Research Catalog
Portman Hotel dispute [unedited footage]
- Title
- Portman Hotel dispute [videorecording] : [unedited footage] / [produced for] CBS News.
- Publication
- New York, 1982.
Items in the Library & Off-site
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3 Items
| Status | Vol/Date | Format | Access | Call Number | Item Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Not available - Please for assistance. | Videodisc 3 | Moving image | By appointment only | NCOX 5190 Videodisc 3 | Offsite |
Not available - Please for assistance. | Videodisc 2 | Moving image | By appointment only | NCOX 5190 Videodisc 2 | Offsite |
Not available - Please for assistance. | Videodisc 1 | Moving image | By appointment only | NCOX 5190 Videodisc 1 | Offsite |
Details
- Additional Authors
- Description
- 3 videodiscs (DVD) (104 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4 in.
- Summary
- Unedited footage concerning the construction of the $300 million Portman hotel/theater complex in the Broadway theater district. The disputed development project called for the destruction of two historic theaters. Includes interviews with individuals involved in the Portman project and depiction of the activities of the group called Save the Theaters, who sought to block the destruction of the Morosco Theatre, one of the theaters slated for destruction.
- Donor/Sponsor
- Gift of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.
- Series Statement
- Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection
- Subjects
- Theatrical producers and directors > Political and social views
- Political participation > New York (State) > New York
- Political activists > New York (State) > New York
- Portman Hotel (New York, N.Y.)
- League of American Theatres and Producers
- Interviews
- Helen Hayes Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
- Papp, Joseph > Political and social views
- Morosco Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
- New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater > Save the Theaters
- Rouse, Birckhead, Jr > Interviews
- Historic buildings > New York (State) > New York
- Sabinson, Harvey > Interviews
- Broadway (New York, N.Y.)
- Voight, Jon, 1938- > Political and social views
- Television
- Theaters > New York (State) > New York
- Landmarks at risk
- Times Square (New York, N.Y.)
- Genre/Form
- Television.
- Interviews.
- Note
- These videos separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.
- Title derived from label on source tape container.
- Videodisc one: 16 min. Videodisc two: 56 min. Videodisc three: 32 min.
- Videocassette one: Interview with Harvey Sabinson, director of special projects for the League of American Theatres and Producers (interviewer unidentified). Sabinson discusses his group's position on the destruction of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters for the construction of the Portman Hotel; the current state of the two theaters; the alternative plan submitted by the group Save the Theaters; and the impact of the Portman project on Times Square.
- Videocassette two: Interview with Birckhead Rouse, Jr., project executive for Portman Properties. Rouse discsusses the feasibility of the alternative construction plan to build the Portman Hotel over the two existing theaters; the benefits of his project; the notion that the project will thwart the production of "serious" plays, as opposed to musicals; and the architectural criticism of the project. Also includes footage of Times Square; protestors marching in front of the Morosco Theater; interviews with demolition worker Pete Schwab and protestor Joseph Laurie; the makeshift stage erected by Save the Theaters in front of the Morosco Theater, Chief Commanding officer Milton Schwartz, Manhattan South, theatrical producer Joseph Papp speaking to protestors about their upcoming action; volunteer coordinator Abbe Levin; Actor Jon Voight speaking to protestors from the stage; interview with city councilman H. Jordan Stern.
- Videocassette three: Footage of Papp speaking to protestors. He announces plans to block demolition machinery following upcoming court decision, gives instructions for upcoming action and informs of possible fines and sentences; discusses Save the Theaters' plans for the weekend, including a reading Tennessee Williams' Period of adjustment. Also includes the interviewer (unidentified) speaking in front of demolition site and depiction of protest site. Video ends abruptly.
- Event (note)
- Videotaped for WCBS-TV in New York, N.Y. on March 18 and 19, 1982.
- Biography (note)
- Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of a grassroots effort, begun in 1982, called Save the Theaters, to stop the destruction of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters for the construction of the Portman Hotel. Papp recruited Merle Debusky to organize publicity and enlisted dozens of celebrated actors in his campaign, which he conducted from a suite in the nearby Piccadilly Hotel. On March 4, 1982 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction preventing demolition of the theaters, and a nineteen-day "Save the Morosco and the Helen Hayes Theater Vigil" began. New York Shakespeare Festival staffers erected a stage on 45th Street in front of the Morosco, where excerpts from the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors. On March 19 the state Supreme Court rejected a petition to halt demolition and Papp threatened physically block the demolition of the Morosco. On March 22, Papp led a group of 200 people to a lot to block access to the demolition machinery. The "Morosco 200" were arrested on 45th Street and taken to a local police precinct. Demoltion began on March 23. On April 20 charges against the group were dropped. Ultimately Papp's intervention had failed to save the theaters. During the next three years the producer spoke with officials and met with city planners about having the Broadway theater zone declared an historic district.
- Call Number
- NCOX 5190
- OCLC
- NYPG06-F214
- Title
- Portman Hotel dispute [videorecording] : [unedited footage] / [produced for] CBS News.
- Imprint
- New York, 1982.
- Country of Producing Entity
- United States.
- Series
- Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection
- Event
- Videotaped for WCBS-TV in New York, N.Y. on March 18 and 19, 1982.
- Biography
- Theatrical producer Joseph Papp was the organizer of a grassroots effort, begun in 1982, called Save the Theaters, to stop the destruction of the Morosco and Helen Hayes theaters for the construction of the Portman Hotel. Papp recruited Merle Debusky to organize publicity and enlisted dozens of celebrated actors in his campaign, which he conducted from a suite in the nearby Piccadilly Hotel. On March 4, 1982 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction preventing demolition of the theaters, and a nineteen-day "Save the Morosco and the Helen Hayes Theater Vigil" began. New York Shakespeare Festival staffers erected a stage on 45th Street in front of the Morosco, where excerpts from the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays that had originated in the theaters were read by actors. On March 19 the state Supreme Court rejected a petition to halt demolition and Papp threatened physically block the demolition of the Morosco. On March 22, Papp led a group of 200 people to a lot to block access to the demolition machinery. The "Morosco 200" were arrested on 45th Street and taken to a local police precinct. Demoltion began on March 23. On April 20 charges against the group were dropped. Ultimately Papp's intervention had failed to save the theaters. During the next three years the producer spoke with officials and met with city planners about having the Broadway theater zone declared an historic district.
- Added Author
- Sabinson, Harvey, interviewee.Rouse, Birckhead, Jr., interviewee.Papp, Joseph, speaker.Voight, Jon, 1938- speaker.New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater.WCBS-TV (Television station : New York, N.Y.) producer.
- Research Call Number
- NCOX 5190