Knickerbocker Theatre

1396 Broadway (West 38th St.), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1500

J.B. McElfatrick & Co., architects. Named for producer and theatre manager Henry Abbey, who managed the booking house until his death in 1896. Then, Al Hayman (and his Theatrical Syndicate group) assumed control and renamed it the Knickerbocker. In 1906, introduced Broadway's first moving electric sign, an advertisement for the current production. Sold after the stock market crash. Demolished in 1930.

Built: 1893 Demolished: 1930 Closed: 1930

Theatre Names	Named
Knickerbocker Theatre	1896	Opened September 14, 1896
Abbey's Theatre	1893	Opened November 8, 1893

Productions

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Knickerbocker Theatre	Opening Date
Naughty Naught '00 Musical, Revival, Drama Music by Richard Lewine; Book by John Van Antwerp; Lyrics by Ted Fetter	10/19/1946
Sweet Land of Liberty Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Philip Dunning	09/23/1929
Houseparty Play, Original, Drama Written by Kenneth Phillips Britton, Roy Hargrave	09/09/1929
Becky Sharp Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Langdon Mitchell	06/03/1929
Ned Wayburn's Gambols Musical, Original, Revue Music by Walter G. Samuels; Lyrics by Morrie Ryskind	01/15/1929
Macbeth Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	11/19/1928
Cross My Heart Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Harry Tierney; Book by Daniel Kusell; Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy	09/17/1928
The Merry Wives of Windsor Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	03/19/1928
Sidewalks of New York Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Eddie Dowling; Book by Eddie Dowling; Lyrics by Eddie Dowling	10/03/1927
Honeymoon Lane Musical, Original, Comedy Music by James Hanley; Book by Eddie Dowling; Lyrics by Eddie Dowling	09/20/1926
King Henry IV, Part I Play, Revival, Drama, History Written by William Shakespeare	05/31/1926
The School for Scandal Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan	12/06/1925
Dearest Enemy Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Richard Rodgers; Book by Herbert Fields; Lyrics by Lorenz Hart	09/18/1925
Trelawny of the "Wells" Play, Revival, Comedy	06/01/1925
China Rose Musical, Original, Operetta Music by A. Baldwin Sloane; Book by George E. Stoddard, Harry L. Cort; Lyrics by George E. Stoddard, Harry L. Cort	03/16/1925
Natja Musical, Original, Operetta Adapted from melodies of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Music by Karl Hajos; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	02/16/1925
Peter Pan Play, Revival, Fantasy Written by James M. Barrie	11/06/1924
Top-Hole Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Robert Braine, Jay Gorney; Book by Eugene Conrad; Lyrics by Eugene Conrad, Owen Murphy	10/10/1924
Hassan Musical, Original, Drama, Spectacle Written by James Elroy Flecker	09/22/1924
Lollipop Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Vincent Youmans; Book by Zelda Sears; Lyrics by Walter De Leon, Zelda Sears	01/21/1924
The Lullaby Play, Original, Drama	09/17/1923
The Clinging Vine Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Harold A. Levey; Book by Zelda Sears; Lyrics by Zelda Sears	12/25/1922
The Yankee Princess Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Emmerich Kalman; Book by William Le Baron; Lyrics by B.G. DeSylva	10/02/1922
Bulldog Drummond Play, Original, Melodrama	12/26/1921
The Wandering Jew Play, Original, Drama, Spectacle Written by E. Temple Thurston	10/26/1921
The Merry Widow Musical, Revival, Operetta Music by Franz Lehár; Book by Leo Stein, Victor Leon; Lyrics by Adrian Ross	09/05/1921
June Love Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Rudolf Friml; Book by Otto Harbach, William H. Post; Lyrics by Brian Hooker	04/25/1921
Mary Musical, Original, Comedy Book by Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach; Lyrics by Otto Harbach	10/18/1920
The Sweetheart Shop Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Hugo Felix; Book by Anne Caldwell; Lyrics by Anne Caldwell	08/31/1920
The Girl in the Spotlight Musical, Original, Comedy, Operetta Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Richard Bruce; Lyrics by Richard Bruce	07/12/1920
