The Beacon Theater in NYC?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 1:36pm

Anyone know any information about this theater? aside from wikipedia that I already read. I asked this bec. I have been offered a special on the Chinese New Year celebration for $29.50 at the Beacon Theater in NYC .. is the theater pretty inside? I cannot find pics on the internet?

Did it ever play broadway shows at all? Thanks for any input...

J*
Updated On: 1/2/08 at 01:36 PM

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 1:57pm

It's an olde movie palace on the upper west side of which you write, right? Never been in it. But at least one Broadway production played there, back in the '70s: a Tom O'Horgan version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Didn't last long; unrelated to the movie version of the same album.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:04pm

If its not pretty are you not going to go?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:21pm

I saw George Carlin there in November of 2005 and I don't really remember much of the theater itself. I do recall it having a nice lobby and that I exited via what seemed like a fire escape from the balcony.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:44pm

it's GORGEOUS and most of the seats are great considering it's such a big theater (2,800 seats i think)

I have some good interior shots (i took them when i went to see Kelly Clarkson there last fall), but I can't figure out how to upload them. Updated On: 1/2/08 at 02:44 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:48pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hardcoreshutterbug/358248509/

here is a picture.

Updated On: 1/2/08 at 02:48 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:51pm

thanks for the pics...

I dont know if I can go? to the Chinese Celebration at the Beacon Theater- I just check my schedule and I am supposed to see Encores' Applause that day 2/9..
well see!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:58pm

Theres a number of music DVDs out there and some CDs that were recorded at The Beacon- 'Lizas Back!' being one. Very nice auditorium.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 3:10pm

You can see a lot of shots of the Beacon at the following link.
Beacon Theatre

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 3:14pm

Wasn't Conan O'Brien's 10th anniversary special held there? I remember watching that and thinking the theatre was huge.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 3:35pm

Thanks Smaxie- youre always reliable with these theaters -youre like an encyclopedia of theater history & architecture.

Here's the pics....









very Grecian.. nice ! but it looks like it needs cleaning..

J*
Updated On: 1/2/08 at 03:35 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 4:28pm

The Beacon theatre is an AMAZING concert venue. AMAZING acoustics ect.

I am a huge fan of the Allman Brothers Band and for the longest time they have always had a slew of shows in the spring at the Beacon Theatre. My only complant is that what once belonged to a private family got sold out to Bob Dolan. And now his vision is to make it another pop artist venue as oppsoe to having good classic rock. He also kicked out the Allman Brothers Band's spring shows because he wants to pretend that it wasn't a great place for good clasic Rock and Roll.

[FireInYourBrain]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 4:47pm

Just a heads up, the Allman Brothers will be going to the Beacon, just a little later in the year this year. I don't know where you got your information about Dolan trying to make it a pop venue (it has everything from classic rock, to straight plays), but clearly it's false.

Also, the Chinese New Year thing takes place at Radio City. You can use the discount and buy your tickets at the Beacon, but the show itself is at Radio City. The Beacon had the Chinese Holiday Wonders show, and RC gets their New Years show :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 4:50pm

VH-1 recorded a few concerts there.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 5:00pm

The Allman's have had a falling out with Dolan. Due to the fact that for many years the Beacon was just a privite venue. The Allmans became friends with that family and when they were booked to play there they gave the band free run of the place because they have a great relationship.

But, apperently the Allmans are looking elswhere for their spring line up. according to jambands.com that is what the plan is. They are eiather looking at the Nokia Theatre or the United Palace theatre.

Back in the day, the Beacon was a prime venue for classic rock.

Now, Dolan wants to book more pop groups then classic rock groups. And any and all claissic rock groups/jam bands that play there have to follow a list of long regulations from Dolan himself which make it almost impossable for the bands to cut loose and enjoy themselves.

But, Warren Hanes's band Govt Mule just finsished a new years show there and Warren is also part of the Allmans so things might look up for us.

Keep in mind, that for the past thirty years the Allman's have always had a spring stop at the Beacon so it would be a sad thing if they can't do that anymore.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 5:01pm

like the DIVAS concert ??

[FireInYourBrain]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 5:40pm

I don't need the history of the Allman's and Dolan...I'm involved with the theatre :) The Allman's are working on scheduling their normal shows here just like every other year. This year it's just going to be a little later, but barring any unforeseen circumstance, they're more than likely going to be here.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 6:58pm

Yea Jay those kind of concerts on DVD.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 8:26pm

It was dubbed "The little Roxy" as it was designed by the same architect who designed the Roxy & the Beacon rotunda (outer lobby) is a minature of the Roxy rotunda.

Having said that, I always found the theater ugly as if the architect could not make up his mind as to what style he wanted & threw in a little of everything

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 8:34pm

Correction : The Chinese New Year Splendor 2008 will be RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL. I swear to god that I thought I saw it earlier at The Beacon Theater or else how will I know it? might be a typo or they must have changed the venue.... Well at least we stumble to the BEACON THEATER:

on TDF: for 1/30- 2/9
CHINESE NEW YEAR SPLENDOR 2008
Radio City Music Hall, 6th Avenue between 50th Street and 51st Street, NYC
Ticket Price: $29.50


In case you guys are interested. I always wanted to see this..something different ..to expand my horizon... but I guess I will be seeing Encores' Applause that day. (my plan that week- too late to change)

J*
Updated On: 1/2/08 at 08:34 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 12:17am

Slightly off topic, but I recently read on Playbill that while the NY State Theater at Lincoln Center undergoes renovations later this year the NY City Opera might move to either the Beacon Theater or to Carnegie Hall.
NYCO Reveals Tentative Plans for 2008-09 Season-in-Exile