Rialto Theatre
201 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
Seats (approximate)
950
Built
1899
Closed
1915
Demolished
1935
ABOUT THIS THEATRE
Victoria Theatre
Description
J. B. McElfatrick, architect. Built by Oscar Hammerstein and named the Victoria to celebrate his victory over creditors. In 1904, it offered family variety. This gave way to vaudeville, which proved to be quite successful. Joining the roofs of the Victoria and the adjacent Republic, which he also owned, Hammerstein created the Paradise Roof Garden, an open-air showplace for summer entertainment. In 1915, he sold it to S.L. Rothafel, who gutted it and built the Rialto, Times Square's first movie palace.