Liberty Theatre

{{Short description|Former theater in Manhattan, New York}} {{redirect|Liberty Theater}} {{good article}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox Theatre | name = Liberty Theatre | image = Liberty Theatre 7.jpg | image_alt = The former entrance to the Liberty Theatre on 42nd Street. It consists of a set of green doors within a stone archway. There is an electronic sign above the door. | caption = Former entrance to the Liberty Theatre in 2021 | address = 234 West 42nd Street | city = Manhattan, New York | country = United States | coordinates = {{Coord|40.7565|-73.9885|type:landmark_region:US-NY|format=dms|display=it}} | designation = | latitude = | longitude = | architect = Herts & Tallant | owner = City and State of New York; leased to New 42nd Street | tenant = | operator = Brookfield Asset Management | capacity = 1055 | type = Former Broadway | opened = {{Start date and age|1904|10|10}} | years_active = 1904–1933 (Broadway theater)<br />1915–1916, 1932 – late 1980s (movie theater)<br />2011–present (event venue) | rebuilt = 2011 | closed = 1933 (Broadway theater) | other_names = | production = | current_use = Event venue | website = }} The '''Liberty Theatre''' is a former Broadway theater at 234 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1904, the theater was designed by Herts & Tallant and built for Klaw and Erlanger, the partnership of theatrical producers Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger. The theater has been used as an event venue since 2011 and is part of an entertainment and retail complex developed by Forest City Ratner. The theater is owned by the city and state governments of New York and leased to New 42nd Street. Brookfield Asset Management, which acquired Forest City in 2018, subleases the venue from New 42nd Street.

The Liberty Theatre consists of an auditorium facing 41st Street and a lobby facing 42nd Street. The facade on 42nd Street is largely hidden but was designed in the neoclassical style, similar to the neighboring New Amsterdam Theatre, designed by the same architects. The lobby from 42nd Street led to the auditorium in the rear, as well as men's and women's lounges in the basement. The auditorium, designed in the Art Nouveau style, contains two balconies cantilevered above ground-level orchestra seating. The theater has a steel frame and was designed with advanced mechanical systems for its time. The original design included depictions of the Liberty Bell and bald eagles, which have since been removed.

The Liberty opened on October 10, 1904, and in its early years hosted several hit productions, which largely consisted of comedies, dramas, or musicals. D. W. Griffith briefly screened movies at the theater in the 1910s. After Klaw and Erlanger ended their partnership in 1919, Erlanger continued to operate the theater until 1931; the Liberty was leased the next year to Max Rudnick, who presented movies and vaudeville. The Liberty hosted its last legitimate show in 1933, and the Brandt family took over the venue, operating it as a movie theater until the 1980s. The city and state governments of New York acquired the theater as part of the 42nd Street Redevelopment Project in 1990. Forest City Ratner developed an entertainment and retail complex on the site in the 1990s, but the Liberty Theatre remained largely abandoned until the early 21st century, when it became a restaurant space and event venue.

== Site == The Liberty Theatre is at 234 West 42nd Street, on the south side between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue near the southern end of Times Square, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The theater is part of an entertainment and retail complex at 234 West 42nd Street, which includes the Madame Tussauds New York museum and the AMC Empire 25 movie theater.<ref name="ZoLa">{{Cite web |title=234 West 42 Street, 10036 |url=https://zola.planning.nyc.gov/l/lot/1/1013/12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928131211/https://zola.planning.nyc.gov/l/lot/1/1013/12 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |publisher=New York City Department of City Planning}}</ref><ref name="aia5">{{cite aia5|pages=296}}</ref> The complex's land lot covers {{cvt|54,060|ft2}} and extends {{cvt|200|ft}} between its two frontages on 41st and 42nd Streets,<ref name="ZoLa" /> with a frontage of {{cvt|270|ft}} on 41st Street and {{cvt|350|ft}} on 42nd Street.<ref name="new42map">{{Cite web |title=Site Map |url=http://www.new42.org/Images/sitemap.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707140308/http://www.new42.org/Images/sitemap.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |publisher=New 42nd Street}}</ref> Originally, the theater occupied its own land lot; the main frontage on 42nd Street measured only {{cvt|20|ft}} wide, while the 41st Street frontage measured {{cvt|100|ft}} wide. This is because the developers, Abraham L. Erlanger and Marcus Klaw, wanted the more prominent 42nd Street frontage as the main entrance.<ref name="HG p. 110">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=110}}</ref>

The city block includes the Candler Building, New Amsterdam Theatre, and 5 Times Square to the east, as well as Eleven Times Square to the west.<ref name="ZoLa" /><ref name="aia5" /> The E-Walk entertainment complex is directly across 42nd Street to the northwest.<ref name="nyt-1999-11-10">{{Cite news |last=Holusha |first=John |date=November 10, 1999 |title=Commercial Real Estate; Cineplex Bringing Back The Movies to 42nd St. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/10/nyregion/commercial-real-estate-cineplex-bringing-back-the-movies-to-42nd-st.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924004447/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/10/nyregion/commercial-real-estate-cineplex-bringing-back-the-movies-to-42nd-st.html |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Todd Haimes Theatre and Times Square Theater are to the north, while the Lyric Theatre, New Victory Theater, and 3 Times Square are to the northeast. In addition, the Port Authority Bus Terminal is to the west, the New York Times Building is to the southwest, and the Nederlander Theatre is to the south.<ref name="ZoLa" /><ref name="aia5" />

The surrounding area is part of Manhattan's Theater District and contains many Broadway theaters.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3KI4AQAAMAAJ |title=New York City, Proposed Times Square Hotel UDAG: Environmental Impact Statement |year=1981 |page=4.15 |access-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025215541/https://books.google.com/books?id=3KI4AQAAMAAJ |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the first two decades of the 20th century, eleven venues for legitimate theater were built within one block of West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.<ref name="p1505606157">{{cite magazine |date=October 12, 1917 |title=Legitimate: New York's Playhouse List Nearing Half Century Mark |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=48 |issue=7 |page=14 |id={{ProQuest|1505606157}}}}</ref><ref name="Stern (2006) p. 675">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=675}}</ref> The New Amsterdam, Harris, Liberty, Eltinge (now Empire), and Lew Fields theaters occupied the south side of the street. The original Lyric and Apollo theaters (combined into the current Lyric Theatre), as well as the Times Square, Victory, Selwyn (now Todd Haimes), and Victoria theaters, occupied the north side.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 675" /> These venues were mostly converted to movie theaters by the 1930s, and many of them had been relegated to showing pornography by the 1970s.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 675" /><ref name="nyt-1990-05-23">{{Cite news |last=Gussow |first=Mel |date=May 23, 1990 |title=Critic's Notebook; Where Legends Were Born, Ghosts of Glory Linger |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/23/arts/critic-s-notebook-where-legends-were-born-ghosts-of-glory-linger.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016001153/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/23/arts/critic-s-notebook-where-legends-were-born-ghosts-of-glory-linger.html |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Design == The Liberty Theatre was designed by architects Herts & Tallant and developed for Klaw and Erlanger in 1904.<ref name="HG pp. 110-111">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|pp=110–111}}</ref><ref name="r-7031148_033_00001230">{{cite magazine |date=May 14, 1904 |title=Real Estate Notes |url=https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/document.php?vol=ldpd_7031148_033&page=ldpd_7031148_033_00001230&no=3 |magazine=The Real Estate Record: Real estate record and builders' guide |volume=73 |page=1116 |via=columbia.edu |number=1887 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173459/https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/document.php?vol=ldpd_7031148_033&page=ldpd_7031148_033_00001230&no=3 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was built by the Murphy Construction Company.<ref name="r-7031148_033_00001230" /> Herts and Tallant designed the theater in the Art Nouveau style, similar to their earlier projects in New York City (namely the New Amsterdam, Lyceum, and German theaters), although the Liberty's architectural detail was smaller in scale than in the other theaters.<ref name="NYCL p. 11">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1987|ps=.|p=11}}</ref>

=== <span class="anchor" id="Facade"></span>Exterior === The Liberty Theatre originally had a three-story-tall neoclassical facade on 42nd Street, similar to the neighboring New Amsterdam Theatre (also designed by Herts and Tallant). The entrance was through an arch, which was flanked by sign boards and topped by an electric sign.<ref name="HG p. 111">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=111}}</ref> On either side of the main entrance were caryatids representing comedy and song.<ref name="p571482776" /> The second and third floors, which contained the theater's offices,<ref name="r-7031148_034_00000767">{{cite magazine |date=October 1, 1904 |title=Of Interest to the Building Trades |url=https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/document.php?vol=ldpd_7031148_034&page=ldpd_7031148_034_00000767&no=5 |magazine=The Real Estate Record: Real estate record and builders' guide |volume=74 |page=677 |via=columbia.edu |number=1907 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173546/https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/document.php?vol=ldpd_7031148_034&page=ldpd_7031148_034_00000767&no=5 |url-status=live}}</ref> were spanned by a large archway. Above the arch was a stone shield, with a relief of the Liberty Bell carved into it. The facade was capped by a statue of a bald eagle with spread wings.<ref name="HG p. 111" /> There was an ornamental cornice above the top story.<ref name="r-7031148_034_00000767" /> By the 1990s, most of the facade had been obscured or heavily modified,<ref name="nyt-1993-07-11">{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Christopher |date=July 11, 1993 |title=Streetscapes: The Liberty Theater; Unlikely 42d St. Revival |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/11/realestate/streetscapes-the-liberty-theater-unlikely-42d-st-revival.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118105739/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/11/realestate/streetscapes-the-liberty-theater-unlikely-42d-st-revival.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the third story had been completely stripped of ornamentation.<ref name="nyt-1996-12-21">{{Cite news |last=Grimes |first=William |date=December 21, 1996 |title=Liberty Theater Facing Virtual-Reality Future |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/21/theater/liberty-theater-facing-virtual-reality-future.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526170302/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/21/theater/liberty-theater-facing-virtual-reality-future.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The 42nd Street facade is no longer visible above the first floor.<ref name="Untapped New York" />

The rear facade on 41st Street remains intact,<ref name="Untapped New York" /> and ''The New York Times'' described it in 1996 as being in "good condition".<ref name="nyt-1996-12-21" /> Images indicate that the 41st Street facade is made of plain brick and has no windows. Projecting brick piers divide the facade into five bays. There are loading docks within three of the bays, as well as globe-shaped lanterns affixed to the piers. The facade does not have any other decoration.<ref name="Untapped New York" />

=== Interior === thumb|Interior of the theater in 2021, after it had been converted into an event space|alt=The interior of the Liberty Theatre in 2021. There is a set of multicolored columns along the right side of the image, which support a loggia. The theater was mechanically advanced for its time, with heating, cooling, ventilation, and fire-suppression systems. The structural frame was made of skeletal steel, while the floors were made of concrete and tile. The theater's sprinkler system was supplied by a {{cvt|15000|gal|L|adj=on}} water tank on the roof.<ref name="nyt-1904-09-25">{{Cite news |date=September 25, 1904 |title=Liberty Theatre Ready; Opens Soon, Making Seven Playhouses in One Block. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/09/25/archives/liberty-theatre-ready-opens-soon-making-seven-playhouses-in-one.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="p571482776">{{cite news |date=September 25, 1904 |title=New Liberty Theatre: Another Playhouse to Open in Forty-second-st. |page=A10 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|571482776}}}}</ref> All of the air in the theater could be changed within five minutes.<ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> In addition, there were 21 emergency exits within the theater building, excluding the fire escapes outside the dressing rooms, which allegedly allowed the theater to be cleared within two minutes.<ref name="HG p. 111" /><ref name="p571482776" /> These emergency exits led to courtyards on either side of the theater, running between 41st and 42nd Streets.<ref name="p571482776" /> The structural frame and emergency exits may have been added in response to the Iroquois Theatre fire in 1903, where hundreds of people died in a Chicago theater that was allegedly fireproof.<ref name="HG p. 111" />

==== Auditorium ==== The auditorium is at the south end of the building and originally measured {{cvt|72|ft}} wide, with a depth of {{cvt|60|ft}} between the stage and the rear wall.<ref name="HG p. 110" /> The auditorium's seats were spread across the orchestra level and two balconies.<ref name="HG p. 110" /><ref name="nyt-1996-12-21" /> The theater had 1,055 seats.<ref name="ibdb-liberty">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |date=October 10, 1904 |title=Liberty Theatre – New York, NY |url=https://www.ibdb.com/theatre/liberty-theatre-1235 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=IBDB |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326022955/https://www.ibdb.com/theatre/liberty-theatre-1235 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Playbill Liberty">{{cite web |date=March 16, 2016 |title=Liberty Theatre (1904) New York, NY |url=https://www.playbill.com/venue/liberty-theatre-1904-new-york-ny |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173519/https://playbill.com/venue/liberty-theatre-1904-new-york-ny |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|p=110}}, states that the theater had 1,200 seats.}} Unusually for theaters of the time,<ref name="Bloom p. 187">{{harvnb|Bloom|2007|ps=.|p=187}}</ref> the balconies are cantilevered from the structural framework, which eliminated the need for columns that blocked sightlines.<ref name="p571482776" /><ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> The orchestra level had 546 seats,<ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> arranged in 15 rows.<ref name="HG p. 110" /> The balcony levels were smaller; the upper balcony only had 264 seats.<ref name="p571482776" /> At the rear of the auditorium, a wide staircase led from the lobby to the two balcony levels, while promenades ran behind the seating areas on all three levels.<ref name="p571482776" /><ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> The promenades were decorated in amber, white, and gold, a color scheme that was also used on the auditorium's seats, carpets, and other fabrics.<ref name="p571482776" />

