In the 1920s, Broadway boasted around 80 active theaters. Today, only 41 remain. The rest—more than 50 playhouses—have been demolished, converted, or otherwise lost to time. Their stories are as dramatic as any show they hosted, from elephant-filled spectacles to the sit-ins that tried to save them.
These vanished theaters aren’t just footnotes. They were architectural marvels, cultural landmarks, and the stages where Broadway’s golden age unfolded. Their loss reshaped the district and sparked a preservation movement that protects what’s left. Let’s step back in time to visit a few of these forgotten playhouses and meet the ghosts that still haunt their memory.
The Hippodrome: Where Elephants Took Center Stage
When the Hippodrome Theatre opened in 1905, it was the largest theater in the world, seating 5,300 people. Located on Sixth Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets, it wasn’t just a theater—it was a spectacle machine. Its massive stage could be flooded for aquatic ballets, and its productions featured elephants, acrobats, and casts of hundreds.
The Hippodrome was built by showmen Frederic Thompson and Elmer “Skip” Dundy, who had found success with the Luna Park amusement park at Coney Island. They brought that same sense of wonder to Broadway. Shows like A Yankee Circus on Mars and Wizard of Oz thrilled audiences with elaborate special effects and massive scale.
But the Hippodrome couldn’t survive the changing times. By the 1920s, its spectacles were too expensive to produce, and the theater struggled to compete with movies. It closed in 1939 and was demolished in 1950 to make way for office space. Today, the site is home to a parking garage, but the memory of those elephants and water tanks lingers in Broadway lore.
The Ziegfeld Theatre: A Follies Palace
Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. built the Ziegfeld Theatre in 1927 specifically for his famous Follies. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb, the theater was a lavish Art Deco masterpiece, with a façade decorated with a mosaic of the sun god Apollo and a lobby that rivaled any European opera house. It was located on Sixth Avenue and 54th Street.
The Ziegfeld Theatre was as much a star as the shows it housed. The Follies were known for their beautiful chorus girls, extravagant costumes, and elaborate sets. The theater also hosted the premiere of the musical Show Boat in 1927, which many consider the first modern American musical.
After Ziegfeld’s death in 1932, the theater fell on hard times. It became a movie house in the 1940s, showing films like Gone with the Wind. In 1966, despite protests from preservationists and theater lovers, it was demolished to make way for a 46-story office tower. The current building, known as 1345 Avenue of the Americas, sits on the site, with only a small plaque marking what was once one of Broadway’s most glamorous venues.
The Empire Theatre: A Record-Breaking House
The Empire Theatre opened in 1893 on Broadway and 40th Street, with a production of The Girl I Left Behind Me. It was one of the first theaters built in the new Times Square district, and it quickly became one of the most prestigious addresses on Broadway.
The Empire was known for its elegant Beaux-Arts design and its association with actor John Drew, who starred in many productions there. But its most famous moment came in 1922 with the premiere of Abie’s Irish Rose, a comedy about a Jewish-Irish marriage that was savaged by critics but became a massive hit, running for 2,327 performances—a record at the time.
The theater continued to host hits through the 1940s, but by the 1950s, the surrounding area was in decline. In 1953, the Empire was demolished to make way for a parking lot, and later an office building. Its loss was mourned by theater historians, who considered it one of the finest examples of 19th-century theater architecture.
The Morosco and Helen Hayes: The Fight That Changed Broadway
Perhaps no loss had a greater impact than the demolition of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters in 1982. These two historic houses, along with the smaller Bijou and Gaiety theaters, sat on a block between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, 45th and 46th Streets. They were slated for demolition to make way for the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
The Morosco, which opened in 1917, was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was home to many important plays, including Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955). The Helen Hayes, originally called the Fulton, opened in 1911 and was a favorite of the actress it was later named after.
The plans to demolish them sparked a major controversy. A group called the “Save the Theatres” campaign organized protests, with actors like Carol Channing and Colleen Dewhurst leading the charge. They staged a 42-day sit-in at the Morosco, hoping to block the demolition. Despite their efforts, the theaters were torn down in 1982.
