Finding a way to spend your time isn’t a difficult task when you live in or around New York City. There are dozens of historic buildings, hundreds of restaurant, and countless other sources of entertainment. However, some of those places stand out from the rest. Some of the buildings have so much history that you can’t avoid them, and why would you want to? One such building is the Beacon Theatre. Located on Broadway in upper Manhattan, the theater is one of New York’s leading live music and entertainment venues, and is one of many controlled by MSG (Madison Square Garden Inc.). This historic theatre’s superior acoustics make it the ideal venue to enjoy a night of music.
A Glittering History
The Beacon Theatre was originally planned as part of a chain of deluxe New York City movie theaters, ideal for silent movies. That wasn’t ever to come to pass, though. When the man behind the theater lost his fortune, the money behind the theater collapsed as well. With no funds to move it forward, it was abandoned. The nearly completed theater remained vacant and collecting dust until Warner Theatres obtained it. They cleaned up the dust and finished the theater, allowing the theater to finally open on December 24, 1929. The ‘Warner Beacon’ continued as a first-run movie theater into the early 1970s, until it was purchased by Steven Singer in 1974. Singer bought the theater to present live pop concerts and that was the beginning of a rich history in music and in 1982 the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A Faithful Run
Mentioning the Beacon Theatre requires a mention of the Allman Brothers Band. Starting in 1989, the band began a successful run of performances that lasted twenty consecutive years. Eventually, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary in the theater, inviting guests from many different genres to perform with them at the theater. This 2009 concert event lasted three weeks, and included famous names from an impressive array of music genres.
Continued Success
The Beacon Theatre isn’t just about its history. It has made its history, not the other way around. If had been a subpar theater, it wouldn’t have found the success that it did. But this building is just as important as those who have performed within it. It has provided a home away from home for many different artists over the year, and provides an experience to remember for those in the audience. The shows continue today because the theater is a beautiful and comfortable venue. It provides an atmosphere that creates a show that shouldn’t be missed.
The Beacon Theatre is a destination. It is a place to go and enjoy an evening of high class and entertainment. Built in a different era, for a different time, it has adapted perfectly to the present. The theater offers an experience that combines the comfort of the past with the entertainment of today. Together, those two elements make it a must-see in New York.