Charles W. 'Chuck' Bryant

So we got to talk a little bit about Times Square. Even before the 70s came along, it was a pretty rowdy place. In the early teens, there was a 1 a.m. curfew because it was such a rowdy place. There were speakeasies there during Prohibition, burlesque in the 30s.

And then from the 60s and into the 90s, I think I mentioned this before, when I first started going to New York in the mid-90s, there were still peep shows there. It was right before the final cleanup happened, thanks to a few different mayors, but Mayor Ed Koch, certainly David Dinkins, and then eventually Giuliani would finish up the work of cleaning up Times Square.

And then from the 60s and into the 90s, I think I mentioned this before, when I first started going to New York in the mid-90s, there were still peep shows there. It was right before the final cleanup happened, thanks to a few different mayors, but Mayor Ed Koch, certainly David Dinkins, and then eventually Giuliani would finish up the work of cleaning up Times Square.

And then from the 60s and into the 90s, I think I mentioned this before, when I first started going to New York in the mid-90s, there were still peep shows there. It was right before the final cleanup happened, thanks to a few different mayors, but Mayor Ed Koch, certainly David Dinkins, and then eventually Giuliani would finish up the work of cleaning up Times Square.

So they started – they dipped their toe in the pond with renovating and renting out the new Amsterdam Theater, which at that point New York City had acquired in 1992 as part of the 42nd Street Development Program because it was one of those that followed the – for less theater than movie theater than porn theater model. I don't know if that was an official model.

So they started – they dipped their toe in the pond with renovating and renting out the new Amsterdam Theater, which at that point New York City had acquired in 1992 as part of the 42nd Street Development Program because it was one of those that followed the – for less theater than movie theater than porn theater model. I don't know if that was an official model.

So they started – they dipped their toe in the pond with renovating and renting out the new Amsterdam Theater, which at that point New York City had acquired in 1992 as part of the 42nd Street Development Program because it was one of those that followed the – for less theater than movie theater than porn theater model. I don't know if that was an official model.

And then as they were remodeling that in 94, before they were finished, Disney opened Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theater. Of course, the adaptation of the 91 animated film. And it was almost a $12 million budget, the most expensive musical ever at the time, and ended up running for about 13 years to total grosses of about 430 mil.

And then as they were remodeling that in 94, before they were finished, Disney opened Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theater. Of course, the adaptation of the 91 animated film. And it was almost a $12 million budget, the most expensive musical ever at the time, and ended up running for about 13 years to total grosses of about 430 mil.

And then as they were remodeling that in 94, before they were finished, Disney opened Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theater. Of course, the adaptation of the 91 animated film. And it was almost a $12 million budget, the most expensive musical ever at the time, and ended up running for about 13 years to total grosses of about 430 mil.

Yeah. I mean, the returns on Broadway, if you can get a smash hit going, you know, it's not like you have to sink $200 million into it like you do a big budget movie.

Yeah. I mean, the returns on Broadway, if you can get a smash hit going, you know, it's not like you have to sink $200 million into it like you do a big budget movie.

Yeah. I mean, the returns on Broadway, if you can get a smash hit going, you know, it's not like you have to sink $200 million into it like you do a big budget movie.

For sure. Should we take our second break?

For sure. Should we take our second break?

For sure. Should we take our second break?

All right, we'll be right back and finish up on Broadway right after this.

All right, we'll be right back and finish up on Broadway right after this.

All right, we'll be right back and finish up on Broadway right after this.

All right. So Broadway, you can go for escape a spare. You always have been able to. You still can. But starting in the mid-90s with Rent, people really started tackling some heavier topics. Jonathan Larson's rock musical talked about addiction and suicide and poverty and AIDS. Rent was another one I left. It was fine, but it was another situation where I was with friends and everyone was