The irony is that the Marriott Marquis Hotel, which replaced them, was designed with a theater—the Marquis Theatre—but it’s a modern, multi-purpose space that lacks the charm and history of the lost houses. The loss of the Morosco and Helen Hayes galvanized preservationists, leading to the creation of the Theatre District Landmark District in 1988, which now protects the exteriors of many remaining theaters.
The New York Theatre: Where TV Made History
Sometimes a lost theater’s story doesn’t end with its demolition. The New York Theatre, which opened in 1909 at 44th Street and Broadway, was designed by architect George Keister in a striking Beaux-Arts style. It hosted legitimate theater productions for years, but in 1936, it was converted into a CBS television studio.
This is where The Ed Sullivan Show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971. Some of the most iconic moments in television history happened on that stage, including Elvis Presley’s hip-shaking performances and The Beatles’ American debut in 1964. The theater, now known as Studio 50, was a television landmark.
In 1987, CBS moved out, and the building was demolished to make way for a parking garage. Today, the site is part of the Times Square redevelopment, but the ghost of Elvis and the Fab Four still seems to linger in the air of that block.
The Criterion Theatre: A Name That Lives On
The Criterion Theatre opened in 1900 at 1511 Broadway, designed by architect W. T. P. Dunlap. It was known for its stylish productions and its location in the heart of the theater district. In 1935, it was demolished to make way for the Criterion Center, a complex that included a smaller theater and retail space.
The name “Criterion” was revived for the modern Criterion Theatre, which opened in 1997 and is now a popular Broadway venue. But the original Criterion is gone, its ornate interior lost to the wrecking ball. Its story is a reminder that even in the theater district, nothing is permanent.
What We Lost, and What We Gained
The loss of these theaters had a profound effect on Broadway. For one, it reduced the number of available venues, making it harder for new shows to find a stage. It also destroyed irreplaceable architecture, from the Art Nouveau of the New Amsterdam (which fortunately survives) to the Beaux-Arts of the Empire.
But the losses also sparked a movement. The fight to save the Morosco and Helen Hayes led to the landmark designation of dozens of theaters in 1988. Today, organizations like the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the Theatre Historical Society of America maintain archives with photographs, playbills, and architectural drawings of the lost theaters, ensuring they are not forgotten.
Broadway has always been a place of reinvention. Theaters come and go, but the spirit of live performance endures. As you walk through Times Square today, surrounded by neon and crowds, it’s worth remembering the ghosts of the theaters that once stood where you’re standing—and the shows that made them legendary.
The lost theaters of Broadway are more than just a list of demolished buildings. They were homes to some of the most significant productions in American theater history, and their loss reshaped the district we know today. But their memory lives on in the preservation efforts they inspired and in the archives that keep their stories alive. Next time you’re at a Broadway show, take a moment to think about the playhouses that are no longer there—and the ghosts of the performances that still echo through Times Square.
Summary
- Over 50 Broadway theaters have been lost since the late 19th century, leaving only 41 of the peak 80.
- The Hippodrome (1905–1939) was the world’s largest theater, featuring elephants and water tanks.
- The Ziegfeld Theatre (1927–1966) premiered Show Boat and was demolished for an office tower.
- The Empire Theatre (1893–1953) hosted the record-breaking Abie’s Irish Rose.
- The 1982 demolition of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters sparked the preservation movement that led to the 1988 landmark designation.
FAQ
Q: How many Broadway theaters have been lost?
A: More than 50 theaters have been lost since the late 19th century, with the peak number of active theaters reaching about 80 in the 1920s. Today, there are 41.
Q: What was the largest lost theater?
A: The Hippodrome Theatre, which opened in 1905, was the largest in the world at the time, with 5,300 seats. It was demolished in 1950.
Q: Why were so many theaters demolished?
A: The rise of cinema, the Great Depression, and urban renewal projects led to closures and demolitions. The 1982 Marriott Marquis project was a tipping point that sparked preservation efforts.
Q: What is the Theatre District Landmark District?
A: Created in 1988, it’s a historic district designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission that protects the exteriors of many surviving Broadway theaters from demolition.
Q: Where can I find information about lost theaters?
A: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the Theatre Historical Society of America have extensive archives, including photographs, playbills, and architectural drawings.
