Fulton Theatre facts for kids
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Folies-Bergere, Helen Hayes Theatre
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Helen Hayes (originally Fulton) Theatre, circa 1980
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 Fulton Theatre
Location in Manhattan
Fulton Theatre
Location in New York City
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| Address | 210 West 46th Street New York City United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°45′31″N 73°59′08″W / 40.7587°N 73.9856°W |
| Type | Broadway |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 27, 1911 |
| Reopened | October 20, 1911 |
| Demolished | 1982 |
| Architect | Herts & Tallant |
The Fulton Theatre was a well-known Broadway theatre in New York City. It was located at 210 West 46th Street in Manhattan. The theatre first opened its doors in 1911. Later, in 1955, its name was changed to the Helen Hayes Theatre. This was done to honor the famous actress Helen Hayes. Sadly, the theatre was torn down in 1982. Because another theatre later took the name Helen Hayes Theatre, the Fulton Theatre is sometimes called the First Helen Hayes Theatre.
Contents
History of the Fulton Theatre
Early Days as Folies-Bergere
The theatre was built by architects Herts & Tallant. It was created for Henry B. Harris and Jesse Lasky. The theatre first opened on April 27, 1911. It was called the Folies-Bergere at that time. It was a special kind of theatre where you could eat dinner and watch a show. These shows often included different acts like singing and dancing, known as vaudeville.
The building was very artistic inside. It had three large paintings called murals. These were created by a famous American artist named William de Leftwich Dodge. A young actress named Mae West made her first Broadway appearance here. She was only eighteen years old when she performed on September 22, 1911. The New York Times newspaper noticed her talent right away.
Becoming the Fulton Theatre
After a short time, the theatre closed. It then reopened on October 20, 1911, with a new name: the Fulton Theatre. From then on, it became a regular playhouse. This meant it focused only on plays, not dinner shows. Abraham L. Erlanger managed the theatre for many years. He took over in 1921 and managed it until he passed away in 1930.
Renamed to Helen Hayes Theatre
In 1955, the theatre was given a new name once more. It became the Helen Hayes Theatre. This was a tribute to Helen Hayes, a very respected actress. The theatre reopened with its new name on November 21, 1955.
Demolition and Legacy
In 1982, the Helen Hayes Theatre was torn down. Several other historic theatres were also demolished at this time. These included the Morosco, Bijou, Gaiety, and Astor Theatres. All these theatres were removed to make space for a large new building. This building is now the Marriott Marquis Hotel. The hotel also has its own theatre inside, called the Marquis Theatre.
Some parts of the Helen Hayes Theatre were saved before it was demolished. These pieces were used to help build the Shakespeare Center. This center is home to the Riverside Shakespeare Company. Helen Hayes herself and Joseph Papp helped dedicate the new center in September 1982.
Since Helen Hayes was still alive when her theatre was torn down, another theatre was renamed in her honor. The Little Theatre, located nearby, became the new Helen Hayes Theatre in 1983.
Famous Performers at the Theatre
Many talented actors performed at the Fulton Theatre.
- Mae West was discovered here in 1911, as mentioned earlier.
- In 1938, English actor Robert Morley starred in the play Oscar Wilde. This play was very successful, running for 247 performances. It helped launch Morley's career as a stage actor.
- The famous actress Audrey Hepburn also performed here. She starred in the play Gigi. This show opened at the Fulton on November 24, 1951. It ran for 219 performances and was very popular.
Notable Plays and Shows
Many plays and musicals had long runs at the Fulton Theatre. Here are a few that ran for over 100 performances:
- Twin Beds (1914–15)
- Abie's Irish Rose (1922) – This play was so popular it moved to another theatre and ran for many years.
- The Jazz Singer (1925–26) – This play was later made into a famous movie.
- Dracula (1927–1928)
- Oscar Wilde (1938–1939)
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1941–1943) – A very well-known comedy.
- Command Decision (1947–1948)
- Gigi (1951–1952)
- The Seven Year Itch (1952–1955) – This play ran for an amazing 1141 performances!
As the Helen Hayes Theatre:
- Long Day's Journey into Night (1956–1958)
- Mary, Mary (1961–1964)
- Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1966)
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968)
- Hadrian VII (1969)
See also
