Musicians from the world of pop, rock and electronica all find their home in a seemingly unconventional setting: A vintage opera house that can holds up to 3,000. Hidden by a conventional midtown office-building, you would never know that some of the most significant groups of our time have orchestrated blow-out events, making the Hammerstein anything but an ordinary music venue in Manhattan. The ballroom opened in 1906 as a classical opera house. Then in 1910 it turned into a variety show house… followed by a conversion into a movie palace. During the Depression, it became a Freemason’s temple, and was then abandoned in the 70’s. Now, the Hammerstein is seat-free, allowing mobs in for general admission seating/standing.