Even young people of today have heard that sexy young men are called “Valentino’s”.  Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Pierce Brosnan, a young Sean Connery (he just gets sexier with age), Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas and all the other mega stars of today can’t hold a candle to “The Sheik” – Rudolf Valentino.  Terms like “The Sheik” and “A Valentino” have become synonymous with the machismo men of the “big screen”.

So, what does this have to do with traveling around New York?  Well…everything!   It seems that Rodolpho Alfonzo Rafaelo Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d’Antonguolla spent much of his life around New York City.  He even privileged New York that upon his death, from a burst appendix, by lying in state at St. Malachy’s church on 47th between Broadway and 8th Avenue.  Thousands of mourners lined up for blocks to pay tribute to the legend. St. Malachy’s is known as the Actor’s Chapel, which leads us to another adventure – that of exploring the often visited, but little known, area called Times Square and the Theater District.

With a rich history, far deeper than just the theater, (excuse the “just”) it illustrates that we live in this incredible storied city – that behind every building, on every street and under every marquee lay a story.  Once known as Longacre Square, owned predominantly by John Jacob Astor (who on his deathbed bemoaned that his only regret was that he didn’t buy “all” of Manhattan Island) and was the horse and carriage trading center, and later, the automobile mecca of New York City.

But, onward – start at Times Square and 42nd Street, bisected by Broadway and 7th Avenue.  In 1904 the New York Times moved to the Times Tower and celebrated it with a gala celebration on, when else, December 31st.  Traditions become legends and legends become history!  Travel west down 42nd Street.  Now replacing the peep shows and porno shops of “Midnight Cowboy” fame, when the area was littered with sex shops, now it contains an array of entertainment venues, from Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum to the Disney Store. 

A wondrous sight in 1998 was the moving of the historic Empire Theater (formerly the Eltinge Theater), west, down 42nd, 160 feet, led by huge balloons of Abbott and Costello that symbolized their original meeting place. The original Eltinge Theater was named after cross-dresser, Julian Eltinge, who was revered in the 1920’s and was actually quite a ladies’ man, even frequently getting into brawls.  Julian was constantly defending his masculinity and was often asked if he was gay.  He commented, confidently, “I’m not gay, I just like pearls!”  Today, the Eltinge/Empire Theater is the AMC Multiplex Movie Theater.

A must for visitors is the Tourist Center on Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, just opposite the TKTS Booth.  The center is a great place to get brochures, make a convenient bathroom stop or just to sit a while.  This center was formerly the Embassy Playhouse which was owned and fully staffed exclusively by women!

Visit TKTS where, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get some fabulous seats to top Broadway shows at half price plus $3.00.  We will attest to the fact that we have gotten some of the best seats, even left over executive comps at great prices.  Remember, each Broadway show has preferred celebrity seats that, if not utilized by show time, are offered to the public on a first come, first serve basis.  All tickets are only for the day of the performance.

Another nice thing to do is to visit the Phantom of the Opera Gift Shop on Broadway, next to the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza for a guided one hour audio tour of the area.  The MP3 player you will be given has fabulous stereo, realistic sound and leads you on a celebrity and Broadway musical adventure.  You’ll feel as if you’re on stage.  The rental price of $10.00 will awaken your show business desires, and you will be amazed at the entertaining and informative pace of the readings.  Tapes come in two flavors, north or south of 47th Street.  Contact them at Walkin’ Broadway (212) 997-5004

Some of the other highlights of things to do while in the Theater District are:

• Eat on 46th Street – Restaurant Row
• Other eateries include: Ollie’s, Carmine’s and Dallas Barbeque (reasonable); the Polish Tea Room at the Edison Hotel and Chez Josephine (one step us); and Barbetta’s with its outdoor garden or Sardi’s (more upscale)
• Lounge at the Marriott Marquis lobby on the 8th floor and pre-theater people watch
• Just walk the streets – the area is incredibly safe today
• Become a tourist and shop the stores like Hershey Chocolate, Virgin Records, the largest Toys-R-Us in the country or just one of the many little souvenir shops that line the streets.
• Browse through Colony Records for great current and old records and CD’s as well as a huge selection of sheet music.

So, as we say, live a little!  Try new things!  Remember, you can’t take it with you! 
Question – what’s the difference between Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off Broadway?  If you want to tour the area with us and get into the history and the anecdotes that make this area famous, then join us for our THEATER DISTRICT TOUR.

Please allow four to five hours for the tour.  If you want to learn where the term “break a leg” comes from or why a “ghost light” is left on in every theater at night, then join us!  See you at the “crossroad of the world” where they say if you stand long enough you will see everyone you have ever known.

P.S.  A Broadway theater has 500 seats or over, off-Broadway has 100-499 seats and off-off Broadway has 99 seats or less.  It has nothing to do with the location of the theater!