Maxine Elliott Theatre, former theatre in Manhattan, New York
Maxine Elliott Theatre was a playhouse built in 1908 in Manhattan that served as a venue for dramatic productions and later as a radio and television broadcast studio. The building featured an elegant facade modeled after a French palace design and could accommodate nearly 1,000 patrons.
The theatre opened in 1908 and presented works by renowned writers including George Bernard Shaw and Henrik Ibsen. Later, the Federal Theatre Project took over the space in 1936, while it transitioned to radio broadcasting in 1941 and television in 1948 before being demolished in 1960.
The theatre was named after Maxine Elliott, an actress who owned and managed the building at a time when few women held such roles in theatre. She deliberately created a space where female performers and playwrights could work and be seen, making it a notable venue in the theatrical community.
The building no longer stands, having been demolished in 1960 to make way for a modern office building. Visitors can pass by the site and reflect on its historical significance through archival photographs and historical records of the original structure.
In 1911, a performance of 'The Playboy of the Western World' caused tumultuous scenes when audience members expressed their displeasure by throwing vegetables and potatoes on stage. This dramatic disruption made the theatre a center of cultural debate and garnered significant newspaper attention.
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