Shavings Play, Original, Comedy Written by Marion Short, Pauline Phelps	02/16/1920
Angel Face Musical, Original, Farce Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Robert B. Smith	12/29/1919
Roly-Boly Eyes Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Eddy Brown, Louis Gruenberg; Book by Edgar Allan Woolf; Lyrics by Edgar Allan Woolf	09/25/1919
Listen Lester Musical, Original, Music by Harold Orlob; Book by George E. Stoddard, Harry L. Cort; Lyrics by George E. Stoddard, Harry L. Cort	12/23/1918
Good Luck, Sam! Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Louis G. Merrill; Book by Edward Anthony; Lyrics by Edward Anthony	12/09/1918
Some One in the House Play, Original, Written by George S. Kaufman, Larry Evans	09/09/1918
Josephine Play, Original, Written by Hermann Bahr	01/28/1918
The Land of Joy Musical, Original, Revue Music by Quinito Valverde; Book by Eulogio Velasco; Lyrics by Eulogio Velasco	01/14/1918
Madame Sand Play, Original, Written by Philip Moeller	12/31/1917
Her Regiment Musical, Original, Operetta Music by Victor Herbert; Book by William Le Baron; Lyrics by William Le Baron	12/10/1917
Art and Opportunity Play, Original, Written by Harold Chapin	11/26/1917
Hamilton Play, Original, Written by George Arliss, Mary Hamlin	09/17/1917
La Mort de Cleopatre Play, Revival, Written by Henri Cain, Maurice Bernhardt	09/01/1917
L'Holocauste Play, Revival,	09/01/1917
La Paix Chez Soi Play, Revival, Written by Georges Courteline	09/01/1917
Du Theatre au Champ D'Honneur Play, Revival,	09/01/1917
Cendres D'Opium Play, Revival, Written by Jean De Le Traz	09/01/1917
Le Proces de Jeanne d'Arc Play, Revival, Written by Emile Moreau	09/01/1917
La Chance du Mari Play, Revival, Written by Gaston Armand De Caillavet, Robert de Flers	09/01/1917
Le Vitrail Play, Revival, Written by René Fauchois	09/01/1917
Hecube Play, Revival, Written by Maurice Bernhardt, Rene Clarance	09/01/1917
Rosalie Play, Revival, Written by Max Maurey	09/01/1917
La Dame aux Camelias Play, Revival, Written by Alexandre Dumas, fils	09/01/1917
L'Anglais tel Qu'on le Parle Play, Revival,	09/01/1917
La Faux Modele Play, Revival,	09/01/1917
Shylock Play, Revival,	09/01/1917
L'Aiglon Play, Revival, Written by Edmond Rostand	09/01/1917
Disraeli Play, Revival, Written by Louis N. Parker	04/09/1917
The Professor's Love Story Play, Revival, Written by James M. Barrie	02/26/1917
The Music Master Play, Revival, Written by Charles Klein	10/10/1916
The Girl from Utah Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Sidney Jones; Book by James T. Tanner; Lyrics by Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank	08/09/1915
The Hyphen Play, Original, Written by Justus Miles Forman	04/19/1915
Fads and Fancies Musical, Original, Revue Music by Raymond Hubbell; Book by Glen MacDonough; Lyrics by Glen MacDonough	03/08/1915
90 in the Shade Musical, Original, Music by Jerome Kern; Book by Guy Bolton; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	01/25/1915
The Debutante Musical, Original, Comedy, Operetta Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Harry B. Smith, Robert B. Smith; Lyrics by Robert B. Smith	12/07/1914
The Crinoline Girl Musical, Original, Comedy, Farce, Melodrama Music by Percy Wenrich; Lyrics by Julian Eltinge	03/16/1914
The Laughing Husband Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Edmund Eysler; Book by Arthur Wimperis; Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis	02/02/1914
The New Henrietta Play, Original, Comedy Written by Bronson Howard	12/22/1913
Rachel Play, Original, Written by Carina Jordan	12/01/1913
The Marriage Market Musical, Original, Music by Victor Jacobi; American adaptation by Gladys Unger; Lyrics by Adrian Ross, Arthur Anderson	09/22/1913
The Sunshine Girl Musical, Original, Music by Paul A. Rubens; Book by Cecil Raleigh, Paul A. Rubens; Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis, Paul A. Rubens	09/01/1913
The Sunshine Girl Musical, Original, Music by Paul A. Rubens; Book by Cecil Raleigh, Paul A. Rubens; Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis, Paul A. Rubens	02/03/1913
