Jones Beach Theater

Last updated

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
The Beach
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater.jpg
The exterior of Jones Beach Theater, c.2007
Jones Beach Theater
Former namesNew Jones Beach Marine Stadium (1952–1953)
Jones Beach Marine Theater (1954–1994)
Jones Beach Amphitheater (1994–2000)
Jones Beach Theater (2000–2002)
Address1000 Ocean Parkway
Wantagh, NY 11793-4800
Location Jones Beach State Park
Coordinates 40°36′04″N73°30′08″W / 40.60101°N 73.50232°W / 40.60101; -73.50232
Owner NYS OPRHP
Operator Live Nation
Capacity 15,000
Construction
BuiltOctober 1949
OpenedJune 26, 1952
Renovated
  • 1992
  • 2013
  • 2017
Expanded
  • 1998
  • 2009
Construction cost$4 million
($51.2 million in 2023 dollars [1] )
Website
parks.ny.gov/parks/jonesbeach/

Jones Beach Theater is an outdoor amphitheatre at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York. It is one of two major outdoor arenas in the New York metropolitan area, along with PNC Bank Arts Center near the Jersey Shore. Both venues are managed by Live Nation. [2] The theater was designed to specifications provided by Robert Moses, who created Jones Beach State Park. [3]

Contents

History

Original Jones Beach Marine Stadium 1930s Jones Beach Marine Stadium 1930's.jpg
Original Jones Beach Marine Stadium 1930s
Jones Beach Theater Construction 1951 Jones Beach Theater 1951.jpg
Jones Beach Theater Construction 1951

Opened in June 1952 as the New Jones Beach Marine Stadium, the venue originally had 8,200 seats and hosted musicals. [4] Moses had several boxes designated for his own use, and Moses' friend Guy Lombardo performed often in the early years.

The opening show was the operetta extravaganza A Night in Venice by Johann Strauss II, produced by film producer Mike Todd, complete with floating gondolas and starring Enzo Stuarti, Thomas Hayward, Norwood Smith and Nola Fairbanks. [5] During one of these Lombardo performances, the early phonograph recording star Billy Murray died of a heart attack in 1954. [6]

Lombardo's final show was the 1977 production of Finian's Rainbow , with Christopher Hewett in the title role. After Lombardo's death in 1977, the series resumed in 1978 with Annie Get Your Gun, starring Lucie Arnaz. Beginning in the 1980s, the primary focus of the venue would change to concerts. [7]

In 1991 and 1992, under contract from concert promoter Ron Delsener, the theatre underwent an extensive renovation, adding a second level and increasing the capacity to 11,200 seats. The capacity was expanded again in 1998 to hold 15,000 seats. [8]

In 2002, the company of clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger purchased the naming rights to the venue, renaming it "Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater" for four years. [9] On April 13, 2006, Tommy Hilfiger's company, under new ownership, declined its option to keep the company's name on the theater, and naming rights were purchased by the camera company Nikon, which renamed the venue "Nikon at Jones Beach Theater". [10]

For a time the venue had a strict no-alcohol policy except in designated VIP boxes located behind the orchestra and the VIP tent area. Separate additional tickets are required to enter the popular VIP tent area. [11]

In 2009, Jones Beach introduced The Bay Stage, which has a general admission capacity of 5,000. The performances are staged behind the concessions on the theater property. The theater property is located a short distance from the VIP area but The Bay Stage events cannot be viewed or heard from the VIP area. [12]

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy did major damage to the theater. Various structures were destroyed and much of the lower part of the arena was flooded, including the lower section of seats which were flooded more than halfway up. [13] The venue reopened on May 31, 2013, after a $20 million rehabilitation project. [14]

Starting January 2017, Jones Beach Theater will undergo a million dollar renovation plan, including energy-efficient LED lighting, more cafes, larger concourses for less crowding and more. Nikon's naming rights contract expired at the end of 2016, and in February 2017, New York health system Northwell Health purchased the naming rights to the venue, revealing the new name - "Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater." [15] The three-year deal includes an option for two additional years.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones Beach State Park</span> State park in New York, United States

