315 W 34th St
1901-07, William E. Mowbray

In 1901, renowned Broadway producer Oscar Hammerstein began developing the Manhattan Opera House as an alternative to the neighboring Metropolitan Opera House. It offered shows art lower ticket prices with a superior orchestra and stage productions, leading to popularity. After coming to an agreement with the Met, Hammerstein sold the building, which reopened in 1911 as a "combination" house, featuring vaudeville shows and concerts. It was purchased in 1922 by the Free Masons, who altered the facade and added a new Grand Ballroom on the seventh floor. It resumed hosting events on a temporary basis in 1926, and by 1939 it was renamed the Manhattan Center, functioning as a multi-purpose venue. In 1976, the building was purchased by its current owner, the Unification Church, and has undergone renovations and upgrades over the years to expand its technical capacity. It houses two recording studios, as well as the Grand Ballroom and the Hammerstein Ballroom, a performance venue.