The History of Broadway in New York City

Broadway was originally a Indian ridge trail called Wickquasgeck. Because of its elevation, the Dutch renamed it Heere Straat ("High Street") and used it as a trade route to move goods inland from the harbor.

Theater made its Manhattan debut in the 1730s and caught on despite Puritan censure. Productions were halted during the American Revolution, because troops were staging skirmishes in the middle of the street.

English immigrants renamed Heere Straat "Broad Way" because of its width. In 1902, the theater district was nicknamed "The Great White Way" for its volume of white lights illuminating the marquees.

Broadway's highest honor--the Tony--was named for actress Antoinette Perry in the 1940s. To be eligible for Tony nominations, a theater has to be within the theater district and have a seating capacity of 500-plus.

Broadway shows have an average playing time of about 2 hours. Compare this to "The Black Crook" in 1866, which lasted almost six.

Prior to actors' and technicians' unions, a late-19th century cartel under Abraham Lincoln Erlinger sought to control who worked where in New York theater. It was overthrown by the Shubert brothers.