My "Best Memories" of the Terrace Ballroom dates back to the 1960's and the annual "Scotchmen" dances. People came from all over the tri-state area to eat, drink, dress, dance and sweat. I mean, we had a party! We danced until our clothes and bodies were soaked with perspiration -- until two o'clock in the morning. Every year it was a "Sho-Nough" party!

I love the historical posters on display in the Mosque Theatre, so rich with history and memories. I was so taken by a poster of the show, "Keep 'em Laughing" from the '20s, with Molly Picon as an added attraction. I had only heard that name from my grandparents, who I had grown up with in Brighton Beach. They used to love Molly and they would always smile at the mention of her name - it brought a smile to my face to relive that wonderful memory, and I thank you for displaying these wonderful visuals.

And I thank you for adding another wonderful memory with the event honoring Dorthaan Kirk and Jazz Fridays. Keep up the great work you are doing at Newark Symphony Hall.

I remember being a young girl... I may have been seven or eight-years-old and a member of the Tiny Tots Choir of Peaceful Zion Baptist Church in East Orange. My choir director took a group of us to Symphony Hall to see a performance. I don't even remember what it was... I just know it was singing and dancing. I believe it was classical. I just remember how it made me feel to see those performers onstage and I knew that is what I wanted to do. I later attended Arts High School and eventually joined the cast of MAMA I WANT TO SING and performed on that very stage with my family and friends looking up from those very seats watching ME!!! It's a moment I've never forgotten.

My loving memories of Newark Symphony Hall: when I was a little child and Santa Claus used to come there and they would give out toys to kids. That was the best back in the ‘70s. Now, back in the ‘90s when me and my husband and friends came to see beaut shop 3. Since then just about every show that comes there I try my best to make it. But Christmas most of all. I can’t never forget that would always be in my memories.

My favorite memory was when Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn performed “A House is Not a Home” in 1982. It was the best concert I ever saw. When Cheryl Lynn came out [of] the house and walked down the stairs you could feel the music through your chairs.

I love Symphony Hall. I've been to so many concerts and plays. But what I most love about it is that I got to perform on the stage where so many of my favorite artists played. In 2005, I was in a play called "Who's Gonna Save Me, It's Time To Tell Your Secret". Oh my God, I was so happy to be on that stage. I will someday be back performing in concert once I get a record contract. It will be the first place I perform. But, I also was in the Terrace Ballroom in a talent showcase.

I remember in 1969 when Zachary used to have a show on Channel 13 at Symphony Hall. My cousin and I cut school and took the "13 Broad" from Irvington to downtown Newark. We got on camera because we wore shirts that said "1969," my cousin wearing a t-shirt saying “19” and me “69”. The show aired and, of course, we watched it at home and got caught cutting school by our parents who also viewed us on TV. I was 16 years old!

Couldn't tell us nothin', we had it goin' on. It was snowing, and we were worried the show would not go on. We were young and our parents gave permission for us to go to see Sly and the Family Stone. It was an adult adventure and it made us feel special to be going to such a well-known establishment. Of course I had a new outfit. I remember the excitement and the anticipation of sitting in the audience breathlessly waiting. He was late. However, the show went on. My favorite songs were sung, we were up dancing (I wasn’t a screamer, so I was probably singing loud) and enjoying being there. I believe it was not a very long show. However, it did not matter to me. These memories are still within me and I attribute who I am today - my family, especially my godmother, exposed us to these types of excursions into the art and entertainment world. These are the type of memories I wish for our young people.

I really enjoy coming to the different shows there at Symphony Hall. It is good to be able to go to your own neighborhood to a show instead of going to New York for a Broadway play. I enjoyed seeing “His Women His Wife,” “Why Did I Get Married,” “Women and Golddiggers” and I am looking forward to seeing many more plays.

I have so many wonderful memories of performances at Newark Symphony Hall.
The concerts and shows are fantastic, keep them coming. Meeting the cast, taking pictures, purchasing souvenirs having cocktails, mingling with others and running into friends and co-workers I didn't know were coming was as complete surprise. I can also reminiscence attending the dances given by the social clubs at the Terrance Ballroom [and] the groups singing their songs while we danced the night away.

