American dance/theatre/vaudeville and cinema entrepreneur whose famous nickname was "Roxy".
He was responsible for the great appeal of spectacular movie palaces. He presided over his theaters and instituted the practices of affordable low admissions so "the common man" could repeatedly come to his theaters and unreserved seating.
Rothapfel spoke thus on the secret of his success: "Giving the people what they want is fundamentally and disastrously wrong. The people don't know what they want. They want to be entertained, that's all. Don't give the people what they want--give 'em something better."
A former Marine, Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
By 1926 Rothapfel was arguably the greatest showman of his time and his name alone had become a valuable marketing tool. When William Fox opened his Washington DC theater, the banners proclaimed "Operated under the personal direction of Roxy". Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations including syncing orchestral music to movies (in the silent screen era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes.
In 1927 he built the huge 6500 seat Roxy Theatre in New York as the largest and flashiest movie theatre in the world that even exceeded his own legend. In 1932, his own Radio City Music Hall in New York was even larger. Radio City was the last grand movie palace ever built.
"Roxy" Rothapfel gave his nickname to 'The Roxyettes", which was later changed to "The Rockettes" at Radio City.
The names he gave his theaters: the Strand, Rialto, Regent, as well as Roxy all live on as other showmen and women have chosen to use these names for their theaters and cinemas around the world.
Of all these names "Roxy" became the most popular name for theatres, cinemas, and performance halls across the United States because of Rothapfel's personal reputation as "The Premiere Showman". That name spread like wildfire throughout the nation, onto many theatres.
The almost all the theaters he built are now legend. Only Radio City still exists today and it still remains as the pinnacle of Movie Palaces.Samuel Lionel Rothafel, known as "Roxy", was an American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. He is noted for developing the lavish presentation of silent films in the deluxe movie palace theaters of the 1910s and 1920s. Rothafel (born Rothapfel) was reportedly born in Stillwater, Minnesota, but was actually born in Germany,[citation needed] and emigrated to the US at the age of 2, a fact that he always tried to conceal. His family was Jewish. His parents were Cecelia S. and Gustave Rothapfel. Best known by his nickname, "Roxy", he was the impresario who brought the great New York movie palaces that he managed to fame and popular success. He began his show business career in Forest City, Pennsylvania, where he created the "Family Theater", a combination cinema and skating rink. In 1912 he came to New York City, where he would achieve his greatest successes. In New York at different times he managed and produced shows at the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol theaters. His greatest achievement was his eponymous Roxy Theatre at Times Square which opened March 11, 1927. He later opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, his last theatrical project. The Music Hall featured the precision dance troupe the Roxyettes (later renamed The Rockettes), which Rothafel brought with him from the Roxy Theatre. Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations, including synchronizing orchestral music to movies (in the silent film era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes. The book The Best Remaining Seats by Ben M. Hall (1961), gives a good overview of the movie palaces of the 1920s and, specifically, of Roxy himself. Rothafel died in 1936 in New York City and is buried in Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Queens, New York. His wife was Rosa (Freedman), and his daughter, Beta Rothafel, married Lawrence Harold Levy, the son of Samuel Levy, a New York City lawyer, businessman, and public official, who served as Manhattan Borough President. Through Rothafel's granddaughter, Penny (Levy), he is the great-grandfather of actress Amanda Peet. Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. One estimate from 1924 placed his typical radio audience at about five million listeners, and he was said to receive thousands of pieces of fan mail weekly.[3] After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
He was responsible for the great appeal of spectacular movie palaces. He presided over his theaters and instituted the practices of affordable low admissions so "the common man" could repeatedly come to his theaters and unreserved seating.
Rothapfel spoke thus on the secret of his success: "Giving the people what they want is fundamentally and disastrously wrong. The people don't know what they want. They want to be entertained, that's all. Don't give the people what they want--give 'em something better."
A former Marine, Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
By 1926 Rothapfel was arguably the greatest showman of his time and his name alone had become a valuable marketing tool. When William Fox opened his Washington DC theater, the banners proclaimed "Operated under the personal direction of Roxy". Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations including syncing orchestral music to movies (in the silent screen era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes.
In 1927 he built the huge 6500 seat Roxy Theatre in New York as the largest and flashiest movie theatre in the world that even exceeded his own legend. In 1932, his own Radio City Music Hall in New York was even larger. Radio City was the last grand movie palace ever built.
"Roxy" Rothapfel gave his nickname to 'The Roxyettes", which was later changed to "The Rockettes" at Radio City.
The names he gave his theaters: the Strand, Rialto, Regent, as well as Roxy all live on as other showmen and women have chosen to use these names for their theaters and cinemas around the world.
