Happy 75th Birthday, Oklahoma!
The lights come up on a picturesque farm scene. It’s March 31, 1943, opening night at the St. James Theatre on 44th Street. The stage’s sole occupant is an older woman … Continue reading
Sophie Tucker: The Last of the Red Hot Mammas
Sophie Tucker was born Sonya Kalish on January 13, 1886, in Tulchin, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. Several months after her birth, her family immigrated to the United … Continue reading
When Love Comes so Strong: West Side Story at 60
On September 26, 1957, West Side Story, a new musical opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. In his opening night review, New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson called the musical “a profoundly moving show that … Continue reading
Gertrude Hoffman and the Dance That Offended Public Decency
The Museum’s ongoing exhibition Activist New York recently debuted a new case study that explores the battle over birth control and obscenity laws that raged in New York at the … Continue reading
When Mortals Dream at Night in the Summer
It’s the summer solstice and the king and queen of the fairies are quarrelling in a forest. Queen Titania has stolen a favored serving boy of King Oberon. Or, maybe … Continue reading
The Sounds of Patriotism: Popular Songs of World War I
Walking into Posters and Patriotism: Selling World War I in New York, visitors are transported back in time to 100 years ago when the streets of the city were covered … Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions for Rights & Reproductions
We receive many inquiries at the Museum of the City of New York regarding rights and reproductions for objects in our collections. Below are some frequently asked questions and responses. … Continue reading
The Yankee Doodle Boy gets digitized
Since 1968, the Museum has been home to a large collection of scripts, sheet music, and scores created by George M. Cohan, the most prolific theater artist in the … Continue reading
Katherine Dunham in New York City
Eighty years ago this month, an anthropologist named Katherine Dunham made her New York City dance debut at the 92nd Street Y. The 28 year old Chicago native choreographed and … Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions for the Collections Department
We receive many reference inquiries here at the Museum of the City of New York, primarily through our research email (research@mcny.org). The Museum makes every effort to answer questions directly … Continue reading
At the Broadway Convention
On the last weekend of January, along with thousands of Broadway fans, I made the trek to the Javits Center on Manhattan’s far west side to enjoy the second annual … Continue reading
John Street Theatre, the only show in town!
The week between Christmas and New Year is traditionally the busiest time of the year for theater on Broadway, and this year was no exception. According to The Broadway … Continue reading
Restaurants of Yore
It’s harder and harder for an independent restaurant to survive in New York City, according to an article published in the New York Times on October 25, 2016: “Is New … Continue reading
