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| What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: dramedy 08:22 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| I’m watching the Irish rep show and it started out that he owned 7 and one is still standing. I found info on the theater with his name torn down in 1938. But what broadway theater did he own that is still standing? | |
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| George M COHAN (not Cohen) -- He was Irish Catholic, not Jewish | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 10:35 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 10:33 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
| In reply to: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - dramedy 08:22 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| Generally I would never correct another ATC-er on a misspelling. However, a legendary entertainer like George M. Cohan, who was called "the man who owned Broadway" and was hailed as the father of American musical comedy, deserves a little respect. Especially since he no longer has a theater named for him (but he does have a statue). BTW there actually was an individual with a Broadway credential named G. M. Cohen. However, his first name was Geoffrey, not George. |
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| Thanks, Tony | |
| Posted by: showtunetrivia 10:44 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
| In reply to: George M COHAN (not Cohen) -- He was Irish Catholic, not Jewish - BroadwayTonyJ 10:33 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
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| This was bothering me all weekend as the thread got longer, but I just assumed no one noticed, especially since the name was spelled correctly in most of the posts. Laura |
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| re: Thanks, Tony | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 11:10 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 11:09 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
| In reply to: Thanks, Tony - showtunetrivia 10:44 am EDT 08/30/21 | |
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| It was bothering me a lot also, but I hate being petty on message boards. The misspelling of Tovah Felshuh was pretty unforgivable farther down the board, but that was corrected right away. It really is a shame that someone as legendary and important to the early development of Broadway as Georg M. Cohan no longer has a theater with his name. However, the next several theaters that are renamed absolutely must be for African Americans or other persons of color, no exceptions allowed. Sorry, George, but the least we can do is spell your name right. |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: joegugs 08:37 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - dramedy 08:22 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| Owned and or Managed by George M Cohan George M. Cohan's Theatre 1482 Broadway at W. 43rd St., New York, NY Sam H Harris Theatre/Candler Theatre 226 W. 42nd St., New York, NY Gaiety Theatre 1547 Broadway The Astor 1537 Broadway * Manager Hudson - Harris Manager |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:41 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
| In reply to: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - dramedy 08:22 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| I have no idea about 7 but someone may know a lot more than I do. Also, as a caveat, information of theatres is notoriously confusing (which is to say, not always correct). What I think I know is that there were at least two theatres on 42nd. One was, I think, where the McDonalds with the neon marquee was next door to the New Amsterdam. It was called the Candler (the Candlers being the founders of CocaCola and I think still the owner of the building). The Candler name is carved in stone. Clearly, any theatre that was there has been demolished. The second one is where Mme Tussaud's is, and I seem to recall that there are elements of the original within that structure although the last (and only) time I was ever in their was when they had an event very early on for, I think, some theatre related thing. Finally, I believe the one that was named for him was in the Durst block (betw 42/43 on Broadway) roughly where you might remember there being an H&M if you wandered the hood during your many trips.That one obviously has no remnants of the theatre. As I say, maybe someone else knows more. I was interested in this a bit maybe 20 years ago so I am fuzzy. I do not know of any operating Broadway house that is tied to him. Oh and also of course the definition of Broadway in those days was nothing like what it is now. | |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: sirpupnyc 11:28 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - ryhog 10:41 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| That's actually more of an answer than you thought, maybe. According to CinemaTreasures, only the facade still exists and the theatre's space is occupied by M. Tussaud's. The Candler family, of Coca-Cola fame, leased the theatre to impresarios Sam H. Harris and George M. Cohan, who would operate the Candler Theatre as a legitimate house. In 1916, the theatre was renamed the Cohan and Harris Theatre, and the showmen continued their string of successes into 1921, when Cohan left the partnership. Harris took full ownership of the theater, and it was thereafter known as the Harris Theatre. |
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| Link | http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2657 |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: ryhog 12:30 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - sirpupnyc 11:28 pm EDT 08/28/21 | |
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| I'm thinking the stuff about the theatre where McDonalds opened after the redevelopment may be a red herring based on the Candler Building definitely being what that was is called. Also, it looks like there was also one called the George M. Cohan Theatre, between 42 and 43 on Broadway (the H&M). That is listed in IBDB at 1482 Broadway and it says it was demolished in 1938. The other one is listed at 226 W 42nd, closed (presumably as a legitimate house) 1933, demolished 1996. | |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: sirpupnyc 01:07 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - ryhog 12:30 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| According to Google Maps, 226 is just east of the M. Tussaud's building with the hand on top. The Street View paths for the museum back toward 41st Street side extend behind it. Maybe the 42nd Street side of the building is still there (if it was like others and there was an office building on top of the entrance) and only the auditorium got lopped off. There's a sidewalk shed in the Street View image, so it's not possible to scope out the street frontages. | |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:13 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - sirpupnyc 01:07 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| I think you meant just west of, no? Anyway, there was a reference to the "Candler Theatre and Building" somewhere I looked at yesterday so the office on top part sounds likely. I'll have a live look the next time I think about it. | |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: sirpupnyc 12:19 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - ryhog 10:13 am EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| No, east. Between ex-McDonald's (which is the Candler Building) and M. Tussaud's. Where Google puts 226 is the "Face the King" part in the linked photo, which looks to be mainly facade with newer construction behind. (Those side bits of the building seem to have been built last and don't appear to have extended as far from the street as the rest of the building.) | |
| Link | https://www.optimalspaces.com/media/google_street_images/220-west-42nd-street-new-york-QhqOI6HeJNNMJ91+QTxJHvjRLwhQPH99Wbkg26a3glcNrBPT5RGBx3ID+LOJ.jpg |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: kafritz 12:31 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - sirpupnyc 12:19 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| Here is a photo of the entrance to the Candler Theatre, later known as the Harris, which was west of the McDonald's marquee. | |
| Link | Harris Theatre marquee/entrance |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: ryhog 12:47 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - kafritz 12:31 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| That all makes sense now. I assume the auditorium was where Mme Tussaud is. @sirpup the confusion about east vs west was the mention of the "hand" in your earlier post, which is indeed west of everything else. |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: downtownlw 02:37 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - ryhog 12:47 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| According to Musicals 101. George M. Cohan 1482 Broadway Built: 1911 Demolished: 1938 Seats: 1,086 Architect: George Keister Owners/Managers: George M. Cohan and Sam Harris (1911-1915), Joe Leblang (1915-1932) History: The lobby artwork was a tribute to the vaudeville career of Cohan and his family. Purchased by discount ticket agent Joe Leblang in 1915, it served as a fulltime movie house from 1932 until its demolition six years later. Noteworthy Musicals: The Perfect Fool (1921) |
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| re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned | |
| Posted by: downtownlw 02:57 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
| In reply to: re: What were the 7 theaters George m Cohen owned - downtownlw 02:37 pm EDT 08/29/21 | |
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| There is a comprehensive list of Broadway theatres past and present on musicals 101 | |
| Link | https://www.musicals101.com/bwayhouses.htm |
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