Grand Prospect Hall: Difference between revisions

	Prospect Hall
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	Grand Prospect Hall, August, 2021
Location	263 Prospect Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11215
Coordinates	40°39′50″N 73°59′22″W / 40.66389°N 73.98944°W
Area	1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
Built	1901
Architect	Huberty, Ulrich J.
Architectural style	French Renaissance
NRHP reference No.	99000460
Added to NRHP	April 15, 1999

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Grand Prospect Hall, also known as Prospect Hall, is a large Victorian-style banquet hall at 263 Prospect Avenue in the South Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. It is primarily an event space, hosting weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and high-school proms. The hall is housed in a building that architect Ulrich J. Huberty designed in the French Renaissance style.

Prospect Hall was originally built in 1892 by local entrepreneur John Kolle. The original hall burned down in 1900 and was replaced by the current building, which opened in 1903. It was operated by the Kolle family through 1940, when John Kolle's son, William, sold the building to a Polish-American organization. Greek-American couple Michael and Alice Halkias bought the hall in 1981 and renovated it, gaining some local celebrity for their cheaply produced television commercials. In 2020, it was sold again to contractor Angelo Rigas, along with adjacent properties. Rigas announced plans to demolish it in 2021, prompting an effort by local activists to save the building.

Grand Prospect Hall is four stories tall and faced in buff-gray brick, with pressed metal decoration that was originally colored to resemble limestone. The front portion of the building is arranged around a large central staircase and was designed with a bar, a banquet hall, and various reception and parlor rooms. The rear of the building is arranged around the ballroom, which is overlooked by two balcony levels. The basement also had facilities, including a bowling alley that has long since been abandoned. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Original Prospect Hall

Prospect Hall was originally built by local entrepreneur John Kolle, a German immigrant. In 1890, he had built Tivoli Hall, a four-story concert hall in the part of South Brooklyn now known as Park Slope, for restaurateur Charles Feltman.^[2]^[3] The success of the Tivoli prompted Kolle to plan his own amusement hall.^[3] In May 1892, Kolle announced plans for Prospect Hall,^[4]^[5] which was intended to cater to the German societies and organizations of the area.^[3]^[4] It was to be located on Prospect Avenue, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, a few blocks from Tivoli Hall.^[6]^[7] Prospect Hall was constructed at a cost of $130,000 (equivalent to $3,740,000 in 2020).^[8]^[6]

An 1893 report from the Brooklyn Citizen cited the building as measuring 65 by 160 ft (20 by 49 m),^[6] while a 1900 report from The New York Times said the building measured 75 by 200 ft (23 by 61 m).^[7] The structure contained six bowling alleys, four shooting galleries, a billiard parlor, dining room, and large ballroom. The ballroom featured a large stage and had a seating capacity for 1,000 people.^[6] The original Prospect Hall was the first such venue to be equipped with an electric lighting system.^[9] The Prospect Heights Athletic Club, a boxing club, formed at Prospect Hall shortly after it opened in November 1892.^[10]^[11] In its inaugural years, the hall hosted a range of events including plays,^[12] boxing tournaments,^[10] weddings, yearly balls, Knights of Columbus meetings,^[13] and fundraisers.^[14] John Kolle's son, William D. Kolle, managed the hall.^[3]^[15] By 1900, Prospect Hall served 55,000 Brooklyn residents who participated in theatrical productions.^[16]

On December 11, 1900, two hundred firefighters responded to a major fire at Prospect Hall.^[13]^[15] While the firefighters stopped the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings, the hall was destroyed.^[8] This was in part because, according to The New York Times, the two closest fire hydrants to the hall were frozen over.^[7] The bowling alleys on the ground and second floors formed natural flues for the flames and the fire spread very quickly, further aided by wind.^[13] While it had steel ceilings and iron girders, the walls were made of Georgia pine, and the stage and flooring of the hall contained flammable material.^[13] Only the brick and stone walls of the building were left standing, and they were ordered to be demolished afterward as they were too structurally unstable.^[15]^[13] The Brooklyn Daily Eagle described the fire as "spectacular", drawing thousands of people to watch.^[13] So despondent was John Kolle that he reportedly had to be restrained from jumping into the fire and killing himself, and later had to be looked after and medicated by physicians.^[3]^[13] The cause was not confirmed, but was suspected to be a lit cigar or cigarette thrown on the floor in one of the second floor dressing rooms near the main hall.^[13] The Eagle estimated the damage at over $300,000 (equivalent to $9,034,729 in 2023).^[13] Many of the hall's German societies lost trophies, keepsakes, and other property in the fire; they all sent letters of sympathy to Kolle.^[17]^[18]