Oh! Oh! Delphine Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Ivan Caryll; Book by C.M.S. McLellan; Lyrics by C.M.S. McLellan	09/30/1912
Kismet Play, Original,	12/25/1911
The Siren Musical, Original, Music by Leo Fall; Book by Leo Stein, Dr. A. M. Willner; English libretto by Harry B. Smith	08/28/1911
Dr. De Luxe Musical, Original, Music by Karl Hoschna	04/17/1911
Chantecler Play, Original, Written by Edmond Rostand	01/23/1911
The Foolish Virgin Play, Original, Written by Henri Bataille	12/19/1910
Henry of Navarre Play, Original, Written by William Devereaux	11/28/1910
The Scarlet Pimpernel Play, Original, Written by Baroness Orczy, Montague Barstow	10/24/1910
Our Miss Gibbs Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Ivan Caryll, Lionel Monckton; Book by James T. Tanner; Lyrics by James T. Tanner	08/29/1910
The Arcadians Musical, Original, Music by Lionel Monckton, Howard Talbot; Book by A. M. Thompson, Mark Ambient; Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis	05/16/1910
The Dollar Princess Musical, Original, Comedy, Operetta Music by Leo Fall; Book by Fritz Grunbaum, Dr. A. M. Willner	08/06/1909
The Gay Hussars Musical, Original, Operetta Music by Emmerich Kalman; Book by Robert Bodansky, Karl Von Bakonyi; Lyrics by Grant Stewart	07/29/1909
The Candy Shop Musical, Original, Comedy Book by George V. Hobart	04/27/1909
The Fair Co-ed Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Gustav Luders; Book by George Ade; Lyrics by George Ade	02/01/1909
The Prima Donna Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Victor Herbert; Libretto by Henry Blossom	11/30/1908
The Girls of Gottenberg Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Ivan Caryll, Lionel Monckton; Book by George Grossmith, Jr., L. E. Berman; Lyrics by Adrian Ross, Basil Hood	09/02/1908
The Yankee Prince Musical, Original, Music by George M. Cohan; Book by George M. Cohan; Lyrics by George M. Cohan	08/03/1908
The Yankee Prince Musical, Original, Music by George M. Cohan; Book by George M. Cohan; Lyrics by George M. Cohan	04/20/1908
The Talk of New York Musical, Original, Play Music by George M. Cohan; Book by George M. Cohan; Lyrics by George M. Cohan	12/03/1907
The Hoyden Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Robert Hood Bowers; Book by Cosmo Hamilton; Featuring "My Father's Wooden Leg" by Joseph Cawthorn; Lyrics by Robert Hood Bowers	10/19/1907
The Evangelist Play, Original, Written by Henry Arthur Jones	09/30/1907
Mlle. Modiste Musical, Original, Opera, Comedy Music by Victor Herbert; Libretto by Henry Blossom	09/09/1907
The Alaskan Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Harry Girard; Book by Joseph Blethen, Max Figman; Lyrics by Joseph Blethen	08/12/1907
The Red Mill Musical, Original, Book by Henry Blossom, Victor Herbert	09/24/1906
Mlle. Modiste Musical, Original, Opera, Comedy Music by Victor Herbert; Libretto by Henry Blossom	09/01/1906
Mlle. Modiste Musical, Original, Opera, Comedy Music by Victor Herbert; Libretto by Henry Blossom	12/25/1905
La Belle Marseillaise Play, Original, Drama Written by Pierre Berton	11/27/1905
The Taming of the Shrew Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/16/1905
The Merchant of Venice Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/16/1905
Twelfth Night Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/16/1905
Romeo and Juliet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/16/1905
Miss Dolly Dollars Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	09/04/1905
Sergeant Brue Musical, Original, Farce Music by Liza Lehman; Book by Owen Hall; Lyrics by D. K. Stevens, Owen Hall	08/14/1905
Sergeant Brue Musical, Original, Farce Music by Liza Lehman; Book by Owen Hall; Lyrics by D. K. Stevens, Owen Hall	04/24/1905
London Assurance Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Dion Boucicault	04/03/1905
The Prince Consort Play, Original, Comedy Written by Cosmo Gordon Lennox, William Boosey	03/20/1905
Hamlet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	03/13/1905
When We Dead Awake Play, Original, Drama Written by Henrik Ibsen	03/07/1905
Love and the Man Play, Original, Melodrama	02/20/1905
The Brighter Side Play, Revival, Melodrama	02/06/1905
The Middleman Play, Revival, Written by Henry Arthur Jones	01/23/1905
