Entertainment venues have captivated the imagination of music and performance enthusiasts for hundreds of years. They provide a much-needed space for artists to showcase their talents and for audiences to enjoy unique and unforgettable experiences.
Their impact on history and culture cannot be understated and these venues, from intimate clubs to huge arenas, remain the lifeblood of today’s music scene. Here’s our guide to some of the most iconic and important entertainment venues in the world.
Radio City Music Hall
Location: New York, U.S.
Opened: 1932
At the height of the Great Depression, billionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr. decided to build Radio City Music Hall. His goal was to create a ‘Palace for the people’ where ordinary people could see quality entertainment.
Since it opened in 1932, more than 300 million people have visited the landmark Art Deco theatre to enjoy movies, stage shows, concerts and more. The building’s four-tiered auditorium with around 5960 seats, remains the world’s largest indoor theatre.
Originally intended to only host stage shows, it was soon converted into a movie theatre to keep up with the times. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the building was mostly used as a concert venue, with some of America’s most popular entertainers performing there.
Some of the great names include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Mathis, John Denver, The Count Basie Orchestra, Jose Carreras, Ray Charles and BB King.
Radio City Hall continues to attract stars from entertainment, sports, comedy, and music, as well as those taking their first steps in show business. Its continued success is testament to Rockefellers vision and cements its place as one of the most important venues in the world.
Caesars Palace
Location: Las Vegas
Opened: 1966
Las Vegas was changed forever in when Caesars Palace, the first themed resort, opened its doors to guests. Taking architectural hints from the Roman empire, the hotel and casino was quite unlike anything ever seen before.
Not only had the landscape of the city changed forever, but so had the world of entertainment. Caesars success saw Vegas grow as more hotels and casinos sprang up and visitors flocked to the city.
Casinos have attracted both high rollers and beginners alike for countless years. This is due to them offering visitors huge gaming floors that contain classic casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and progressive jackpots.
As competition grew, resorts brought in world-famous acts to perform at their hotels and their success saw the music scene boom, as people from all walks of life were able to see some of the biggest stars of the day perform live.
The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace opened in 2003 with a five-year tenancy by Celine Dion. Since then, other resorts have followed suit, but the Colosseum remains the premier showroom destination.
The venue hosts the greatest entertainers from across the globe while providing audiences with an intimate entertainment experience. Some of the great names to have performed there include Adele, Rod Stewart and Garth Brooks.
Moulin Rouge
Location: Paris, France
Opened: 1889
Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler opened the famous French venue with its colourful and daring entertainment in 1889. They hoped to attract people from all walks of life, from the extremely wealthy to a common labourer.
The building personified the glamour and decadence of the Belle Epoque, with its extravagant décor, chandeliers and even a huge model of an elephant. The venue was unlike anything or anywhere else and was a huge success, attracting people from all walks of life, including famous artists and writers.
Some of the most renowned dancers of the age performed on stage, and the foundations of the famous French Cancan were formed here. A scandalous dance that involved high kicks, bare legs, garters, and stockings, gained the venue a notoriety it retains to this day.
The O2 Arena
Location: London, England
Opened: 2007
This multi-purpose indoor arena sits in the centre of the O2 entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. Built under the iconic Millennium Dome, the multi-purpose indoor event venue can hold up to 20,000 people.
It has seen sell out performances from artists such as Prince, Celine Dion, Queen, Beyonce, Rhianna, Spice Girls, and Stormzy. Sporting events such as UFC and tennis, and major comic acts have performed there too, including Monty Python. The venue remains the number one UK destination for major stars from around the world.
The Future of Entertainment Venues
Integrating new technology and innovation is the key to success for tomorrow’s entertainment venues, with a need to create sustainable, eco-friendly sites that offer visitors and artists ever more immersive experiences.
Music will continue to evolve, both in the way it is created and the way in which we listen and interact with it. Many iconic entertainment spaces will need to follow the example of Vegas style resort casinos and learn to evolve with it if they want to survive.