The original design included eight boxes, four on either side of the stage.<ref name="HG p. 110" /> The boxes were painted in ivory and gold. Above each set of boxes was a motif of a bald eagle, which in turn flanked a depiction of the Liberty Bell.<ref name="HG p. 111" /><ref name="p571482776" /> The proscenium opening is {{cvt|36|ft}} wide and {{cvt|32|ft}} high. Unlike in other theaters, the proscenium arch was not topped by a sounding board; as a result, audiences at the rear of the auditorium did not receive amplified sound from the stage.<ref name="HG p. 111" /> By the 21st century, the rear walls of both balcony levels had been shifted forward significantly.<ref name="Untapped New York" />

The stage was designed to accommodate comedies and large musicals, measuring about {{cvt|35|ft}} deep and {{cvt|72|ft}} wide. The top of the fly loft was {{cvt|70|ft}} above the stage.<ref name="HG p. 111" /> The Liberty's stage curtain was made of asbestos, as at many other theaters at the time, and contained a mural of ''Half Moon'', the ship belonging to Dutch explorer Henry Hudson.<ref name="HG p. 111" /><ref name="nyt-1993-07-11" /> The curtain, measuring {{cvt|35|by|25|ft}}, was probably designed by F. Richards Anderson and was decorated in blue, green, and brown hues. With the deterioration of the theater in the late 20th century, parts of the asbestos curtain began to flake off.<ref name="nyt-1993-07-11" />

==== Other spaces ==== The theater's lobby led from 42nd Street. It consisted of a vestibule with aluminum and gold decorations, as well as an ivory-and-white hallway that acted as a foyer.<ref name="p571482776" /><ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> The vestibule had a domed ceiling measuring {{cvt|30|ft}} across, and the foyer was {{cvt|50|ft}} long. The two spaces were separated by doors covered in leather.<ref name="p571482776" /> The original lobby has been heavily modified.<ref name="Untapped New York" />

At the rear of the orchestra-level promenade were stairs, which led to men's and women's lounges in the basement.<ref name="HG p. 111" /> The men's lounging and smoking room was decorated in the English style, with weathered-oak paneling as well as furniture covered with Spanish leather.<ref name="p571482776" /><ref name="nyt-1904-09-25" /> The women's lounge was painted green, gold, and ivory.<ref name="HG p. 111" /><ref name="p571482776" />

== History == Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Christopher |date=2018 |title=The City Performs: An Architectural History of NYC Theater |url=https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=dbe468bfd33343dc96c23db1da55f803 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325233910/https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html%3Fappid%3Ddbe468bfd33343dc96c23db1da55f803 |archive-date=March 25, 2020 |access-date=March 25, 2020 |publisher=New York City College of Technology, City University of New York}}</ref> Manhattan's theater district had begun to shift from Union Square and Madison Square during the first decade of the 20th century.<ref name="NYPAP">{{cite web |title=Theater District – |url=https://www.nypap.org/preservation-history/theater-district |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019151144/https://www.nypap.org/preservation-history/theater-district/ |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=October 12, 2021 |website=New York Preservation Archive Project}}</ref> At the beginning of that century, Klaw and Erlanger operated the predominant theatrical booking agency in the United States.<ref>{{Cite report |last=Pearson |first=Marjorie |date=October 23, 1979 |publisher=New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1026.pdf |title=New Amsterdam Theater |page=2 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031131405/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1026.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> They decided to relocate to 42nd Street after observing that the Metropolitan Opera House, the Victoria Theatre, and the Theatre Republic (now New Victory Theater) had been developed around that area.<ref name="HG p. 96">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=96}}</ref> Klaw and Erlanger hired Herts and Tallant to design the New Amsterdam Theatre at 214 West 42nd Street, which opened on October 26, 1903.<ref name="HG p. 962">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=96}}</ref> Klaw and Erlanger then decided to build a second theater on the block, also designed by Herts and Tallant,<ref name="HG p. 110" /> which would host musicals by the Rogers Brothers.<ref name="p571482776" /> By early 1904, the Murphy Construction Company was constructing the theater's steel frame.<ref name="r-7031148_033_00001230" />

=== Legitimate use ===

==== 1900s and 1910s ==== The Liberty Theatre opened on October 10, 1904, with the revue ''The Rogers Brothers in Paris''.<ref name="HG p. 112">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=112}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1904-10-11">{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1904 |title=Mrs. Patrick Campbell in Sardou's "Sorceress"; A Gorgeous Spectacle Drama of the Inquisition. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/10/11/archives/mrs-patrick-campbell-in-sardous-sorceress-a-gorgeous-spectacle.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173457/https://www.nytimes.com/1904/10/11/archives/mrs-patrick-campbell-in-sardous-sorceress-a-gorgeous-spectacle.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed the next month by ''Little Johnny Jones'',<ref name="The Broadway League 1904b" /><ref name="nyt-1904-11-08">{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1904 |title=Rejane in "Amoureuse" and "Lolotte"; The Talented French Comedienne Lukewarmly Received. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/11/08/archives/rejane-in-amoureuse-and-lolotte-the-talented-french-comedienne.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173457/https://www.nytimes.com/1904/11/08/archives/rejane-in-amoureuse-and-lolotte-the-talented-french-comedienne.html |url-status=live}}</ref> the first large musical written by George M. Cohan.<ref name="HG p. 112" /> The Liberty hosted several hit productions in its early years,<ref name="Bloom p. 145">{{harvnb|Bloom|2007|ps=.|p=145}}</ref> largely consisting of comedies, dramas, or musicals.<ref name="HG p. 112" /> The Liberty's second season included ''The Rogers Brothers in Ireland'' in late 1905,<ref name="HG p. 112" /><ref name="Bloom p. 145" /> as well as the comedy-drama ''The Clansman'',<ref name="HG p. 112" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1906a" /> the Christmas musical ''The Gingerbread Man'',<ref name=Dietz2022>{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2022|isbn=978-1-5381-6894-3|pages=331–332}}</ref> and the musical ''Lincoln'' in early 1906.<ref name="The Broadway League 1906c" /><ref name="p571672210">{{cite news |date=March 27, 1906 |title=Lincoln on the Stage: Liberty Theatre Cast of "Lincoln." |page=7 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|571672210}}}}</ref> During the 1906–1907 season, Eleanor Robson produced several plays at the Liberty,<ref name="p571859481">{{cite news |date=May 15, 1907 |title=Liberty Theatre |page=7 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|571859481}}}}</ref><ref name="HG p. 117">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=117}}</ref> and the theater also hosted ''The Follies of 1907'', the first edition of the annual ''Ziegfeld Follies'' revue.<ref name="The Broadway League 1907c" /><ref name="nyt-1927-09-18">{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1927 |title=The "Follies" Finally Attains Its Majority; The History of the Ziegfeld Revue, Now Turned Twenty-one |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/09/18/archives/the-follies-finally-attains-its-majority-the-history-of-the.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173530/https://www.nytimes.com/1927/09/18/archives/the-follies-finally-attains-its-majority-the-history-of-the.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Rogers Brothers presented ''The Rogers Brothers in Panama'' in 1907,<ref name="nyt-1907-08-20">{{Cite news |date=August 20, 1907 |title="The Rogers Brothers in Panama." |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/08/20/archives/the-rogers-brothers-in-panama.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173546/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/08/20/archives/the-rogers-brothers-in-panama.html |url-status=live}}</ref> but, amid decreasing popularity, the brothers never performed at the Liberty again.<ref name="HG p. 114">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=114}}</ref> Margaret Mayo's play ''Polly of the Circus'' opened in December 1907<ref name="nyt-1907-12-24">{{Cite news |date=December 24, 1907 |title="Polly of Circus" at the Liberty; Mabel Taliaferro Warmly Greeted in New Play of Love and Spangles |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/12/24/archives/polly-of-circus-at-the-liberty-mabel-taliaferro-warmly-greeted-in.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173458/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/12/24/archives/polly-of-circus-at-the-liberty-mabel-taliaferro-warmly-greeted-in.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and was a hit, running for 160 performances.<ref name="HG p. 112" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1907h" /> Other shows in the Liberty Theatre's early years included ''The Redskins'' in 1906 with Tyrone Power Sr., as well as ''Wildfire'' in 1908 with Lillian Russell.<ref name="HG p. 117" />

The musical ''The Arcadians'' opened at the Liberty in 1910,<ref name="The Broadway League 1910a" /><ref name="nyt-1910-01-18">{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1910 |title="The Arcadians" Charm at Liberty; A Musical Comedy Masterpiece Beautifully Staged and Acted |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1910/01/18/archives/the-arcadians-charm-at-liberty-a-musical-comedy-masterpiece.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173458/https://www.nytimes.com/1910/01/18/archives/the-arcadians-charm-at-liberty-a-musical-comedy-masterpiece.html |url-status=live}}</ref> followed at the end of the same year by the operetta ''The Spring Maid'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 27, 1910 |title=The Spring Maid Has Pretty Music; New Operetta Pleases Audience at the Liberty Theatre. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1910/12/27/archives/the-spring-maid-has-pretty-music-new-operetta-pleases-audience-at.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173458/https://www.nytimes.com/1910/12/27/archives/the-spring-maid-has-pretty-music-new-operetta-pleases-audience-at.html |url-status=live}}</ref> which stayed for six months.<ref name="HG p. 116">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=116}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1910">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |date=December 26, 1910 |title=The Spring Maid – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-spring-maid-7260 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=IBDB |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701080136/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-spring-maid-7260 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=The Spring Maid (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1910) |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-spring-maid-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006638 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173459/https://playbill.com/production/the-spring-maid-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006638 |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater's other productions in the early 1910s included the play ''The Fascinating Widow'' in 1911,<ref name="The Broadway League 1911a" /> the play ''Milestones'' in 1912,<ref name="The Broadway League 1912e" /><ref name="nyt-1912-09-18">{{Cite news |date=1912-09-18 |title=Milestones' Play of Three Generations; Both Charm and Poignant Pathos to Unusual Work by Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblauch. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/09/18/archives/milestones-play-of-three-generations-both-charm-and-poignant-pathos.html |access-date=2023-01-17 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117142321/https://www.nytimes.com/1912/09/18/archives/milestones-play-of-three-generations-both-charm-and-poignant-pathos.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the operetta ''Rob Roy''<ref name="The Broadway League 1913b" /><ref name="nyt-1913-09-16">{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1913 |title=Rob Roy" Revived; De Koven Opera Enthusiastically Received – Bessie Abott Excels. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/09/16/archives/rob-roy-revived-de-koven-opera-enthusiastically-received-bessie.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173458/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/09/16/archives/rob-roy-revived-de-koven-opera-enthusiastically-received-bessie.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the musical ''Sweethearts'' in 1913.<ref name="The Broadway League 1913d" /> Around the same time, Klaw and Erlanger had become involved in the film industry; in 1913, they signed an agreement with the Biograph Company that allowed Biograph to produce two features weekly at the syndicate's theaters.<ref name="HG p. 112" /><ref name="p1031457281">{{cite magazine |date=June 28, 1913 |title=K. & E. Ally With Biograph |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=25 |issue=26 |page=17 |id={{ProQuest|1031457281}}}}</ref> Klaw and Erlanger leased the Liberty to movie-theater operator D. W. Griffith in February 1915, on the condition that movie tickets be sold at $2, the same price as tickets for plays.<ref name="p509338735">{{cite news |date=February 10, 1915 |title=Motion Pictures at a $2 Scale is Plan in New York: Liberty Theater Leased With the Provision That Prices Are to Be Equal to Spoken Drama |page=4 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |issn=2573-3850 |id={{ProQuest|509338735}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1915-02-07">{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1915 |title=Life Savers Rescue 22 Off Fire Island; Breeches Buoy Used in Gale for Crew of the Hougomont, British Bark |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/02/07/archives/life-savers-rescue-22-off-fire-island-breeches-buoy-used-in-gale.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173500/https://www.nytimes.com/1915/02/07/archives/life-savers-rescue-22-off-fire-island-breeches-buoy-used-in-gale.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The next month, Griffith presented ''The Birth of a Nation'', the first film to be screened at the theater.<ref name="p575381743">{{cite news |last=Turnbull |first=Hector |date=March 4, 1915 |title=A Stirring Film Drama Shown: "the Birth of a Nation" Presented at the Liberty Theatre Founded on Story of "the Clansman" Imposing Civil War Scenes, Followed by Exciting Ku Klux Raids the Cast |page=9 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|575381743}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1915-03-04">{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1915 |title=Campaign For $100,000; Society Women Have Raised $23,000 for Lenox Hill Settlement. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/03/04/archives/campaign-for-100000-society-women-have-raised-23000-for-lenox-hill.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204004937/https://www.nytimes.com/1915/03/04/archives/campaign-for-100000-society-women-have-raised-23000-for-lenox-hill.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Griffith screened ''The Birth of a Nation'' over 750 times during the next nine months.<ref name="p1031492559">{{cite magazine |date=December 11, 1915 |title=$2 Per Seat Pictures No Longer Draw in New York |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=27 |issue=50 |pages=3, 55 |id={{ProQuest|1031492559}}}}</ref>

