New York Theatre "Tribute Page"

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Our Story

The "NEW YORK THEATER" was Built in Vancouver BC Canada in 1913 and is located @ 639 Commercial Drive. The Name of the Building when it opened was called "The Alcazar Theatre" in the Early 1980's it was the Hottest Live and BEST Music Venue in the World, The Commodre Ballroom is also a Great place but it was more of an interactive experience as there was NO Barricade until the Final Year of the Venue due to Punk Rocker/Skater/Metal Heads like Myself was Stage Diving & jumping from Balconies!!! To see Great Bands UP CLOSE like that with NO Barricade was something else. The New York Theatre had all kinds of Music played @ the Building from Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Hardcore, Rap, Hard Rock, Death/Speed Metal, Rock etc etc. Alot of Great Bands played the Venue which is what made the place so Unique & a Western Canadian Landmark, Bands like the DAYGLO ABORTIONS, NIRVANA, Metallica, Sonic Youth, Suicidal Tendencies, Marilyn Manson, 54-40, KRADLE, W.A.S.P., Exodus, Corrosion Of Conformity, GWAR, Death Sentence, NoMeansNo, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, The Fastbacks, Dead Kennedys, DOA, SNFU, Sacrifice, Razor, Gob, Husker Du, Blaspheme, Verbal Abuse, Beyond Possesion, Exciter, Metal Church, FurnaceFace, Facepuller, T.S.O.L., Lik the Pole, The Crucif**ks, House Of Commons, A.K.O.B., Fratricide, 7 Seconds, I Mother Earth, Noise Therapy, dbs, Enigmas, Slow, Ground Zero, NG3, Mudhoney, The Bill Of Rights, Process, Gas Huffer, Ripcordz, Armoured Saint, Witches Hammer, Cub, Moby & ALOT MORE!!! The Venue's Capacity was 700 & had an Upper Balcony with a bunch of Seats!!! All in all it was the greatest years I have ever had going to shows, hen the New York Theatre closed down in 1996 and then was turned into an East Indian Movie Theatre the Punk/Metal Scene pretty much Died right then and there. It was then sold for ONLY $900,000 to a local land developer, Thankfully he did not TEAR the place down as what was rumoured to happen and they have since restored the place, The Floor which had Moshers/Slam Dancers & Hell Raisers now has seats and the place no longer has the type of music it had in its past, The place is a shadow of its former self but if you ever went to the NEW YORK THEATRE in its Prime Days you will ALWAYS remember it. One of the Local Promoters (RANDY O'GRADY) did a Great Job in Booking punk Shows there near the end of its run and I was Thankful to have met him as he would give me some chores so I could see the Night's Live Gig if I didn't have the money to get in. When they were Renovating the New York Theatre & throwing stuff away I was able to get a Seat from the Balcony, A Piece of the Stage, & Best of all the Lettering that they would use on the Billboard outside to announce who was playing the Shows, I carried it ALL on the Bus and then proceeded to take 2 Busses as well to go to Fort Langley where I live, I had a lot of stares but I was happy to OWN a piece of GREAT MUSIC HISTORY!!! The Commodore Ballroom & The Rickshaw Theatre are basically the only 2 BIG Venues left & "Funkys" also manages to put on some great music that would have had bands that played the New York Theatre. The best place in the world for a show THE NEW YORK THEATRE!!!