Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Dewhurst, Colleen
2. Grimes, Tammy
3. Robards, Jason
4. Sherwood, Madeleine
5. Moriarty, Michael, 1941-
6. Papp, Joseph
7. Reeve, Christopher, 1952-2004
8. WCBS-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
9. WNEW-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.), producer.
10. WPIX-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
11. WABC-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
12. Cable News Network, producer.

Description

1. 6 videodiscs (DVD) (157 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4in.

Summary

1. Compilation of television coverage related to the efforts of the group called Save the Theaters to stop the destruction of the Broadway Helen Hayes and Morosco Theatres for the construction of the Portman Hotel. Seventy segments from New York aired March 4, 5 and 12 to 29, 1982.
2. Coverage features Save the Theaters' 24-hour performance vigil in front of the Helen Hayes and Morosco Theatres. The marathon performance includes readings from many of the plays originally presented at the theaters by playwrights such as Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill. Coverage includes interviews with group members Christopher Reeve, Michael Moriarty, Madeleine Sherwood, Jason Robards, Tammy Grimes and Colleen Dewhurst and with their organizer, theatrical producer Joseph Papp; the continuation of the group's "street theater" vigil in daily performances conducted over eleven days; a compromise plan, presented by the actors, to build the Portman Hotel over the existing theaters ; the New York State Court of Appeals refused to hear the actors' case against demolition of the theaters; the actors' plan to physically block the demolition and risk arrest; New York City Mayor Ed Koch approval of the development of the hotel and his views on its role in the re-vitalization of Times Square; a final ruling by New York State Supreme Court allowing the demolition, scheduled for March 22, 1982; the arrest of more than 200 actors as they try to block the wreckage of the theaters; the issuance of 170 summons at a local police precinct.
3. Coverage continues with Papp and others' reactions to the demolition; proposed legislation to create a Broadway historic district; views on the loss of landmarks to business interests and resulting homogenization of culture; the demolition project and the rescue of artifacts from the theaters; views of construction workers and the construction industry; future plans for the creation of a pedestrian mall in Times Square; and editiorial views from two news stations on the demolition of the theaters and the preservation of city landmarks.

Donor/Sponsor

1. Gift of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.

Series statement

1. Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Alternative title

1. Save the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters campaign.
2. New York Shakespeare Festival, A campaign to save the Morosco and Helen Hayes, a broadcast historical record, March 1982, Videotape one.
3. New York Shakespeare Festival, A campaign to save the Morosco and Helen Hayes, a broadcast historical record, March 1982, Videotape two.

Subject

1. Sherwood, Madeleine > Political activity
2. Political participation > New York (State) > New York
3. Reeve, Christopher, 1952-2004 > Interviews
4. Television
5. Reeve, Christopher, 1952-2004 > Political activity
6. Helen Hayes Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
7. Robards, Jason > Political activity
8. Dewhurst, Colleen > Political activity
9. Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1981-1990
10. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater > Save the Theaters
11. Grimes, Tammy > Political activity
12. Robards, Jason > Interviews
13. Moriarty, Michael, 1941- > Interviews
14. Interviews
15. Historic buildings > New York (State) > New York
16. Times Square (New York, N.Y.)
17. Broadway (New York, N.Y.)
18. City planning > New York (State) > New York
19. Historic sites > Law and legislation > New York (State) > New York
20. Papp, Joseph > Interviews
21. Moriarty, Michael, 1941- > Political activity
22. Grimes, Tammy > Interviews
23. Landmarks at risk
24. Morosco Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
25. Dewhurst, Colleen > Interviews
26. Portman Hotel (New York, N.Y.)
27. Sherwood, Madeleine > Interviews
28. Papp, Joseph > Political activity
29. Political activists > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

1. Interviews.
2. Television.

Contents

1. Videodisc one: Eleven segments aired WABC-TV, WNBC-TV, WPIX-TV, CNN-TV, WCBS-TV, WNEW-TV, March 4 and 5, 1982.
2. Videodisc two: Thirty-one segments aired WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, WNBC-TV, WPIX-TV, WWOR-TV, and WNEW-TV, March 12 to 29, 1982.
3. Videodisc three: Twenty-four segments aired CNN-TV, WNEW-TV, WCBS-TV, WABC-TV, WNBC-TV, WWOR-TV, March 22 to 29, 1982.
4. Videodisc four: Entertainment tonight, aired 3/5/82. Coverage of Save the Theaters.
5. Videodisc five: CBS evening news, aircuts, 3/21/92 and 3/22/81. Helen Hayes/Morosco Theaters.
6. Videodisc six: Independent network news, midday edition, aired 3/22/82. Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters.

