New York is a city that never sleeps! At all times, it’s entertaining, crowded and noisy. Even at night, hundreds of theatrical performances, concerts and parties take place in the metropolis. The majority of them are usually concentrated around the Theater District, the entertainment center of the city. It extends from 40th to 54th Streets, and from Sixth to Eighth Avenues, including Broadway and Times Square. Every traveler who visits the city is astounded by its radiant and dynamic atmosphere. Find out more at new-york-trend.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE THEATER DISTRICT IN MANHATTAN
The Theater District is well-known across the world for its abundance of theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, music studios and television stations. It is situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. This is a place of creativity, entertainment and eye-catching visual effects. Back in the time, at some point, the area began to grow into a center of shopping and entertainment venues. For example, in 1889, American screenwriter and producer Oscar Hammerstein founded the Victoria Theatre on 42nd Street. To assure the convenience of local people in the new area of town, modern transportation lines were established in the Theater District as well.
Soon, 42nd Street gained popularity as a gathering spot for business, entertainment, walking and meetings. In 1880, the first arc lamps were installed to light up the space between Union Square and Madison Square. As a result, it was one of the first streets in the United States to have electricity.
For the course of 10 years, several advertising signs have appeared on streets from 23rd to 34th. As they shined brightly around the clock, Americans began to refer to this area as the “Great White Way.” It soon gained popularity due to the high quantity of advertisements. People in other parts of New York and American cities started to hear about it.
HOW AND WHY DID THE THEATER DISTRICT BECOME A HISTORIC SITE IN NEW YORK?
Despite a wide range of shopping and leisure options, 42nd and the surrounding streets have had a bad reputation for several years. There were cinemas where adult films were screened, as well as peep shows. However, in 1982, producer Joseph Papp initiated the “Save the Theatres” campaign to save these socio-cultural institutions from demolition. He spent money on advertising, employed a journalist and actors to promote theatrical performances and offered concert venues for their work.
Then, Joseph and his team concentrated their efforts on establishing the Theater District as a historic area in New York City. In 1983, they created a strategy for its preservation and development. Each theater had to be given the designation of a historical monument, which was their other objective. New York City Mayor Ed Koch chose to assist in this effort by forming a theater advisory group that comprised Joseph Papp and his team. As a result, they were able to officially establish this territory as a “Theater Subdistrict.” A bill was also introduced, and the area was designated as a National Historic Site. This was an opportunity for many creative people to pursue theatrical activities in New York.
New theaters, cinemas, restaurants and tourist attractions began to appear on 42nd and neighboring streets in the 1990s. Locals started referring to this area as the “Theater District”. In a few decades, along with yellow taxis and the Statue of Liberty, it has become a symbol of New York City.
INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT IN THE THEATER DISTRICT:
- Broadway theaters. The Theater District is home to 40 Broadway theaters. They present entertaining shows with amazing effects and colorful scenery. As a result, they became famous all over the world. Many tourists dream of attending Broadway shows and at the same time viewing the luxurious interiors of theaters. You can, for example, visit the Winter Garden Theater, which has hosted some of Broadway’s most successful productions. It will also be fascinating to see the Hayes Theater which has the smallest number of seats among others, which is 597 seats.
- Times Square is the main square of New York City, which is situated in the heart of the Theater District. Tourists here are taken aback by the amount of advertising, bright lighting, yellow cabs, stores and restaurants. It’s fun to roam around here, and you may capture a few memorable photos as a memento.
- Radio City Music Hall is one of the world’s most popular theaters. It not only showcases theatrical productions but also musical ceremonies such as the Grammys and MTV Video Music Awards. The Radio City Music Hall’s neon sign makes it easy to spot it even at night. Many people gather here at any time of day or night to see entertaining shows and enjoy a cultural holiday in New York.
- The Museum of Modern Art is a fascinating site for anyone who appreciates aesthetics and creativity. It houses around 150 thousand paintings, sculptures, sketches, engravings and photographs from American history.
- Madame Tussauds. Here, everyone has the opportunity to get closer to their idol and take a photo as a keepsake. Visitors get to see wax replicas of politicians, singers and Hollywood celebrities in the backgrounds of real-world and movie settings. For example, in the luxurious interior of the castle, you can observe the British royal family. Also, you can find Marilyn Monroe here. She stands over the city subway hatch in a white dress fluttering in the wind. This scene from the film “The Seven Year Itch” was a big hit with moviegoers and contributed to the actress’ success.
