Paramount Plaza
Encyclopedia
Paramount Plaza is a 48-story skyscraper on Broadway
in New York City
that houses two Broadway theatres. In 2007 it was listed as number 46 on the list of tallest buildings in New York City.
movie palace. It was developed by the Uris brothers
, who, at the time, claimed to be the largest private real estate developers in New York City. Building the tower demonstrated a confidence in the Times Square
neighborhood, which was then in decline and dominated by sex-related businesses.
The 204 meter/670 foot tower that occupies most of the block west of Broadway between West 51st and West 50th Streets has interior space of 208,200 square meters.
It was originally called the Uris Building for the developers, and the associated Uris Theatre (later renamed the George Gershwin Theatre
) is one of the largest Broadway houses. A smaller theatre operated by the non-profit Circle in the Square
company is also in the space.
After the death of his brother, Harold Uris sold Uris Building Corp, including this building, to the National Kinney Corporation
which in 1974 faced with 30 percent vacancy rates took the building into bankruptcy before it was taken over by the Paramount Investment Group.
Paramount renamed the building. Portions of The King of Comedy
and Silent Movie
were shot there. The Uris Theatre was eventually renamed the Gershwin. The southern of the two sunken plazas on Broadway has a gymnasium and an entrance to the 50th Street subway station ( trains). The northern one houses Mars 2112
, a theme restaurant that caters to tourists.
The world headquarters of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
is located in this building.
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that houses two Broadway theatres. In 2007 it was listed as number 46 on the list of tallest buildings in New York City.
History
The Uris Building, designed by Emery Roth and Sons, was built in 1970 on the site of the former Capitol TheatreCapitol Theatre (New York City)
The Capitol Theatre was a movie palace located at 1645 Broadway, just north of Times Square in New York City, across from the Winter Garden Theatre. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb, the Capitol seated 4000 and opened October 24, 1919. It was one of the first of the large lavish movie theaters that...
movie palace. It was developed by the Uris brothers
Harold Uris
Harold D. Uris was an American builder, real estate investor and philanthropist. After earning a civil engineering degree from Cornell in 1925, Harold joined his brother, Percy, who had a 1920 business degree from Columbia University, and their father, Harris, founder of an ornamental ironwork...
, who, at the time, claimed to be the largest private real estate developers in New York City. Building the tower demonstrated a confidence in the Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
neighborhood, which was then in decline and dominated by sex-related businesses.
The 204 meter/670 foot tower that occupies most of the block west of Broadway between West 51st and West 50th Streets has interior space of 208,200 square meters.
It was originally called the Uris Building for the developers, and the associated Uris Theatre (later renamed the George Gershwin Theatre
George Gershwin Theatre
The Gershwin Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 51st Street in midtown-Manhattan in the Paramount Plaza building. The theatre is named after composer George Gershwin and lyricist Ira Gershwin...
) is one of the largest Broadway houses. A smaller theatre operated by the non-profit Circle in the Square
Circle in the Square Theatre
The Circle in the Square Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre in midtown Manhattan on 50th Street in the Paramount Plaza building.The original Circle in the Square was founded by Paul Libin, Theodore Mann and Jose Quintero in 1951 and was located at 5 Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village...
company is also in the space.
After the death of his brother, Harold Uris sold Uris Building Corp, including this building, to the National Kinney Corporation
Kinney Parking Company
Kinney Parking Company was a New Jersey parking lot company owned by Manny Kimmel, Sigmund Dornbusch and mob figure Abner Zwillman. Prior to its public listing in 1960, it merged with a funeral home company, Riverside, and then expanded into car-rentals, office cleaning firms and construction...
which in 1974 faced with 30 percent vacancy rates took the building into bankruptcy before it was taken over by the Paramount Investment Group.
The King of Comedy (1983 film)
The King of Comedy is a 1983 American dark comedy film starring Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis, and directed by Martin Scorsese. The subject of the movie is celebrity stalking...
and Silent Movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
were shot there. The Uris Theatre was eventually renamed the Gershwin. The southern of the two sunken plazas on Broadway has a gymnasium and an entrance to the 50th Street subway station ( trains). The northern one houses Mars 2112
Mars 2112
Mars 2112 is one of many tourist-targeted restaurants in the Times Square district of New York City, based on future space travel and accommodations. At , it was the largest such themed restaurant when it opened in November 1998....
, a theme restaurant that caters to tourists.
The world headquarters of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited , commonly referred to as Deloitte, is one of the Big Four accountancy firms along with PricewaterhouseCoopers , Ernst & Young, and KPMG....
is located in this building.