The Liberty again hosted live shows in early 1916, when it presented a week of variety performances by The Blue Pierrots troupe,<ref name="nyt-1916-01-04">{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1916 |title=Some Pierrots Astray; Old Town Hall Entertainment Blunders into the Liberty. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/04/archives/some-pierrots-astray-old-town-hall-entertainment-blunders-into-the.html |access-date=September 29, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001173459/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/04/archives/some-pierrots-astray-old-town-hall-entertainment-blunders-into-the.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p575546803">{{cite news |date=January 4, 1916 |title=English Turns at the Liberty: "Blue Pierrots" Proves to Be a Somewhat Stodgy Variety Performance |page=11 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|575546803}}}}</ref> as well as the musical ''Sybil''.<ref name="nyt-1916-01-11">{{Cite news |date=January 11, 1916 |title='Sybil' Presented With Three Stars; Sanderson-Brian-Cawthorn Trio Entertains Agreeably at the Liberty |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/11/archives/sybil-presented-with-three-stars-sandersonbriancawthorn-trio.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174057/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/11/archives/sybil-presented-with-three-stars-sandersonbriancawthorn-trio.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1916">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |date=January 10, 1916 |title=Sybil – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sybil-8256 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=IBDB |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223130253/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sybil-8256 |url-status=live |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Sybil (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1916) |url=https://playbill.com/production/sybil-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006618 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174034/https://playbill.com/production/sybil-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006618 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August of that year, Griffith leased the Liberty Theatre again, this time for his film ''Intolerance''.<ref name="p575626200">{{cite news |date=August 3, 1916 |title=News of Plays and Player: New Griffith Picture to Reopen the Liberty on August 22 |page=7 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|575626200}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1916-08-03">{{Cite news |date=August 3, 1916 |title=Jewish Peace in Sight; Col. Cutler Reports Progress in Bringing Organizations Together. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/08/03/archives/jewish-peace-in-sight-col-cutler-reports-progress-in-bringing.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174045/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/08/03/archives/jewish-peace-in-sight-col-cutler-reports-progress-in-bringing.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Jerome Kern musical ''Have A Heart'' opened at the Liberty in January 1917,<ref name="nyt-1917-01-12">{{Cite news |date=January 12, 1917 |title='Have a Heart' is Bright and Tuneful; None of the Old Musical Comedy Ruts in Henry W. Savage's New Production |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/01/12/archives/have-a-heart-is-bright-and-tuneful-none-of-the-old-musical-comedy.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174044/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/01/12/archives/have-a-heart-is-bright-and-tuneful-none-of-the-old-musical-comedy.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bloom p. 146">{{harvnb|Bloom|2007|ps=.|p=146}}</ref> followed the same year by the revue ''Hitchy-Koo of 1917''<ref name="The Broadway League 1917d" /><ref name="nyt-1917-08-28">{{Cite news |date=August 28, 1917 |title="Hitchy-koo" Moved; Now at the Liberty, Which Displays Urban's Beautiful Decorations. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/08/28/archives/hitchykoo-moved-now-at-the-liberty-which-displays-urbans-beautiful.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174057/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/08/28/archives/hitchykoo-moved-now-at-the-liberty-which-displays-urbans-beautiful.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the play ''The Wooing of Eve'' with Laurette Taylor and Lynn Fontanne.<ref name="HG p. 117" /><ref name="nyt-1917-11-10">{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1917 |title=Laurette Taylor and Eve's Wooing; A New Type of Part and a New Type of Comedy at the Liberty Theatre |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/11/10/archives/laurette-taylor-and-eves-wooing-a-new-type-of-part-and-a-new-type.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174040/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/11/10/archives/laurette-taylor-and-eves-wooing-a-new-type-of-part-and-a-new-type.html |url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of the year, George M. Cohan and Sam H. Harris's musical ''Going Up'' opened at the Liberty,<ref name="nyt-1917-12-26">{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1917 |title="Going Up" is Enjoyable; New Musical Farce Is Full of Comedy and Tuneful Airs. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/12/26/archives/going-up-is-enjoyable-new-musical-farce-is-full-of-comedy-and.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174039/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/12/26/archives/going-up-is-enjoyable-new-musical-farce-is-full-of-comedy-and.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p575790233">{{cite news |date=December 26, 1917 |title=Drama: 'Going Up" Teaches Art of Aviation in One Lesson at the Liberty |page=7 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|575790233}}}}</ref> running for 351 performances.<ref name="HG p. 116" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1917h" /> Following the success of the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' at the nearby New Amsterdam, Klaw and Erlanger presented two revues at the Liberty in 1919:<ref name="HG p. 117" /><ref name="Bloom p. 146" /> ''George White's Scandals of 1919''<ref name="The Broadway League 1919c" /> and ''Hitchy-Koo of 1919''.<ref name="The Broadway League 1919d" /><ref name="nyt-1919-10-07">{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1919 |title='Hitchy-koo, 1919,' is a Hit; Raymond Hitchcock Appears in a Gorgeous, Lively, Hilarious Revue. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1919/10/07/archives/hitchykoo-1919-is-a-hit-raymond-hitchcock-appears-in-a-gorgeous.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174040/https://www.nytimes.com/1919/10/07/archives/hitchykoo-1919-is-a-hit-raymond-hitchcock-appears-in-a-gorgeous.html |url-status=live}}</ref> By then, Klaw and Erlanger's Theatrical Syndicate no longer had a monopoly on theatrical shows, and they had dissolved their partnership. A. L. Erlanger continued to produce shows at the Liberty Theatre, while Marcus Klaw developed his own venue on 45th Street, the Klaw Theatre.<ref name="HG p. 117" />

==== 1920s and early 1930s ==== [[File:Adelaide Hall 1921.jpg|thumb|Adelaide Hall in ''Blackbirds of 1928''|alt=Adelaide Hall performing at the Liberty Theatre in Blackbirds of 1928]] The Kern musical ''The Night Boat'' opened at the Liberty in February 1920<ref name="nyt-1920-02-03">{{Cite news |date=February 3, 1920 |title=The Night Boat" Arrives; Breezy and Brisk Musical Comedy Made from a French Farce. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/02/03/archives/the-night-boat-arrives-breezy-and-brisk-musical-comedy-made-from-a.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314131116/https://www.nytimes.com/1920/02/03/archives/the-night-boat-arrives-breezy-and-brisk-musical-comedy-made-from-a.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and ran for several months.<ref name="HG p. 117" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1920a" /> It was followed by ''George White's Scandals of 1921''<ref name="The Broadway League 1921a" /><ref name="nyt-1921-07-12">{{Cite news |date=July 12, 1921 |title=White's 'Scandals' a Fine Spectacle; Effective Scenes and Broad Comedy in the New Revue at the Liberty |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/07/12/archives/whites-scandals-a-fine-spectacle-effective-scenes-and-broad-comedy.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174133/https://www.nytimes.com/1921/07/12/archives/whites-scandals-a-fine-spectacle-effective-scenes-and-broad-comedy.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and the Otto Harbach musical ''The O'Brien Girl''.<ref name="HG p. 117" /><ref name="nyt-1921-10-04">{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1921 |title='The O'brien Girl' Wistful; Cohan's Jass-Dancing Hallmarks in His "Last" Production. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/10/04/archives/the-obrien-girl-wistful-cohans-jassdancing-hallmarks-in-his-last.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174044/https://www.nytimes.com/1921/10/04/archives/the-obrien-girl-wistful-cohans-jassdancing-hallmarks-in-his-last.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During 1922, the Liberty Theatre hosted the comedy ''To the Ladies'' with Helen Hayes,<ref name="The Broadway League 1922a" /><ref name="nyt-1922-02-21">{{Cite news |last=Woollcott |first=Alexander |date=February 21, 1922 |title=The Play; By the Authors of " Dulcy." The Friends of Comedy. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/02/21/archives/the-play-by-the-authors-of-dulcy-the-friends-of-comedy.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174041/https://www.nytimes.com/1922/02/21/archives/the-play-by-the-authors-of-dulcy-the-friends-of-comedy.html |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as Cohan's musical ''Little Nellie Kelly''.<ref name="The Broadway League 1922c" /><ref name="nyt-1922-11-14">{{Cite news |date=November 14, 1922 |title='Little Nellie Kelly' Hums; George M. Cohan's New Musical Comedy Is of His Best Brand. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/11/14/archives/little-nellie-kelly-hums-george-m-cohans-new-musical-comedy-is-of.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174041/https://www.nytimes.com/1922/11/14/archives/little-nellie-kelly-hums-george-m-cohans-new-musical-comedy-is-of.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater's shows the next year included the play ''Magnolia'' with Leo Carrillo and ''The Magic Ring'' with Jeanette MacDonald.<ref name="HG p. 117" /> The firm of Mandelbaum & Lewine, along with Max N. Natanson, bought the Liberty and Eltinge theaters in November 1923<ref name="p1237308941">{{cite news |date=November 21, 1923 |title=Syndicate buys Two Theaters In 42d Street: Eltinge and Liberty Playhouses, Assessed at $1,105,000, Sold by Goodridge Family to Operators |page=20 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1237308941}}}}</ref><ref name="p103149218">{{cite news |date=November 21, 1923 |title=The Bronx Market. Investor Buys New Apartment on the Concourse. |page=33 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|103149218}}}}</ref> and immediately resold the theaters to Maximilian Zipkes.<ref name="p1505527262">{{cite magazine |date=December 8, 1923 |title=Three New York City Houses Change Hands |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=35 |issue=49 |page=7 |id={{ProQuest|1505527262}}}}</ref> The Liberty hosted another Cohan musical at the end of that year, ''The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly'',<ref name="nyt-1923-12-26">{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1923 |title=Cohan's New Show a Dancing Success; 'The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly' at Liberty Theatre Is Brisk and Workmanlike. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/12/26/archives/cohans-new-show-a-dancing-success-the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-at.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174135/https://www.nytimes.com/1923/12/26/archives/cohans-new-show-a-dancing-success-the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-at.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1923">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |date=December 25, 1923 |title=The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-9348 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=IBDB |archive-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107205107/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-9348 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1923) |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006593 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174053/https://playbill.com/production/the-rise-of-rosie-oreilly-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006593 |url-status=live}}</ref> although Cohan's musicals had begun to decline in popularity by then.<ref name="Bloom p. 146" /> George and Ira Gershwin's musical ''Lady, Be Good!'' opened at the theater in December 1924<ref name="nyt-1924-12-02">{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1924 |title=Adele Astaire Fascinates; In Tuneful "Lady, Be Good" She Vividly Recalls Beatrice Lillie. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/12/02/archives/adele-astaire-fascinates-in-tuneful-lady-be-good-she-vividly.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174046/https://www.nytimes.com/1924/12/02/archives/adele-astaire-fascinates-in-tuneful-lady-be-good-she-vividly.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and lasted 330 performances.<ref name="HG pp. 117-120">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|pp=117–120}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1924c" /> This was followed in December 1925 by another Gershwin musical, ''Tip-Toes'',<ref name="p1112885502">{{cite news |date=December 29, 1925 |title='Tip-Toes, 'With Gershwin Tunes, Is Frisky Show: Florida Is Again Called on tc Supply the Setting for Liberty Production |page=13 |work=The New York Herald, New York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1112885502}}}}</ref> which lasted for 194 performances.<ref name="HG p. 120">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=120}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1925d" />

