Newark Symphony Hall Revenue and Competitors

Born as the Salaam Temple in 1925, Newark Symphony Hall has been the home of almost a century of arts and culture in what is now New Jersey's oldest and largest arts and entertainment venue. Shortly after our introduction into Newark's cultural nightlife, the Salaam Temple – quickly nicknamed “The Mosque” by visitors who crossed our threshold – began to draw diverse audiences and became the epicenter of Brick City's live entertainment scene. The invention of talking pictures, vaudeville acts and symphony orchestras made way to include a robust cinema where audiences could enjoy the grandeur of the latest film in style. During the Great Depression, we survived the hardship of the economic downturn with new management determined to see the Mosque bolster the city's spirit and embody her resilience. The Griffith Music Foundation, helmed by Lena Donaldson Griffith, owner of the Griffith Piano Company, recognized the power of the arts to foster our community and turned the Mosque into the powerhouse artists and entertainers of all backgrounds were eager to add to their tours. Whether you preferred classical music (New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein) or opera (Marian Anderson, Placido Domingo, Jerome Hines), ballet (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, The New Jersey Ballet Company) or piano virtuosos (Victor Borge, Van Cliburn), rock ‘n roll (The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones) or R&B (Aretha Franklin, The Temptations), gospel (James Cleveland, Kirk Franklin) or songs from the Great American Songbook (Judy Garland, Tony Bennett), anyone and everyone has performed at the Hall. Thanks to our invaluable educational programs and outreach, Newark Symphony Hall is where the community seeks inspiration, entertainment and guidance by the leaders, trendsetters and emerging voices in the world of the performing arts.