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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: bruceb 10:13 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - NewtonUK 10:07 am EDT 08/06/14

All I have heard is that the congregation has outgrown the size of the church and a bigger space may me needed/wanted.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: comedywest 04:02 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - bruceb 10:13 am EDT 08/06/14

They could have the Theater at Madison Square Garden...


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:27 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - bruceb 10:13 am EDT 08/06/14

"All I have heard is that the congregation has outgrown the size of the church and a bigger space may me needed/wanted."

Yes, but I feel like I've been hearing that for at least 10 years now. Of course, I'm sure whether or not the church would be willing to sell the theater depends greatly on how much money they would be offered for it :-)


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Someone should offer a swap and build the congregation church

Posted by: dramedy 12:39 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 10:27 am EDT 08/06/14

They want.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: bruceb 10:39 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 10:27 am EDT 08/06/14

I believe (and I may not be right) that the Church has a lease on the theater and does not own it. Something like a 99 year lease. That's a vague memory of mine from when it was turned over to them all those many years ago.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:44 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - bruceb 10:39 am EDT 08/06/14

The lease question has been brought up here before. I'm almost certain that the original deal was for a 99-year lease, but then the church bought the theater outright, quite a few years ago.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: MikeR 12:30 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 10:44 am EDT 08/06/14

That's true. They leased it in 1989, but only two(ish) years later bought the building outright (see linked NY Times article from December 1991).

They outgrew the venue years ago, and have solved that problem by broadcasting the services via closed-circuit TV to their annex facility at 1657 Broadway. I suppose it's possible they've now outgrown that facility as well.

Link http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/07/theater/hellinger-theater-sold-to-church.html

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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre sold in 1991

Posted by: NewtonUK 11:17 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 10:44 am EDT 08/06/14

See link below - around $15-$18 million then ...

Whats odd about this, is that when the Nederlanders leased the theatre to the church 1989, Broadway was re-bounding from the quiet 1970's.

Musicals that were running or opening in the 1989-90 season included GRAND HOTEL, Tyne Daley in GYPSY, ASPECTS OF LOVE, MEET ME IN ST LOUIS

Running from previous seasons were ANYTHING GOES, INTO THE WOODS, ME AND MY GIRL, and A CHORUS LINE.

The season before they sold the hellinger, there was ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, OH KAY, BUDDY, a FIDDLER revival, SHOGUN, MISS SAIGON, THE SECRET GARDEN and WILL ROGERS FOLLIES.

In the 1991-1992 season (when the Nederlanders sold the Hellinger to the holy ones) new musicals included NICK & NORA, MOST HAPPY FELLA, CRAZY FOR YOU, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, GUYS AND DOLLS, JELLYS LAST JAM, MAN OF LA MANCHA, FALSETTOS.

So the musical wasn't dead ...that said - whenn the Church leased the Hellinger in 1989 it hadnt had a hit since SUGAR BABIES in 1979.

Having this theatre back now would be - well - heaven.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre sold in 1991

Posted by: mlop 11:43 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre sold in 1991 - NewtonUK 11:17 am EDT 08/06/14

I hope so. I spent many a time in that theatre at shows. It was a show palace and one thing, the church kept it up and maintained the theatre. I would love to get back in it.

the last show I saw, and I believe was LEGS DIAMOND. I saw it the week before it closed. I remember the ladies took over the men's room during intermission. There was a poor man in one of the closed stalls embarrassed to get out when we all stormed it. I knew of the door that went back stage and the secret exit for performers, that Carol Burnett would come out from on Saturday matinees for a quick bite and a nap. We startled Richard Chamberlain who came to see when we were waiting and assured him that the three of us only knew of this and he was safe. Bring back the Mark Hellinger, we miss you.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: Ann 10:29 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 10:27 am EDT 08/06/14

Time for a Kickstarter campaign.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: larry13 11:11 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Ann 10:29 am EDT 08/06/14

The one thing--probably the only thing--I'll ever say in favor of the church owning the Mark Hellinger and, indeed, all the churches that own all the glorious once legitimate theaters or movie palaces, is that they have kept them beautifully maintained and available for viewing and, obviously most importantly, the possibility of their sometime in the future again providing pleasure to patrons.
Compare this to the Marriott Marquis Hotel(and theater)that replaced several priceless B'way. theaters torn down and all the other business owners who have destroyed the great edifices they bought.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 11:29 am EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - larry13 11:11 am EDT 08/06/14

"The one thing--probably the only thing--I'll ever say in favor of the church owning the Mark Hellinger and, indeed, all the churches that own all the glorious once legitimate theaters or movie palaces, is that they have kept them beautifully maintained and available for viewing and, obviously most importantly, the possibility of their sometime in the future again providing pleasure to patrons.
Compare this to the Marriott Marquis Hotel(and theater)that replaced several priceless B'way. theaters torn down and all the other business owners who have destroyed the great edifices they bought."

Very good point.


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re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ...

Posted by: malibu1 12:20 pm EDT 08/06/14
In reply to: re: Mark Hellinger Theatre rumor ... - Michael_Portantiere 11:29 am EDT 08/06/14

I have heard from people that SHOULD know that the Hellenger is most certainly NOT for sale. If the church has outgrown the space, they will get an ADDITIONAL space. But IF it were to sell, both Jujamcyn and ATG would be EXTREMELY interested.


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