Erlanger announced in April 1926 that the Liberty Theatre would be completely renovated after ''Tip-Toes'' ended that June,<ref name="p1031801040">{{cite magazine |date=April 24, 1926 |title=Liberty Theater, N. Y., To Be Made Like New |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=38 |issue=17 |page=9 |id={{ProQuest|1031801040}}}}</ref> and the theater reopened that September.<ref name="p1112978352">{{cite news |date=September 23, 1926 |title=Liberty Theater to Reopen |page=16 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1112978352}}}}</ref> Lew Fields's revue ''Blackbirds of 1928'', featuring an all-Black cast, premiered in May 1928<ref name="HG p. 120" /> and had 518 total performances over two theaters.<ref name="The Broadway League 1928b" /><ref name="nyt-1929-06-10">{{Cite news |date=June 10, 1929 |title="Blackbirds" Run to End; Negro Revue to Quit Saturday After Engagement of More Than Year. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/06/10/archives/blackbirds-run-to-end-negro-revue-to-quit-saturday-after-engagement.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928131727/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/06/10/archives/blackbirds-run-to-end-negro-revue-to-quit-saturday-after-engagement.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It was one of several revues with Black casts to be presented at the Liberty Theatre in the late 1920s and early 1930s.<ref name="Bloom p. 146" /><ref name="HG p. 120" /> ''Blackbirds'' relocated to the Eltinge Theatre in October 1928<ref name="HG p. 121">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=121}}</ref> to make way for the comedy ''Mr. Moneypenny'',<ref name="nyt-1928-10-17">{{Cite news |date=October 17, 1928 |title='Mr. Moneypenny' an Allegorical Play; Pollock's Piece Assembled So Shrewdly as to Delight Audience. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/10/17/archives/mr-moneypenny-an-allegorical-play-pollocks-piece-assembled-so.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="The Broadway League 1928">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |date=October 17, 1928 |title=Mr. Moneypenny – Broadway Play – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/mr-moneypenny-10749 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=IBDB |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223130245/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/mr-moneypenny-10749 |url-status=live |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Mr. Moneypenny (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1928) |url=https://playbill.com/production/mr-moneypenny-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006578 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174041/https://playbill.com/production/mr-moneypenny-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006578 |url-status=live }}</ref> which lasted 61 performances.<ref name="HG p. 121" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1928" /> The Liberty then hosted ''Subway Express'', which premiered in October 1929<ref name="The Broadway League 1929b" /> and ran for 270 performances.<ref name="HG p. 121" /><ref name="nyt-1929-09-25">{{Cite news |last=Atkinson |first=J. Brooks |date=September 25, 1929 |title=The Play; Perils of the Subway. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/25/archives/the-play-perils-of-the-subway.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174023/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/25/archives/the-play-perils-of-the-subway.html |url-status=live}}</ref> By then, increasing competition between producers had resulted in many flops.<ref name="HG p. 120" /> Furthermore, with the onset of the Great Depression, many Broadway theaters were impacted by declining attendance.<ref name="Bloom p. 189">{{harvnb|Bloom|2007|ps=.|p=189}}</ref><ref name="HG p. 71">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=71}}</ref>

The theater hosted a series of short-lived plays and musicals in early 1930,<ref name="ibdb-liberty" /> including the Theatre Guild's revival of the play ''Volpone''.<ref name="The Broadway League 1930d" /><ref name="nyt-1930-03-11">{{Cite news |date=March 11, 1930 |title="Volpone" is Revived; Theatre Guild's Version of Ben Jonson's Farce Still Entertaining. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/03/11/archives/volpone-is-revived-theatre-guilds-version-of-ben-jonsons-farce.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317104411/https://www.nytimes.com/1930/03/11/archives/volpone-is-revived-theatre-guilds-version-of-ben-jonsons-farce.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The musical comedy ''Brown Buddies'' opened at the Liberty that October,<ref name="nyt-1930-10-08">{{Cite news |last=Atkinson |first=J. Brooks |date=October 8, 1930 |title=The Play; Musical Comedy in Sepia. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/10/08/archives/the-play-musical-comedy-in-sepia.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174100/https://www.nytimes.com/1930/10/08/archives/the-play-musical-comedy-in-sepia.html |url-status=live}}</ref> running for 113 performances.<ref name="HG p. 121" /><ref name="The Broadway League 1930f" /> Although Erlanger died in March 1930, the executors of his estate continued to operate the theater.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 8, 1930 |title=A.L. Erlanger Dies After Long Illness; Largest Individual Owner of Playhouses and Former 'Czar' of Stage Succumbs at 69 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/03/08/archives/al-erlanger-dies-after-long-illness-largest-individual-owner-of.html |access-date=January 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108021936/https://www.nytimes.com/1930/03/08/archives/al-erlanger-dies-after-long-illness-largest-individual-owner-of.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The executors were unable to manage the theater, and most of the estate was ultimately given away to various creditors.<ref name="HG p. 121" /> 234 West 42nd Street Inc., which Klaw and Erlanger had formed to manage the Liberty Theatre, was evicted from the theater in 1931 after failing to pay rent.<ref name="p1032116008">{{cite magazine |date=May 1, 1937 |title=Legitimate: Liberty Theater Suit Scheduled |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=49 |issue=18 |page=22 |id={{ProQuest|1032116008}}}}</ref> The theater hosted another all-Black revue in 1931, ''Singin' the Blues'', which was unsuccessful.<ref name="Bloom p. 146" /> Max Rudnick leased the theater in February 1932 for three years<ref name="p1114492247">{{cite news |date=February 17, 1932 |title=$300,000 Rent for 'Village' Space |page=34 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1114492247}}}}</ref><ref name="p99738171">{{cite news |date=February 17, 1932 |title=Residence Deals Feature Trading |page=43 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|99738171}}}}</ref> and presented the Black revue ''Blackberries of 1932'' that April.<ref name="nyt-1932-04-05">{{Cite news |last=Atkinson |first=J. Brooks |date=April 5, 1932 |title=Over the Coffee Cups With George Bernard Shaw in a Play Entitled "Too True to Be Good." |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/04/05/archives/over-the-coffee-cups-with-george-bernard-shaw-in-a-play-entitled-to.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219050530/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A12F73D5A13738DDDAC0894DC405B828FF1D3 |url-status=live}}</ref> Rudnick also presented movies in the theater,<ref name="HG p. 121" /><ref name="p2297377345">{{cite magazine |date=February 18, 1932 |title=Another B'way Legit Theatre For Pictures |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |volume=8 |issue=29 |page=3 |id={{ProQuest|2297377345}}}}</ref> and he began showing vaudeville as well in mid-1932, when he presented a 20-act revue entitled ''Folies Bergere''.<ref name="p1677052734">{{cite magazine |last=Allen |first=Kelcey |date=July 1, 1932 |title=Amusements: Vaudeville Taking On Enthusiasm Of 1900 |magazine=Women's Wear Daily |volume=45 |issue=1 |page=13 |id={{ProQuest|1677052734}}}}</ref><ref name="p1032003710">{{cite magazine |date=August 6, 1932 |title=Legitimate: Equity Types 'Folies' Vaude |magazine=The Billboard |issn=2638-3853 |volume=44 |issue=32 |page=15 |id={{ProQuest|1032003710}}}}</ref> The theater presented only two legitimate shows during the 1932–1933 season.<ref name="ibdb-liberty" /> ''Masks and Faces'', which closed on its opening night in March 1933,<ref name="The Broadway League 1933" /><ref name="nyt-1933-03-22">{{Cite news |date=March 22, 1933 |title=Masks and Faces" Lasts 1 Night. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/03/22/archives/masks-and-faces-lasts-1-night.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174028/https://www.nytimes.com/1933/03/22/archives/masks-and-faces-lasts-1-night.html |url-status=live}}</ref> was the last legitimate show staged at the Liberty until the 1990s.<ref name="HG p. 121" />

=== Movie theater and decline === After ''Masks and Faces'' closed, the Liberty continued to operate as a movie theater.<ref name="HG p. 121" /> This was part of a decline in the Broadway theater industry in the mid-20th century; from 1931 to 1950, the number of legitimate theaters decreased from 68 to 30.<ref name="p1505767801">{{cite magazine |last=Reilly |first=James F. |date=January 3, 1951 |title=Legitimate: the Disappearing Theatre |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=181 |issue=4 |pages=266, 268 |id={{ProQuest|1505767801}}}}</ref><ref name="p1291337111">{{cite news |last=Pihodna |first=Joe |date=January 21, 1951 |title=30 Theaters a Far Cry From Abundant Old Days: But They're Enough to Fill Our Needs, People Claim, Despite TV's Inroads |page=D3 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1291337111}}}}</ref> The Liberty's owner, the Daniel Holding Corporation, agreed to lease the theater to William Brandt in 1933. That lease was not officially recorded until 1938, when Brandt leased the Liberty to 229 West 42nd Street Inc.<ref name="p102649001">{{cite news |date=February 8, 1938 |title=Latest Recorded Leases |page=37 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|102649001}}}}</ref> The Liberty Theatre's operators screened second runs of Warner Bros. films that had premiered at the Times Theatre, on Eighth Avenue and 42nd Street.<ref name="p2297355113">{{cite magazine |date=October 14, 1938 |title=Test Suit to Halt Extended First Runs Planned by ITOA: Exhibs See Pact Adjustment Needed |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |volume=48 |issue=9 |page=14 |id={{ProQuest|2297355113}}}}</ref>

The Brandt family acquired the Liberty Theatre, along with the neighboring Eltinge (now Empire) Theatre, in December 1944.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1944 |title=Brandt Acquires 2 More Theatres; Adds the Liberty and Eltinge on West 42d St. Through Holding Co. Purchase |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/22/archives/brandt-acquires-2-more-theatres-adds-the-liberty-and-eltinge-on.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409204855/https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/22/archives/brandt-acquires-2-more-theatres-adds-the-liberty-and-eltinge-on.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By the mid-1940s, the ten theaters along 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues were all showing movies; this led ''Variety'' to call the block the "biggest movie center of the world".<ref name="p1285899443">{{cite magazine |date=February 26, 1947 |title=Pictures: Even 42d St., With Its Unique Films, Faces Shortages |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=165 |issue=12 |page=27 |id={{ProQuest|1285899443}}}}</ref> The Brandt family operated seven of these theaters, while the Cinema circuit operated the other three.<ref name="p1285899443" /><ref name="nyt-1944-12-22">{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1944 |title=Brandt Acquires 2 More Theatres; Adds the Liberty and Eltinge on West 42d St. Through Holding Co. Purchase |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/22/archives/brandt-acquires-2-more-theatres-adds-the-liberty-and-eltinge-on.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409204855/https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/22/archives/brandt-acquires-2-more-theatres-adds-the-liberty-and-eltinge-on.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Brandt theaters included the Selwyn, Apollo, Times Square, Lyric, and Victory theaters on the north side of 42nd Street,<ref name="p106913088">{{cite news |date=April 9, 1944 |title=Extends Holdings in Times Sq. Area: Theatre Group Now Controls Half of Frontage in 42d and 43d Street' Blocks |page=RE1 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|106913088}}}}</ref><ref name="p1283104921">{{cite news |date=March 20, 1944 |title=State Liquor Authority Rents Broadway Offices |page=21A |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1283104921}}}}</ref> as well as the Eltinge and Liberty theaters on the south side.<ref name="nyt-1944-12-22" /> The Liberty Theatre screened films that had previously been shown at the Selwyn.<ref name="p1285899443" /> Several producers offered to stage legitimate productions in the Brandt theaters, but none of the offers were successful.<ref name="nyt-1946-06-09">{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Lee E. |date=June 9, 1946 |title=Brandt Assembles Big Theatre Plot in Times Sq. Area; Five Buildings May Give Way to a Tall New Structure Under Pending Deals |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1946/06/09/archives/brandt-assembles-big-theatre-plot-in-times-sq-area-five-buildings.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409204856/https://www.nytimes.com/1946/06/09/archives/brandt-assembles-big-theatre-plot-in-times-sq-area-five-buildings.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

William Brandt said in 1953 that any of his 42nd Street theaters could be converted to legitimate houses within 24 hours' notice, but producers did not take up his offer.<ref name="nyt-1953-04-03">{{Cite news |last=Zolotow |first=Sam |date=April 3, 1953 |title=Movie Man Scoffs at Playhouse Jam; Brandt Invites Bookings at 42d St. Theatres at Guarantee – 'The Bat' Fluttering |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/03/archives/movie-man-scoffs-at-playhouse-jam-brandt-invites-bookings-at-42d-st.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410024512/https://www.nytimes.com/1953/04/03/archives/movie-man-scoffs-at-playhouse-jam-brandt-invites-bookings-at-42d-st.html |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By the late 1950s, the Liberty was classified as a "reissue house", displaying reruns of films and changing its offerings twice a week. Tickets cost 25 to 65 cents apiece, the cheapest admission scale for any theater on 42nd Street. The Liberty and the other 42nd Street theaters operated from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., with three shifts of workers. The ten theaters on the block attracted about five million visitors a year between them.<ref name="p1014785728">{{cite magazine |date=January 30, 1957 |title=42d St. Grinds' $5-mil Gross |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=205 |issue=9 |pages=3, 20 |id={{ProQuest|1014785728}}}}</ref>

