The Martin Beck Theater to be renamed the Al Hischfeld Theater.
Matthew Murray
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/26/arts/theater/26RENA.html
Any thoughts about the renaming? Personally, I have something
against brushing aside one important bit of theatre history for a reason
such as this, especially when there are other theaters not already named
after important theatrical figures that could be renamed by Jujamcyn
instead. But I'm interested in hearing what other people think.
----------------------------
Matthew A. Murray
matthe...@mindspring.com
http://www.matthewmurray.net
----------------------------
Feuillade
> Here's a link to the story in case anyone missed it:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/26/arts/theater/26RENA.html
> Any thoughts about the renaming?
Nothing against Al Hirschfeld, but I completely against any and all renaming of
theaters, and I think that a law should be passed requiring all Broadway
theaters to go back to their original names.
So there. :)
Tom Moran
Noel Katz
commemorate theatre history and stop monkeying with the names of theatres that
already do. I still miss the Alvin, and have yet to meet a young person who
has any idea who Aarons and Freeley were. It's nice that Al Hirschfeld's name
will live on forever, and if I ever work there, I'll be sure to hide a Nina
somewhere, but a shame to think future generations will know nothing of Martin
Beck.
http://hometown.aol.com/noelkatz/main.html
Jonathan E. Rubin
"Noel Katz" <noel...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020926180608...@mb-ca.aol.com...
> I'm with you, Matthew Murray. Let's rename those theatres that DON'T
> commemorate theatre history and stop monkeying with the names of theatres
that
> already do. I still miss the Alvin, and have yet to meet a young person
who
> has any idea who Aarons and Freeley were.
I agree completely. But there are people who are more deserving of having a
theatre named for them than Beck, Aarons/Freedley, Walter Kerr, Neil Simon
(who replaced "Alvin" on that marquee as a strict business deal that
backfired on Jimmy Nederlander...but anyway), or even Al Hirschfeld. People
like Hammerstein, Berlin, Porter...THOSE are people who should have theatres
named for them (and no, the age-old argument that the Oscar Hammerstein
Ballroom properly memorializes Oscar Hammerstein doesn't pass muster)
>It's nice that Al Hirschfeld's name will live on forever, and if I ever
work >there, I'll be sure to hide a Nina somewhere, but a shame to think
future >generations will know nothing of Martin Beck.
I'm sure the place will be full of Nina's, as I have no doubt that Jujamcyn
and the Margo Feiden Galleries are going to make some kind of deal. And as
for Martin Beck...while I think Hirschfeld is more of a well-known name than
Beck in the theatrical world, I still think there are many others ahead of
Hirschfeld in line for a theatre to be named for them.
Dan the Man
> Any thoughts about the renaming? Personally, I have something
> against brushing aside one important bit of theatre history for a reason
> such as this, especially when there are other theaters not already named
> after important theatrical figures that could be renamed by Jujamcyn
> instead. But I'm interested in hearing what other people think.
I pretty much feel the same but Broadway theatres have been changing
their names since the turn of the last century. At least they're not
renaming it the Dow Chemical Playhouse.
Dan (the Man)
Adam D. Feldman
> It's nice that Al Hirschfeld's name will live on forever,
... Or at least until someone decides to change the name of the theatre
again! Moves like this do tend to put a time limit on "immortality."
I'm with Matthew as well: I think the theatres that are not already named
for people should be the first to be renamed. Also, I wish they would simply
name it the "Hirschfeld" instead of the ungainly "Al Hirschfeld."
Warmly,
Adam
Matthew Murray
> I'm with Matthew as well: I think the theatres that are not already named
> for people should be the first to be renamed. Also, I wish they would simply
> name it the "Hirschfeld" instead of the ungainly "Al Hirschfeld."
Adam, it's great to have you back!
Adam D. Feldman
> Adam, it's great to have you back!
Aw, shucks. It's fun to be back. I won't try to catch up on what I've
missed, so please be kind if I repeat what a million people have already
bickered about. :)
Warmly,
Adam
Thaddeus Noto
> It's nice that Al Hirschfeld's name
> will live on forever,
The irony of that statement is that they'll probably rename the theatre
yet again in a few years!
Thad
--
_ _
( \|/ ) Thaddeus Noto, Gray, Tennessee
\--|--/ Res. Specialist, Unaka Group Home, Johnson City, TN
\ | / Minister, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
\|/ Co-Director, Home is Where the Cross is Ministries
V Webpage: http://HomeIsWhereTheCrossIs.org/
Spelvin 02
Schnauser and Grandpa Munster. (And THE SOPRANOS favorite NY
restaurant.)
Re: The Martin Beck Theater to be renamed the Al Hischfeld Theater.
Group: rec.arts.theatre.musicals Date: Thu, Oct 3, 2002, 3:37am (EDT+4)
From: thad...@HomeIsWhereTheCrossIs.org (Thaddeus Noto) "It's nice
that Al Hirschfeld's name will live on forever."
Morgan LaVere
Also, I wish they would simply
> name it the "Hirschfeld" instead of the ungainly "Al Hirschfeld."
>
It's a pity, as The Martin Beck was such a mellifluous name,
especially when spoken in television voice-overs. Anyone remember the
commercial for some Zoe Caldwell play at The Martin Beck in the late
80's, with that stentorian voice over announcer proclaiming in a bass
baritone voice: "See Zoe Caldwell.... at The Martin Beck". Just
sounds better than "See Zoe Caldwell... at the Al Hirschfeld."