The Professor's Love Story Play, Revival, Written by James M. Barrie	01/23/1905
Lucky Durham Play, Original, Drama Written by Wilson Barrett	01/22/1905
Twelfth Night Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	01/11/1905
The Winter's Tale Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	12/26/1904
The Usurper Play, Original, Comedy, Melodrama Written by I. N. Morris	11/28/1904
Romeo and Juliet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/17/1904
Much Ado About Nothing Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/17/1904
Hamlet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/17/1904
A Madcap Princess Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Ludwig Englander; Libretto by Harry B. Smith	09/05/1904
Yvette Play, Original, Written by Pierre Berton	05/13/1904
A Venetian Romance Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Frederic Coit Wright; Book by Cornelia Osgood Tyler; Lyrics by Frederic Coit Wright	05/02/1904
The Shepherd King Play, Original, Drama, History Written by Arnold Reeves, Wright Lorimer	04/05/1904
Hamlet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	03/08/1904
Twelfth Night Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	02/22/1904
Twelfth Night Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	02/08/1904
Olympe Play, Original, Drama Written by Pierre Decourcelle	01/18/1904
Mam'selle Napoleon Musical, Original, Vaudeville Music by Gustav Luders; Lyrics by Joseph W. Herbert	12/08/1903
The Light That Failed Play, Original,	11/09/1903
The Rogers Brothers in London Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Melville Ellis, Max Hoffman, Sr.; Book by John J. McNally; Lyrics by Edward Gardenier, George V. Hobart	09/07/1903
The Blonde in Black Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Gustav Kerker; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	06/08/1903
Romeo and Juliet Play, Revival, Tragedy Written by William Shakespeare	05/25/1903
Mr. Bluebeard Musical, Original, Extravaganza Music by Frederick Solomon; Book by J. Hickory Wood; Lyrics by J. Cheever Goodwin	01/21/1903
The Altar of Friendship Play, Original, Comedy Written by Madeleine Lucette Ryley	12/01/1902
Sherlock Holmes Play, Revival, Drama Written by Arthur Conan Doyle, William Gillette	11/03/1902
The Rogers Brothers in Harvard Musical, Original, Farce, Vaudeville Music by Maurice Levi; Book by John J. McNally; Lyrics by Edward Gardenier, J. Cheever Goodwin	09/01/1902
The Wild Rose Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Ludwig Englander; Book by George V. Hobart, Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by George V. Hobart, Harry B. Smith	05/05/1902
The Toreador Musical, Original, Music by Ivan Caryll, Lionel Monckton; Book by Harry Nicholls, James T. Tanner; Lyrics by Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank	01/06/1902
Quality Street Play, Original, Drama Written by James M. Barrie	11/11/1901
Charles I Play, Revival, Written by W. G. Wills	10/21/1901
The Merchant of Venice Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/21/1901
Louis XI Play, Revival, Written by H. R. Maxwell	10/21/1901
Nance Oldfield Play, Revival, Written by Charles Reade	10/21/1901
The Bells Play, Revival,	10/21/1901
Waterloo Play, Revival, Written by Arthur Conan Doyle	10/21/1901
Madame Sans-Gene Play, Revival, Written by Emile Moreau, Victorien Sardou	10/21/1901
The Lyons Mail Play, Revival, Written by Charles Reade	10/21/1901
The Rogers Brothers in Washington Musical, Original, Farce, Vaudeville Music by Maurice Levi; Book by John J. McNally; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	09/02/1901
The Strollers Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Ludwig Englander; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	06/24/1901
The Merchant of Venice Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	05/24/1901
In a Balcony Play, Revival, Drama Written by Robert Browning, William Butler Yeats	05/06/1901
The Land of Heart's Desire Play, Revival, One Act Written by Robert Browning, William Butler Yeats	05/06/1901
The Casino Girl Musical, Revival, Comedy Music by Will Marion Cook, Ludwig Englander, Harry T. MacConnell, Arthur Nevin; Lyrics by Will Marion Cook, Ludwig Englander, Harry T. MacConnell, Arthur Nevin	04/08/1901
