The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall is a historic theater located in Riverhead, on the east end of Long Island. This special building was constructed in 1881 and has been a part of the community for a very long time. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall is a late nineteenth-century theater presently in use on the east end of Long island in Riverhead, New York.
Vail-Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead, New York.
Construction and Early Years
The building was built by David F. Vail, with the help of his son George M. Vail in 1881. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall was built by David F. Vail, a local lumber dealer. His son, George M. The theater first opened its doors on October 11, 1881. The theater/music hall opened on October 11, 1881. The main theater and its balcony are a miniature opera house designed by J. W. Flack. The ground floor of the building housed commercial business storefronts, while the upstairs contained the opera house. It was designed to be like a small opera house, with a main theater and a balcony upstairs.
The music hall began its operations with candle lighting, however the Vail's began operating a gas plant behind the theater. When it first opened, the music hall was lit by candles. Soon after, the Vail family started a gas plant behind the theater. This allowed them to install gas lights all around the horseshoe-shaped balcony.
Changes in Ownership and Usage
In 1908, George M. Vail, now sole owner of Music Hall, sold the building to Simon Leavitt, a tailor and clothier, who leased out the upstairs as a theatrical venue. In 1908, George M. Vail, who now owned the Music Hall, sold it to Simon Leavitt. Simon was a tailor and clothier. Eventually, Simon Leavitt's son, Theodore Leavitt, took over the family's clothing business. After Theodore Leavitt passed away, his wife, Mollie Leavitt, owned the music hall.
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A few years later, in 1914, something very cool happened at the Music Hall. The famous inventor Thomas Edison used the venue to show off his new invention called the kinetophone. As more modern theaters were built in the area, the Music Hall was converted for use over the years as a restaurant, a roller skating rink and even a betting parlor. As time went on, newer and more modern theaters were built in the area. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall changed its purpose many times. It was used as a restaurant, a roller skating rink, and even a place for betting. However, the balcony and stage proscenium remained intact throughout the conversions.
Restoration and Re-opening
In 1982, a group called the Council for the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall bought the building. They received a special grant to help them. Department of Housing and Urban Development arranged by the Town of Riverhead's Community Development officer, Robert Schemer. From the early eighties to the late nineties, old movies were shown on a small screen in its downstairs space, dubbed the "Mini-Cine". From the early 1980s to the late 1990s, old movies were shown in a small space downstairs called the "Mini-Cine." These movie showings helped the theater raise monies for the music hall's restoration. Showing these movies helped raise money to restore the music hall.
The music hall held its grand re-opening on June 28, 2003. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall had its grand re-opening on June 28, 2003.
Present Day
Today, it is a busy place that hosts many cultural, community, and charity events throughout the year. It has about 300 seats, including the balcony, and is known for its beautiful Beaux-Arts style. It has about 300 seats, including the balcony, and is known for its beautiful Beaux-Arts style.
The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
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| Name | Vail-Leavitt Music Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 18 Peconic Avenue, Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, US |
| Coordinates | 40°54′59″N 72°39′45″W |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architect | David F. Vail, George M. |
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