It just occurred to me to ask this question (since I have not noticed any news about Broadway (NYC) dimming the lights for Patty Duke who died in late March 2016), but Davey Jones starred in a Broadway play before he became famous for being a member of The Monkees, and I understand he was nominated for a Tony Award even, so why weren't the lights dimmed for Davey Jones after he died?

Anyone know if they were dimmed?

Who decides which actor or actress gets to have the lights dimmed?

Is there a certain "criteria" that has to be met?

Does the actor/actress have to always have done Broadway plays and strictly only Broadway plays?

If the actor/actress has only done a few plays but then went on to become more known for a TV role or for concerts (as in the case of Davey Jones) does that make the actor/actress unqualified to have the lights dimmed after s/he dies?

(BTW David Cassidy started out in Broadway (The Fig Leaves Are Falling), but he went on to be more known for TV roles and concerts).

I don't know who decides it, but Patty Duke's performance in The Miracle Worker was legendary. Very few people know Davy Jones was ever on Broadway.

I don't know who decides it, but Patty Duke's performance in The Miracle Worker was legendary. Very few people know Davy Jones was ever on Broadway.


Yes, but there have been other actors and as talented as they were, they were obscure to the general public and mostly known only to other actors and people of the theatre industry, and they had the lights dimmed for them.

It is why I wonder if it has something to do with strictly being a theatre actor rather than having had done theatre but also having had done TV.

Again, the lights were not dimmed for Patty Duke as far as I know.
She did a legendary performance in The Miracle Worker but she went on to do TV, and I think eventually became more well known (at least to a then-newer generation ) for her TV character than for her acting on Broadway.

I have a faint recollection that back when John Lennon died, there was a bit of controversy because the lights on Broadway were dimmed for him.

Yes, but there have been other actors and as talented as they were, they were obscure to the general public and mostly known only to other actors and people of the theatre industry, and they had the lights dimmed for them.

It is why I wonder if it has something to do with strictly being a theatre actor rather than having had done theatre but also having had done TV.

Again, the lights were not dimmed for Patty Duke as far as I know.
She did a legendary performance in The Miracle Worker but she went on to do TV, and I think eventually became more well known (at least to a then-newer generation ) for her TV character than for her acting on Broadway.

I have a faint recollection that back when John Lennon died, there was a bit of controversy because the lights on Broadway were dimmed for him.

If they would do it for Lennon, they should have done it for Jones and others who actually were in Broadway.

My guess is, the stigma of "pre-fab four", "manufactured image", and so on, created a level of prejudice that will always linger as well as being unfair. A bit of a shame, especially given that how the band fought for and took creative control and made some FANTASTIC songs, rock-based (the live tour, which had no lipsync or faking instruments either) had a hard rock feel as well, all because they didn't want to be seen as patsies or puppets anymore due to the (inevitable) backlash... and yet they are also not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Look at certain "artists" who are in the R&RHoF and the phrase "raw deal" legitimately gets to be said.