Roxy Theatre ca. 1932 One of the great, lost movie theaters of New York City, the RKO Roxy Theatre was like a little sibling to Radio City Music Hall, both of which opened in December 1932 on the Sixth Avenue side of Rockefeller Center. It wasn’t as large or as sumptuous as Radio City, but it still boasted a distinctively elegant Art Deco design. Intended to be a movie palace, it claimed to have the largest chandelier in the world in its auditorium, and when visitors weren’t busy enjoying the entertainment, they could descend from the Grand Foyer to the Grand Lounge in the theater’s basement. In spite of the building’s charms, however, it was never a great commercial success. Known as the Center Theater for most of its existence, it tried hosting live shows, television broadcasts, and even some ice skating, before eventually being demolished in 1954.

Roxy Theater ca. 1927 When Samuel L. "Roxy" Rothafel opened the Roxy Theater in 1927, it contained over 6,000 seats and was considered the largest theater of its kind in the world. Elaborate live performances were also part of the show: the orchestra pit seated 100 musicians and the ballet corps had up to 100 dancers, including the Gae Foster Roxyettes featured in this card. These high-stepping dancers were the forerunners of the Rockettes, the group "Roxy" took with him when he moved his show to Radio City Music Hall in 1932. The Roxy was razed in 1961.