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Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AnObserver 04:05 pm EST 01/19/15

In 1970/71 what was an upscale hangout for Broadway folks other than Joe Allen's or Sardi's?

I'm thinking of some place like Orso. Or was Orso actually open then? (I've assumed Orso was later.)

Thanks in advance.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: Guillaume 08:53 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - AnObserver 04:05 pm EST 01/19/15

What about Toot Shore's?


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Backstage

Posted by: tealady 10:45 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - Guillaume 08:53 pm EST 01/19/15

are you thinking of Backstage

he opened Curtain Up on west 46th street

Backstage on West 45th Street in 1973 for what turned out to be a decadelong run, Mr. Hook's greatest claims to fame

Link http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/29/obituaries/ted-hook-65-dapper-owner-of-the-backstage-restaurant.html

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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Backstage

Posted by: AlanScott 11:16 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Backstage - tealady 10:45 pm EST 01/19/15

On Stage was at 349 West 46th. Backstage was on West 45th. Curtain Up was on 43rd and Ninth in Manhattan Plaza.

Toots Shor's was on West 52nd.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Onstage

Posted by: tealady 10:55 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Backstage - tealady 10:45 pm EST 01/19/15

Onstage, a cabaret on West 46th Street,

i think onstage opened up around 1980?

Backstage was such a huge hit, that he opened a second restaurant and a cabaret.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Joe Allen's

Posted by: tealady 10:57 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71, Ted Hooks Onstage - tealady 10:55 pm EST 01/19/15

In May, 1965, Joe Allen opened the restaurant that bears his name.

Link http://www.joeallenrestaurant.com/about

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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: dbg 04:56 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - AnObserver 04:05 pm EST 01/19/15

Would Frankie and Johnnie's count? I always liked Sam's on 45th and also Barrymore's, though they were popular places and not what I'd call upscale. These were right next to the Imperial Theatre, where that parking lot borders the garage. Think they were there in the early 70's.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AnObserver 04:59 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - dbg 04:56 pm EST 01/19/15

Too scruffy.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AlanScott 04:39 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - AnObserver 04:05 pm EST 01/19/15

Orso opened in 1985. Can't think offhand of what other upscale hangouts there would have been, although there were certainly several low-scale hangouts. I'm tempted to say The Ginger Man, but that wasn't really upscale and it was near Lincoln Center. But I think it did attract theatre pros.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - AlanScott 04:39 pm EST 01/19/15

Charlie's, which later became Sam's on 45th Street was a big theatre hangout, as was Barrymore's next door. There was a steak house on 8th Avenue between 44th and 45th which was also very popular. And, of course, McHale's on 8th and 46th.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: litgurl 07:56 am EST 01/20/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15

I miss Charlie's. You could talk to Fosse at the bar, see Anthony Hopkins alone at a table after EQUUS and even if you were a struggling whatever, once they knew you there, you were treated like an important customer. The food was solid and you could eat well without cleaning out your wallet. Nothing like that now.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: DownAThird 09:23 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15

It was Downeys, then it was Charley’s.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AlanScott 11:22 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - DownAThird 09:23 pm EST 01/19/15

Charlie's became Sam's. The address was 263 West 45th.

Downey's was on 8th between 44th and 45th.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AlanScott 05:02 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15

A friend emailed me to also suggest Charlie's and Downey's. Neither was really upscale, but then Joe Allen's has never really been upscale either. More upscale than McHale's or Jimmy Ray's, but not upscale. That has always been part of its attraction.

I think Orso was opened in part to make for a more upscale restaurant from the same folks.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: dbg 04:58 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15

We were both posting at the same time! Sorry for the double information.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: scoot1er 04:55 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - scoot1er 04:54 pm EST 01/19/15

Of course, none of those were upscale, but they were very popular.


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re: Theatre hangout 1970/71?

Posted by: AnObserver 04:52 pm EST 01/19/15
In reply to: re: Theatre hangout 1970/71? - AlanScott 04:39 pm EST 01/19/15

Now I've thought of The Russian Tea Room.


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