Symphony Space: Difference between revisions

Symphony Space
Symphony Theatre
	Outside view of Symphony Space in April 2008. Marquee for Leonard Nimoy Thalia is barely visible on the right edge.
Address	2537 Broadway; New York City; United States
Coordinates	40°47′41″N 73°58′20″W / 40.794615°N 73.972197°W
Operator	Symphony Space, Inc.
Capacity	Peter Jay Sharp Theatre: 760; Leonard Nimoy Thalia: 160
Construction
Reopened	1978
Website
	www.symphonyspace.org

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Symphony Space, founded by Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller, is a multi-disciplinary performing arts organization at 2537 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Performances take place in the 760-seat Peter Jay Sharp Theatre (also called Peter Norton Symphony Space) or the 160-seat Leonard Nimoy Thalia. Programs include music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings. In addition, Symphony Space provides literacy programs and the Curriculum Arts Project, which integrates performing arts into social studies curricula in New York City Public Schools.

Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, Wall to Wall Bach, held on January 9, 1978, organized by Isaiah Sheffer and Alan Miller.^[1] From 1978 to 2001, the theater hosted all of the New York productions by the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players.

As of 2010, Symphony Space hosts 600 or more events annually, including an annual free music Wall to Wall marathon; Bloomsday on Broadway (celebrating James Joyce's Ulysses); and Selected Shorts, broadcast nationally over Public Radio International. The New York company of Revels, Inc., also holds its shows there.

Early history of the building[edit]

From 1915 to 1917, Vincent Astor spent $750,000 of his personal fortune on the Astor Market, a two-storey mini-mall of stands occupying the southwest corner of 95th and Broadway. The intention was to sell fruit, meat, fish, produce, and flowers at inexpensive prices, achieved through large economies of scale. As was common with Astor's building projects, flamboyance dominated the architecture, including a 290-foot William Mackay sgraffito frieze depicting farmers bringing their goods to market.^[2]^[3]^[4]

The market proved a failure. In 1917, Astor sold the market to Thomas J. Healy. The stalls were demolished and the main space was converted into the Crystal Palace, a skating rink, and the smaller basement area became the Sunken Gardens, a restaurant. Both were eventually turned into movie theaters. The rink became Symphony Theater and in 1931 the restaurant was turned into Thalia Theater.^[1]^[5]

Symphony Theater had an undistinguished history, and by the 1970s was used for boxing and wrestling. The site was used for Wall to Wall Bach, and led Sheffer and Miller to lease the building and form Symphony Space.

Thalia Theater[edit]

The Thalia Theater was built by the experienced theater architect Raymond Irrera, and his novice assistant, Ben Schlanger. Schlanger introduced numerous innovations, including the "reverse parabolic" design for the floor.

After World War II, the Thalia gained a reputation as an arty repertory film theater. Its regular patrons included Woody Allen, Peter Bogdanovich, and Martin Scorsese.^[6] Woody Allen used it in Annie Hall.^[7]

The Thalia closed in 1987, its future clouded by disputes between Symphony Space and various developers.^[8] After Symphony Space won, the Thalia reopened briefly in 1993 and again in 1996. In 1999, Sheffer had the Art Deco interior gutted as unsalvageable, angering some neighborhood preservationists. The interior was used as a staging area for construction of a 22-story apartment building above Symphony Space. Afterwards the interior was rebuilt as a theater again, and in 2002 the space was re-opened as the Leonard Nimoy Thalia, acknowledging the actor's financing.^[9]^[10]