Current Prospect Hall

Kolle ownership

John Kolle quickly decided to rebuild Prospect Hall on the same site and, in June 1901, opened a temporary beer garden next door.^[19] The New York City Buildings Department initially refused to grant a permit for the reconstruction because the blueprints included a drinking bar.^[20]^[21] According to building code, a bar could not operate on the same property as any building with stage facilities and over 300 seats.^[21] The owners appealed, and the Brooklyn buildings deputy commissioner indicated that he could approve the plans if the bar and some disallowed decorations were removed.^[22] In July 1901, the commissioner voted with the Board of Buildings to reverse his initial decision and approve the new plans.^[23]^[24]

The rebuilt Prospect Hall opened on February 2, 1903, and was also managed by John Kolle's son, William.^[9]^[25] Shortly after the hall's reopening, the building nearly caught fire again. A fire started in the Kolle family's adjacent home, nearly killing one of his daughters.^[26]^[27] Worried it would spread to the hall, the fire department sent an extra fire engine to help control it. While they successfully prevented damage to the hall, the house was destroyed. Firefighters had difficulty getting a sufficient stream of water due to a large eel which made its way into a fire hose, clogging it.^[26]^[27]

In its early years, according to the New York Times' Christopher Gray, spaces like Prospect Hall "sounded the heartbeat of the city" by hosting a variety of public and private events.^[16] It hosted political events like a rally held by William Randolph Hearst in 1906, a debate in 1907, an event featuring William Jennings Bryan in 1908, and a gathering in support of local subway service which drew 3,500 people.^[16] Many international celebrities held performances there, like opera star Enrico Caruso, Lena Horne, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, and others.^[28] In 1911, singer and comedian Sophie Tucker performed.^[28] Al Capone was known to have a box at the hall.^[29]^[30] The venue also hosted meetings for politicians and club leaders,^[9]^[31] with certain nights devoted to annual balls in honor of several leaders.^[32] Organizations such as the Brooklyn Quartet Club and Brooklyn Rifle Club were also housed in the building.^[16]

To the west of the main building, the Hour Motion Picture Theatre opened in 1910. The space to the east was converted into a Venetian garden in 1913 and was used for movie screenings.^[28] Old advertisements for Prospect Hall described the "high-class motion pictures and vaudeville" that were displayed every night, as well as "country butcher shops" on Tuesdays and "safe and sane" Independence Day events every July 4.^[16] Over the years, the frequency of high-profile events at Prospect Hall, including political meetings, decreased.^[32] It continued to be used for events such as an October 1929 debate between mayor Jimmy Walker and ex-governor Al Smith,^[33] as well as Works Progress Administration productions during the 1930s.^[16] The main ballroom was used for vaudeville and movie screenings during the summer between 1936 and 1940.^[28]

White Eagle ownership

William L. Kolle, son of William D. Kolle,^[34] sold the building in 1940 to the White Eagle Society, a group formed by Polish immigrants.^[28]^[35] White Eagle converted it into a Polish-American community center.^[32]^[36] The organization repainted and repaired the building by 1949.^[32] Prospect Hall was used by fraternal societies and labor unions throughout this time. The immediate vicinity began to decline in the 1950s, following the construction of the Prospect Expressway immediately across the street.^[16]

White Eagle started to sell off some decorations by the 1960s to pay for repairs.^[16]^[28] By then, Prospect Hall hosted occasional boxing matches.^[28] The building, at that point known as the Polish Community Center, was renovated in 1970.^[37] The United Polish Societies of South Brooklyn called it their headquarters as of 1971, meeting one evening a month.^[38] Dances and concerts were also hosted in Prospect Hall until the 1970s.^[35] It was completely shuttered by 1981, at which point it had deteriorated so much that there were barrels throughout the space to catch rain from the leaking roof. The ground-floor restaurant saw little business but continued to operate nevertheless.^[16]

