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Shubert Alley is a narrow long pedestrian alley at the heart of the Broadway theater district of New York City. It splits a block, as it runs parallel to and between Eighth Avenue and Broadway, linking West 44th Street to West 45th Street. It contains approximately of public space. The alley has been considered the geographical center of Broadway theatre. Richard Hornby wrote in 1991 that: "In New York, the desirability of a theatre is inversely proportional to its distance from Shubert Alley." ==The early years (1912–49)== The alley was originally built as a fire exit between the Shubert Theatre (on 44th Street) and Booth Theatre (on 45th Street), and the Astor Hotel (bounded by Broadway, Astor Plaza, and West 44th and 45th Streets), as fire laws of the time required that there be room for fire equipment in the event of an emergency. The Astor Hotel, which had opened in 1904, was demolished in 1968, and its location is now occupied by the high-rise 50-story office tower, One Astor Plaza.〔 The Shubert and Booth Theatres, which both opened in 1913, were owned by Lee and Jacob J. Shubert.〔 The alley is called the Shubert Alley because the Shuberts, who were then New York's most powerful theater owners and producers, had their offices overlooking it and rented the alley.〔 They leased it from the Astor estate in 1912, in a decades-long-lease. In the early years the alley was lined with posters of Broadway shows that were playing, the Shuberts had their limousines parked there, and the alley had gates which were locked at night.〔 It was also a gathering place for actors when shows were being cast.〔(''The Miami News'' – Google News Archive Search )〕 Unemployed and aspiring actors hoping for a part would line its western wall.〔(''The Owosso Argus-Press'' – Google News Archive Search )〕 In 1930, its lunchtime scene was described as: having the color of one of those street scenes from a tropical revue, churning with actors, Broadway reporters, chorus girls, and a soupcon of booking agents and costumers. A hurdy-gurdy grinds out tunes, and often a street band adds oom-pahs to the medley.... There is good-natured shoving about, hoots, and back-patting. Stars are hailed by first name. Bootleggers are there with their order books. Also racing touts, with hot tips.〔(''The Miami News'' – Google News Archive Search )〕 During the Great Depression, the alley was divided by a fence. One side was used by a New Jersey bus line, as a bus terminal.〔 The other side served as egress for stage doors from the Shubert and Booth Theatres.〔 Posters were hung on the fence.〔 They became known as "three-sheets", because they were three times as tall as the "one-sheet" lobby cards. When the bus terminal was removed, the posters were moved to the common side wall of the two theatres.〔 During intermissions, casts would leave the non-air-conditioned theaters for a breath of fresh air in the alley.〔 It was reported in 1939 that the actor Raymond Massey built a bowling alley in his London home, and called it "Shubert Alley".〔(''The Pittsburgh Press'' – Google News Archive Search )〕 A play entitled ''Shubert Alley'' was written by Mel Dinelli in 1943. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Shubert Alley」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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