I have been to every concert and I have been to every comedy show and I been to all the gospel plays they ever had. But when I was 10 I got a chance to go to the concert that The Boys was performing I got to meet them because they pulled me up on stage. It was the best experience I ever had and that was the reason I always made sure I went to every show and had great seats all the time. If they ever leave Newark it will be a great part of history lost. Newark Symphony Hall is Newark. Without it Newark will never be the same.

Thank you, on 11/22/09, my cousin, my husband and I were at Symphony Hall to see Blue Magic, Ray, Goodman and Brown, put on a wonderful show. I was blown away. Blue Magic's “What's Come Over Me” is stuck in my mind, Black Ivy’s “Don't Turn Around” has brought back so many memories. I hope you continue to bring back those memories by having more shows like this.

My father was supervisor at the Mosque Theatre and Symphony Hall from the '60s thru the '70s and was good friends with Moe Septe. My brother and I used to usher with all our friends at Symphony Hall and we saw acts like Bob Dylan, James Brown, Helen Reddy, the Dave Clark Five, Sammy Davis, Jr., Paul Winchell with Jerry Mahoney and Nucklehead Smith. (I actually remember as a child sitting on the stage with Paul and he introduced me to his 'puppets'.) I met Peter, Paul & Mary backstage, the Beach Boys, Jay Black from Jay & the Americans, Marcel Marceau, Sly & the Family Stone, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn. We even have a picture of my father from a newspaper article and picture when the Rolling Stones were there and my father, Seymour Winter, helped the police pull women from the stage. I have so many memories of Symphony Hall. We used to play backstage and run up to the balconies on the big marble staircase, and the red carpeting! I met Dustin Hoffman there once in the lobby.

On Thanksgiving weekends my late girlfriend and I would travel to the Hall with our children to see Kool and the Gang. I thought that was their home; it was the safe place to be for our families from Rahway.

My memory was when my older brother graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz and walked across this very stage. Also when Cory Booker came to speak to the class of 2010 and we all had fun in learning together.

I really look forward to the Mother's Day concert events every year. I don't have to worry about where I'm going because I already know. Keep them coming!

In 1967, my dancing school, "Perry and Keller" in Vailsburg, used Symphony Hall as its recital venue.  I was 5 years old and, in the middle of a dance performance, my tap shoe came flying off of my foot. My Mom watched with tears in her eyes as I sat down on the great stage, tied the shoe (with the deliberateness of an inexperienced child), stood up and got right back in step. She said I received a rousing round of applause!

The Mosque Theater was where I first experienced the beauty of a symphonic orchestra.  I was in the fourth grade on a class trip to see the NJ Symphony and was very impressed by the beautiful building and the wonderful music being played on the stage. I am 55 years old now and will never forget that day as it marks a pivotal moment in my life.  I realized there was something called "the theatre."

Seeing the Temptations [on] my 13th birthday in 1969. Man, that was great. They were there with the Stylistics and a couple other groups.

The concert featuring the O'Jays with Levert and the Rude Boys. Gerald walking up the aisle and I was so upset that I didn't have a camera. Aaron Hall from Guy was in the audience. The concert with Patti LaBelle.  She always puts on a spectacular show.

It was back in the days when Amiri Baraka was known as Leroy (Leroi) Jones, the Humanitarian Contributions at Symphony Hall, Newark, NJ presented Issac Hayes, the black Moses of the music world. Isaac Hayes was a bad asssss in his pink robe, suede vest, tights and gold chains! The Isaac Hayes Movement is our hot buttered soul, to be continued for our day will come.

The show was Ashford & Simpson with special guest Michael Henderson. During the show, Michael Henderson did a duet with a young lady whose name escapes me, his show was awesome. When Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson hit the stage, Valerie started out by commending Michael Henderson on his performance and said that Nick and she would have to work their behinds off to top it.

My favorite memory is when I played Symphony Hall when I was younger. There is a music school not too far on the block where Washington Park is and I used to go to the school. I took violin lessons and we had a recital there.

Where shall I start? 1. Our graduation class was the first. Central High School, June 13, 1977. 2. Many dance recitals of Marie Wildey School of Dance. 3. Concerts, concerts, concerts and plays. Luther, Patti, Tyler Perry, etc.