1923: '' Stepping Stones''
* 1925: '' Aren't We All?'' * 1925: '' No, No, Nanette''
* 1926: '' Criss Cross''
* 1928: '' Three Cheers''
* 1931: '' The Cat and the Fiddle''

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

* 1958: '' The Visit'' * 1958: '' Goldilocks'' * 1959: ''

Les Ballets Africains Les Ballets Africains is the national dance company of Guinea and is based in Conakry. It is one of the first African national dance companies. It has toured extensively around the world. Although the French name might suggest the idea of European ...

'' * 1959: '' Much Ado About Nothing''
* 1959: '' The Sound of Music''
* 1962: '' Little Me''
* 1963: '' Arturo Ui'' * 1964: '' Luther'' * 1964: '' Hamlet''
* 1964: '' Wiener Blut'' * 1964: '' Ben Franklin in Paris'' * 1965: '' Bajour'' * 1965: ''

Skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Modern sources currently define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition. Skyscrapers are very tall high-ris ...

'' * 1966: ''

'' * 1967: '' Marlene Dietrich''
* 1967: '' How Now, Dow Jones''
* 1968: ''

Her First Roman ''Her First Roman'' is a musical with music, lyrics, and book by Ervin Drake, based on the 1898 George Bernard Shaw play '' Caesar and Cleopatra''. Original production During its out-of-town tryout, the original director Michael Benthall was fire ...

'' * 1968: '' You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running'' * 1969: '' Come Summer'' * 1969: '' Hamlet''
* 1969: '' La Strada'' * 1970: ''

Look to the Lilies ''Look to the Lilies'' was a short-lived Broadway musical with a book by Leonard Spigelgass, lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and music by Jule Styne. Based on both the 1962 novel and film versions of '' Lilies of the Field'', it tells the story of a group ...

'' * 1970: '' The Rothschilds''
* 1972: ''

''
* 1972: ''

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

'' * 1973: ''

6 Rms Riv Vu ''6 Rms Riv Vu'' is a play by Bob Randall, who also wrote the book for ''The Magic Show''. Play ''6 Rms Riv Vu'' derives its title from shorthand used by real estate agents in classified advertising. In this case, a six-room apartment with a v ...

'' * 1973: '' The Pajama Game''
; ; * 1974: '' The Sunshine Boys'' * 1975: '' Raisin'' * 1976: '' Rex''
* 1976: '' My Fair Lady'' * 1977: ''

Primitive Mysteries ''Primitive Mysteries'' is a modern dance work choreographed by Martha Graham to music by Louis Horst. Graham also designed the original costumes. The piece premiered on February 2, 1931 at the Craig Theatre in New York City. From the first perfo ...

'' * 1977: '' The Shadow Box'' * 1978: '' Hello, Dolly!''
* 1978: ''

A Broadway Musical ''A Broadway Musical'' is a musical with a book by William F. Brown, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The Broadway production closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978. The plot about a sleazy whit ...

'' * 1979: ''

Beatlemania Beatlemania was the fanaticism surrounding the English rock band the Beatles in the 1960s. The group's popularity grew in the United Kingdom throughout 1963, propelled by the singles "Please Please Me", "From Me to You" and "She Loves You". By ...

'' * 1979: '' Peter Pan''
* 1981: '' Sophisticated Ladies''
* 1983: '' Private Lives''
* 1983: '' The Corn Is Green''
* 1984: '' The Wiz''
* 1985: '' The Iceman Cometh''
* 1986: '' Uptown... It's Hot!''
* 1986: '' Smile''
* 1988: '' The Gospel at Colonus''
* 1989: '' The Threepenny Opera''
* 1990: '' Peter Pan''
* 1991: ''

''
* 1994: '' The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public''
; * 1995: '' Hello, Dolly!''
* 1996: '' Three Sisters'' * 1996: ''

''
* 1997: '' Titanic''
* 1999: '' Beauty and the Beast''
* 2008: '' The Little Mermaid''
* 2010: '' The Addams Family''
* 2012: '' Ghost the Musical''
* 2012: '' A Christmas Story: The Musical''
* 2013: '' Motown: The Musical''
* 2015: '' Finding Neverland''
* 2016: '' Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!''
* 2016: '' Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Broadway''
* 2017: '' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''
* 2018: '' Summer: The Donna Summer Musical''
* 2019: ''

Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey (; born 22 May 1959), known professionally as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since then ...

'' * 2019: '' Pure Yanni'' * 2019: '' Mel Brooks on Broadway'' * 2019: '' Regina Spektor: Live On Broadway'' * 2019: '' Criss Angel Raw—The Mindfreak Unplugged'' * 2019: '' Dave Chappelle on Broadway'' * 2019: '' Manilow Broadway'' * 2019: '' Tina: The Musical''
* 2023: '' Sweeney Todd''

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

* * * * * *

External links

* * {{Authority control Beaux-Arts architecture in New York City Broadway theatres Carrère and Hastings buildings Nederlander Organization New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan Theater District, Manhattan Theatres completed in 1910

Design

Facade

46th Street

Former Broadway entrance

Interior

Original interior

Modifications

History

Globe Theatre

Development and early years

1920s and early 1930s

Bankruptcy and cinematic use

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Renovation and reopening

1960s to 1980s

1990s to present

Notable productions

Globe Theatre

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

External links