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Modern Times Clippings 228/382

New York Times, New York, January 14, 1936.

SAMUEL L. Rothafel.

(...) New York Times Studio Photo, New York Times,

Jan. 14, 1936

„In his suite at the Hotel Gotham“

Editorial content. „S. L. ROTHAFEL DIES;

      ,ROXY‘ OF THEATRE

      Transformed Movie Theatres From Dingy Halls

      to Now Customary Palaces.

      GAINED FAME OVER RADIO

      Innovator of Modern Screen and Stage Effects

      Stricken in Sleep at Hotel.

      Samuel Lionel Rothafel, radio and motion picture entrepreneur,

known to millions as ,Roxy,‘ died of heart disease early

yesterday morning in his suite at the Hotel Gotham, Fifty-fifth

Street. He was 53 years old.

      Mr. Rothafel suffered an attack of angina pectoris about

eight months ago. Recently his health had seemed

good, and on Sunday he played golf. He returned to the hotel,

where he had made his home since Oct. 1, about 1 A. M.

and retired. Two maids found him dead in his bed

at 9:30 A. M.“ (...)

      „Transformed Movie Theatres.

      In the transformation of the most modern of showhouses,

the motion-picture theatres, from the humble and

often dingy halls to the present-day cathedral-like motion-picture

palaces, the dominating figure was Roxy.

      He provided more elaborate settings for increasingly better

film plays and introduced symphony orchestras, ballets,

color effects and individual artists ,in person‘ into a theatre

which had been regarded as exclusively for motion

pictures.

      His ideas and prophecies were right, as subsequent events

proved. Roxy and his Gang, from the first halting attempts

at radio broadcasting when that was in its infancy, became known

to everybody who possessed a radio set.

      Thousands of those who had heard his cheery ,Hello,

everybody!‘ as master of ceremonies on the great

theatres he directed became anxious to come to New York

to see this man and his ,gang‘ and his super-show

houses. They saw his thrilling light and color effects and

marveled. His influence could be felt everywhere

in the city, whether it was at the Rivoli, Rialto, Strand, Capitol

or Roxy Theatres or at the Radio City Music Hall, the

largest in the world of its kind.“ (...)

      S. L. Rothafel was manager of the Strand Theatre, where

      the early Chaplin films started in New York.

      Modern Times world premiere is in New York Feb. 5, 1936

      at the Rivoli Theatre.

      Rivoli Theatre, Broadway at 49th Street, New York.

Redaktioneller Inhalt

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