Biltmore Theater
Why it's listed
Built in 1925-26 on West 47th Street, the Biltmore Theater is a Broadway playhouse in the Times Square theater district. The Chanin Organization, a major theater builder of the 1920s, commissioned it, and Herbert J. Krapp, who designed almost half of Broadway's theaters, was the architect. The facade combines glazed brick, terra-cotta ornament and a rusticated base in a neo-Italian Renaissance design, with pilasters, a dentilated cornice and a balustraded parapet. Inside, a horseshoe-shaped auditorium has delicate Adamesque plasterwork, pseudo boxes framed by columns, and an oval dome. The interior is described as the last and most beautiful Adamesque interior Krapp designed for a Broadway theater. The building was designated a New York City interior landmark in 1987 and was renovated and reopened in 2003 as the home of the Manhattan Theater Club. It is valued both for its architecture and for its place in the history of American theater.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theater is architecturally significant as a classically detailed work by Krapp, a prolific Broadway theater architect, with an Adamesque-style interior. It is also significant for its role in the performing arts history of the Broadway district and for hosting many well-known plays.
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 04001203, listed October 27, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 261-265 W. 47th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | October 27, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Chanin Organization (builder); Krapp, Herbert J. (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals / Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Substantially restored and rehabilitated, reopened in 2003 as the home of the Manhattan Theater Club; still used as a theater. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76031, -73.98677 (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 04001203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5935075
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.