A free twelve-hour concert. That’s how it all began. Right here at Symphony Space.
In 1978 Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller transformed a crumbling movie theater into something extraordinary. This wasn’t just any performance venue. It was a community hub a place where music dance theater and literature intertwined. They called their inaugural event Wall to Wall Bach. Thousands attended. The energy was electric. The success was undeniable.
Symphony Space was born. It wasn’t just about filling seats. It was about fostering creativity. It was about connecting people through the arts. They offered everything from the annual free Wall to Wall marathons to nationally broadcast Selected Shorts readings. The venue even hosted all the New York productions by the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players for years.
But Symphony Space’s story reaches further back. This very building once housed the Astor Market. Vincent Astor himself poured $750000 into this extravagant two-story mini mall. It failed spectacularly. Later it became the Crystal Palace a skating rink. Eventually it evolved into the Symphony Theater and Thalia Theater movie houses. By the 1970s it was even a boxing and wrestling arena.
The Thalia Theater has its own colorful history. Architect Raymond Irrera and his assistant Ben Schlanger created this space. Schlanger introduced innovative design elements. The Thalia became a beloved repertory film theater. Woody Allen even used it in Annie Hall. It closed in 1987 reopening later thanks to Symphony Space and the generosity of Leonard Nimoy. Its Art Deco interior was rebuilt creating the Leonard Nimoy Thalia we know today.
Symphony Space’s impact is significant. It hosts hundreds of events annually. It offers educational programs such as the Curriculum Arts Project. The organization integrates the performing arts into New York City public school curricula. Their free adult literacy program All Write uses poetry and short fiction to help adult learners. The space continues to thrive a testament to the vision of its founders.
This isn’t just a building. It’s a legacy a vibrant testament to the power of community. It’s a place where music stories and dreams collide. Symphony Space continues to inspire uplift and unite. It’s a place where the arts truly thrive.