Type Broadway Opened 1908 Architect Marshall and Fox | Capacity 935 Demolished 1960 | |
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Address 109 West 39th Street
Manhattan, New York City
United States Owner The Shubert Organization (1908–1956) Similar Daly's 63rd Street Theatre, Fulton Theatre, Central Theatre, Broadway Theatre, Astor Theatre | ||
The Maxine Elliott Theatre was a Broadway theater located at 109 West 39th Street in Manhattan. Built in 1908, it was demolished in 1960. The theater was designed by architect Benjamin Marshall of the Chicago firm Marshall and Fox.
It was named for U.S. actress Maxine Elliott, who originally owned a 50 percent interest in it in partnership with The Shubert Organization, making her one of the only female theater managers. She leased it to the Federal Theatre in 1936; the following year, it was shut down by the government on the eve on the opening of Orson Welles's production of The Cradle Will Rock.
In 1941, it became a radio studio and in 1948, it again transformed into a television studio, where the very first episodes of Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town variety show were broadcast from. In 1956, Elliott's heirs sold her share to the Shuberts, who then sold the property. It was demolished in 1960. The theatre, built in a thriving theatre district, was the only Broadway house below 41st Street.
The Maxine Elliot housed approximately 935 patrons. Throughout its lifetime, the Maxine Elliot housed a multitude of plays, including original works by George Bernard Shaw, John Millington Synge, Lady Augusta Gregory, Lord Dunsany, Lillian Hellman and Somerset Maugham. Only three of its productions were musicals, including one opera.