Is the Naumburg Bandshell the Most Hated Bandshell in New York?

The Bowery Boys take a look back at the sordid history of the Naumburg Bandshell, which still sits in Central Park (since 1923) "thanks to some tenacious descendants of the man who donated it, Elkan Naumburg." Seems the bandshell's time in the sun has passed, and as the music has moved on elsewhere, it's become a homeless haven. "In the comprehensive 1985 survey by the Central Park Conservancy, it was recommended that the bandshell, never part of the original plan, be demolished or at least moved. Everyone generally agreed that it had become an outdated eyesore." The Naumberg family put a stop to this with a 1993 court case which landed in their favor, ruling that the "destruction of a gift" is prohibited! Ex-parks commissioner Betsy Gotbaum once said that they've made "the best of a bad situation" regarding its presence. More recently, the Brooklyn Philharmonic played there.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on July 25, 2008 2:11 PM

Comments [rss]

gurusattva

Buzzbuzzard:

I don't think he corrects graffiti, I just think he is as perturbed as I am about how lazy the editing process has become lately at Gothamist, my favorite website.

I am noticing every day, blatant errors which frankly, make me cringe.

buzzbuzzard

#3: Bozack, what are you, one of those types that corrects bathroom and subway graffiti?!

JenChungsBaby

Wasn't that in the movie Hair? Clean it up and turn over management to some community arts group which will program regular performances there.

SP

If they are so concerned about hobos shacking up there, they just just use it more often. And why is it considered an eyesore? I like the way it looks.

Bozack

"Skels," not "Skells."

zodak

the new york grand opera & theater for a new city perform there as well, there was also a free screening of bee movie last week.

Peter

From the Bowery Boys:

Since then, the city has "make the best of a bad situation" (in then-parks commissioner Betsy Gotbaum's words) and kept the bandshell in business with regular summer concerts and dance performances.

What's so bad about the situation? Though it may attract skells, it sounds as if the bandshell is still serving its intended purposes.