Halkias ownership

Greek-American couple Michael and Alice Halkias bought the hall in 1981.^[39]^[8] Michael Halkias was a former real estate agent, travel agent, and employment agent who helped Greek people immigrate to the United States. He also worked in radio, advertising, and publishing before purchasing the hall.^[40] Under the Halkiases' ownership, Prospect Hall was renamed Grand Prospect Hall.^[35] The couple renovated the hall in a piecemeal fashion over the following 18 years, with a staff of 30 to 90 restorers. Michael Halkias chose to redesign the main ballroom in "happy colors" rather than the original paint scheme, with carvings of fruit in different colors based on what he shouted to the painters. Brownstoner wrote that "the Halkias' never met gilding and ostentation that they didn't like".^[41] Michael also attempted to clean the facade several times, but ultimately decided to paint it in 1998. He recovered the original murals after a chance encounter while waiting in line at a bank in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, when a stranger mentioned that he had had purchased them.^[16]

In 1983, Borough President Howard Golden proclaimed March 10th to be an annual "Grand Prospect Hall Day" in Brooklyn.^[42] Starting in 1986, the Halkiases gained a measure of local fame for producing and starring in cheaply shot commercials for the hall which aired regularly on local television.^[43] The ads contained various shots of the interior spaces, showing events held there, set to orchestral music, with a sales pitch from the Halkiases typically including a phrase which became associated with them: "We make your dreams come true!"^[44] The tagline, according to Brooklyn Paper, is "instantly recognizable to any New Yorker who owned a television set."^[45] The commercials have been parodied on both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Saturday Night Live.^[46]^[47]^[44] Kimmel paired the Halkiases with Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, spoofing the commercials. Kimmel was quoted in The New York Times saying "If you live in New York, and if you've ever owned a television, you've probably seen these commercials," joking that they "are wonderful, but they've been running the same ones for 125 years."^[40]

In 1999, Grand Prospect Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The listing describes the hall as "probably the largest and best-preserved example of its type, the Victorian assembly hall set within a great ethnic community facility, remaining in the country".^[48] However, NRHP status does not restrict what non-federal owners can do with a property. At the time, the building was not granted official city landmark status from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which would grant protections from redevelopment.^[44] In 2001, the Halkiases reopened the original bar on the first floor after restoring it.^[35]

The hall is primarily an event space, hosting weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, corporate events and high-school proms.^[35] The Halkiases have rented the building as a filming location for films, TV shows, and commercials including The Cotton Club, Prizzi’s Honor, The Royal Tenenbaums, Gossip Girl, and season three of Twin Peaks.^[49]^[44] Prospect Hall has also hosted events such as Flame Con, an LGBTQ comic book convention.^[44] The rock band Arcade Fire held an album release concert for about 1,500 fans there in July 2017.^[50]^[51]

Sale to Rigas

Business suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Grand Prospect Hall closed in March 2020. Two months later, on May 6, Michael Halkias died at the age of 82 due to complications from COVID-19.^[40] In June 2020, the building was sold, along with eleven other adjacent properties, to contractor Angelo Rigas for $30 million.^[44]^[52]

On August 19, 2021, the Brooklyn Paper reported that Rigas, through Gowanus Cubes LLC, filed permits to demolish the properties, including Grand Prospect Hall.^[45]^[53] Local activists began a petition to try to save the building from demolition and asked the LPC to hold hearings for landmark status.^[44] The petition gained 40,000 supporters, including city councilman Brad Lander, who described it as "a site of many memories and melodies for generations of Brooklynites".^[54] A judge issued an injunction to halt demolition in early September 2021, since a demolished building could not be considered for landmark status.^[55] However, the LPC refused to hold a hearing to consider the building for landmark status, since the exterior had been too extensively modified from its original design.^[54]^[56] Among the LPC's reasons for denying the request were that the fourth-floor pediment had been removed, the frieze above ground level had been modified, and the entrance portico had been enclosed.^[57] Much of the interior had also been demolished already.^[54] The demolition permits were approved in November 2021, though at that time there was not a concrete timeline for it to move forward.^[58]

