For nearly a century, the Beacon Theatre has stood as one of New York City’s most distinctive entertainment landmarks. From its beginnings as an ornate movie palace to its celebrated role as a concert hall, comedy venue, and home for major cultural events, the Upper West Side theater has welcomed generations of performers and audiences through its bronze doors.
Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Culture lovers in New York City usually have at least one event at the Beacon Theatre near the top of their lists. The theater is a perfect place to enjoy a live theater, music, or comedy show. Dozens of artists have taken the stage to perform for audiences of all ages and interests. People have been flocking to the theater to enjoy entertainment ever since its early days as a first-run movie house.
Film producer Herbert Lubin initially conceived the idea for the Beacon Theatre in 1926. It was intended to be part of a larger chain of upscale movie theaters in New York City. Entrepreneur Samuel L. “Roxy” Rothafel and Lubin would run the Roxy Theatre Circuit.
Chicago architect Walter Altschlager designed the building, originally known as the Roxy Midway Theatre. The new venue, with 2,600 seats, was intended as a smaller version of the renowned Roxy Theatre in Times Square. Unfortunately, the building remained closed for several years. The proposed theater chain never materialized because Lubin lacked the financial means to turn that dream into reality.
Warner Theatres eventually purchased the building, which opened as Warner’s Beacon Theatre in 1929. It premiered many Warner Bros. movies for several years. It was created for silent films, although the first film shown was Tiger Rose, one of the new “talkies” that later replaced silent movies.
The Beacon Theatre continued to run new movies into the 1970s. Steven Singer bought the venue in 1974. Stephen Metz was hired to promote several pop concerts held at the theater. Two years later, the theater was purchased by Allen Rossoff and Marvin Getlan. Its primary focus would soon change from movies to live music.
Rock legends the Grateful Dead were among the first bands to play at the Beacon Theatre in 1976. Many other acts in a variety of genres would follow over the years. Queen played several shows at the venue during its 1976 A Night at the Opera tour. Rock band Steely Dan was the first act to hold a residency at the theater. Trey Anastasio of Phish, Mariah Carey, Jerry Seinfeld, and many others would follow.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the building a city landmark in 1979. In 1982, the venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Attempts were made in 1987 to turn the theater into a nightclub. However, those efforts were prevented after the matter was brought to court. Opponents were concerned that the proposed changes would affect the building’s unique neo-Grecian decor. It soon became known as a popular medium-sized concert hall in New York City. The theater is still regularly booked for performances by rock artists, pop singers, R&B crooners, and many other acts because the hall’s acoustics are outstanding.
The Beacon Theatre has also hosted several live comedy acts. The late George Carlin taped several of his HBO specials at the venue. Television host Conan O’Brien taped the tenth-anniversary special of his Late Night program at the theater in 2003 and returned to host a week’s worth of his Conan show in the fall of 2011.
Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, and Eddie Vedder are a few of the renowned artists who have performed at the Beacon Theatre over the years. The Allman Brothers Band played the first of 238 concerts at the venue in 1989. The group played at the theater for three consecutive weeks in 2009 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, and Boz Scaggs were among the special guests who performed at those anniversary shows. The group’s show at the Beacon Theatre on October 28, 2014, was the Allman Brothers Band’s final live concert.
The Tony Awards were held at the theater in 2011, 2012, and 2016. An autism fundraiser and awareness event known as the “Night of Too Many Stars” was held at the venue in February 2015. The Beacon Theatre has regularly hosted live theater performances and film screenings, including Shine a Light, the Rolling Stones concert film directed by Martin Scorsese and filmed at the theater. It has also been home to theatrical productions and political debates.
In 2006, the Madison Square Garden Company took over operations at the Beacon Theatre. The company manages the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Cablevision Systems Corporation began a twenty-year lease at the venue later that year. The building was renovated in 2009 to restore its original beauty. Workers uncovered original paint and carefully studied archived photographs and films of the venue during the project. The restoration garnered multiple architecture awards.
The venue itself is a true work of art. Visitors open the bronze doors of the vestibule to access the two-story lobby. The thirty-foot-tall statues of Greek goddesses are among the first things most people see when they enter the stage area. The stage itself can be raised and lowered from the basement if needed, even when musicians or other artists are onstage. The mezzanine and orchestra levels of the theater have mahogany bars and floors made from white marble. Brass staircase rails, hardwood floors, and gilded plaster moldings can be found throughout the seating sections. There are 2,894 seats spread across three levels. Impressive, detailed murals depicting animals involved in trading caravans adorn the corridors.
The Beacon Theatre has been a fixture on New York’s Upper West Side for almost a century. Several generations of New York natives and visitors have watched a movie, attended a play, or witnessed a memorable live music event there. Some legends who have performed at the Beacon Theatre and released live albums recorded there include Joe Bonamassa, The Allman Brothers Band, Duran Duran, The Doobie Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Steely Dan, The Eagles, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, and Joan Baez. New artists and residencies are announced every year. It has become a popular destination that will undoubtedly remain a favorite gathering place for individuals and families for many more years to come.
