New York City Center
The New York City Center (formerly City Center of Music and Drama ) is a community-owned event hall in the City of New York, which is now primarily used as a dance theater. The striking Moorish-style building at 131 West 55th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue was built on a construction project by the Masonic organization Shriners .
history
The building was originally called Mecca Temple, was built in 1923 and inaugurated in late 1924. The architect was Harry P. Knowles. The first public concert took place in 1925, it was performed by the band of John Philip Sousa . The “Moorish” character of the building is expressed in the recently renovated tiled dome, but also in the interior of the building.
The construction of the “temple” of the Shriners (the official name of their meeting place) was financed by a 20-year building loan with 5% interest - the issuing association became insolvent in the course of the global economic crisis. The Mecca Shriners were also unable to finance the taxes on the building and so it became the property of the city. In the early 1940s, the unusual building appeared ready for demolition, but Newbold Morris, President of New York City Council, and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia decided to convert it into a performing arts house. On December 11, 1943, the New York City Center of Music and Drama opened with a concert by the New York Philharmonic.
The Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo performed here from 1944 to 1948 , the New York City Opera from 1944 to 1964 and the New York City Ballet from 1948 to 1966. With the new Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the house lost its importance. Again the demolition seemed imminent, but it was prevented again by an orientation towards modern dance theater.
