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Modern Times Clippings 230/382

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

AT OPENING OF RKO ROXY. Notables of the amusement

world arriving for the inaugural performance of the

motion picture theatre in Radio City: Will Hays, head of the

MPPDA, and Mrs. Hays; Mrs M. H. Aylesworth,

Mrs. S. L. Rothafel, wife of „Roxy“; and M. H. Aylesworth,

president of RKO and NBC.

(...) Photo, Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 7, 1933

& „I consider Nanook of the North greatest sensation

of this season,“ says S. L. Rothafel, managing director, Capitol

theatre, New York, where Pathe feature of the arctic

had its premiere. Mr. Rothafel has just celebrated his second

year as Capitol director.

(...) Photo, Exhibitors Herald, July 8, 1922, detail

& Samuel L. Rothafel

      In sharp contrast to the brilliance of his career in the motion

picture theatre, Samuel Lionel Rothafel – known to

millions as „Roxy“ – died unexpectedly in his sleep, in his suite

at New York‘s Gotham Hotel, on Sunday. His wife,

Rosa, was slumbering in an adjoining room. He was found

by the family‘s maid, dead from a heart attack, as she

attempted to awaken him at the orders of Roxy‘s secretary,

Mrs. Hope Williams, widow of J. D. Williams.

(...) Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 18, 1936

„He was in a palace of pleasure“

Editorial content. „ROXY.

      Comparatively few persons knew the name Samuel

Lionel Rothafel. As Roxy, who in the United

States didn‘t know him? He spread the name upon the air.

The palace-cathedral-theaters where his genius

expressed itself proclaimed and echoed it. The master

showman, the artist in grandiose and ,gorgeous‘

effects, must have had to smile sometimes for pride in his fame.

The nickname of the Marines conquered. In his way

he was the Wagner of the film houses. He assembled the arts

for an ever greater greatest show on earth. He was

always building more stately mansions for his idea. Imposing

architecture, splendors, perhaps too splendid, of

decoration, orchestra, like regiments, seas of light – he never

could get enough even if he got too much.

      Every detail must be in keeping. The weak-eyed were

dazzled, the shy abashed, by the magnificence of his

of his ushers; but they were models of deportment. Without

thinking about it  Roxy must have softened the manners

of millions. He was generous to his audiences, giving them

the film, the theatre, the radio and music. At the Roxy

and still more at the Music Hall, one felt like the beggar who

was Caliph for a day. One came in concerned about

the ruptures in his shirt-cuffs. He was soon lulled into the belief

that he was in a palace of pleasure, the paradise of dainty

devices. His night-off was Arabian.

      Roxy‘s energy, fertility, variety and talent for publicity were

incredible. His projects were so ambitious that only

a Roman emperor who held the purse of the State would

have been sufficient coadjutor; and even the Golden

House might have seemed too small for Roxy‘s soaring plans.

He had a thunder-and-lightning temperament expected

of the artist. In private life he was a man of constant kindness and

a charitable hand. He provided pleasure for multitudes.

They are sorry to lose him.“

      Reprinted in Film Daily, Jan. 15, 1936.

      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.

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