Just In! New Photo Of The Center Theater

On January 25, 2015 - TV History

Just In! New Photo Of The Center Theater

There are not many photos of Radio City Music Hall’s little sister, The Center Theater, so we are glad to have this. This photo was taken in February of 1946 and shows the last parts of the elevated train tracks being removed from 6th Avenue.

The Center was at the corner of 6th Avenue and 49th Street. Just above the marquee you can see the famous Hurley’s Bar nestled against 30 Rock’s front, and at 50th Street, there is the big sister. On the 49th Street side, you can see the top of the 11 story NBC studio building.

NBC took over The Center Theater in November of 1950 and used it until US Rubber bought it and the row of low buildings to build an 18 story office tower. That was the only original Rockefeller Plaza building ever demolished. Thanks to Jodie Peeler for the find! Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

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11 Comments

  1. Kevin T. Doherty January 27, 2015

    Perry Como was broadcast from there.

  2. Dennis Degan January 26, 2015

    This was before the US Rubber Building was built along 6th Ave (to the right of the Center’s marquee). The US Rubber Building was later renamed the Simon & Shuster Building, which is what it is to this day.
    When the Center Theatre was torn down, the expansion of the US Rubber Building into the Center’s space was so skillfully done that today you cannot tell the theatre was ever there.

  3. Glenn Mack January 25, 2015

    Here’s a shot of the front of Hurley’s

  4. Dennis Degan January 25, 2015

    Excellent! Thanks for this one.

  5. Kevin West January 25, 2015

    I thought the Center building came down, and was replaced. Or am I thinking of a different theatre a block south?
    Also, Asher et al: Does anyone know what was in the space on 49th Street where Christie’s is now? It is reminiscent of some Auto showrooms, but I’ve never found out.

  6. Bryan Durr January 25, 2015

    If you flip through the photos on Cinema Treasures you’ll see the theater interior and the lobby. 🙂

  7. Jeannemarie Tracey January 25, 2015

    Actually, that corner of 49th and 6th is an Ann Taylor Loft store now. The Gap is one block down. And Hurley’s is now a Magnolia Bakery. You can see it on the “street view” of Google Maps! 🙂

  8. Russell Ross January 25, 2015

    Hurley’s !!! A really great watering hole for NBC people. A lot of “deals” were made in that bar. The bar was not pretentious….. just a bar run by “old man John Hurley”. Yes…. I have been known to step inside. !!!!

  9. Bryan Durr January 25, 2015

    http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/564/photos/13732

  10. Bryan Durr January 25, 2015

    Check out the marquee in this one…

    http://photos.cinematreasures.org/production/photos/22300/1313625469/large.jpg?1313625469

  11. Geoffrey DeVoe January 25, 2015

    Thanks for posting. Been looking for a shot of the Center, from a different angle. The Marquee entrance is now “The Gap” Store.