The Hudson Theater (New York City, New York)

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4-story Beaux-Arts theater originally completed in 1903. Designed by J.B. McElfatrick and Israels & Harder, it was built by theatrical producer Henry B. Harris and was managed by his wife after his death on the RMS Titanic. From the 1930s through the 1950s the theater was used as a radio and television studio. The theater was owned by NBC in the 1950s, and in 1954 was home to the original version of The Tonight Show with host Steve Allen. Bought by developer Abraham Hirschfeld in 1956, and after returning to use as a legitimate theater in the 1960s, in 1974 it was converted into a movie house. In 1980 it became the Savoy rock club. In 1987, the building received landmark status. When owner Henry Macklowe developed the surrounding lots into a new luxury hotel, he incorporated the landmarked theater, using it as a conference center and auditorium. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels bought the hotel (naming it the Millennium Broadway Hotel) and the Hudson in 1995, and erected the Premier Hotel on the other side, which are joined via the theater building. The building was fully renovated and returned to use as a Broadway theater in 2016. Though it once held as many as 1050 seats, after the renovation it is now has approximately 950 seats.

The Hudson Theater extends through the block, with the principal facade on 44th Street. Five bays wide, the facade's simple arrangement centers on a slightly projecting pavilion formed by the three inner bays, while horizontally the facade is organized as a base, 2-story flat portico, and attic story topped by a balustrade. The base is of rusticated limestone set on a grey granite water table. Doorways, filled with wood and glass doors, are at each side. Each opening is surmounted by a cornice carried on consoles which in turn carry cornucopias surrounding the base of a bulls-eye opening. Centered on the base is a large entrance opening with three wood-and-glass double-doors. The green copper marquee above is suspended from tie-rods hung from the original metal fasteners. A dentiled molding and wide band course terminate the base and set off the major portion of the facade, which is of brick, now painted buff.

This section takes the form of a central slightly-projecting 3-bay pavilion flanked by single bays. The central bays at the 2nd & 3rd floors are flanked by pilasters terminating in capitals with stylized theatrical masks. The three central windows at the 2nd floor contain French doors shielded by decorative, lyre-adorned wrought-iron balconies. The outer window openings are surmounted by panels and segmental-arched pediments carried on consoles. The center opening is surmounted by a panel with a male head, possible Apollo, and swags and a broken pediment carried on consoles and encompassing a lyre. The outermost window openings have full surrounds carrying raised cornices. The treatment of the 3rd-floor windows is similar in the central pavilion and flanking bays. All are covered by wrought-iron grilles which curve at their bases. The openings are set on corbelled sills and are surmounted by large splayed keys, which are applied over a continuous molding spanning the facade. The central window is slightly differentiated by a full surround and a large console instead of a keystone. An entablature with a leaf-and-tongue molding and modillioned cornice and bearing the tablet inscribed "HUDSON", sets off the 4th floor.

At the top floor the three central windows have stone surrounds keyed to the brickwork. All five windows are surmounted by splayed keys. One the central pavilion these overlap the frieze of the entablature which terminates the facade. The dentiled sheemetal cornice carries a balustraded parapet of sheetmetal with piers at the ends and above the central pavilion and a central panel adorned with swags and surmounted by an oval shield surrounded by consoles. The cornice returns at the east and west sides.

The 44th Street facade is much simpler, clad in buff-painted brick. The base is articulated by three blind arched openings. Large stage door openings are placed in the outer two. Paired pilasters with Corinthian capitals incorporating stylized theatrical masks define the upper floors. This elevation is surmounted by a sheetmetal entahblature composed of a reeded frieze with medallions and a modillioned cornice. The cornice returns at the east and west sides. Single 5-story bays flank the major portion of this elevation at the east and west, covered by metal fire escapes. The 5th-floor windows are surmounted by brick arches.

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