John Golden Theatre (New York City, New York)

4-story Modern Spanish/Moorish-style theater completed in 1927. Designed by Herbert J. Krapp for Irwin Chanin, it opened as the Theater Masque on February 24 1927 with the play Puppets of Passion. It was built as part of a 3-theater complex that also included the Majestic (a large musical house) and the Royale Theatre (now the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre). The three theaters enabled producers to move shows based on their ticket sales to the most appropriately-sized venue. With a seating capacity of only 800, this theater is one of the smallest houses on Broadway.

In 1937, impresario John Golden acquired the theater and renamed it for himself. It operated as a movie house in the 1940s and '50s before it was purchased by the Shuberts, who returned it to legitimate use. The exterior of the theater was used as the location of the movie version of the film, A Chorus Line.

The design of its symmetrically-organized "modern Spanish" facade is interrelated with that of its neighbors. The base at the ground floor is of rusticated terra-cotta, now painted white, above a tan-painted granite water table. Four pairs of bronze and glass doors set below transoms are placed within a central opening. A large modern bronze display box is placed to the left (east) of the doors. Display boxes retaining their original ornate terra-cotta frames are surmounted by heraldic cartouches flanked either by volutes (on two boxes) or stylized lions (on two boxes) enhance the base. A bronze plaque in memory of John Golden is placed on the east end of the rusticated base. A modern marquee with signs extends out over the doors.

A simple cornice and broad band course set off the major portion of the facade, which is faced in Roman brick of a golden hue, laid in running bond. A 2-story triple arcade within which two terra-cotta pilasters support terra-cotta arches of foliated Della Robbia moldings resting on stylized Corinthian capitals, dominates the facade. The arcade contains three ten-by-ten metal casement windows with trabeated entablatures at the mezzanine level which support blind arches outlined by terra-cotta rope moldings. Terra-cotta medallions with paired fantastic beasts, foliation motifs, and small arched window openings are the other adornments of the facade. A large, yellow, vertical sign projects from the center of the facade.

Surmounting the facade is a loggia supported by six terra-cotta colonnettes resting on a terra-cotta blind balustrade and console brackets. Flanking the loggia are parapets of terra-cotta candelabra and stylized foliate ornament resting on terra-cotta modillions in the form of smiling faces. The loggia is crowned by a modillioned cornice carrying a shallow tile roof.

www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/golden.asp

 theatreMoorish Revival (architecture)1927_construction