Posted 8 years ago
vintagelamp
(1101 items)
The architectural artifact was found at my favorite shop. It may be a strange collectible but I love it! You can see the letters above the top windows in the post card views. I am glad it was pulled from the rubble pile.
The following is from the internet:
The Syria Mosque for 75 years was the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s music culture hosting the performances of world renowned classical, jazz and rock artists. Dedicated in 1916, the 3,750 seat Moorish style theater stood at 4400 Bigelow Boulevard across from Soldiers and Sailors Hall in the heart of the Oakland Cultural district. The classical superstars who graced the stage of the Mosque included Vladimir Horowitz, Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Van Cliburn, Sergie Rachmaninoff, Rudolf Serkin., Gregor Piatigorsky, Paul Hindemith, Paul Robeson, Mario Lanza, and Enrico Caruso along with conductors Leopold Stokowski, Arturo Toscanini and Eugene Ormandy. Jazz artists who appeared at the Mosque included Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Art Tatum, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy and Pittsburgh's hometown jazz legends Earl Hines, Maxine Sullivan, George Benson and more. The Mosque hosted Rock N Roll concerts beginning in the 1950s with Bill Haley and the Comets, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and the Skyliners. Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkle and the Who appeared in the 1960s. Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and Springsteen performed in the 1970s, and REM, Lou Reed, Bon Jovi, the Ramones, Dire Straights and Stevie Ray Vaughn appeared in the 1980s. The last concert was held in May of 1991.
The historic Syria Mosque was torn down to make way for a parking lot for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The great music performances and historical events that took place there are long forgotten and tossed in the rubble pile of lost Pittsburgh music venues.
Thomas, I knew that you would appreciate this post! Thak you!
czechglass5, Thank you! Glad that you got to see it. I only remember seeing it from the outside.
Thomas, Such interesting information! I remember my older sister being addicted to American Bandstand in the early days. Not sure about Danny Bonaduce...I will have to look it up. Thanks again!
I love the post card with the "Forbes Field" advertisement in front of the Syria Mosque.
Yes, I saw the outside several times, but I was never inside. This was actual more of a theater than a mosque. I have see photos of the inside. It was a great building!