A sister movie theater to the original uptown Thalia, Thalia Soho, continued ^[8] from 1987 until owner Richard Schwarz's death, then operated for a short time as Le Cinematographe and later as Soho Playhouse. In 2017, the theater and apartments above were reportedly on the market.^[11]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Hofler, Robert (March 26, 2002). "new face for Space". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
^ "The Retailer". The Western Fruit Jobber. IV (3). July 1917.
^ Gray, Christopher (Sep 10, 2006). "The Astor Legacy in Brick and Stone". The New York Times.
^ Gray, Christopher (July 5, 1987). "Streetscapes: Thalia Theater; a closed revival house that may itself be revived". The New York Times.
^ Not be to confused with the same named Manhattan theater that burned down in 1929.
^ O'Donnell, Michelle (March 31, 2002). "Neighborhood report: Upper West Side; a revivalist revived: the Thalia returns, kindling memories in black and white". The New York Times.
^ Bowery Boys, "A celebration of New York City and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia", March 3, 2015. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
^ ^a ^b McFadden, Robert D. (May 11, 1987). "The Thalia, offbeat home of classic movies, is closed". New York Times. p. B3.
^ Kilgallon, Corey (April 11, 1999). "Thalia is gutted, dismaying lovers of Art Deco". New York Times. p. CY5.
^ "Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space". Time Out New York. August 27, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
^ RichardR & crowdsources, "Soho Playhouse 15 Vandam Street ...", cinematreasures.org, 2004-2023. Retrieved 2023-08-23.

External links[edit]

Symphony Space official website
Symphony Space on NYC ARTS
Symphony Space on NYCkidsARTS
Symphony Space records, 1978-2016 Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Isaiah Sheffer Papers, 1891-2013 (bulk 1937-2012), held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

[variety-1] Hofler, Robert (March 26, 2002). "new face for Space". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-14.

[2] "The Retailer". The Western Fruit Jobber. IV (3). July 1917.

[3] Gray, Christopher (Sep 10, 2006). "The Astor Legacy in Brick and Stone". The New York Times.

[4] Gray, Christopher (July 5, 1987). "Streetscapes: Thalia Theater; a closed revival house that may itself be revived". The New York Times.

[5] Not be to confused with the same named Manhattan theater that burned down in 1929.

[6] O'Donnell, Michelle (March 31, 2002). "Neighborhood report: Upper West Side; a revivalist revived: the Thalia returns, kindling memories in black and white". The New York Times.

[7] Bowery Boys, "A celebration of New York City and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia", March 3, 2015. Retrieved 2023-11-14.

[offbeat-8] McFadden, Robert D. (May 11, 1987). "The Thalia, offbeat home of classic movies, is closed". New York Times. p. B3.

[9] Kilgallon, Corey (April 11, 1999). "Thalia is gutted, dismaying lovers of Art Deco". New York Times. p. CY5.

[10] "Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space". Time Out New York. August 27, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