Of all these names "Roxy" became the most popular name for theatres, cinemas, and performance halls across the United States because of Rothapfel's personal reputation as "The Premiere Showman". That name spread like wildfire throughout the nation, onto many theatres.
The almost all the theaters he built are now legend. Only Radio City still exists today and it still remains as the pinnacle of Movie Palaces.Samuel Lionel Rothafel, known as "Roxy", was an American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. He is noted for developing the lavish presentation of silent films in the deluxe movie palace theaters of the 1910s and 1920s. Rothafel (born Rothapfel) was reportedly born in Stillwater, Minnesota, but was actually born in Germany,[citation needed] and emigrated to the US at the age of 2, a fact that he always tried to conceal. His family was Jewish. His parents were Cecelia S. and Gustave Rothapfel. Best known by his nickname, "Roxy", he was the impresario who brought the great New York movie palaces that he managed to fame and popular success. He began his show business career in Forest City, Pennsylvania, where he created the "Family Theater", a combination cinema and skating rink. In 1912 he came to New York City, where he would achieve his greatest successes. In New York at different times he managed and produced shows at the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol theaters. His greatest achievement was his eponymous Roxy Theatre at Times Square which opened March 11, 1927. He later opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, his last theatrical project. The Music Hall featured the precision dance troupe the Roxyettes (later renamed The Rockettes), which Rothafel brought with him from the Roxy Theatre. Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations, including synchronizing orchestral music to movies (in the silent film era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes. The book The Best Remaining Seats by Ben M. Hall (1961), gives a good overview of the movie palaces of the 1920s and, specifically, of Roxy himself. Rothafel died in 1936 in New York City and is buried in Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Queens, New York. His wife was Rosa (Freedman), and his daughter, Beta Rothafel, married Lawrence Harold Levy, the son of Samuel Levy, a New York City lawyer, businessman, and public official, who served as Manhattan Borough President. Through Rothafel's granddaughter, Penny (Levy), he is the great-grandfather of actress Amanda Peet. Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. One estimate from 1924 placed his typical radio audience at about five million listeners, and he was said to receive thousands of pieces of fan mail weekly.[3] After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
American dance/theatre/vaudeville and cinema entrepreneur whose famous nickname was "Roxy".
He was responsible for the great appeal of spectacular movie palaces. He presided over his theaters and instituted the practices of affordable low admissions so "the common man" could repeatedly come to his theaters and unreserved seating.
Rothapfel spoke thus on the secret of his success: "Giving the people what they want is fundamentally and disastrously wrong. The people don't know what they want. They want to be entertained, that's all. Don't give the people what they want--give 'em something better."
A former Marine, Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
By 1926 Rothapfel was arguably the greatest showman of his time and his name alone had become a valuable marketing tool. When William Fox opened his Washington DC theater, the banners proclaimed "Operated under the personal direction of Roxy". Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations including syncing orchestral music to movies (in the silent screen era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes.
In 1927 he built the huge 6500 seat Roxy Theatre in New York as the largest and flashiest movie theatre in the world that even exceeded his own legend. In 1932, his own Radio City Music Hall in New York was even larger. Radio City was the last grand movie palace ever built.
"Roxy" Rothapfel gave his nickname to 'The Roxyettes", which was later changed to "The Rockettes" at Radio City.
The names he gave his theaters: the Strand, Rialto, Regent, as well as Roxy all live on as other showmen and women have chosen to use these names for their theaters and cinemas around the world.
Of all these names "Roxy" became the most popular name for theatres, cinemas, and performance halls across the United States because of Rothapfel's personal reputation as "The Premiere Showman". That name spread like wildfire throughout the nation, onto many theatres.
The almost all the theaters he built are now legend. Only Radio City still exists today and it still remains as the pinnacle of Movie Palaces.Samuel Lionel Rothafel, known as "Roxy", was an American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. He is noted for developing the lavish presentation of silent films in the deluxe movie palace theaters of the 1910s and 1920s. Rothafel (born Rothapfel) was reportedly born in Stillwater, Minnesota, but was actually born in Germany,[citation needed] and emigrated to the US at the age of 2, a fact that he always tried to conceal. His family was Jewish. His parents were Cecelia S. and Gustave Rothapfel. Best known by his nickname, "Roxy", he was the impresario who brought the great New York movie palaces that he managed to fame and popular success. He began his show business career in Forest City, Pennsylvania, where he created the "Family Theater", a combination cinema and skating rink. In 1912 he came to New York City, where he would achieve his greatest successes. In New York at different times he managed and produced shows at the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol theaters. His greatest achievement was his eponymous Roxy Theatre at Times Square which opened March 11, 1927. He later opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, his last theatrical project. The Music Hall featured the precision dance troupe the Roxyettes (later renamed The Rockettes), which Rothafel brought with him from the Roxy Theatre. Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations, including synchronizing orchestral music to movies (in the silent film era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes. The book The Best Remaining Seats by Ben M. Hall (1961), gives a good overview of the movie palaces of the 1920s and, specifically, of Roxy himself. Rothafel died in 1936 in New York City and is buried in Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Queens, New York. His wife was Rosa (Freedman), and his daughter, Beta Rothafel, married Lawrence Harold Levy, the son of Samuel Levy, a New York City lawyer, businessman, and public official, who served as Manhattan Borough President. Through Rothafel's granddaughter, Penny (Levy), he is the great-grandfather of actress Amanda Peet. Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. One estimate from 1924 placed his typical radio audience at about five million listeners, and he was said to receive thousands of pieces of fan mail weekly.[3] After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
He was responsible for the great appeal of spectacular movie palaces. He presided over his theaters and instituted the practices of affordable low admissions so "the common man" could repeatedly come to his theaters and unreserved seating.
