Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel

Samuel Lionel "Roxy" Rothafel (July 9, 1882 – January 13, 1936) was an American theatrical impresario and entrepreneur. He is noted for developing the lavish presentation of silent films in the deluxe movie palace theaters of the 1910s and 1920s. Life and career Samuel Rothafel (originally Rothapfel, meaning ‘‘Red Apple’’, the modern German spelling is: Rotapfel) was born in Bromberg, Province of Posen, Prussia, Germany,(now Bydgoszcz, Poland), and is the son of Cecelia (née Schwerzens) and Gustav Rothapfel. In 1886, at the age of three, he and his mother boarded the S/S Rugia, sailing from Hamburg to the Port of New York on May 24, 1886. In that same year, Rothafel and his parents moved to Stillwater, Minnesota. In 1895 at the age of thirteen, Rothafel moved to New York with his family. He became estranged from his father when he lost interest in his studies and nearly two years after his mother’s death in 1897. He was forced out of his father’s house. Before setting out to create and establish notable movie theaters in New York City, Rothafel pursued any job he could get to make ends meet. He served seven years in the U.S Marine Corps where he saw action in China’s Boxer Rebellion. After being discharged Rothafel moved back to Philadelphia as a decorated marine. Samuel Rothafel is best known by his nickname, "Roxy." He was the impresario who brought the great New York City movie palaces that he managed to fame and popular success. In 1908 he first began his show business career in Forest City, Pennsylvania, where he created the "Family Theater", a combination cinema and skating rink in the backroom of a local saloon. In 1912 he came to New York City, where he would achieve his greatest successes. In New York at different times he managed and produced shows at the Regent, Strand, Rialto, Rivoli, and Capitol theaters. Often considered his greatest achievement was his eponymous Roxy Theatre at Times Square which opened March 11, 1927. He later opened the Radio City Music Hall and the RKO Roxy (later the Center Theatre) in 1932, his last theatrical project. The Music Hall featured the precision dance troupe the Roxyettes (later renamed The Rockettes), which Rothafel brought with him from the Roxy Theatre.