[11] RichardR & crowdsources, "Soho Playhouse 15 Vandam Street ...", cinematreasures.org, 2004-2023. Retrieved 2023-08-23.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Performing arts organization in New York City, USA}}
-{{coord|40.794615|-73.972197|display=title}}
+{{Infobox venue
-[[Image:WTM NewYorkDolls 029.jpg|thumb|200px|Outside view of Symphony Space in April, 2008.  Marquee for Leonard Nimoy Thalia is barely visible on the right edge.]]
+| name               = Symphony Space
-'''Symphony Space''', founded by Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller, is a multi-disciplinary performing arts organization at 2537 Broadway on the Upper West Side of [[Manhattan]]. Performances take place in the 760-seat Peter Jay Sharp Theatre or the 160-seat Leonard Nimoy Thalia. Programs include music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings. In addition, Symphony Space provides literacy programs and the Curriculum Arts Project, which integrates performing arts into social studies curricula in [[New York City Department of Education|New York City Public Schools]].
+| image              = WTM NewYorkDolls 029.jpg
+| image_size         = 250px
+| image_alt          =
+| caption            = Outside view of Symphony Space in April 2008.  Marquee for Leonard Nimoy Thalia is barely visible on the right edge.
+| image_map          =
+| map_caption        =
+| pushpin_map        =
+| pushpin_map_caption=
+| address            = 2537 Broadway
+| city               = [[New York City]]
+| country            = [[United States]]
+| designation        =
+| coordinates        = {{coord|40.794615|-73.972197|display=inline, title}}
+| architect          =
+| owner              =
+| tenant             =
+| operator           = Symphony Space, Inc.
+| capacity           = Peter Jay Sharp Theatre: 760<br>Leonard Nimoy Thalia: 160
+| type               =
+| opened             =
+| reopened           = 1978
+| yearsactive        =
+| rebuilt            =
+| closed             =
+| demolished         =
+| othernames         = Symphony Theatre
+| production         =
+| currentuse         =
+| website            = {{URL|http://www.symphonyspace.org}}
+}}
+'''Symphony Space''', founded by Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller, is a multi-disciplinary performing arts organization at 2537 Broadway on the Upper West Side of [[Manhattan]]. Performances take place in the 760-seat Peter Jay Sharp Theatre (also called Peter Norton Symphony Space) or the 160-seat Leonard Nimoy Thalia. Programs include music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings. In addition, Symphony Space provides literacy programs and the Curriculum Arts Project, which integrates performing arts into social studies curricula in [[New York City Department of Education|New York City Public Schools]].
-Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, Wall to Wall Bach, held on January 9, 1978, organized by Isaiah Sheffer and Alan Miller.<ref name="variety">{{cite web|last=Hofler|first=Robert|title=new face for Space|work=Variety|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117864529/?refcatid=15}}</ref> From 1978 to 2001, the theater hosted all of the New York productions by the [[New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players]].
+Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, Wall to Wall Bach, held on January 9, 1978, organized by Isaiah Sheffer and Alan Miller.<ref name="variety">{{cite web|last=Hofler|first=Robert|title=new face for Space|work=Variety|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117864529/|date=March 26, 2002|access-date=2023-11-14}}</ref> From 1978 to 2001, the theater hosted all of the New York productions by the [[New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players]].
-As of 2010, Symphony Space hosts 600 or more events annually, including an annual free music Wall to Wall marathon; Bloomsday on Broadway (celebrating [[James Joyce]]'s ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]''); and [[Selected Shorts]], broadcast nationally over [[Public Radio International]]. The New York company of Revels, Inc., also holds its shows there.
+As of 2010, Symphony Space hosts 600 or more events annually, including an annual free music Wall to Wall marathon; [[Bloomsday]] on Broadway (celebrating [[James Joyce]]'s ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]''); and [[Selected Shorts]], broadcast nationally over [[Public Radio International]]. The New York company of Revels, Inc., also holds its shows there.
 ==Early history of the building==
-From 1915 to 1917, [[Vincent Astor]] spent $750,000 of his personal fortune on the Astor Market, a two-story mini-mall of stands occupying the southwest corner of 95th and Broadway.  The intention was to sell fruit, meat, fish, produce, and flowers at inexpensive prices, achieved through large economies of scale.  As was common with Astor's building projects, flamboyance dominated the architecture, including a 290-foot [[William Mackay]] frieze depicting farmers bringing their goods to market.<ref>{{cite journal|work=The Western Fruit Jobber|volume=IV|title=The Retailer|issue=3|date=July 1917|url=