Rothapfel spoke thus on the secret of his success: "Giving the people what they want is fundamentally and disastrously wrong. The people don't know what they want. They want to be entertained, that's all. Don't give the people what they want--give 'em something better."
A former Marine, Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
By 1926 Rothapfel was arguably the greatest showman of his time and his name alone had become a valuable marketing tool. When William Fox opened his Washington DC theater, the banners proclaimed "Operated under the personal direction of Roxy". Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations including syncing orchestral music to movies (in the silent screen era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes.
In 1927 he built the huge 6500 seat Roxy Theatre in New York as the largest and flashiest movie theatre in the world that even exceeded his own legend. In 1932, his own Radio City Music Hall in New York was even larger. Radio City was the last grand movie palace ever built.
"Roxy" Rothapfel gave his nickname to 'The Roxyettes", which was later changed to "The Rockettes" at Radio City.
The names he gave his theaters: the Strand, Rialto, Regent, as well as Roxy all live on as other showmen and women have chosen to use these names for their theaters and cinemas around the world.
Of all these names "Roxy" became the most popular name for theatres, cinemas, and performance halls across the United States because of Rothapfel's personal reputation as "The Premiere Showman". That name spread like wildfire throughout the nation, onto many theatres.
The almost all the theaters he built are now legend. Only Radio City still exists today and it still remains as the pinnacle of Movie Palaces.Samuel Lionel Rothafel, known as "Roxy", was an American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. He is noted for developing the lavish presentation of silent films in the deluxe movie palace theaters of the 1910s and 1920s. Rothafel (born Rothapfel) was reportedly born in Stillwater, Minnesota, but was actually born in Germany,[citation needed] and emigrated to the US at the age of 2, a fact that he always tried to conceal. His family was Jewish. His parents were Cecelia S. and Gustave Rothapfel. Best known by his nickname, "Roxy", he was the impresario who brought the great New York movie palaces that he managed to fame and popular success. He began his show business career in Forest City, Pennsylvania, where he created the "Family Theater", a combination cinema and skating rink. In 1912 he came to New York City, where he would achieve his greatest successes. In New York at different times he managed and produced shows at the Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol theaters. His greatest achievement was his eponymous Roxy Theatre at Times Square which opened March 11, 1927. He later opened the Radio City Music Hall in 1932, his last theatrical project. The Music Hall featured the precision dance troupe the Roxyettes (later renamed The Rockettes), which Rothafel brought with him from the Roxy Theatre. Rothafel has been credited with many movie presentation innovations, including synchronizing orchestral music to movies (in the silent film era) and having multiple projectors to effect seamless reel changes. The book The Best Remaining Seats by Ben M. Hall (1961), gives a good overview of the movie palaces of the 1920s and, specifically, of Roxy himself. Rothafel died in 1936 in New York City and is buried in Linden Hill Jewish Cemetery in Queens, New York. His wife was Rosa (Freedman), and his daughter, Beta Rothafel, married Lawrence Harold Levy, the son of Samuel Levy, a New York City lawyer, businessman, and public official, who served as Manhattan Borough President. Through Rothafel's granddaughter, Penny (Levy), he is the great-grandfather of actress Amanda Peet. Roxy also made a name for himself on network radio, where he began broadcasting in mid-November 1922. Through 1926, live broadcasts of his weekly variety show Roxy and His Gang from the Capitol Theatre in New York became increasingly popular. One estimate from 1924 placed his typical radio audience at about five million listeners, and he was said to receive thousands of pieces of fan mail weekly.[3] After Rothafel left the Capitol, his radio show, now known as The Roxy Hour, was broadcast from the new Roxy Theatre on the NBC Blue network from 1927 to 1932.
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