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Built in 1886 this Club and Concert Venue is Recognized as the First Modern Nightclub
& why it made the Carpe City list
As a “hall for rent,” the space held vast intersections of society, sometimes serving as a high-end nightclub for uptown elites, and other times a rally, lecture, and fundraising venue for the radicals, anarchists, immigrant organizers, and socialists, particularly Emma Goldman and Crystal Eastman. These women stood for free love, birth control, and ”the right to beautiful, radiant things” (this was anarchy in the 1910s). Also held here in 1920 were meetings of the Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti Defense Committee. Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian anarchists charged with armed robbery. The pair’s trial became world-famous as a flashpoint in the justice system, as many jurors brought their anti-immigrant and anti-Italian biases into the courtroom, and sentenced the pair to death, despite a claimed lack of evidence.
Webster Hall acquired the nickname the “Devil’s Playhouse” from a socialist magazine, called The Masses, in the 1920s. During this time, Webster Hall was known for its elaborate masquerade parties that often brought out risqué behavior. People were able to dress however they pleased, allowing them to explore their sexuality and styles. It wasn’t just Webster Hall’s LGBTQ cultural legacy that earned the nickname. Indeed, regardless of the event or patrons at the “Devil’s Playhouse,” alcohol flowed freely, even (especially?) during Prohibition. Webster Hall was one of many famous speakeasies in the area. The Hall, like other speakeasies, functioned by bribing police to avoid raids. The masquerade parties continued and the drinks flowed, attracting famous artists like Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Stella, Man Ray, and Francis Picabia, as well as writers F. Scott Fitzgerald, Langston Hughes, Bob Brown, and other luminaries from all walks of life. Speaking of the devil, it was rumored that the infamous mob boss Al Capone owned Webster Hall during Prohibition – alas, this is not true.
When Prohibition finally did end, the Devil’s Playhouse threw one of its wildest celebrations: The Return of John Barleycorn. This party was held on New Year’s Eve, counting down the hours until booze was legal again.
During its time as the RCA recording studio, Webster Hall was highly lauded for its acoustics and considered one of the best recording studios in the city, which is no easy task considering its company. New York has always been a haven for the creative types, and so many studios in the city have made indelible marks on the musical world. Some of the most notable places where famous musicians brought their talent on a consistent basis are:
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