Beacon Theatre Taunts Fate with Friday the 13th Reopening


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The Beacon Theatre, located on Broadway and 75th Street in Manhattan, is reopening tonight after a multimillion dollar renovation that has shuttered the longtime concert venue for the past seven months.

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The Re-Gilded Beacon Theater (NY Times)

According to an article in the New York Times, no expense was spared in replacing seats, restoring decorations to their vaudeville-era splendor and maybe even upgrading sound and lights.

What the article left out is that prices are out of hand at this venue. The management must expect the audience to spare no expense to get in to the venue. They are re-opening with Paul Simon ($64-270), followed by Leonard Cohen; BB King and Buddy Guy ($62-165) and Van Morrison ($90-350). The building is owned/managed by MSG, not mono-sodium glutamate but the Madison Square Garden corp/Cablevision/Dolan Family, who have my congratulations and $upport.

Radiohead performing at the Beacon Theatre in 2003:

I look forward to the competition between The United Palace and The Beacon Theatre. How very arrogant and anti-show business to open the place on Friday the 13th (and not showing the movie?!).

Nevertheless, congratulations and good luck to the staff of the Beacon Theater. To the owners, I would recommend some prices come down, or that it shows movies as it did in the earlier times. If not I won’t be there unless I scalp cheap seats outside, below face value (my usual technique anyhow). It didn’t work for the Stones, however.

A few shows I have seen there: Willie Nelson’s 70th Birthday; Allman Brothers; Black Crowes; Laurie Anderson; David Gilmour; Steely Dan; Elvis Costello and a bit by the back door of the Rolling Stones.

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