Modern Times 1935 1936 1937 next previous
Modern Times Clippings 229/382
New York Times, New York, January 14, 1936.
S. L. Rothafel
(...) Photo, Motion Picture News, March 3, 1928
& Cinema Tycoon and Radio Man
„Roxy“ at the Capitol Theatre, New York, undated
& Radio Tribute to „Roxy“
A tribute to the memory of the late S. L. (Roxy) Rothafel
will be broadcast by WMCA and associated stations
of the Inter-City Group at 9:30 to 10 o‘clock tonight. The memorial
will be held in the main ballroom of the Grand Street
Boys Association clubhouse on 55th St. with the musical
background furnished by a symphony of 40 musicians,
former members of the orchestra used on radio programs
under „Roxy‘s“ proteges. (...)
Funeral services for „Roxy“ were held yesterday morning
at the Central Synagogue. A squad of U. S. marines
escorted the body, with burial in Linden Hills Cemetery.
(...) Film Daily, Jan. 16, 1936
& Nickolas Muray (photographer), S. L. Rothafel
in dark suit and fedora, Vanity Fair
& S. L. Rothapfel of the Capitol theatre, New York City,
employing a special voice amplifying apparatus
known as the „public address“ system for directing rehearsals.
This apparatus has decided advantages over methods
used in the past.
(...) Photo, Motion Picture News, Oct. 13, 1923
& His Life Counted
Theatrical history in recent years has brought few
more interesting figures to the spotlight than Samuel L. Rothafel,
or ,Roxy‘ as he had become known to the nation.
A showman in the true sense of the word, he knew how to give
the public not only what it thought it liked, but what it
ought to like – and made it like it.
His influence was distinctly on the better side of entertainment
for the masses; far back in those days when as Samuel
Rothapfel (he used a „p“ in his name then) he was helping
to put over the first of the „feature“ motion pictures,
he made himself felt as a producer with ideals that extended
beyond the range of the box office. (...)
Mr. Rothafel was in the tradition of the older showmen
who worked their way to prominence from small
beginnings, and he was in the tradition of the newer school
in his instinctive feeling for taste and beauty. He will
not be forgotten.
(...) Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York,
Jan. 15, 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
Modern Times 1935 1936 1937 next previous
