Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Armin, Robert
2. Papp, Joseph
3. Holm, Celeste, 1917-2012
4. Robards, Jason
5. Reeve,Christopher, 1952-2004
6. MInnelli, Liza
7. Gilford, Jack
8. Straight, Beatrice
9. Feiffer, Jules
10. Traub, Sheppard
11. Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992
12. Richardson, Lee, 1926-1999
13. Dahl, Arlene
14. Cohen, Alexander H., 1920-2000
15. Fitzgerald, Geraldine, 1913-2005
16. Dewhurst, Colleen
17. Foster, Gloria, 1936-2001
18. Grimes, Tammy
19. McGovern, Maureen
20. Davidson, Joan
21. Messinger, Ruth W.
22. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.

Description

1. 2 videodiscs (DVD) (165 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. Documentary chronicling the efforts by the group called Save the Theaters to stop the destruction of Morsoco and Helen Hayes theaters in the Broadway theater district. The camera follows the protestors, lead by theatrical producer Joseph Papp, over a nineteen-day period as they engage in various actions at the Morosco Theatre demolition site. Includes depiction of the protestors giving interviews and making speeches; holding a marathon play reading on a stage erected on the street in front of the Morosco; making plans to enter nearby lot to block demolition machinery; entering the lot and being arrested; arriving at the local police precinct; and the continuation of readings on the makeshift stage following the arrests.

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

Subject

1. Grimes, Tammy > Political activity
2. Broadway (New York, N.Y.)
3. Fitzgerald, Geraldine, 1913-2005 > Political activity
4. McGovern, Maureen > Political activity
5. Reeve, Christopher, 1952-2004 > Political activity
6. Traub, Sheppard > Political activity
7. Documentaries and factual works
8. Historic buildings > New York (State) > New York
9. Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992 > Political activity
10. Papp, Joseph > Political and social views
11. Feiffer, Jules > Political activity
12. Holm, Celeste, 1917-2012 > Political activity
13. Morosco Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
14. Dahl, Arlene > Political activity
15. Minnelli, Liza > Political activity
16. Foster, Gloria, 1936-2001 > Political activity
17. Times Square (New York, N.Y.)
18. Straight, Beatrice > Political activity
19. Papp, Joseph > Political activity
20. Cohen, Alexander H., 1920-2000 > Political activity
21. Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1981-1990
22. Theatrical producers and directors
23. Theaters > New York (State) > New York
24. Messinger, Ruth W > Political activity
25. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater > Save the Theaters
26. Robards, Jason > Political activity
27. Political activists > New York (State) > New York
28. Landmarks at risk
29. Actresses > Interviews
30. Political participation > New York (State) > New York
31. Dewhurst, Colleen > Political activity
32. Video
33. Historic sites > Law and legislation > New York (State) > New York
34. Actors > Interviews
35. Richardson, Lee, 1926-1999 > Political activity
36. Papp, Joseph > Interviews
37. Davidson, Joan > Political activity
38. Guilford, Jack > Political activity

Genre/Form

1. Video.
2. Documentaries and factual works.

Call number

1. NCOX 5361

Note

1. These videos separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.
2. Title from label on source tape container.
3. Videocassette one: 112 min. Videocassette two: 53 min.
4. Visual and sound quality are uneven.
5. "Respectfully dedicated to Joseph Papp and the Morosco 200"--film credits.
6. Speakers and performers: Joseph Papp, Celeste Holm, Jason Robards, Christopher Reeve, Liza Minnelli, Jack Gilford, Beatrice Straight, Jules Feiffer, Sheppard Traub, Alfred Drake, Lee Richardson, Arlene Dahl, Alexander Cohen, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Colleen Dewhurst, Gloria Foster, Tammy Grimes, Maureen McGovern, Joan Davidson, Ruth Messinger.

Access (note)

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Event (note)

1. Videotaped in the vicinity of Morsoco Theater on West 45th Street, New York, N.Y on March 4, 5, 12, and 22 1982.

Biography (note)

1. Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of an 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, and a nineteen-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 excerpts from the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors. 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, amid much media attention. 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. The rally to save the theatres [videorecording] / a chronicle by Robert Armin.

Imprint

1. New York, c1982.

Country of producing entity

1. United States.

Series

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

Access

1. Restricted to qualified researchers.

Event

1. Videotaped in the vicinity of Morsoco Theater on West 45th Street, New York, N.Y on March 4, 5, 12, and 22 1982.

Biography

1. Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of an 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, and a nineteen-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 excerpts from the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors. 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, amid much media attention. 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. Armin, Robert, director.
2. Armin, Robert, producer.
3. Papp, Joseph, interviewee.
4. Papp, Joseph, speaker.
5. Holm, Celeste, 1917-2012, speaker.
6. Robards, Jason, speaker.
7. Reeve,Christopher, 1952-2004, speaker.
8. MInnelli, Liza, speaker.
9. Gilford, Jack, speaker.
10. Straight, Beatrice, speaker.
11. Feiffer, Jules, speaker.
12. Traub, Sheppard, speaker.
13. Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992, speaker.
14. Richardson, Lee, 1926-1999, speaker.
15. Dahl, Arlene, speaker.
16. Cohen, Alexander H., 1920-2000, speaker.
17. Fitzgerald, Geraldine, 1913-2005, speaker.
18. Dewhurst, Colleen, speaker.
19. Foster, Gloria, 1936-2001, speaker.
20. Grimes, Tammy, speaker.
21. McGovern, Maureen, speaker.
22. McGovern, Maureen, performer.
23. Davidson, Joan, speaker.
24. Messinger, Ruth W., speaker.
25. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.

Research call number

1. NCOX 5361