Ideal Theatre

693 Eighth Avenue (at 49th street)

New York, NY 10036

Opened: 1916

Seats: 598

Architects: Eisendrath and Horwitz

40.758466, -73.989420

This Beaux Arts movie theatre was known as the Squire, New Cameo, and Adonis before being named The Playpen sometime in 1990s. It did show art films in the mid 20th century but most of its life in its final few decades involved some variation on orgasms.

The theatre was purchased by Tishman Realty in July of 2007 and was demolished in mid December of 2007 to free up this prime piece of real estate for a hotel. See photos HERE of the demolition. A page with history on the theatre and an unsuccessful petition effort is at Committee to Save the Playpen. The redevelopment project also included demolition of a 1950s/60s-era parking garage just to the west.

The demolition area also included hideous modernist parking garage around the corner at 306 West 44th Street.

01/22/2002 16:00:26
Ideal Theatre
10/03/2006 15:50:00
Ideal Theatre
10/03/2006 15:50:07
Ideal Theatre
10/17/2007 17:57:53
Ideal Theatre
10/17/2007 17:58:53
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:01:19
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:01:56
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:02:24
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:02:42
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:02:50
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:05:33
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:03:23
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:03:30
Ideal Theatre
10/19/2007 13:05:50
Ideal Theatre
10/17/2007 18:01:25
306 West 44th Street
10/17/2007 18:00:53
306 West 44th Street
10/17/2007 18:02:26
306 West 44th Street
10/17/2007 18:02:08
306 West 44th Street
02/15/2008 17:02:50
Demolition permits
02/15/2008 17:03:49
After demolition
02/15/2008 17:04:10
After demolition
02/15/2008 17:05:39
After demolition
02/15/2008 17:06:33
After demolition
04/15/2008 18:57:16
After demolition
05/02/2008 16:14:58
After demolition
04/05/2009 17:18:28
New construction
04/05/2009 17:19:57
New construction
06/11/2009 13:33:17
New construction
06/11/2009 13:33:27
New construction
06/11/2009 13:34:12
New construction
06/11/2009 13:35:25
New construction
06/11/2009 13:35:37
New construction
06/11/2009 13:35:47
New construction
06/11/2009 13:36:50
New construction
06/11/2009 13:37:45
New construction
08/05/2010 11:36:54
InterContinental New York Times Square
08/05/2010 11:38:40
InterContinental New York Times Square
08/05/2010 11:39:50
InterContinental New York Times Square
08/05/2010 11:40:28
InterContinental New York Times Square
08/05/2010 11:40:38
InterContinental New York Times Square

Next: Jerome Theatre