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Rivoli Theatre
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7th Avenue and 49th Street. Rivoli Theater.

1918

Rivoli Theatre

7th Avenue and 49th Street. Rivoli Theater.

IMAGE DATE1918
FromMuseum of the City of New York logoMuseum of the City of New York

Rivoli Theatre, 1918.

Designed by renowned theatre architect, Thomas Lamb, the Greek Revival theatre opened to the public on December 28, 1917. The very first movie screened was the Douglas Fairbanks film "A Modern Musketeer," which was presented with a "live" program featuring musical soloists, the organ, and house orchestra. The Rivoli was built as the sister theatre to the Rialto (at Broadway and 42nd Street).

The auditorium could accommodate 2270 patrons and was noted for its acoustics. The house orchestra was 50 pieces and conducted by Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld. The design of the stage was specific for the movie screen (in the large center proscenium) and two side for the orchestra and soloists. A stage for live theatrical productions was only constructed in 1926. Comic book writer, editor, publisher Stan Lee was an usher at the Rivoli in his youth.

In the 1950s the theatre was converted to a 70mm Todd-AO setup with a deeply curved screen. The theatre was demolished in 1987.

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