Webster Hall
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2020) |
Concert venue, nightclub | |
Capacity | Grand Ballroom: 1,500 Marlin Room: 600 Studio: 400 |
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Construction | |
Built | 1886 |
Renovated | 2018 |
Website | |
www |
Webster Hall and Annex | |
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Coordinates | 40°43′54″N 73°59′21″W / 40.73167°N 73.98917°W |
Architect | Charles Rentz |
Governing body | private |
New York City Landmark | |
Designated | March 18, 2008 |
Webster Hall is a
Webster Hall has been recognized as the first modern nightclub.
BSE Global and The Bowery Presents (and Bowery's parent company AEG) acquired the operating rights for and assets of Webster Hall in February 2017, and after a nearly two-year renovation, the venue re-opened to the public on April 26, 2019.[9]
1886–1940
Webster Hall was built in 1886 by architect Charles Rentz in the Queen Anne style and topped with an elaborate mansard roof. Six years later in 1892, Rentz was hired to design an addition to the building, occupying the site of 125 East 11th Street and designed in the Renaissance Revival style using the same materials as the original building. Throughout the early twentieth century the building was plagued by fires, which occurred in 1902, 1911, 1930, 1938, and 1949. The original mansard roof was likely lost in one of these fires.[10]
Originally commissioned by Charles Goldstein – who operated the hall and also lived in the Annex with his family until his death in 1898 – the building was a "hall for hire" from its inception. The first decade or so of Webster Hall's existence saw it host countless
In 1912,
In the 1910s and 1920s, Webster Hall became known for its
The coming of Prohibition did not restrict the availability of alcohol at these events. Local politicians and police were said to turn a blind eye to the activities; at one time it was rumored that the venue was owned by the mobster Al Capone. The repeal of Prohibition was the reason for one of Webster Hall's biggest celebrations, "The Return of John Barleycorn".
In 1938, reporting on a fire in the building, The New York Times wrote: "Webster Hall ... began by seeing redcheeked debutantes introduced to society and ended – if ended it has – by seeing red-nosed bohemians thumbing defiance at society."[11]
1950–1979
In the 1950s, Webster Hall began featuring concerts from a diverse group of artists. Latin performers, such as
On February 2, 1962,
In 1970, Unity Gallega, also known as Casa Galicia of New York, purchased the site and remains the current owner of the property. Unity Gallega (Casa Galicia) is a cultural organization representing people from
1980–2016
On May 1, 1980,
When the Ritz relocated in 1989, it gave Webster Hall the opportunity to be reborn. In 1992, the Ballinger brothers (Lon, Stephen, Douglas, and Peter) from
As real estate development pressure grew exponentially in the East Village during the 2000s, the
In addition to its weekly club nights, Webster Hall is one of the city's premiere live music venues. It is the exclusive live music venue for
In fall of 2016 trade publication, Pollstar nominated the venue for their Nightclub of the Year Award.[19] The club won the award at Pollstar's annual award ceremony at Pollstar Live! the following February.[20]
2017–2019
It was announced on April 2, 2017, that Webster Hall had been sold to Brooklyn Sports Entertainment,[21] a unit of Anschutz Entertainment Group – known as AEG. On May 4, all employees were served termination notices.[22] On May 22, it was reported that Webster Hall would close in mid-August for approximately two years,[23] and would reopen in late 2019 or early 2020 as Spectrum Hall, which would be strictly a concert and sports facility.[24]
In July 2017, Gerard McNamee, the club's director, officially announced that the venue would close after the final show on August 9, 2017, and that it had been purchased by Brooklyn Sports Entertainment. The closing, to update the building's infrastructure for modern use, was planned to be for a period of three years. After that, AEG will present fewer dance nights and more concerts.[25]
After a $10 million renovation and makeover, Webster Hall re-opened on April 26, 2019, with a concert by
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ a b Staff (April 3, 2017) "Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment Partners with The Bowery Presents to Acquire Operating Rights to New York's Iconic Webster Hall" (press release)
- ^ a b "Webster Hall and Annex Designation Report" Archived January 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (March 18, 2008)
- ^ a b Wong, Raymond (April 27, 2019). "Jay-Z's reopening of Webster Hall with secret guests like Nas was wild". Mashable. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ "Webster Hall in New York". Rolling Stone. April 25, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ "5 of The Best Local Music Venues in Lower Manhattan – Rivington Music Blog". January 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Carlson, Jen (August 14, 2007). "New Venue Alert: Terminal 5". Gothamist. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ^ F. Holt 2020. Everyone Loves Live Music: A Theory of Performance Institutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- ^ "Webster Hall, 119 East 11th Street was built in 1886 and designed by Charles Rentz" (PDF). Gvshp.org. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Webster Hall, Reborn: Inside the Renovation of the Iconic New York Venue: Exclusive".
- ^ Durniak, Drew (July 18, 2011). "Where Music and Passion are Always in Fashion". Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
- ^ "Webster Hall (article abstract)". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Webster Hall Landmarked!". Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.
- ^ "Public Sex and Hidden Knives: The Nightmares of Managing a Massive Club Halloween Party". Vice. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "Webster Hall staff members reflect on the closure of the iconic venue". Time Out New York. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "Coast 2 Coast Music Industry Mixer | New York 1/26 | Coast 2 Coast Events". Coast2coastmixtapes.com. January 26, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Webster Hall New York, NY - tickets, information, reviews". Newyorkcitytheatre.com. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
- ^ "The Studio at Webster Hall". Webster Hall. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- ^ "Webster Hall To Handle Booking In House". Webster Hall. April 16, 2016.
- ^ "Webster Hall VP Heath Miller Talks Pollstar 'Nightclub of the Year' Nomination". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "How a Business Predicts the Future: Heath Miller of NYC's Iconic Webster Hall". Inc.com. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Atkinson, Claire (April 3, 2017). "Webster Hall is getting a makeover". New York Post. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "Department of Labor Warn Notice for Webster Hall".
- ^ Plitt, Amy (May 22, 2017). "Harlem's Whole Foods gets an opening date, Webster Hall renovations, and more". Curbed NY. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "Community Board 3 Calendar - Community Board No. 3". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ Hobbs, Allegra (July 10, 2017) "Webster Hall to Close for Renovations in August, Operator Says" Archived August 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine DNAinfo
- ^ Webster Hall reopens after $10M renovation with Jay-Z concert Retrieved April 28, 2019
External links
- Official website
- New York Press article
- Building database Rentz has 51 entries as architect
- Designation Report of the Landmarks Preservation Commission