Today marks Webster Hall’s seventh anniversary as a New York City landmark. And on this occasion, Off the Grid takes a look at the history of the building, erected in 1886 on East 11th Street and Fourth Avenue … for an outrageous sum of $75,000.
An excerpt of the history via Off the Grid:
By the 1910s and 1920s, Webster Hall became famous for its masquerade balls, following the success of a 1913 fundraiser for the socialist magazine The Masses. The parties, which attracted the bohemians of the Village and beyond, grew more and more outlandish–and the costumes, skimpier and skimpier.
However comprehensive, Off the Grid leaves one glaring omission in its recap: K-Fed rocking the house in 2006.
[Image via Stereogum]
7 comments:
One of my favorite places to see a band.
They put you through quite a "security" gauntlet in order to enter. I'd rather watch paint dry than pay to be felt up by strange overweight men.
My first apartment in NYC (1996) was across the street from Webster Hall, 2nd floor, front. When I saw the apt I thought Webster Hall was a NYU function hall or something. After I signed the lease a friend said "You're across from Webster Hall? That's gonna be a little…noisy". I lasted a year.
It's a good place to see a band. My wife and I went on our first date to see the Psychedelic Furs on their Talk Talk talk tour at Webster Hall when it was the Ritz.
I wonder how cheap the apartments next to it are, because you feel the bass from WH even on 13th street, can imagine next door being awful. Also they got to do something about their customers crapping and peeing on the steps of the building across the street and around the corner. Like rent a porta potty on crowded nights.
Attended the notorious PiL performance there in '81(ok, it was The Ritz back then)
Totally awesome.
Love live the venue of Tina Turner's comeback show, a la The Ritz!
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