Call number

1. NCOX 5254

Note

1. Dubbed compilation of segments taped off air.
2. Title supplied by cataloger.
3. Videodisc one: 31 min. Videodisc two: 59 min. Videodisc three: 53 min. Videodisc four: 2 min. Videodisc five: 9 min. Videodisc six: 3 min.
4. These videos separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.

Biography (note)

1. Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of a grassroots effort, begun in 1982, called Saved the Theaters to stop the destruction of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters for the construction of the Portman Hotel. Papp recruited Merle Debusky to organize publicity and enlisted dozens of celebrated actors in his campaign, which he conducted from a suite in the nearby Piccadilly Hotel. On March 4, 1982 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction preventing demolition of the theaters through the weekend, and a 19-day "Save the Morosco and the Helen Hayes Theater Vigil" began. New York Shakespeare Festival staffers erected a stage on 45th Street in front of the Morosco, where on March 4 and 5 excerpts from seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors during a 24-hour performance. On March 19 the state Supreme Court rejected a petition to halt demolition and Papp threatened physically block the demolition of the Morosco. On March 22, Papp led a group of 200 people to a lot to block access to the demolition machinery. The "Morosco 200" were arrested on 45th Street and taken to a local police precinct. Demoltion began on March 23. On April 20 charges against the group were dropped. Ultimately Papp's intervention had failed to save the theaters. During the next three years the producer spoke with officials and met with city planners about having the Broadway theater zone declared an historic district.

Title

1. [Save the theaters] [videorecording] : [related television coverage, March 4, 5 and 12 to 29, 1982]

Imprint

1. New York, 1982.

Series

1. Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Biography

1. Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of a grassroots effort, begun in 1982, called Saved the Theaters to stop the destruction of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters for the construction of the Portman Hotel. Papp recruited Merle Debusky to organize publicity and enlisted dozens of celebrated actors in his campaign, which he conducted from a suite in the nearby Piccadilly Hotel. On March 4, 1982 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction preventing demolition of the theaters through the weekend, and a 19-day "Save the Morosco and the Helen Hayes Theater Vigil" began. New York Shakespeare Festival staffers erected a stage on 45th Street in front of the Morosco, where on March 4 and 5 excerpts from seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors during a 24-hour performance. On March 19 the state Supreme Court rejected a petition to halt demolition and Papp threatened physically block the demolition of the Morosco. On March 22, Papp led a group of 200 people to a lot to block access to the demolition machinery. The "Morosco 200" were arrested on 45th Street and taken to a local police precinct. Demoltion began on March 23. On April 20 charges against the group were dropped. Ultimately Papp's intervention had failed to save the theaters. During the next three years the producer spoke with officials and met with city planners about having the Broadway theater zone declared an historic district.

Added author

1. Dewhurst, Colleen, interviewee.
2. Dewhurst, Colleen, speaker.
3. Grimes, Tammy, interviewee.
4. Grimes, Tammy, speaker.
5. Robards, Jason, interviewee.
6. Robards, Jason, speaker.
7. Sherwood, Madeleine, interviewee.
8. Sherwood, Madeleine, speaker.
9. Moriarty, Michael, 1941- interviewee.
10. Moriarty, Michael, 1941- speaker.
11. Papp, Joseph, speaker.
12. Papp, Joseph, interviewee.
13. Reeve, Christopher, 1952-2004, interviewee.
14. WCBS-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
15. WNEW-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.), producer.
16. WPIX-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
17. WABC-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
18. Cable News Network, producer.

Research call number

1. NCOX 5254