VIBE

This brainchild of 1920s silent movie showman Samuel Roxy Rothafel has become an internationally recognized music hall matched only by the likes of Radio City Music Hall, its younger counterpart. First opened in 1929 as a vaudeville hall, the Beacon has evolved into a pop/rock concert venue that has welcomed the likes of The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, and Queen. After a USD 16 million refurbishment in 2008-9, the original three-tiered, 2,900-seat Art Deco auditorium looks better than ever, evoking the theater’s Roaring Twenties golden days. It was, and still remains, one of New York’s leading (and one of our fave) entertainment venues.

GO HERE WITH

Family; friends; concertgoers

WHY WE LIKE IT

The space is small enough that you feel like you’re oh-so-close to the performers (we could almost touch Lionel Richie at one show) yet showy enough that you're wowed by its gorgeous design.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Its original Wurlitzer organ, which dates back to 1928, was blocked off in the 2009 restoration.

GOOD TO KNOW

Despite the heavy refurbishment of the Beacon, its original sound-system acoustics are still in place. Given its age, the theater's had its share of notable moments over the years (thus, in 1979, it was designated a national landmark in the National Register of Historic Places). A proposal to convert the theater into a disco in 1986 was rejected by a judge, who ruled it would “irreparably damage” the iconic architecture (and thank goodness he did!). The Dalai Lama taught classes here in August 1999. And in 2011, it hosted the 65th Tony Awards. Those with oversized bags are not permitted entry, and video cameras are strictly prohibited. The box office opens at least one hour before all performances, and remains open at least thirty minutes after the start of the show.

CLOSEST COMPS

Radio City Music Hall (New York); New York City Center (New York)

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