+From 1915 to 1917, [[Vincent Astor]] spent $750,000 of his personal fortune on the [[Astor Market]], a two-storey mini-mall of stands occupying the southwest corner of 95th and Broadway. The intention was to sell fruit, meat, fish, produce, and flowers at inexpensive prices, achieved through large economies of scale. As was common with Astor's building projects, flamboyance dominated the architecture, including a 290-foot [[William Mackay (artist)|William Mackay]] sgraffito frieze depicting farmers bringing their goods to market.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Western Fruit Jobber|volume=IV|title=The Retailer|issue=3|date=July 1917|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yRMkAQAAIAAJ&q=%22astor%20market%22&pg=RA2-PA52}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|title=The Astor Legacy in Brick and Stone|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/realestate/10scap.html?_r=0|last=Gray|first=Christopher|date=Sep 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|title=Streetscapes: Thalia Theater; a closed revival house that may itself be revived|last=Gray|first=Christopher|date=July 5, 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/05/realestate/streetscapes-thalia-theater-a-closed-revival-house-that-may-itself-be-revived.html}}</ref>
-http://books.google.com/books?id=yRMkAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22astor%20market%22&pg=RA2-PA52#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper|work=The New York Times|title=The Astor Legacy in Brick and Stone|last=Gray|first=Christopher|date=Sept 10, 2006}}</ref>
-The market proved a failure, and after 1917 the stalls were demolished and the main space was converted into the Crystal Palace, a skating rink, and the smaller basement area became the Sunken Gardens, a restaurant.  Both were eventually turned into movie theaters.  The rink became Symphony Theater and in 1931 the restaurant was turned into Thalia Theater.<ref name="variety"/><ref>Not be to confused with the [[Bowery Theater|same named Manhattan theater]] that burned down in 1929.</ref>
+The market proved a failure. In 1917, Astor sold the market to [[Thomas J. Healy]]. The stalls were demolished and the main space was converted into the Crystal Palace, a skating rink, and the smaller basement area became the Sunken Gardens, a restaurant.  Both were eventually turned into movie theaters. The rink became Symphony Theater and in 1931 the restaurant was turned into Thalia Theater.<ref name="variety"/><ref>Not be to confused with the [[Bowery Theater|same named Manhattan theater]] that burned down in 1929.</ref>
-Symphony Theater had an undistinguished history, and by the 1970s was used for boxing and wrestling.  The site was used for Wall to Wall Bach, and led Sheffer and Miller to lease the building and form Symphony Space.
+Symphony Theater had an undistinguished history, and by the 1970s was used for boxing and wrestling. The site was used for Wall to Wall Bach, and led Sheffer and Miller to lease the building and form Symphony Space.
 ==Thalia Theater==
-The Thalia Theater was built by the experienced theater architect Raymond Irrera, and his novice assistant, Ben Schlanger.  Schlanger introduced numerous innovations, including the "reverse parabolic" design for the floor.
+The Thalia Theater was built by the experienced theater architect Raymond Irrera, and his novice assistant, [[Ben Schlanger]]. Schlanger introduced numerous innovations, including the "reverse parabolic" design for the floor.
-After World War II, the Thalia gained a reputation as an arty repertory film theater.  Its regular patrons included [[Woody Allen]], [[Peter Bogdanovich]], and [[Martin Scorsese]].<ref>{{cite newspaper|date=March 31, 2002|title=Neighborhood report: Upper West Side; a revivalist revived: the Thalia returns, kindling memories in black and white|work=The New York Times|last=O'Donnell|first=Michelle}}</ref>  Woody Allen used it in ''[[Annie Hall]]''.[http://blog.unl.edu/dixon/2012/07/02/the-thalia-theater-95th-and-broadway-new-york/]
+After [[World War II]], the Thalia gained a reputation as an arty repertory film theater. Its regular patrons included [[Woody Allen]], [[Peter Bogdanovich]], and [[Martin Scorsese]].<ref>{{cite news|date=March 31, 2002|title=Neighborhood report: Upper West Side; a revivalist revived: the Thalia returns, kindling memories in black and white|work=The New York Times|last=O'Donnell|first=Michelle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-west-side-revivalist-revived-thalia-returns-kindling.html}}</ref>  Woody Allen used it in ''[[Annie Hall]]''.<ref>[[The Bowery Boys: New York City History|Bowery Boys]], [https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2015/03/a-celebration-of-new-york-city-and-the-leonard-nimoy-thalia.html "A celebration of New York City and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia"], March 3, 2015. Retrieved 2023-11-14.</ref>