Building

The current building was designed in the French Renaissance style by architect Ulrich J. Huberty, who also designed the Prospect Park Boathouse and Tennis House. The building carries the address 263 Prospect Avenue.^[59]^[60] Grand Prospect Hall faces the Prospect Expressway (NY 27) to the south.^[59] Originally, there was a beer garden around the building, which may have contained a Ferris wheel as well as an "electric tower", but these were removed around 1914.^[59]

Facade

The building is four stories tall and faced in buff-gray brick, with pressed metal decoration that was originally colored to resemble limestone.^[59]^[61] The windows are surmounted by pediments, while the top of the building has a cornice with a sculpted pediment in the center. The first floor was designed with storefronts, as well as an entrance with columns at the center; these were subsequently modified.^[59]

It was designed with a frontage of 75 ft (23 m) and a depth of 215 ft (66 m).^[62]^[63] A one-story annex continues east of the main structure. The side and rear facades are clad with brick and do not contain any ornamentation, while the roofs of the building are flat.^[59]

Features

Grand Prospect Hall can fit 8,000 people in total, or 5,925 people when used as a dining venue.^[28] Covering 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m²), it has several rooms including a garden area and a large ballroom.^[60] Grand Prospect Hall features the first Otis bird cage elevator in New York and was the first fully electrified public building in Brooklyn.^[41] The elevator cab is constructed like a cage and is wrapped by a staircase on the western side of the building.^[64] The basement was also designed with a bowling alley, a billiard room, a kitchen, and a laundry.^[62]^[63] The bowling alley was divided into two sections and had fourteen lanes in total, though by 1999 the bowling alley was long-abandoned.^[65] Electric dynamos, engines, and boilers were installed beneath the sidewalk.^[62]^[63] There was also a roof garden.^[16]

The front portion of the building is arranged around a large central staircase.^[59] The central entrance was designed with an entryway measuring 18 ft (5.5 m) wide.^[62]^[63] The main staircase, made of cast iron with marble treads, connects the entrance foyer with a two-story-high hallway on an upper level. At the first landing was a pair of decorative box offices.^[64] The first floor of the front portion was designed with a restaurant, club room, "Alt Deutsche" beer hall, bar room, and women's parlor.^[62]^[63] The bar, east of the main staircase, had an oak countertop as well as a plaster and marble bar.^[65] There was also a banquet hall measuring 60 by 80 ft (18 by 24 m), which was spanned by large steel girders. The second floor of the front portion had a cafe, loggias, cloak rooms, and women's parlor. The third floor had more reception and cloak rooms and other women's parlors. The fourth floor had two elaborately decorated lodge rooms with auxiliary spaces, anterooms, and preparation rooms.^[62]^[63]

The rear of the building is arranged around the ballroom, which is at the top of the staircase.^[28]^[66] Measuring 68 by 125 ft (21 by 38 m) across by 40 ft (12 m) tall,^[62]^[63] The ballroom is variously cited as containing 1,500^[67] or 1,700 seats.^[28] Two levels overlook the space:^[28]^[67] a lower balcony and an upper gallery, both accessed by marble stairs.^[62]^[63] Both of these levels are supported on marble columns and surround the ballroom on all sides except the front.^[62]^[63]^[64] They had decorative elements such as garlands and cartouches. The balcony consists of a set of theater boxes that are sloped slightly downward to the front of Grand Prospect Hall.^[64] It was designed with 26 private boxes and four larger proscenium boxes.^[62]^[63] The gallery has a steeper downward slope and contained wooden benches and plaster rails. The ceiling has a coved cornice and consists mostly of a flat surface.^[64] The central dome, which contains direct and indirect lighting, is 35 ft (11 m) across.^[62]^[63] The rear of the ballroom, near the northern end, has a stage inside a plaster proscenium, which in turn has a cornice atop it.^[64] There are auxiliary spaces, such as dressing rooms, adjacent to the stage.^[62]^[63]^[64]

A one-story wing extends east of the main hall and was added not long after Grand Prospect Hall's rebuilding in 1902. Known as the rathskeller, it has been used as a restaurant since its opening. The walls of the rathskeller contain decorated oak paneling, canvas murals, and a tin ceiling.^[64]