The 42nd Street Company was established in 1961 to operate the Brandts' seven theaters on 42nd Street.<ref name="p1476041465">{{cite magazine |date=September 11, 1972 |title=Levine, Brandt Partners In the 42nd Street Co. |magazine=Boxoffice |volume=101 |issue=22 |page=E1 |id={{ProQuest|1476041465}}}}</ref><ref name="p1014665133">{{cite magazine |date=September 4, 1972 |title=Levine & Brandt Top 42nd St. Co. |magazine=The Independent Film Journal |volume=70 |issue=7 |page=21 |id={{ProQuest|1014665133}}}}</ref> By the early 1960s, the surrounding block had decayed, but many of the old theater buildings from the block's heyday remained, including the Liberty.<ref name="p1325840251">{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Henry Hope Jr. |date=October 28, 1962 |title=Beneath the Squalor, Yesterday's Glamor: the Names of the Astaires, of Barrymore and Belasco, Lawrence and Lillie, Cling to the Cheap Movie Houses of 42nd Street |page=SM2 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1325840251}}}}</ref> Martin Levine and Richard Brandt took over the 42nd Street Company in 1972.<ref name="p1476041465" /><ref name="p1014665133" /> At the time, the Liberty was presenting "subrun action fare", showing second runs of action films that had premiered at other theaters.<ref name="p963281987">{{cite magazine |last=Albarino |first=Richard |date=July 18, 1973 |title='Main Drag' Of U.S.A.--42d Street; 5,000,000 Cheapie Tickets Yearly |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=271 |issue=10 |pages=1, 111 |id={{ProQuest|963281987}}}}</ref> The other six theaters showed a variety of genres, though Levine said none of the company's 42nd Street theaters showed hardcore porn. The Brandts' theaters had a combined annual gross of about $2 million and operated nearly the entire day.<ref name="p963281987" /> However, the area was in decline; the Brandts' theaters only had three million visitors by 1977, about half of the number in 1963.<ref name="nyt-1977-06-19">{{Cite news |last=Horsley |first=Carter B. |date=June 19, 1977 |title=A Critical Time For the Old Theaters Along 42d Street |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/19/archives/a-critical-time-for-the-old-theaters-along-42d-street-theaters.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408173029/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/19/archives/a-critical-time-for-the-old-theaters-along-42d-street-theaters.html |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Brandts' movie theaters on 42nd Street continued to operate through the mid-1980s, at which point the Liberty was showing horror films.<ref name="p1438444052">{{cite magazine |last=McDonough |first=Jimmy |date=December 11, 1985 |title=New York Entertainment: 42d St. Grindhouses: Alternative Outlet For Dusty Subruns Facing Extinction |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=321 |issue=7 |pages=94, 116 |id={{ProQuest|1438444052}}}}</ref>

=== Redevelopment ===

==== Preservation attempts ==== thumb|The Liberty's modern facade, seen here in 2021, is obscured behind several billboards.|alt=The entrance of the Liberty Theatre as seen from across 42nd Street. There are multiple signs and billboards surrounding the entrance, including a Dave & Buster's sign to the right. The 42nd Street Development Corporation had been formed in 1976 to discuss plans for redeveloping Times Square.<ref name="p511943242">{{cite news |last=Morehouse |first=Ward III |date=November 9, 1977 |title=A 'Little White Way' for tawdry 42nd St. |page=1 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |issn=2573-3850 |id={{ProQuest|511943242}}}}</ref> The same year, the City University of New York's Graduate Center hosted an exhibition with photographs of the Liberty and other theaters to advocate for the area's restoration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lena |date=November 7, 1977 |title=Can Photos Return Gloss to Times Square? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/07/archives/can-photos-return-gloss-to-times-square.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222246/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/07/archives/can-photos-return-gloss-to-times-square.html |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 19, 1977 |title=42d St. Show on Theaters is a Tragedy |page=336 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144593/42d-st-show-on-theaters-is-a-tragedy/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222249/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144593/42d-st-show-on-theaters-is-a-tragedy/ |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> One plan for the site, in 1978, called for razing several buildings in the area, including the Liberty, to create a park.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1978 |title=Changing cityscape: $170M smile planned for face of W. 42d St. |page=423 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144674/changing-cityscape-170m-smile-planned/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222249/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144674/changing-cityscape-170m-smile-planned/ |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 25, 1978 |title=City Considers Park Plan For Times Square |page=14 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144869/city-considers-park-plan-for-times/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222248/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87144869/city-considers-park-plan-for-times/ |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> The New York City government announced the City at 42nd Street plan in December 1979 as part of a proposal to restore the section of West 42nd Street around Times Square.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 679">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=679}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1979-12-23">{{Cite news |date=December 23, 1979 |title=Architecture View; Redeveloping New York |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/23/archives/architecture-view-redeveloping-new-york.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117014228/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/23/archives/architecture-view-redeveloping-new-york.html |archive-date=January 17, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Under the plan, five theaters would be converted back to legitimate use, and the facades of three other theaters, including the Liberty, would be restored.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 679" /><ref name="nyt-1982-04-18">{{Cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |date=April 18, 1982 |title=Can 42nd Street Regain Its Showbiz Glamour? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/18/theater/can-42nd-street-regain-its-showbiz-galmour.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524110645/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/18/theater/can-42nd-street-regain-its-showbiz-galmour.html |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Liberty's large stage made it suitable for dance companies.<ref name="nyt-1982-04-18" /> Mayor Ed Koch wavered in his support of the plan, criticizing it as a "Disneyland on 42nd Street".<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 681">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=681}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodwin |first=Michael |date=June 8, 1980 |title=Roadblocks For a New Times Sq. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/08/archives/roadblocks-for-a-new-times-sq.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119013725/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/08/archives/roadblocks-for-a-new-times-sq.html |archive-date=January 19, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Subsequently, Hugh Hardy conducted a report on 42nd Street's theaters in 1980. His report, in conjunction with a movement opposing the demolition of the nearby Helen Hayes and Morosco theaters, motivated the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to survey fifty of Midtown Manhattan's extant theaters in the early 1980s.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 691">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=691}}</ref> Hardy's firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) determined that the Liberty's superstructure and the decorative plasterwork were still intact. However, the stage facilities were extremely rundown, and HHPA estimated that the theater required at least $2 million worth of restoration. In addition, the facade was deteriorating; the Liberty Bell and bald-eagle decorations had been removed from the facade, and a plain marquee had been placed in front of the theater's facade.<ref name="HG p. 121" />

The LPC started to consider protecting theaters, including the Liberty Theatre,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=October 20, 1982 |title=Landmark Status Sought for Theaters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/20/nyregion/landmark-status-sought-for-theaters.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029222429/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/20/nyregion/landmark-status-sought-for-theaters.html |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> as landmarks in 1982, with discussions continuing over the next several years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shepard |first=Joan |date=August 28, 1985 |title=Is the final curtain near? |pages=462, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85456671/broadway/ 464] |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85456704 |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921174705/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85456704/is-the-final-curtain-near/ |archive-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref> While the LPC granted landmark status to many Broadway theaters starting in 1987, it deferred decisions on the exterior and interior of the Liberty Theatre.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=November 22, 1987 |title=The Region; The City Casts Its Theaters In Stone |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/22/weekinreview/the-region-the-city-casts-its-theaters-in-stone.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016164623/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/22/weekinreview/the-region-the-city-casts-its-theaters-in-stone.html |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Further discussion of the landmark designations was delayed for several decades.<ref name="Rajamani 2016">{{cite web |last=Rajamani |first=Maya |date=February 23, 2016 |title=7 Theaters Among Midtown and Hell's Kitchen Sites Up for Landmarking |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160223/midtown/7-theaters-among-midtown-hells-kitchen-sites-up-for-landmarking |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128103935/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160223/midtown/7-theaters-among-midtown-hells-kitchen-sites-up-for-landmarking/ |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=DNAinfo New York}}</ref> In late 2015, the LPC hosted public hearings on whether to designate the Liberty and six other theaters as landmarks.<ref name="Bindelglass 2015">{{Cite web |last=Bindelglass |first=Evan |date=November 9, 2015 |title=42nd Street Theaters, Osborne Interior, More Round Out First Manhattan Landmarks Backlog Hearing |url=https://newyorkyimby.com/2015/11/42nd-street-theaters-osborne-interior-more-round-out-first-manhattan-landmarks-backlog-hearing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930182930/https://newyorkyimby.com/2015/11/42nd-street-theaters-osborne-interior-more-round-out-first-manhattan-landmarks-backlog-hearing.html |archive-date=September 30, 2021 |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=New York YIMBY |language=en-US}}</ref> The LPC rejected the designations in February 2016 because the theaters were already subject to historic-preservation regulations set by the state government.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 23, 2016 |title=7 Theaters on 42nd Street Fail to Make Cut for Landmark Consideration |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160223/midtown/7-theaters-on-42nd-street-fail-make-cut-for-landmark-consideration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129201803/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160223/midtown/7-theaters-on-42nd-street-fail-make-cut-for-landmark-consideration/ |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=DNAinfo New York}}</ref>