Jones Beach State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway, and Ocean Parkway. The park was created during Robert Moses' administration as President of the Long Island State Park Commission as part of the development of parkways on Long Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones Beach Island</span>

Jones Beach Island is one of the outer barrier islands off the southern coast of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meadowbrook State Parkway</span> Highway in New York

The Meadowbrook State Parkway is a 12.52-mile (20.15 km) controlled-access parkway in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Its southern terminus is at a full cloverleaf interchange with the Bay and Ocean parkways in Jones Beach State Park. The parkway heads north, crossing South Oyster Bay and intersecting Loop Parkway before crossing onto the mainland and connecting to the Southern State Parkway in North Merrick. It continues north to the hamlet of Carle Place, where the Meadowbrook Parkway ends at exit 31A of the Northern State Parkway. The Meadowbrook Parkway is designated New York State Route 908E (NY 908E), an unsigned reference route. Most of the road is limited to non-commercial traffic, like most parkways in the state of New York; however, the portion south of Merrick Road is open to commercial traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wantagh State Parkway</span> Highway in Nassau County, New York

The Wantagh State Parkway is a 13.33-mile (21 km) controlled-access parkway on Long Island, New York, in the United States. It links the Ocean Parkway in Jones Beach State Park with the Northern State Parkway in Westbury. The parkway is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Manhattan and 14 miles (23 km) east of the Nassau–Queens border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Parkway (Long Island)</span> Highway on Jones Beach Island, in New York

The Ocean Parkway is a 15.59-mile (25.09 km) limited-access parkway that traverses Jones Beach Island between Jones Beach State Park and Captree State Park on Long Island, New York, in the United States. It begins at the southern terminus of the Meadowbrook State Parkway and heads east across Jones Beach Island, intersecting the south end of the Wantagh State Parkway before ending just past the southern terminus of the Robert Moses Causeway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xfinity Center (Mansfield, Massachusetts)</span> Outdoor theatre in Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States

The Xfinity Center is an outdoor amphitheatre located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The venue opened during the summer of 1986 with a capacity of 12,000. It was expanded after 2000 to 19,900; 7,000 reserved seats, 7,000 lawn seats and 5,900 general admission seats. The season for the venue is typically from mid May until late September. In 2010, it was named Top Grossing Amphitheater by Billboard. It mainly hosts concerts; other events, such as graduation ceremonies, including that of Mansfield High School, occasionally take place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Shore (Long Island)</span> Southern edge of Long Island in New York state

The South Shore of Long Island, in the U.S. state of New York, is the area along Long Island's Atlantic Ocean shoreline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer Barrier</span> String of barrier islands dividing Long Island from the Atlantic Ocean

The Outer Barrier, also known as the Long Island and New York City barrier islands, refers to the string of barrier islands that divide the lagoons south of Long Island, New York from the Atlantic Ocean. These islands include Long Beach Barrier Island, Barnum Island, Jones Beach Island, Fire Island and Westhampton Island. The outer barrier extends 75 miles (121 km) along the South Shore of Long Island, from the Rockaway Peninsula in New York City to the east end of Shinnecock Bay in Suffolk County.

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre Music venue in West Palm Beach, Florida, US

The iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre is a 20,000-seat open-air music venue in West Palm Beach, Florida. The facility, owned by the South Florida Fairgrounds, is a modern amphitheatre used primarily for concerts and other performances. The loading dock and backstage area is sometimes used for concerts that are general admission standing room only, while the amphitheatre stage is used as the backstage area in these situations.

The Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre is an outdoor amphitheater, located in West Valley City, Utah. From 2003 to 2024, the Amphitheater was named after USANA Health Sciences, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements. A new naming rights agreement with Utah First Credit Union was announced on January 23, 2024. It offers a view of the Wasatch Mountains. The venue opened July 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (Maryland Heights, Missouri)</span> Outdoor concert venue in Missouri, U.S.

The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre is an outdoor concert venue in Maryland Heights, Missouri, near St. Louis.

The Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill, located at Bald Hill, is an outdoor concert venue owned by the Town of Brookhaven, and located in Farmingville, New York, United States. It has approximately 3,000 seats, and a capacity of 7,000 including lawn seating of over 4,000. The venue has changed names a number of times after being known as the Brookhaven Amphitheater for many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Augustine Amphitheatre</span>

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is an outdoor amphitheater located on A1A in St. Augustine, Florida, United States. The venue seats over 4,000 persons, and is managed by the St. Johns County Parks & Recreation department.

The Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair is an entertainment venue located in the hamlet of Jericho, outside of Westbury, New York. Constructed as a theatre in the round style with seating for 2,870 that was originally developed as a means to present top performers and productions of popular theatrical musicals at a series of venues located in suburban locations on the East Coast of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budweiser Stage</span> Concert venue in Toronto

The Budweiser Stage, originally known as the Molson Amphitheatre, is a concert venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the grounds of Ontario Place and hosts many diverse acts, including genres like rock, pop, country, and jazz. The first musician to perform there was Bryan Adams on May 18, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Route 135</span> State highway in Nassau County, New York, US

New York State Route 135 (NY 135) is a 10.8-mile (17.4 km) freeway in eastern Nassau County, New York, in the United States. The route connects Seaford with Syosset. The highway runs from Merrick Road in Seaford to NY 25 in Syosset. In between, NY 135 passes through Bethpage and Plainview and serves Bethpage State Park. The highway is ceremoniously designated as the Ralph J. Marino Expressway; however, it is more commonly known as the Seaford–Oyster Bay Expressway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart Health Park</span> Sports venue in Sacramento, California

Heart Health Park is a sports venue located on the grounds of Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, United States. The soccer-specific stadium has a capacity of 11,569 and includes a full-sized soccer field. Heart Health Park is the current home of Sacramento Republic FC soccer team and former home of PRO Rugby team, Sacramento Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater</span> Outdoor concert venue in New York

The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview is an outdoor concert venue located on the shores of Onondaga Lake in the Town of Geddes, near the western edge of Syracuse, New York. It is an extension of the Empire Expo Center, home to the Great New York State Fair.

The Cadence Bank Amphitheatre is an outdoor amphitheatre within historic Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The venue, designed by Nelson Brackin, opened in 1944 and is decreed "Atlanta’s Oldest Outdoor Music Venue". The venue attracts more than 200,000 spectators per season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Norman Fucking Rockwell! Tour</span> 2019 concert tour by Lana Del Rey

The Norman Fucking Rockwell! Tour was the fifth headlining concert tour by American singer Lana Del Rey, in support of her sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019). The tour began at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on September 21, 2019, and concluded at the Du Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 30 of the same year.

References

  1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. , Live Nation: Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. Accessed September 22, 2023.
  3. Caro, Robert (1974). The Power Broker . Knopf. pp. 816–819.
  4. Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway Musicals, 1910–2007. McFarland & Company: Jefferson, North Carolina. p. 315. ISBN   9780786433995.
  5. "Long Island's "A Night in Venice"" (PDF). Northport Journal. Northport, New York. July 31, 1952. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  6. The Official Website of Billy Murray
  7. Bleyer, Bill. "Jones Beach, the marvel by the sea". Newsday. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008.
  8. Fischler, Marcelle S. (June 14, 1998). "Waaay Up There: The New Upper Deck at Jones Beach". The New York Times.
  9. "Universal, Nestles Ink Deal". PromoMagazine.com. July 1, 2003. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
  10. Bleyer, Bill (April 13, 2006). "Nikon new naming sponsor for Jones Beach Theater". Newsday. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  11. "Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater". LiveNation.com.
  12. "The Bay Stage at Jones Beach Theater". LiveNation.com.
  13. Murphy, Nicole (November 5, 2012). "Jones Beach Looking to Rebuild After Wrath of Sandy". Wantagh-Seaford Patch. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  14. "Jones Beach Theater Reopens Friday Night". CBS News New York. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  15. Schneider, Marc (February 6, 2017). "Jones Beach Theater Naming Rights Goes to Health Giant". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2017.