Beacon Theater and Hotel
Why it's listed
Rising on Broadway between 74th and 75th Streets, this brick and stone complex joins a 24-story hotel, a 15-story hotel wing and a three-story theater auditorium. The plain exterior hides an ornate interior, with a Rococo-inspired rotunda, gilded statues flanking the proscenium, a tent-like painted ceiling and large murals by Valdemar Kjoldgaard. Architect Walter W. Ahlschlager designed it in 1927-28 for Samuel L. Rothafel, known as Roxy, and the Chanin Construction Co., borrowing ideas from his earlier Roxy Theater. Pairing a theater with a hotel let the two share building services and let hotel revenue offset theater costs. Roxy never managed the house; Warner Bros. leased it, and it opened on December 24, 1929. It showed films until 1974 and later became a multi-purpose performing arts center, while the hotel has operated continuously. It is valued as one of Manhattan's last surviving movie palaces.
Significance in brief: The complex is a rare combination of a grand movie palace with a hotel, which saved construction and operating costs and let hotel income help support the theater. It is one of the last surviving movie palaces in Manhattan and is tied to theater manager Samuel L. Rothafel (Roxy), the Chanin Construction Co. and Ahlschlager. Its technical innovations and lavish interior let it keep working as a performing arts center.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001187, listed November 4, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2124 Broadway, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | November 4, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1927-28) |
| Architect / builder | Walter W. Ahlschlager (architect); Chanin Construction Co. (builders and consulting engineers) |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The theater operates as a multi-purpose performing arts center and the hotel continues in its original use. The form lists the property as occupied, in excellent condition and altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.78052, -73.98066 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q264186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.