==== Early redevelopment proposals ==== The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), an agency of the New York state government, proposed redeveloping the area around a portion of West 42nd Street in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |date=April 6, 1982 |title=City Names Main Builders in Times Sq. Redevelopment |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/06/nyregion/city-names-main-builders-in-times-sq-redevelopment.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001152839/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/06/nyregion/city-names-main-builders-in-times-sq-redevelopment.html |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Stern (2006) p. 683">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=683}}</ref> The plan centered around four towers that were to be built at 42nd Street's intersections with Broadway and Seventh Avenue, developed by Park Tower Realty and the Prudential Insurance Company of America.<ref name="Stephens p. 92">{{cite magazine |last=Stephens |first=Suzanne |date=Mar 2000 |title=Four Times Square |url=https://usmodernist.org/AR/AR-2000-03.pdf |url-status=live |volume=188 |page=92 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929213251/https://usmodernist.org/AR/AR-2000-03.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |access-date=October 1, 2021 |journal=Architectural Record}}</ref><ref name="nyt19920803">{{Cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=August 3, 1992 |title=Long Delay Likely in Rebuilding Plan for Times Square |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/03/nyregion/long-delay-likely-in-rebuilding-plan-for-times-square.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917183927/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/03/nyregion/long-delay-likely-in-rebuilding-plan-for-times-square.html |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>{{efn|The sites were:<ref name="nyt19920803" /> * Northwest corner of 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue: now 3 Times Square * Northeast corner of 42nd Street and Broadway: now 4 Times Square * Southwest corner of 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue: now 5 Times Square * South side of 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway: now 7 Times Square (Times Square Tower)}} The Brandt family planned to submit a bid to redevelop some of the theaters they owned on 42nd Street.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wellisz |first=Christopher |date=August 30, 1981 |title=Reality News |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/realestate/reality-news.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410034546/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/30/realestate/reality-news.html |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="p1438352463">{{cite magazine |last=Hummler |first=Richard |date=April 7, 1982 |title=Legitimate: Name Nederlander To Convert New Amsterdam, Harris, 42d St.; Brandt Firm Is Still Negotiating |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=306 |issue=10 |pages=85, 90 |id={{ProQuest|1438352463}}}}</ref> In June 1982, the Brandts' five theaters on the north side of 42nd Street were added to the redevelopment plan. Despite the Brandts' insistence that the Empire and Liberty theaters also be included in the redevelopment, the two theaters were leased to New York Mart Inc. as part of a separate plan.<ref name="nyt-1982-06-13">{{Cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |date=June 13, 1982 |title=Five Theaters Added to 42d St. Revival Plan |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/13/nyregion/five-theaters-added-to-42d-st-revival-plan.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410033547/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/13/nyregion/five-theaters-added-to-42d-st-revival-plan.html |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ultimately, the 42nd Street Redevelopment Project was delayed for several years due to lawsuits and disputes concerning the towers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Thomas J. |date=February 14, 1988 |title=The Region: Redevelopment; Times Square Plan Takes A Shaky Step Forward |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/14/weekinreview/the-region-redevelopment-times-square-plan-takes-a-shaky-step-forward.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917225606/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/14/weekinreview/the-region-redevelopment-times-square-plan-takes-a-shaky-step-forward.html |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The New York Mart plan consisted of a garment merchandise mart on Eighth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, opposite Port Authority Bus Terminal.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 4, 1981 |title=Deadline Extended On N.Y. Mart Plans |volume=142 |page=2 |work=Women's Wear Daily |issue=24 |id={{ProQuest|1445519202}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt19820406">{{Cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |date=April 6, 1982 |title=City Names Main Builders in Times Sq. Redevelopment |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/06/nyregion/city-names-main-builders-in-times-sq-redevelopment.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001152839/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/06/nyregion/city-names-main-builders-in-times-sq-redevelopment.html |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The project was to be completed by the Times Square Redevelopment Corporation, comprising members of the New York state and city governments.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 682">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=682}}</ref> Under this plan, the Empire and Liberty theaters would be renovated, with the Liberty Theatre likely becoming a nonprofit theater, although the extent of the renovations was unclear.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 682" /><ref name="nyt-1982-04-07">{{Cite news |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |date=April 7, 1982 |title=Redevelopment in Times Sq. Unlikely Till '84 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/07/nyregion/redevelopment-in-times-sq-unlikely-till-84.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524104557/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/07/nyregion/redevelopment-in-times-sq-unlikely-till-84.html |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> David Morse and Richard Reinis were selected in April 1982 to develop the mart,<ref name="nyt19820406" /><ref name="Stern (2006) p. 682" /> but they were removed from the project that November due to funding issues.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 682" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=George W. |date=November 4, 1982 |title=Mart Developers in Times Sq. Plan Dropped by City |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/04/nyregion/mart-developers-in-times-sq-plan-dropped-by-city.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001152837/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/04/nyregion/mart-developers-in-times-sq-plan-dropped-by-city.html |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Subsequently, the state and city disputed over the replacement development team, leading the city to withdraw from the partnership in August 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gottlieb |first=Martin |date=August 11, 1983 |title=Koch Abolishes Times Sq. Pact With the State |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/11/nyregion/koch-abolishes-times-sq-pact-with-the-state.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001152834/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/11/nyregion/koch-abolishes-times-sq-pact-with-the-state.html |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Stern (2006) p. 683" /> The state and city reached a compromise on the development team that October, wherein the mart would be developed by Tishman Speyer, operated by Trammell Crow, and funded by Equitable Life Assurance.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 683" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barbanel |first=Josh |date=October 20, 1983 |title=Agreement Reached by Cuomo and Koch on Times Sq. Mart |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/nyregion/agreement-reached-by-cuomo-and-koch-on-times-sq-mart.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001154332/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/nyregion/agreement-reached-by-cuomo-and-koch-on-times-sq-mart.html |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The Brandts leased all their movie theaters on 42nd Street, including the Liberty, to the Cine 42nd Street Corporation in 1986.<ref name="HG p. 205">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=205}}</ref> The Liberty Theatre was still part of the mart project in 1987.<ref name="nyt-1987-09-17">{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Thomas J. |date=September 17, 1987 |title=Nonprofit Status Urged For Times Sq. Theaters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/nonprofit-status-urged-for-times-sq-theaters.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101091650/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/nonprofit-status-urged-for-times-sq-theaters.html |archive-date=November 1, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="p962838257">{{cite magazine |last=DuVal |first=Herb |date=August 14, 1987 |title=W. 42nd Street Projects Beginning To Take Shape |magazine=Back Stage |issn=0005-3635 |volume=28 |issue=33 |pages=1A, 4A, 10A, 16A |id={{ProQuest|962838257}}}}</ref> Though the theater was tentatively slated to be used as a nonprofit performing-arts theater,<ref name="p962838257" /> the city and state governments had not reached an agreement with private developers regarding the mart.<ref name="nyt-1987-09-17" /> The merchandise mart was ultimately never built; the northern part of the site became 11 Times Square, while the southern part became the New York Times Building.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 683" /> A committee of theatrical experts recommended in 1987 that the Victory and Liberty theaters be restored for nonprofit use; they estimated that it would cost between $7 million and $7.8 million to renovate the Liberty.<ref name="p962844091">{{cite magazine |last=Graves |first=Michael |date=October 3, 1987 |title=Times Square Nonprofit Theatres Plan Announced |magazine=Back Stage |issn=0005-3635 |volume=28 |issue=40 |pages=1A, 3A, 4A |id={{ProQuest|962844091}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1987-09-172">{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Thomas J. |date=September 17, 1987 |title=Nonprofit Status Urged For Times Sq. Theaters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/nonprofit-status-urged-for-times-sq-theaters.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101091650/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/17/nyregion/nonprofit-status-urged-for-times-sq-theaters.html |url-status=live}}</ref> City and state officials announced plans for the Liberty Theatre, along with five theaters on the north side of 42nd Street, in September 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Thomas J. |date=September 18, 1988 |title=Six Times Square Theaters to Go 'Populist' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/nyregion/six-times-square-theaters-to-go-populist.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525085808/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/nyregion/six-times-square-theaters-to-go-populist.html |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The UDC opened a request for proposals for the six theaters that October. The Liberty and Victory were to be converted into performing-arts venues for nonprofit organizations, while the Selwyn, Apollo, Lyric, and Times Square were to be converted to commercial use.<ref name="p1438511816">{{cite magazine |date=October 26, 1988 |title=Legitimate: Bids Sought For 42d St. Theaters; 2 For Nonprofits, 4 Commercial |volume=333 |issue=1 |page=61 |id={{ProQuest|1438511816}} |magazine=Variety|issn=0042-2738}}</ref> By the end of the year, the plans were threatened by a lack of money.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=November 14, 1988 |title=Lack of Money Threatens a Plan To Restore Six Times Sq. Theaters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/14/nyregion/lack-of-money-threatens-a-plan-to-restore-six-times-sq-theaters.html |access-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410045153/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/14/nyregion/lack-of-money-threatens-a-plan-to-restore-six-times-sq-theaters.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 1989, several dozen nonprofit theater companies submitted plans to the UDC for the takeover of six theaters.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 693">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=693}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1989-04-14">{{Cite news |last=Wolff |first=Craig |date=April 14, 1989 |title=On 42d Street, a Tour Back to the Future |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/14/nyregion/on-42d-street-a-tour-back-to-the-future.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220142532/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/14/nyregion/on-42d-street-a-tour-back-to-the-future.html |archive-date=December 20, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Most of the bids were for the Liberty and Victory, but the Selwyn, Apollo, Lyric, and Times Square theaters received 13 bids between them.<ref name="p1438518205">{{cite magazine |date=May 17, 1989 |title=Legit: Nonprofit groups bid for 42d St., but Broadwayites take a pass |volume=335 |issue=5 |page=73 |id={{ProQuest|1438518205}} |magazine=Variety|issn=0042-2738}}</ref> That year, The Durst Organization acquired the leases to eight theaters in Times Square, including the Victory. It subsequently announced plans to renovate the eight theaters in February 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Haire |first=Patricia |date=February 2, 1990 |title=The Great White Way Makes a Comeback |page=42 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92768311/the-great-white-way-makes-a/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119013701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92768311/the-great-white-way-makes-a/ |archive-date=January 19, 2022}}</ref><ref name="p962907555">{{cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Thomas |date=February 9, 1990 |title=New Plans For 42nd St. Theatres Arrive, & So Does A New Battle |magazine=Back Stage |issn=0005-3635 |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=1A, 6A |id={{ProQuest|962907555}}}}</ref> The New York state government acquired the theater sites that April via eminent domain.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 693" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Richard |date=April 19, 1990 |title=State Acquires Most of Times Square Project Site |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/19/nyregion/state-acquires-most-of-times-square-project-site.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525201713/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/19/nyregion/state-acquires-most-of-times-square-project-site.html |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="p12861580792">{{cite magazine |last=Cohn |first=Lawrence |date=September 24, 1990 |title=Legit: Gotham 'takes back' West 42nd Street |magazine=Variety |issn=0042-2738 |volume=340 |issue=11 |page=92 |id={{ProQuest|1286158079}}}}</ref> The city had planned to buy out the theaters' leases<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Marinaccio |first1=Paul |last2=Berkowitz |first2=Harry |date=March 6, 1989 |title=City Buying Out 42nd St.: $2M would buy theater leases in crime-ridden area |page=2 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99448184/city-buying-out-42nd-st-2m-would-buy/ |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410043641/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99448184/city-buying-out-42nd-st-2m-would-buy/ |url-status=live}}</ref> but withdrew after the 42nd Street Company indicated it would lease the theaters to another developer.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Patricia |last2=Marinaccio |first2=Paul |date=April 14, 1989 |title=City Gives Up on Buying Theater Leases |pages=69, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99448296/ 71] |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99448267/city-gives-up-on-buying-theater-leases/ |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410043641/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99448267/city-gives-up-on-buying-theater-leases/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Although Durst protested the move, a New York Supreme Court judge ruled that the sites could be acquired by condemnation.<ref name="p1286158079">{{cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Thomas |date=April 27, 1990 |title=42nd St. Project Earns OK For Condemnation And Restoration Of Area's Historic Theatres |volume=31 |issue=17 |pages=1A, 33A, 37A |id={{ProQuest|1286158079}} |magazine=Back Stage|issn=0005-3635}}</ref>

==== New 42nd Street control ==== A nonprofit organization, New 42nd Street, was formed in September 1990 to restore six theaters, including the Liberty, and find uses for them.<ref name="p12861580792" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sack |first=Kevin |date=September 19, 1990 |title=Leaders Chosen for 42d St. Theaters' Renewal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/19/nyregion/leaders-chosen-for-42d-st-theaters-renewal.html |access-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410045201/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/19/nyregion/leaders-chosen-for-42d-st-theaters-renewal.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Stern (2006) pp. 693-694">{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|pp=693–694}}</ref> Government officials hoped that development of the theaters would finally allow the construction of the four towers around 42nd Street, Broadway, and Seventh Avenue.<ref name="AR 1989-06">{{cite magazine |date=Jun 1989 |title=42nd Street: No beat of dancing feet- yet |url=https://usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1989-06.pdf |url-status=live |volume=177 |page=85 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903010833/https://usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1989-06.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |journal=Architectural Record}}</ref> In 1992, New 42nd Street received $18.2 million for restoring the six theaters<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Glenn |date=August 4, 1992 |title=Six Theaters to Benefit From Revised Times Square Plan |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/04/nyregion/six-theaters-to-benefit-from-revised-times-square-plan.html |access-date=April 10, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410045143/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/04/nyregion/six-theaters-to-benefit-from-revised-times-square-plan.html |url-status=live}}</ref> as part of an agreement with Prudential and Park Tower.<ref name="p962860132">{{cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Thomas |date=May 20, 1994 |title=It's a New Victory As 42nd St. Finally Breaks Its Ground |magazine=Back Stage |issn=0005-3635 |volume=35 |issue=20 |pages=1, 39 |id={{ProQuest|962860132}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1994-09-28">{{Cite news |last=Grimes |first=William |date=September 28, 1994 |title=MTV To Make 42d Street Rock |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/28/arts/mtv-to-make-42d-street-rock.html |access-date=September 19, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526110241/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/28/arts/mtv-to-make-42d-street-rock.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, the Liberty continued to deteriorate, leading theatrical critic Mel Gussow to write in 1990 that the orchestra level had been "almost entirely reduced to rubble".<ref name="nyt-1990-05-23" /><ref name="HG pp. 121-122">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|pp=121–122}}</ref> The interior of the theater caught fire the same year and was nearly destroyed.<ref name="HG pp. 121-122" /> The asbestos curtain was still intact but was extremely rundown, as ''The New York Times'' observed: "The bottom part [of the curtain] trails on the stage and is damaged by trash and plywood stacked there."<ref name="nyt-1993-07-11" /> Even as the estimated renovation cost increased to $16 million,<ref name="HG p. 122">{{harvnb|Henderson|Greene|2008|ps=.|p=122}}</ref> the ''Times'' still predicted in 1992 that the Liberty and Victory were "most likely to be renovated".<ref name="nyt-1992-08-04">{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Glenn |date=August 4, 1992 |title=Six Theaters to Benefit From Revised Times Square Plan |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/04/nyregion/six-theaters-to-benefit-from-revised-times-square-plan.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410045143/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/04/nyregion/six-theaters-to-benefit-from-revised-times-square-plan.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

