town hall
Suffragists founded it, Marian Anderson sang here, and Garrison Keillor likes to stop by for a few yarns about Minnesota. Numerous NYC school children have their first theatrical experience here. Founded in 1921, The Town Hall is a non-profit National Historic site in the heart of NYC's theatre district, with a line-up that features events ranging from world music, jazz, gospel, blues, folk, show tunes, political humor, theatre, dance, its critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year, and more.
a snapshot of town hall history
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The Opening of Town Hall
January 12, 1921Founded by a group of suffragists (The League for Political Education) seeking to build a space where the people could be educated, The Town Hall was ... Read more1/18 -
Margaret Sanger’s Dramatic Arrest
November 13, 1921Margaret Sanger was famously arrested on Town Hall’s stage during a public meeting on birth control. She was an avid supporter of women’s ... Read more2/18 -
First Broadcast of America's Town Meeting of the Air
May 30, 1935When America's Town Meeting of the Air originally started broadcasts, it was on an experimental basis, but the show quickly became enormously popular.... Read more3/18 -
Town Meeting: Young America Looks Forward
February 27, 1936First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt appeared as Chairman on "America’s Town Meeting of the Air." The topic was “Young America Looks Forward,&rdqu... Read more4/18 -
Alice Tully Sings at Town Hall
November 28, 1936Alice Tully, U.S. singer, music promoter, and philanthropist, for whom the famous Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center is named, performed here at To... Read more5/18 -
Isaac Stern Has His New York Debut at Age 17
October 12, 1937Town Hall has long been a place where musicians make their New York debut. Famed violinist Isaac Stern made his New York debut here in 1937, and ret... Read more6/18 -
Billie Holiday Performs
April 11, 1942Billie Holiday performed at the fourth Town Hall Jazz Concert. Holiday would return in 1948 for her first major solo show.(Photo by Chuck Stewart) Read more7/18 -
Town Meeting: Let's Face the Race Question
February 17, 1944Langston Hughes discussed how “the Race Question” should be handled in America. Although discussing “a question that [was] consider... Read more8/18 -
Town Meeting: What Can We As Individuals Do To Help Prevent World Famine?
May 2, 1946In an unusual debate in which all four speakers were in agreement, Former Mayor of New York Fiorello LaGuardia visited The Town Hall to participate ... Read more9/18 -
Duke Ellington for the Fresh Air Fund
April 17, 1957Duke Ellington performed at Town Hall at a benefit concert for the Fresh Air Fund, an agency providing free country vacations to New York City chil... Read more10/18 -
Betty Allen's New York Debut
January 5, 1958Internationally known opera singer Betty Allen made her New York recital debut at Town Hall. Allen was part of the first wave of African American op... Read more11/18 -
Igor Stravinsky Concert
December 20, 1959Igor Stravinsky was recognized as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Stravinsky performed at Town Hall with four other composers - ... Read more12/18 -
Bob Dylan's Town Hall Debut
April 12, 1963Robert Shelton of The New York Times said "Mr. Dylan is 21 years old, hails from Hibbing, Minn., wears blue jeans, presumably has little to do with ... Read more13/18 -
Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker
June 22, 1945Diz and Bird were joined by Max Roach in this 1945 concert, the record of which was not initially released, either due to the controversial nature of ... Read more14/18 -
Sarah Vaughan and Lester Young: One Night Stand
November 8, 1947Released in 1997 by Blue Note, this album features two legendary performers, mostly performing separately, but coming together for the final number &l... Read more15/18 -
Billy Taylor Trio at Town Hall
December 17, 1954Billy Taylor performed many well-known standards at this show accompanied by bassist Earl May and drummer Percy Brice, but he also premiered a (very) ... Read more16/18 -
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall
February 28, 1959Thelonious Monk introduced a new band at this iconic performance. Having previously been known as an outstanding leader of smaller bands, Monk was joi... Read more17/18 -
Nina Simone at Town Hall
September 15, 1959This celebrated album showcases Nina Simone’s impeccable skills as both a singer and a pianist, and is widely considered as some of her very bes... Read more18/18
