The beautiful Mosque theatre is forever etched in my memories of old Newark. Having been here for almost 59 years, I often look back upon all that has occurred in Newark over the decades. As a young girl, I remember my father taking me to see The Ten Commandments, Cecil B. DeMille's masterpiece, in the Italian language. I also remember seeing the famous French singer/actor Maurice Chevalier as he strutted around the stage, doing his cabaret act. The inimitable Judy Garland left a huge impression on me with her torch songs when my big sister took me to see her perform at the Mosque. Recent memories include the viewing of a documentary on the life of James Brown, as part of the Newark Black Film Festival. The place is rich with history, and the architecture is superb. The Mosque Theatre, our current Symphony Hall, will always be a part of our Newark memories from yesteryear. We grew richer, culturally, because of it!

─ Louise Castronova (Newark, New Jersey)

My most vivid memory of the Hall is when Sarah Vaughan sang there with her orchestra before her passing. I met her when I was younger as a child growing up in the South Ward of Newark, her parents were friends of my parents and have since passed on. It never donned on me that she was internationally famous during her hey day, she was so down to earth and modest.

─ Sarah Bewley-Spain (Newark, New Jersey)

I have been to Symphony Hall many times over the past years, but my favorite memory of all is when I got to see John P. Key featuring Fred Hammond with BBJ opening up the show. It was fantabulous!

─ Antoinette Joyner (Newark, New Jersey)

The Terrace Ballroom was part of my parent's lives. They got dressed up, my mother and her sisters were in formal gowns and my father and his friends in fancy suits. They danced there to the big band tunes of Duke Anderson and came home late at night to tell me all about it. My father's club, The Atlantic Social Club, gave dances there that sent proceeds to The Boys Club on Avon Avenue for scholarships so that young boys, especially fatherless boys, could swim and have strong male role models, people who were interested in their development. I remember those days. The club met in my living room in the family house, the same house I currently live in. My father was Willie A. West, and all of his brothers worked with him in this effort, something I am very proud of. My own memories are not with Terrace Ballroom, but with Symphony Hall. My piano teacher, Mrs. Grace Clarkson of Halsted Street in East Orange, took me to Symphony Hall to hear Van Cliburn, a piano master who had won all the awards of the day.

─ Sandra L. West (Newark, New Jersey)

I have two favorite memories of Symphony Hall. The first was when I saw Phyllis Hyman in 1978 or 1979. I was 13 yrs old. I was in love after the show. The second time was when I seen my favorite singer Natalie Cole in January 1988. I was star struck during the whole show.

─ Keith Green (Irvington, New Jersey)

My most memorable visit to Newark Symphony Hall was the occasion when I took my two young daughters and their friends to see the BOYS live concert. The looks of anticipation, the screams of excitement and finally the happy aftermath... reliving their experience all week long.

─ Marion Bolden