Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (formerly the Royale Theatre and the John Golden Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 242 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1927, the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp in a Spanish style and was built for real-estate developer Irwin S. Chanin. It has 1,100 seats across two levels and is operated by The Shubert Organization. Both the facade and the auditorium interior are New York City landmarks.
Royale Theatre | |
Showing The Ferryman, 2019 | |
| Address | 242 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) Manhattan, New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°45′31″N 73°59′16″W |
| Public transit | Subway: Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal |
| Owner | Jacobs Theatre LLC |
| Operator | The Shubert Organization |
| Type | Broadway |
| Capacity | 1,092 |
| Production | The Outsiders |
| Construction | |
| Opened | January 11, 1927 |
| Architect | Herbert J. Krapp |
| Website | |
| shubert | |
New York City Landmark | |
| Designated | December 15, 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1372 |
| Designated entity | Facade |
New York City Landmark | |
| Designated | December 15, 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1373 |
| Designated entity | Auditorium interior |
The facade is designed in a Spanish style with golden brick, terracotta, and stone and is divided into two sections. The western portion of the facade contains the theater's entrance, with five double-height arched windows and a curved pediment above. The eastern portion is the stage house and is topped by a loggia. The auditorium contains Spanish-style detailing, a large balcony, and an expansive vaulted ceiling. The auditorium's interior features murals by Willy Pogany as well as several box seats.
The Royale, Majestic, and Masque (now John Golden) theaters, along with the Lincoln Hotel, were all developed by the Chanin brothers and designed by Krapp as part of a theater/hotel complex. The Royale was the first of the three theaters to be completed, opening on January 11, 1927. The Shubert family took over the Royale in 1930 but subsequently went into receivership, and producer John Golden leased the theater in 1932. Golden renamed the theater after himself in 1934, but the Shuberts took over in 1936 and leased the theater to CBS Radio. The Royale was restored as a legitimate theater under its original name in 1940. The theater was renamed for longtime Shubert Organization president Bernard B. Jacobs in 2005.