A Chronology

Early 1900s	Between 1900 and 1920, all of the theaters now standing were opened and presenting legitimate plays. 42nd Street reigns as the world's entertainment capital.
1929	Stock Market Crash.
1930s-60s	Depression forces 42nd Street's theater owners into bankruptcy. Theaters replace their programs with other entertainment such as live burlesque and motion pictures. Broadway theater district is established several blocks north. First-run motion pictures gradually replaced by "art" films and second-run movies.
Early 1970s	42nd Street area is saturated with adult uses and street crime.
1980	City and State officials formally join together to create the 42nd Street Development Project.
1984	City and State issue a General Project Plan, establishing a 13-acre renewal site stretching two city blocks along 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. The Plan describes the block's theaters as "irreplaceable architectural and historical assets" that should be restored and adapted for cultural and entertainment uses.
April 1990	After years of litigation, the State succeeds in taking ownership of two-thirds of the Project site, including six of the street's nine historic theaters.
September 1990	The New 42nd Street is officially announced as the independent, nonprofit organization charged with long-term oversight of the renovation and ongoing operation of 42nd Street's historic theaters.
December 1991	After considerable research and discussion, the Board of The New 42nd Street votes to launch the street's renewal with the renovation of the Victory as the city's first nonprofit theater programmed for the city's youth.
May 1992	The New 42nd Street signs a 99-year master lease with the City and State for the six theaters known as the Liberty, Victory, Selwyn, Apollo, Times Square and Lyric Theaters. The remaining three theaters—the Harris, New Amsterdam and Empire—remain under state ownership.
December 1993	The Walt Disney Company signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the City and State containing essential lease terms for the New Amsterdam Theatre.
May 1995	Tishman Urban Development Corporation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the 42nd Street Development Project (42DP) to redevelop the property on the northwestern end of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue.
July 1995	Memoranda of Understanding are signed with Forest City Ratner (who will build one of the country's largest multi-screen movie complexes operated by AMC, and a Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, on the south side of the block) and Livent Inc. (who will join together the Apollo and Lyric Theaters to form an 1,839-seat Broadway musical theater).
November 1995	All remaining pornography stores on the north side of 42nd Street are officially closed down.
December 1995	Gala Opening and Dedication on December 11, of The New Victory Theater—New York's first theater for kids and families.
March 1996	Remaining adult uses on the south side of the block adjacent to Eighth Avenue are closed.
March 1996	The Board of The New 42nd Street votes to convert the Selwyn Office Building and adjacent infill property into the New 42nd Street Studios, fulfilling the requirement for two nonprofit organizations on the properties under its jurisdiction.
August 1996	Lease signed with Livent Inc. Livent begins renovations and re-construction on the Apollo and Lyric Theaters.
September 1996	Tishman Urban Development Corporation announces its plans for "E Walk." "E Walk" will feature an 860-room hotel and a 200,000 square-foot entertainment and retail center (including a SONY movie complex). The facade of "E Walk" will be lit with 10 to 12 Super Signs.
December 1996	Lease signed with Forest City Ratner. Forest City Ratner scheduled to begin renovations and re-construction on south side properties, including the Harris, Liberty and Empire Theaters in August 1997. The Empire will come under The New 42nd Street's master lease once it is fully renovated.
January 1997	Livent Inc. announces that, when combined, the renovated Lyric and Apollo Theaters will be called The Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
May 1997	Disney opens the New Amsterdam Theatre on May 18 with the premiere of Alan Menken and Tim Rice's King David oratorio.
August 1997	Forest City Ratner begins renovations and re-construction of the Harris, Liberty and Empire theaters, and Tishman Urban Development Corporation begins construction on "E Walk."
September 1997	Roundabout Theatre Company signs Memorandum of Understanding for the Selwyn Theater.
November 1997	The New 42nd Street announces plans for the New 42nd Street Studios—a ten-story facility containing rehearsal studios, offices and a 199-seat workshop/experimental theater, called The Duke on 42nd Street—to be completed by mid-1999.
November 1997	The Lion King opens on November 13 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
December 1997	Livent Inc. opens the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on December 26 with the New York premiere of Ragtime.
December 1997	The Selwyn Office Building collapses on December 30, destroying the historic facade that was to have been incorporated into the New 42nd Street Studio building. The New 42nd Street announces plans to redesign and maintain the projected construction schedule.
March 1998	Forest City Ratner moves the Empire theater 170 feet from the center of 42nd Street toward the corner of 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. The Empire theater will be used as the main entrance to the AMC movie theater complex.
December 1998	The New 42nd Street begins construction on the New 42nd Street Studios.
August 1999	SFX Entertainment Inc. purchases Livent Inc., and becomes the operator of The Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
September 1999	Tishman's "E Walk" officially opens with the debut of its first retail space, Broadway City, on September 16.
February 2000	Roundabout Theatre Company announces that the renovated Selwyn Theater will be called the American Airlines Theatre.
April 2000	On April 17, the AMC Empire 25 opens in the Forest City Ratner complex.
June 2000	Hilton Times Square opens on June 6 as part of the Forest City Ratner Complex.
June 2000	Opening celebration of the New 42nd Street Studios on June 21.
July 2000	Roundabout Theatre Company opens the 750-seat American Airlines Theatre on July 27 with the revival of The Man Who Came To Dinner.
July 2004	*eckö unltd. leases the Times Square Theater to develop a new flagship retail location.
Contact Information:	Laura Kaplow-Goldman Director of Public Relations The New 42nd Street 229 West 42nd Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 646-223-3000 (telephone) 646-562-0175 (telefax) lkaplow-goldman@new42.org (email)