Theatre 80 was an Off-Broadway theater located at 80 St. Mark's Place in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was owned and operated by Lorcan Otway, who restored and renovated the building with his father and opened it as a theater in the 1960s.[1][2][3][4] The theater was home to a number of productions, including the 1967 premiere of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown whose revenue helped the Otways keep the theater.[5] Old seats from the venue were later installed in the main performance space at Lexington House in upstate New York, serving Lexington Conservatory Theatre and Ensemble Studio Theatre programs.[6]
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| Address | 80 St. Mark's Pl New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°43′39.5″N 73°59′8.8″W / 40.727639°N 73.985778°W |
By 1971, Theatre 80 had transitioned to cinema. Their film programming began with screenings of movie musicals. According to Howard Otway, television airings of such movies, with their poor, truncated quality, detracted from the films. B presenting film musicals, he provided a way for the public to see the movies the way they were intended. Otway also became involved in film restoration, working with studios to discover lost movies and seeking to strike new prints from better elements in order to preserve and exhibit titles in a way that showcased their best quality.[7][8]
Prior to its current status as a cabaret-style theater, the building, which also houses the Museum of the American Gangster, was a nightclub during Prohibition.[9]
The Otways filed for bankruptcy on December 30, 2021, to prevent the sale of the building amid controversy with their mortgage lender.[10] In May 2022, the Otways were told they would have to vacate the theater by August.[11]
Following final efforts to save the theatre,[12] it was reported closed and the Otways were evicted in April 2023.[13] The building was sold at auction for $8.8 million in May.[14]
References
edit- ^ Kelly, Keith J. "Theatre 80 Hopes for a Miracle to Save It from Bankruptcy Auction". Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Clark, Roger (February 9, 2021). "Theater 80 Tries to Hang On During Pandemic". NY1. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Lincoln (December 29, 2021). "Will the curtain drop on Theatre 80 St. Mark's? Looming auction could be venue's last act". The Village Sun. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Bill (December 30, 2021). "A Theater Treasure of St. Marks Place Faces Closure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Besonen, Julie (November 13, 2015). "A Museum of Cash, Guns and Gangsters in the East Village". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ LeBrun, Fred (June 18, 1978). "'a theater of adversity' - conservatory a gem in rural setting". Times Union.
- ^ Nevius, James (September 4, 2014). "The strange history of the East Village's most famous street". Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Allen, Tom (September 11, 1978). "Art House Confidential". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ "Theatre 80 St Marks". My Blog. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Yerak, Becky (December 30, 2021). "Historic Theater Building in New York City's East Village Enters Bankruptcy". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Lincoln (May 18, 2022). "Theatre 80 St. Marks owner, told to vacate by August, fights on to keep building". The Village Sun. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ Scott, Marvin (March 31, 2023). "Legendary East Village theater facing final curtain if debt not paid". Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Grieve. "Theatre 80 is closed up for now". Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Lincoln (May 10, 2023). "Foxface sandwiches owner wins Theatre 80 St. Mark's with $8.8 million bid; Otherwise, not many bites at auction". Retrieved May 31, 2023.
External links
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