-The Thalia closed in 1987, its future clouded by disputes between Symphony Space and various developers.<ref>{{cite newspaper|work=New York Times|title=The Thalia, offbeat home of classic movies, is closed|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|page=B3|date=May 11, 1987}}</ref> After Symphony Space won, the Thalia reopened briefly in 1993 and again in 1996.  In 1999, Sheffer had the Art Deco interior gutted as unsalvageable, angering some neighborhood preservationists.  The interior was used as a staging area for construction of a 22-story apartment building above Symphony Space.  Afterwards the interior was rebuilt as a theater again, and in 2002 the space was re-opened as the [[Leonard Nimoy]] Thalia, acknowledging the actor's financing.<ref>{{cite newspaper|work=New York Times|title=Thalia is gutted, dismaying lovers of Art Deco|last=Kilgallon|first=Corey|page=CY5|date=April 11, 1999|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/11/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-west-side-thalia-gutted-dismaying-lovers-art-deco.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Time Out New York|title=Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space|dateaccessed=February 12, 2103|date=August 27, 2010|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/leonard-nimoy-thalia-at-symphony-space}}</ref>
+The Thalia closed in 1987, its future clouded by disputes between Symphony Space and various developers.<ref name= offbeat>{{cite news|work=New York Times|title=The Thalia, offbeat home of classic movies, is closed|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|page=B3|date=May 11, 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/11/nyregion/the-thalia-offbeat-home-of-classic-movies-is-closed.html}}</ref> After Symphony Space won, the Thalia reopened briefly in 1993 and again in 1996. In 1999, Sheffer had the Art Deco interior gutted as unsalvageable, angering some neighborhood preservationists. The interior was used as a staging area for construction of a 22-story apartment building above Symphony Space. Afterwards the interior was rebuilt as a theater again, and in 2002 the space was re-opened as the [[Leonard Nimoy]] Thalia, acknowledging the actor's financing.<ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|title=Thalia is gutted, dismaying lovers of Art Deco|last=Kilgallon|first=Corey|page=CY5|date=April 11, 1999|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/11/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-west-side-thalia-gutted-dismaying-lovers-art-deco.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Time Out New York|title=Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space|access-date=February 12, 2013|date=August 27, 2010|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/leonard-nimoy-thalia-at-symphony-space}}</ref>
+A sister movie theater to the original uptown Thalia, Thalia Soho, continued <ref name= offbeat /> from 1987 until owner Richard Schwarz's death, then operated for a short time as Le Cinematographe and later as Soho Playhouse. In 2017, the theater and apartments above were reportedly on the market.<ref>RichardR & crowdsources, [https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/8373 "Soho Playhouse 15 Vandam Street ..."], ''cinematreasures.org'', 2004-2023. Retrieved 2023-08-23.</ref>
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
+{{Commons category}}
-{{commonscat}}
 * [http://www.symphonyspace.org Symphony Space official website]
 * [http://www.nyc-arts.org/organizations/1759/symphony-space Symphony Space on NYC ARTS]
 * [http://www.nyckidsarts.org/organizations/1759/symphony-space Symphony Space on NYCkidsARTS]
+*[http://archives.nypl.org/mus/23344 Symphony Space records, 1978-2016] Music Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
+* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/23016 Isaiah Sheffer Papers, 1891-2013 (bulk 1937-2012)], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
+{{Upper West Side}}
+{{Leonard Nimoy|state=collapsed}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Theatres in Manhattan]]

v t e Leonard Nimoy
Filmography Discography
Films directed	Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Three Men and a Baby (1987) The Good Mother (1988) Body Wars (1989) Funny About Love (1990) Holy Matrimony (1994)
Discography	Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy The Way I Feel The Touch of Leonard Nimoy The New World of Leonard Nimoy Highly Illogical Alien Voices
Books	I Am Not Spock I Am Spock Shekhina
Related	Adam Nimoy (son) Susan Bay (second wife) Primortals (comic book) Mind Meld (2001 documentary) For the Love of Spock (2016 documentary) Remembering Leonard Nimoy (2017 documentary) Symphony Space
Category