After Disney committed to restoring the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1994, most of the other theaters around 42nd Street were quickly leased.<ref name="nyt-1995-11-15">{{Cite news |last=Lueck |first=Thomas J. |date=November 15, 1995 |title=Returning From Decline, 42d Street Is Now a Magnet for Merchants |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/15/nyregion/returning-from-decline-42d-street-is-now-a-magnet-for-merchants.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526143827/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/15/nyregion/returning-from-decline-42d-street-is-now-a-magnet-for-merchants.html |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By 1995, real-estate development firm Forest City Ratner was planning a $150 million entertainment and retail complex on the site of the Empire, Harris, and Liberty theaters.<ref name="nyt-1995-07-13">{{Cite news |last=Pulley |first=Brett |date=July 13, 1995 |title=Tussaud's and a Movie Chain Are Negotiating on 42d St. Site |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/13/nyregion/tussaud-s-and-a-movie-chain-are-negotiating-on-42d-st-site.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526143301/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/13/nyregion/tussaud-s-and-a-movie-chain-are-negotiating-on-42d-st-site.html |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Madame Tussauds and AMC leased space in the complex that July.<ref name="n110297540">{{Cite news |last=Lowry |first=Tom |date=July 21, 1995 |title=Entertaining plans for Times Square |page=775 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110297540/entertaining-plans-for-times-squaretom/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928131211/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110297540/entertaining-plans-for-times-squaretom/ |archive-date=September 28, 2022}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1995-07-16">{{Cite news |last=Pulley |first=Brett |date=July 16, 1995 |title=Tussaud's and Movie Chain Join Disney in 42d Street Project |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/16/nyregion/tussaud-s-and-movie-chain-join-disney-in-42d-street-project.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526143838/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/16/nyregion/tussaud-s-and-movie-chain-join-disney-in-42d-street-project.html |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Madame Tussauds would occupy the eastern section of the site, using the entrance of the former Harris Theatre, while AMC would occupy the western section, with the Empire's facade being relocated westward.<ref name="nyt-1998-02-28">{{Cite news |last=Holusha |first=John |date=February 28, 1998 |title=The Theater's on a Roll, Gliding Down 42d Street; Fast-Moving Times Square Revitalization Leaves No Stone or Building Unturned |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/28/nyregion/theater-s-roll-gliding-down-42d-street-fast-moving-times-square-revitalization.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812104127/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/28/nyregion/theater-s-roll-gliding-down-42d-street-fast-moving-times-square-revitalization.html |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Forest City Ratner leased the Liberty from New 42nd Street, although the development company did not use the theater itself.<ref name="nyt-2000-12-11">{{Cite news |last=Pogrebin |first=Robin |date=December 11, 2000 |title=From Naughty and Bawdy to Stars Reborn; Once Seedy Theaters, Now Restored, Lead the Development of 42nd Street |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/11/theater/naughty-bawdy-stars-reborn-once-seedy-theaters-now-restored-lead-development.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407173947/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/11/theater/naughty-bawdy-stars-reborn-once-seedy-theaters-now-restored-lead-development.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Though the theater was not protected as a city landmark, the city and state governments had required that significant portions of the facade be preserved.<ref name="nyt-1996-12-21" /> The Liberty was used for a staged reading of T. S. Eliot's poem ''The Waste Land'', a solo performance by Fiona Shaw, in late 1996.<ref name="nyt-1996-11-18">{{Cite news |last=Brantley |first=Ben |date=November 18, 1996 |title=Memory and Desire: Hearing Eliot's Passion |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/18/theater/memory-and-desire-hearing-eliot-s-passion.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175423/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/18/theater/memory-and-desire-hearing-eliot-s-passion.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p1441184303">{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Donald |date=November 21, 1996 |title=Leisure & Arts: Wondrous One-Woman Shows; Coward at His Best Theater |page=A20 |work=Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|1441184303}}}}</ref> The same year, GameWorks negotiated with Forest City Ratner to open a virtual-reality arcade in the theater,<ref name="nyt-1996-12-21" /> although the Liberty remained empty through the late 1990s.<ref name="nyt-1999-02-08">{{Cite news |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |date=February 8, 1999 |title=As Rents Soar, Boom Is Slowed in Times Square |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/08/nyregion/as-rents-soar-boom-is-slowed-in-times-square.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904010359/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/08/nyregion/as-rents-soar-boom-is-slowed-in-times-square.html |archive-date=September 4, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="p221117506">{{cite magazine |last=Armbrust |first=Roger |date=December 3, 1998 |title=$120m Times Square hotel funded |magazine=Back Stage |issn=0005-3635 |volume=39 |issue=48 |page=6 |id={{ProQuest|221117506}}}}</ref> Forest City Ratner erected a Hilton hotel above the theater.<ref name="nyt-1999-03-14">{{Cite news |last=Holusha |first=John |date=March 14, 1999 |title=A First Floor, 200 Feet Above the Ground |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/14/nyregion/a-first-floor-200-feet-above-the-ground.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912020132/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/14/nyregion/a-first-floor-200-feet-above-the-ground.html |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The Liberty Theatre remained largely abandoned in the 2000s, and its facade and auditorium were hidden behind Madame Tussauds' entrance.<ref name="HG p. 122" /><ref name="nyt-2003-07-03">{{Cite news |last=Gussow |first=Mel |date=July 3, 2003 |title=Theater That Uses The City As a Stage |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/03/theater/theater-that-uses-the-city-as-a-stage.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707050307/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/03/theater/theater-that-uses-the-city-as-a-stage.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater was briefly used for Deborah Warner's site-specific art installation ''The Angel Project'' in 2003; at the time, Warner called it the city's "most hidden, anchorite-like, beautiful, walled-upped" building.<ref name="nyt-2003-07-03" /> The Liberty's facade was integrated into the Ripley's Odditorium museum in the mid-2000s, while the auditorium was used by an adjacent Famous Dave's restaurant.<ref name="Culwell-Block 2019">{{cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=July 6, 2019 |title=9 Former Broadway Theatres Still Visible Today |url=https://playbill.com/article/9-former-broadway-theatres-still-visible-today |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Playbill |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321144959/https://playbill.com/article/9-former-broadway-theatres-still-visible-today |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater was renovated in 2011.<ref name="nyt-2013-04-24">{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=C. J. |date=April 24, 2013 |title=New Hosts Fill Companies' Need for Meeting Space |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/realestate/commercial/convene-a-corporate-host-fills-a-need-for-meeting-space.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713030918/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/realestate/commercial/convene-a-corporate-host-fills-a-need-for-meeting-space.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The auditorium was converted to a rental event space,<ref name="Culwell-Block 2019" /><ref name="nyt-2013-04-24" /> and the restaurant portion along 42nd Street became the Liberty Diner.<ref name="nyt-2015-04-30">{{Cite news |last=Collins-Hughes |first=Laura |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Review: 'Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic' Explores the Murky Death of the Actress Olive Thomas |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/theater/review-ziegfelds-midnight-frolic-explores-the-murky-death-of-the-actress-olive-thomas.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929023627/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/theater/review-ziegfelds-midnight-frolic-explores-the-murky-death-of-the-actress-olive-thomas.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Parts of the auditorium were still visible from the restaurant.<ref name="Dailey 2014">{{cite web |last=Dailey |first=Jessica |date=October 8, 2014 |title=Remembering the Lost Theaters of Times Square's 'Deuce' |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2014/10/8/10037820/remembering-the-lost-theaters-of-times-squares-deuce |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=Curbed NY |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929161015/https://ny.curbed.com/2014/10/8/10037820/remembering-the-lost-theaters-of-times-squares-deuce |url-status=dead}}</ref> During 2015, Cynthia von Buhler staged the immersive play ''Speakeasy Dollhouse: Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic'', whose storyline investigates the death of actress Olive Thomas, at the theater.<ref name="BBW Liberty Theatre">{{cite web |author1=BWW News Desk |date=April 18, 2015 |title=Speakeasy Dollhouse Transforms Times Square's Liberty Theater for ZIEGFELD'S MIDNIGHT FROLIC, Beginning Tonight |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Speakeasy-Dollhouse-to-Transform-Times-Squares-Liberty-Theater-for-ZIEGFELDS-MIDNIGHT-FROLIC-This-Spring-20150417 |access-date=March 30, 2016 |website=BroadwayWorld |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415215639/http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/Speakeasy-Dollhouse-to-Transform-Times-Squares-Liberty-Theater-for-ZIEGFELDS-MIDNIGHT-FROLIC-This-Spring-20150417 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-2015-04-30" /> The Liberty Diner and the auditorium closed after the operators lost the lease in 2015.<ref name="Untapped New York">{{cite web |last=Young |first=Michelle |title=Remnants of the Lost Liberty Theater in Times Square Hidden in Plain Sight |website=Untapped New York |date=May 29, 2018 |url=https://untappedcities.com/2018/05/29/remnants-of-the-lost-liberty-theater-in-times-square-hidden-in-plain-sight/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824014738/https://untappedcities.com/2018/05/29/remnants-of-the-lost-liberty-theater-in-times-square-hidden-in-plain-sight/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Brookfield Asset Management took over Forest City's properties at the end of 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barger |first=Kerry |date=2018-12-05 |title=With $6.8B Forest City deal set to close, Brookfield says it's now the biggest commercial landlord in town |url=https://therealdeal.com/2018/12/05/with-6-8b-forest-city-deal-set-to-close-brookfield-says-its-now-the-biggest-commercial-landlord-in-town/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=The Real Deal New York |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116184012/https://therealdeal.com/2018/12/05/with-6-8b-forest-city-deal-set-to-close-brookfield-says-its-now-the-biggest-commercial-landlord-in-town/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ripley's closed permanently in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and real-estate agency Cushman and Wakefield was marketing the Liberty Theatre for lease.<ref name="trd-2021-03-17">{{Cite web |last=Manrodt |first=Alexis |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Ripley's, Modell's and the Liberty Theater Abandon 234 West 42nd Street |url=https://therealdeal.com/2021/03/17/believe-it-or-not-ripleys-modells-liberty-theater-abandon-42nd-street-home/ |access-date=September 29, 2022 |website=The Real Deal New York |language=en-US |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023055826/https://therealdeal.com/2021/03/17/believe-it-or-not-ripleys-modells-liberty-theater-abandon-42nd-street-home/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During late 2022, the Terror Haunted House operated within the space formerly used for Ripley's.<ref name="Ingenthron 2022">{{cite web |last=Ingenthron |first=Blair |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Immersive Haunted House Experience TERROR Comes to Times Square This Fall |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Immersive-Haunted-House-Experience-TERROR-Comes-to-Times-Square-This-Fall-20220917 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922213654/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Immersive-Haunted-House-Experience-TERROR-Comes-to-Times-Square-This-Fall-20220917 |url-status=live}}</ref> The theater was then leased in October 2024 to Broadway 4D for an entertainment attraction.<ref>{{cite web | last=Weiss | first=Lois | title=New entertainment venture leases 25K sf at The Deuce | website=The Real Deal | date=September 30, 2024 | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/09/30/entertainment-venture-coming-to-the-deuce-in-times-square/ | access-date=October 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Durso | first=Isabelle | title=Broadway 4D Opening Entertainment Attraction at 234 West 42nd Street | website=Commercial Observer | date=September 30, 2024 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/09/broadway-4d-lease-234-west-42nd-street/ | access-date=October 2, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable productions== Productions are listed by the year of their first performance. This list only includes Broadway shows; it does not include films screened there.<ref name="ibdb-liberty"/><ref name="Playbill Liberty"/> {{div col|colwidth=30em}} {| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" |+ {{sronly|Notable productions at the theater}} ! width=20% scope="col" | Opening year !! width=60% scope="col" | Name !! width=20% scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Refs.|References}} |- | 1904 || ''Little Johnny Jones'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1904b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Little Johnny Jones – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=November 7, 1904 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/little-johnny-jones-5944 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623031757/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/little-johnny-jones-5944 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Little Johnny Jones (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1904) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/little-johnny-jones-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006678 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619203030/https://playbill.com/production/little-johnny-jones-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006678 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1904-11-08" /> |- | 1905 || ''The Taming of the Shrew'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1905b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Taming of the Shrew – Broadway Play – 1905 Revival |website=IBDB |date=February 6, 1905 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-taming-of-the-shrew-5830 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115111322/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-taming-of-the-shrew-5830 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Taming of the Shrew (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1905) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-taming-of-the-shrew-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006675 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209130546/https://www.playbill.com/production/the-taming-of-the-shrew-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006675 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1905 || ''The School for Scandal'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1905c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The School for Scandal – Broadway Play – 1905 Revival |website=IBDB |date=February 13, 1905 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-school-for-scandal-5831 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613013944/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-school-for-scandal-5831 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The School for Scandal (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1905) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-school-for-scandal-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006674 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209055831/https://www.playbill.com/production/the-school-for-scandal-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006674 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1905 || ''The Education of Mr. Pipp'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1905d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Education of Mr. Pipp – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=February 20, 1905 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-education-of-mr-pipp-6028 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314105853/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-education-of-mr-pipp-6028 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Education of Mr. Pipp (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1905) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-education-of-mr-pippbroadway-liberty-theatre-1905 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174055/https://playbill.com/production/the-education-of-mr-pippbroadway-liberty-theatre-1905 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1905 || ''The Gingerbread Man'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1904 u869">{{cite web | author=The Broadway League | title=Liberty Theatre – New York, NY | website=IBDB | date=October 10, 1904 | url=https://www.ibdb.com/theatre/liberty-theatre-1235 | access-date=August 4, 2023|postscript=none}}; {{cite web | title=The Gingerbread Man (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1905) | website=Playbill | date=December 14, 2015 | url=https://playbill.com/production/the-gingerbread-manbroadway-liberty-theatre-1905 | access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Dietz2022/> |- | 1906 || ''The Clansman'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1906a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Clansman – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=January 8, 1906 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-clansman-6153 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518225313/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-clansman-6153 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Clansman (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1906) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-clansmanbroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174038/https://playbill.com/production/the-clansmanbroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p571765133">{{cite news |date=January 9, 1906 |title=A White and Black Play: Liberty Theatre |page=7 |work=New-York Tribune |id={{ProQuest|571765133}}}}</ref> |- | 1906 || ''Lincoln'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1906c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Lincoln – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=March 26, 1906 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lincoln-6189 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201065410/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lincoln-6189 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Lincoln (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1906) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/lincolnbroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174021/https://playbill.com/production/lincolnbroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p571672210" /> |- | 1906 || ''Nurse Marjorie'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1906f">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Nurse Marjorie – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=October 3, 1906 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/nurse-marjorie-6261 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730054123/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/nurse-marjorie-6261 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Nurse Marjorie (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1906) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/nurse-marjoriebroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174542/https://playbill.com/production/nurse-marjoriebroadway-liberty-theatre-1906 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1907 || ''Salomy Jane'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1907a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Salomy Jane – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=January 19, 1907 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/salomy-jane-6315 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613082155/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/salomy-jane-6315 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Salomy Jane (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1907) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/salomy-janebroadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174536/https://playbill.com/production/salomy-janebroadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1907 || ''Merely Mary Ann'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1907b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Merely Mary Ann – Broadway Play – 1907 Revival |website=IBDB |date=February 27, 1907 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/merely-mary-ann-5811 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128194946/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/merely-mary-ann-5811 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Merely Mary Ann (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1907) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/merely-mary-ann-broadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> |- | 1907 || ''Ziegfeld Follies of 1907'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1907c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Ziegfeld Follies of 1907 – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=July 8, 1907 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/ziegfeld-follies-of-1907-6349 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126055925/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/ziegfeld-follies-of-1907-6349 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Ziegfeld Follies of 1907 (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1907) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/ziegfeld-follies-of-1907-broadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174537/https://playbill.com/production/ziegfeld-follies-of-1907-broadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1907 || ''Polly of the Circus'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1907h">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Polly of the Circus – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=December 23, 1907 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/polly-of-the-circus-6491 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509001015/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/polly-of-the-circus-6491 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Polly of the Circus (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1907) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/polly-of-the-circusbroadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174537/https://playbill.com/production/polly-of-the-circusbroadway-liberty-theatre-1907 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1907-12-24" /> |- | 1907 || ''Lola from Berlin'' || <ref>{{cite book|first1=Dan|last1=Dietz|title=The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2022|isbn=9781538168943|chapter= Lola from Berlin}}</ref> |- | 1908 || ''The Traveling Salesman'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1908a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Traveling Salesman – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=August 10, 1908 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-traveling-salesman-6568 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922204202/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-traveling-salesman-6568 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Traveling Salesman (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1908) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-traveling-salesmanbroadway-liberty-theatre-1908 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174537/https://playbill.com/production/the-traveling-salesmanbroadway-liberty-theatre-1908 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1910 || ''The Arcadians'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1910a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Arcadians – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=January 17, 1910 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-arcadians-7090 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725210830/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-arcadians-7090 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Arcadians (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1910) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/productions/the-arcadiansbroadway-liberty-theatre-1910 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174537/https://playbill.com/productions/the-arcadiansbroadway-liberty-theatre-1910 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1910-01-18" /> |- | 1911 || ''The Fascinating Widow'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1911a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Fascinating Widow – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=September 11, 1911 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-fascinating-widow-7337 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514184201/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-fascinating-widow-7337 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Fascinating Widow (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1911) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-fascinating-widow-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006637 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416140926/http://www.playbill.com/production/the-fascinating-widow-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006637 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1911 || ''The Littlest Rebel'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1911c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Littlest Rebel – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=November 14, 1911 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-littlest-rebel-7387 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205115525/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-littlest-rebel-7387 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Littlest Rebel (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1911) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-littlest-rebel-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006635 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174536/https://playbill.com/production/the-littlest-rebel-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006635 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1912 || ''Milestones'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1912e">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Milestones – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=September 17, 1912 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/milestones-7497 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326123535/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/milestones-7497 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Milestones (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1912) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/milestones-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006630 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117203056/https://www.playbill.com/production/milestones-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006630 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1912-09-18" /> |- | 1913 || ''Rob Roy'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1913b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Rob Roy – Broadway Musical – 1913 Revival |website=IBDB |date=September 15, 1913 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/rob-roy-7668 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620223910/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/rob-roy-7668 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Rob Roy (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1913) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/rob-roy-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006628 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174538/https://playbill.com/production/rob-roy-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006628 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1913-09-16" /> |- | 1913 || ''Sweethearts'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1913d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Sweethearts – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=September 8, 1913 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sweethearts-7664 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523201942/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sweethearts-7664 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Sweethearts (Broadway, New Amsterdam Theatre, 1913) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/sweethearts-new-amsterdam-theatre-vault-0000008791 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528081657/https://www.playbill.com/production/sweethearts-new-amsterdam-theatre-vault-0000008791 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''General John Regan'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=General John Regan – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=November 10, 1913 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/general-john-regan-7729 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927004025/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/general-john-regan-7729 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=General John Regan (Broadway, Hudson Theatre, 1913) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/general-john-regan-hudson-theatre-vault-0000006625 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116181825/https://www.playbill.com/production/general-john-regan-hudson-theatre-vault-0000006625 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''Sari'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Sari – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=January 13, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sari-7028 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619010502/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/sari-7028 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Sari (Broadway, New Amsterdam Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/productions/saribroadway-new-amsterdam-theatre-1914 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174538/https://playbill.com/productions/saribroadway-new-amsterdam-theatre-1914 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Lady Windermere's Fan – Broadway Play – 1914 Revival |website=IBDB |date=March 30, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lady-windermeres-fan-7989 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708035433/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lady-windermeres-fan-7989 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Lady Windermere's Fan (Broadway, Hudson Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/lady-windermeres-fan-hudson-theatre-vault-0000005967 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124192134/https://www.playbill.com/production/lady-windermeres-fan-hudson-theatre-vault-0000005967 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''He Comes Up Smiling'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=He Comes Up Smiling – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=September 16, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/he-comes-up-smiling-8036 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718084416/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/he-comes-up-smiling-8036 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=He Comes Up Smiling (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/he-comes-up-smiling-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006623 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174538/https://playbill.com/production/he-comes-up-smiling-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006623 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''Pygmalion'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914e">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Pygmalion – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=October 12, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/pygmalion-8052 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922074704/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/pygmalion-8052 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Pygmalion (Broadway, International Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/pygmalion-park-theatre-vault-0000007757 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308130639/https://www.playbill.com/production/pygmalion-park-theatre-vault-0000007757 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''Twelfth Night'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914f">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Twelfth Night – Broadway Play – 1914 Revival |website=IBDB |date=November 23, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/twelfth-night-8095 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207184414/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/twelfth-night-8095 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Twelfth Night (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/twelfth-night-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006621 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174539/https://playbill.com/production/twelfth-night-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006621 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1914 || ''The Silent Voice'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1914g">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Silent Voice – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=December 29, 1914 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-silent-voice-8117 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128201653/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-silent-voice-8117 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Silent Voice (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1914) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-silent-voice-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006620 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207015511/https://www.playbill.com/production/the-silent-voice-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006620 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1917 || ''The Imaginary Invalid'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1917a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Imaginary Invalid – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=March 19, 1917 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-imaginary-invalid-8521 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617001714/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-imaginary-invalid-8521 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Imaginary Invalid (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1917) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-imaginary-invalid-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006616 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174539/https://playbill.com/production/the-imaginary-invalid-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006616 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1917 || ''Hitchy-Koo of 1917'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1917d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Hitchy-Koo [1917] – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=June 7, 1917 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/hitchy-koo-1917-8555 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922000132/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/hitchy-koo-1917-8555 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Hitchy-Koo [1917] (Broadway, Sam H. Harris Theatre, 1917) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/hitchy-koo-1917-cohan-and-harris-vault-0000002316 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313032629/https://playbill.com/production/hitchy-koo-1917-cohan-and-harris-vault-0000002316 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1917-08-28" /> |- | 1917 || ''Going Up'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1917h">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Going Up – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=December 25, 1917 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/going-up-8647 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906231006/http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=8647 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Going Up (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1917) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/going-up-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006610 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218183651/http://www.playbill.com/production/going-up-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006610 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1917-12-26" /> |- | 1919 || ''George White's Scandals (1919)'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1919c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=George White's Scandals [1919] – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=June 2, 1919 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/george-whites-scandals-1919-8881 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111173137/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/george-whites-scandals-1919-8881 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=George White's Scandals [1919] (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1919) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/george-whites-scandals-1919-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006606 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218121130/https://www.playbill.com/production/george-whites-scandals-1919-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006606 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1919 || ''Hitchy-Koo of 1919'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1919d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Hitchy-Koo [1919] – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=October 6, 1919 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/hitchy-koo-1919-6701 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620123908/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/hitchy-koo-1919-6701 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Hitchy-Koo [1919] (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1919) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/hitchy-koo-1919-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006605 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711201023/https://playbill.com/production/hitchy-koo-1919-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006605 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1919-10-07" /> |- | 1919 || ''Caesar's Wife'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1919e">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Caesar's Wife – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=November 24, 1919 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/caesars-wife-6727 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221030313/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/caesars-wife-6727 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Caesar's Wife (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1919) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/caesars-wife-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006604 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924235630/https://playbill.com/production/caesars-wife-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006604 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1920 || ''The Night Boat'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1920a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The Night Boat – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=February 2, 1920 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-night-boat-6767 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118083057/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-night-boat-6767 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The Night Boat (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1920) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-night-boat-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006603 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829035221/http://www.playbill.com/production/the-night-boat-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006603 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1920-02-03" /> |- | 1921 || ''George White's Scandals (1921)'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1921a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=George White's Scandals [1921] – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=July 11, 1921 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/george-whites-scandals-1921-12595 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520231311/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/george-whites-scandals-1921-12595 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=George White's Scandals [1921] (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1921) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/george-whites-scandals-1921-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006600 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927201715/https://playbill.com/production/george-whites-scandals-1921-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006600 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1921-07-12" /> |- | 1922 || ''To the Ladies'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1922a">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=To the Ladies – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=February 20, 1922 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/to-the-ladies-12767 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926132350/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/to-the-ladies-12767 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=To the Ladies (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1922) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/to-the-ladies-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006598 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209125930/https://www.playbill.com/production/to-the-ladies-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006598 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1922-02-21" /> |- | 1922 || ''Little Nellie Kelly'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1922c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Little Nellie Kelly – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=November 13, 1922 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/little-nellie-kelly-9149 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122021118/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/little-nellie-kelly-9149 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Little Nellie Kelly (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1922) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/little-nellie-kelly-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006596 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222172028/https://www.playbill.com/production/little-nellie-kelly-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006596 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1922-11-14" /> |- | 1924 || ''Lady, Be Good!'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1924c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Lady, Be Good! – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=December 1, 1924 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lady-be-good-9638 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221132400/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lady-be-good-9638 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Lady, Be Good (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1924) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/lady-be-good-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006590 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717214239/https://www.playbill.com/production/lady-be-good-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006590 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1924-12-02" /> |- | 1925 || ''The City Chap'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1925c">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=The City Chap – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=October 26, 1925 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-city-chap-9932 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702061806/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-city-chap-9932 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=The City Chap (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1925) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/the-city-chap-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006587 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118160355/https://playbill.com/production/the-city-chap-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006587 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1925 || ''Tip-Toes'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1925d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Tip-Toes – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=December 28, 1925 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/tip-toes-9978 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511104257/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/tip-toes-9978 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Tip-Toes (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1925) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/tip-toes-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006586 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510232850/http://www.playbill.com/production/tip-toes-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006586 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="p1112885502" /> |- | 1928 || ''Blackbirds of 1928'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1928b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Blackbirds of 1928 – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=May 9, 1928 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/blackbirds-of-1928-10390 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128172153/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/blackbirds-of-1928-10390 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Blackbirds of 1928 (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1928) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/blackbirds-of-1928-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006579 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926080837/https://www.playbill.com/production/blackbirds-of-1928-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006579 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1929-06-10" /> |- | 1929 || ''Subway Express'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1929b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Subway Express – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=September 24, 1929 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/subway-express-10933 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926105846/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/subway-express-10933 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Subway Express (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1929) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/subway-express-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006575 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120150954/https://www.playbill.com/production/subway-express-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006575 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1929-09-25" /> |- | 1930 || ''Volpone'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1930d">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Volpone – Broadway Play – 1930 Revival |website=IBDB |date=March 10, 1930 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/volpone-11074 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107215531/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/volpone-11074 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Volpone (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1930) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/volpone-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006571 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001174539/https://playbill.com/production/volpone-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006571 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1930-03-11" /> |- | 1930 || ''Brown Buddies'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1930f">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Brown Buddies – Broadway Musical – Original |website=IBDB |date=October 7, 1930 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/brown-buddies-11159 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128172151/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/brown-buddies-11159 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Brown Buddies (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1930) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/brown-buddies-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006569 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120234341/https://www.playbill.com/production/brown-buddies-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006569 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1930-10-08" /> |- | 1932 || ''Cradle Snatchers'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1932b">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Cradle Snatchers – Broadway Play – 1932 Revival |website=IBDB |date=November 16, 1932 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/cradle-snatchers-11676 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211014921/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/cradle-snatchers-11676 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Cradle Snatchers (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1932) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/cradle-snatchers-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006564 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131025209/http://www.playbill.com/production/cradle-snatchers-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006564 |url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 1933 || ''Masks and Faces'' || <ref name="The Broadway League 1933">{{cite web |author=The Broadway League |title=Masks and Faces – Broadway Play – Original |website=IBDB |date=March 18, 1933 |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/masks-and-faces-11742 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924163042/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/masks-and-faces-11742 |url-status=live|postscript=none}}; {{cite web |title=Masks and Faces (Broadway, Liberty Theatre, 1933) |website=Playbill |date=December 14, 2015 |url=https://playbill.com/production/masks-and-faces-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006563 |access-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726135526/http://www.playbill.com/production/masks-and-faces-liberty-theatre-vault-0000006563 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1933-03-22" /> |} {{div col end}}

== See also == * List of Broadway theaters

== References == ===Notes=== {{notelist}}

===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Sources=== * {{Cite Routledge Broadway}} * {{Cite report |url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1352.pdf |title=Lyceum Theater Interior |date=December 8, 1987 |publisher=New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |ref={{harvid|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1987}}}} * {{cite book |last1=Henderson |first1=Mary C. |url=https://archive.org/details/storyof42ndstree00hend/mode/2up |title=The story of 42nd Street: the theaters, shows, characters, and scandals of the world's most notorious street |last2=Greene |first2=Alexis |date=2008 |publisher=Back Stage Books |isbn=978-0-8230-3072-9 |publication-place=New York |oclc=190860159 |url-access=registration}} * {{Stern: New York|edition=2000}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Liberty Theatre (New York City)}} * {{IBDB venue|1235}}

{{Broadway theatres}} {{Times Square}} {{Midtown South, Manhattan}}

Category:1904 establishments in New York City Category:42nd Street (Manhattan) Category:Former Broadway theatres Category:Former theatres in Manhattan Category:Theater District, Manhattan Category:Theatres completed in 1904 Category:1900s architecture in the United States