To Have and to Hold Play, Original, Drama	03/04/1901
When We Were Twenty-one Play, Revival, Romance Written by Henry V. Esmond	01/21/1901
Sweet Nell of Old Drury Play, Original, Farce, Melodrama Written by Paul Kester	12/31/1900
L'Aiglon Play, Original, Drama, Tragedy Written by Edmond Rostand	10/22/1900
The Monks Of Malabar Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Ludwig Englander; Libretto by J. Cheever Goodwin	09/14/1900
The Viceroy Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	04/30/1900
Robin Hood Musical, Revival, Operetta Music by Reginald De Koven; Written by Harry B. Smith	04/30/1900
The Sunken Bell Play, Original, Drama Written by Gerhart Hauptmann	03/26/1900
The Amber Heart Play, Original, Written by Alfred C. Calmour	03/12/1900
Robespierre Play, Original, Written by Victorien Sardou	03/12/1900
Nance Oldfield Play, Revival, Written by Charles Reade	03/12/1900
The Merchant of Venice Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	03/12/1900
The Bells Play, Revival,	03/12/1900
Waterloo Play, Original, Written by Arthur Conan Doyle	03/12/1900
When We Were Twenty-one Play, Original, Romance Written by Henry V. Esmond	02/05/1900
The Cowboy and the Lady Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Clyde Fitch	12/25/1899
The Elder Miss Blossom Play, Original, Comedy Written by Ernest Hendrie, Metcalfe Wood	11/20/1899
Robespierre Play, Revival, Written by Victorien Sardou	10/31/1899
The Amber Heart Play, Original, Written by Alfred C. Calmour	10/30/1899
Nance Oldfield Play, Revival, Written by Charles Reade	10/30/1899
The Merchant of Venice Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/30/1899
The Bells Play, Revival,	10/30/1899
Waterloo Play, Original, Written by Arthur Conan Doyle	10/30/1899
Lord and Lady Algy Play, Revival, Comedy Written by R.C. Carton	10/16/1899
Cyrano de Bergerac Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Stuart Reed; Lyrics by Harry B. Smith	09/18/1899
Colinette Play, Original, Drama Written by G. Lenotre, Gabriel Martin	04/10/1899
The King's Musketeer Play, Original, Romance Written by Henry Hamilton	03/13/1899
Nathan Hale Play, Original, Drama Written by Clyde Fitch	01/02/1899
The Head of the Family Play, Original, Drama Written by Clyde Fitch, Leo Ditrichstein	12/06/1898
Worth a Million Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Eugene W. Presbrey	11/21/1898
The Christian Play, Original, Drama Written by Hall Craine	10/10/1898
The Charlatan Musical, Original, Comedy, Opera Music by John Philip Sousa; Book by Charles Klein; Lyrics by Charles Klein	09/05/1898
His Last Appearance Play, Original, Written by A.E. Lancaster	04/04/1898
A Virginia Courtship Play, Original, Comedy Written by Eugene W. Presbrey	01/31/1898
An American Citizen Play, Original, Drama, Romance Written by Madeleine Lucette Ryley	10/11/1897
The Serenade Musical, Revival, Comedy, Operetta Music by Victor Herbert; Book by Harry B. Smith; Lyrics by Victor Herbert	03/16/1897
Spiritisme Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Victorien Sardou	02/22/1897
Six Persons Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Israel Zangwill	02/15/1897
When George IV Was King Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Frances Moore	02/08/1897
The Hobby Horse Play, Original, Drama Written by Arthur Wing Pinero	01/04/1897
The Seats of the Mighty Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Sir Gilbert Parker	11/30/1896
The Sign of the Cross Play, Original, Drama Written by Wilson Barrett	11/09/1896
The Countess Valeska Play, Original, Melodrama
Abbey's Theatre	Opening Date
Izeyl Play, Original, Drama Written by Armand Sylvestre, Eugene Morand	01/20/1896
A Quiet Rubber Play, Original, Melodrama	01/13/1896
Two Old Cronies Play, Original, Melodrama	01/06/1896
The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith Play, Original, Drama Written by Arthur Wing Pinero	12/23/1895
An Enemy of the People Play, Original, Drama Written by Henrik Ibsen	04/08/1895
A Bunch of Violets Play, Original, Written by Sydney Grundy	01/30/1895
The Ballad Monger Play, Original, Written by Walter Besant, Walter Pollock	01/28/1895
The Red Lamp Play, Original, Drama Written by W. Outram Tristam	01/28/1895