The Beacon was the brainchild of the famed theater impresario Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel. In 1927 noted Architect Walter Ahlschlager was commissioned to design the theater, named the "Roxy's Midway", for live vaudeville and silent film presentations. Ahlschlager employed an eclectic mix of styles, including Greek, Roman, Renaissance and Roccoco, in order to provide patrons with a truly unique and exciting experience. Shortly after the theater was completed, it was taken over by Warner Brothers and remodeled to accommodate talking pictures which became all the rage in 1929. It was at this time that the theater was renamed the Warner Brothers Beacon Theatre.
This nationally registered 1928 Art Deco landmark presents both theatre productions and musical performances. The auditorium seats about 2,700. The Beacon Theatre also doubles as a hotel for the
Allman Brothers when they make their long stop in New York. The venue usually gets a bit smoky during those shows despite the no-smoking policy. A beautiful gilded interior and the comfortable seats make any concert a pleasure. The venue has an orchestra section and a balcony, but the nice mid-range size allows everyone to enjoy the music of such diverse acts as Willie Nelson, Roberta Flack and members of the Buena Vista Social Club.
Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) undertook a six month, $15 million restoration project for the Beacon that began in late 2008.
