Miller Symphony Hall facts for kids
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| Former names | Central Market, Lyric Theatre, Allentown Symphony Hall |
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| Location | 23 North 6th Street Allentown, Pennsylvania United States |
| Owner | Allentown Symphony Orchestra |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | 1,100 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1896–1899 |
| Website | |
| www.millersymphonyhall.com | |
The Miller Symphony Hall is a famous performing arts building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It has 1,100 seats and is the main place for shows in the city. This historic hall has had a few different names over the years. It started as Central Market in 1896, then became the Lyric Theater in 1899. Later, in 1959, it was called Allentown Symphony Hall. In 2012, it was renamed Miller Symphony Hall to honor the Miller family. They owned the hall for a long time and also owned The Morning Call newspaper.
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About the Allentown Symphony Hall
The main goal of the Allentown Symphony Association is to offer great music and cultural education. They want to work with the community to provide a top-notch symphony orchestra and a wonderful hall for performances.
The Miller Symphony Hall hosts many different kinds of shows. Besides orchestra concerts, you can see jazz shows, chamber music, and special events. There are even shows for young children and their families.
The hall is home to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. It also hosts the Allentown Band, the Allentown Symphony Chorus, and the Repertory Dance Theatre. Every year, the dance company performs Nutcracker Ballet here.
History of the Hall
Early Beginnings
Miller Symphony Hall is the oldest theater in Allentown where live shows are performed. Its history goes back to 1817. That's when Northampton Town, which later became Allentown, got its first farmer's market. It was a simple building made of wood and stone. In 1848, a big fire destroyed much of downtown Allentown, including this market.
A new market was built in 1859. Then, in 1896, an even newer Central Market was built. But this market didn't make much money. Soon after it opened, the market started holding concerts. In 1899, a company called J.B. McElfatrick changed the building into a theater. They held a contest to name it, and the winning name was Lyric Theater. This new theater also replaced the old Academy of Music, which had burned down in 1901.
The Lyric Theater Era
The Lyric Theater opened with a funny opera about an old king. The theater showed many different types of entertainment. These included vaudeville (variety shows), operas, plays, and concerts. It also became a popular place for certain kinds of stage shows.
On December 1, 1910, a famous French actress named Sarah Bernhardt performed there for one night. In 1912, important leaders gave speeches at the Lyric. These included Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Booker T. Washington.
During World War I, Allentown had a large Army training camp called Camp Crane. Many soldiers came to the city for fun. The Lyric Theater, which usually showed plays, started showing silent films to entertain the troops. The theater's treasurer noticed that movies filled the seats, but plays often left many empty. He thought a movie-only theater would make a lot of money. So, in 1917, a new movie theater called "The Strand" was built. This allowed the Lyric to go back to being a stage theater.
By the early 1920s, the Lyric Theater was renovated. It got a new, fancy front designed by David Levy, a local architect. It became a place where new stage shows would try out before going to Broadway in New York City. For example, the Marx Brothers first performed their musical I'll Say She Is at the Lyric in 1923.
During the Great Depression, fewer new plays were being made. The theater struggled to stay open full-time. To make money, the managers had to book other kinds of entertainment. This included boxing matches and popular stage shows that helped fill the hall and pay the bills. By the end of World War II, it seemed the Lyric Theater's best days were over.
In the late 1940s, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra started performing at the Lyric. About 4,000 to 5,000 people came to concerts there each year. Interestingly, the theater also continued to host other popular shows. A magazine even wrote about this mix, saying, "It's doubtless the only symphony in the country that is partly supported by [other popular shows]."
Becoming Allentown Symphony Hall
By the late 1950s, the Lyric was losing money. Its owners planned to close it and sell the building. However, Donald and Sam Miller, who owned The Morning Call newspaper, stepped in. They offered to buy the theater for the Allentown Symphony Association. They wanted it to be a special concert hall for the orchestra. The Millers bought the building on July 14, 1959. Later, it was renamed Allentown Symphony Hall.
After the Millers bought the theater, the popular stage shows that helped fund it stopped. Allentown Symphony Hall became mainly a place for classical music concerts and plays. The Allentown School District also uses it for music students and other events like ballet and jazz shows.
In 1987, the symphony association decided to restore the building. They started a big fundraising program. They raised $10 million from different sources to improve the hall. Renovations began in 1991. By 2006, they had fixed the outside and roof, improved the seating and lobby, and added new rehearsal and office spaces. They also upgraded the stage and added a new acoustical shell to make the sound better. More renovations happened in 2011, including replacing the main stage floor. Future plans include new seating on the third balcony and improving the backstage area and lighting.
Miller Symphony Hall Today
To show thanks to the Miller family for their support, the Allentown Symphony Association changed the hall's name. On November 10, 2012, it officially became Miller Symphony Hall. It continues to be a vibrant center for arts and culture in Allentown.
Images for kids
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Poster promoting the 1933 film The Bowery and live performers including Jackie "Moms" Mabley at the Lyric