Gallery

The front facade in November 2008
People in the ballroom during a Tito Nieves performance in March 2019
The Zlatne Uste Golden Festival in January 2019
The building covered in scaffolding, viewed from 17th Street in September 2021

References

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^ Schwartz, Ryan (February 17, 2019). "Don Cheadle Hosts SNL: Watch Video of the Best & Worst Sketches". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-17. The cutaways to Cheadle (whose employee served as chef, photographer and DJ) were the best part of this commercial parody for the Grand Prospect Hall wannabe.
^ "Don Cheadle/Gary Clark Jr.". Saturday Night Live. Season 44. Episode 4413. 2019-02-16. NBC.
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^ McShane, Julianne (2021-11-09). "Bittersweet Memories of Grand Prospect Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g National Park Service 1999, p. 3.
^ ^a ^b Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City (2nd ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 545. ISBN 978-0-300-11465-2.
^ Craig Morrison (September 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Registration:Prospect Hall". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-20. See also: "Accompanying 10 photos". Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "New Prospect Hall". Times Union. 1901-10-19. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "New Prospect Hall". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1901-10-19. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h National Park Service 1999, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b National Park Service 1999, p. 5.
^ National Park Service 1999, pp. 3–4.
^ ^a ^b Freudenheim, Ellen (1999). Brooklyn!, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Guide to New York's Most Happening Borough. St. Martin's Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-312-20446-4. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

Bibliography

"Grand Prospect Hall" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. April 15, 1999.

External links

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

[2] "Tivoli Hall Wrecked; Speedy Destruction by Flames in South Brooklyn. Tenants of Flats Had to Hurry Out Fall of the Cupola That Crowned the Roof of the Place of Amusement -- Street-Car Traffic Interrupted". The New York Times. March 13, 1895. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

[NPS_p._9-3] National Park Service 1999, p. 9.

[n85364228-4] "We're Booming". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1892-05-18. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[5] "Realty Matters". The Brooklyn Citizen. 1892-05-19. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[n85338944-6] "South Brooklyn; Happenings of the Past Week in This Section". The Brooklyn Citizen. 1893-01-01. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

[n85339013-7] "Prospect Hall Burned". The New York Times. 1900-12-12. p. 10. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

[:4-8] Bush, Christine (2013-01-08). "Did You Know? Prospect Hall Burned Down in 1900". Bklyner. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-20.

[:8-9] "Prospect Hall Scene of Many Big Rallies". Times Union. 1927-11-14. p. 86. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

[:2-10] "Prospect Heights Athletic Club". The Standard Union. 1892-11-25. p. 3. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

[11] "Everything Was a Draw". The Sun. 1892-11-28. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[12] "'The Golden Spider'". Times Union. 1893-05-12. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[n38473650-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Prospect Hall Burned; Loss Over $300,000". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1900-12-11. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[n85364441-14] "A Cup for Pigeon Shots". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1892-11-26. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[p570891331-15] "Prospect Hall Burned: Flames Leave the Walls Unsafe and Their Removal Is Begun at Once". New-York Tribune. 12 Dec 1900. p. 4. ProQuest 570891331. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.

[nyt19990110-16] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Gray, Christopher (1999-01-10). "Streetscapes / Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn; Colorful Restoration of a 1903 Ballroom/Concert Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-16.

[17] "Losses at Prospect Hall". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1900-12-13. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[18] "German Societies' Losses". Times Union. 1900-12-13. p. 4. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[19] "New Prospect Hall Open". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1901-06-21. p. 20. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[20] "Prospect Hall Bar". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1901-06-09. p. 48. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[n85342673-21] "Question of Prospect Hall Rebuilding". The Brooklyn Citizen. 1901-06-08. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[22] "Bar Proves a Barrier". The Standard Union. 1901-06-12. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[23] "Guilfoyle Reverses Himself". Times Union. 1901-06-28. p. 4. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[24] "New Prospect Hall". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1901-07-13. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[25] "Prospect Hall Opened". The Standard Union. 1903-02-03. p. 8. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[:0-26] "Girl Unconscious in Burning Building". Times Union. 1903-02-21. p. 4. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[:1-27] "Miss Kolle Near to Death". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1903-02-21. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[Cinema_Treasures_1903-28] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, NY". Cinema Treasures. February 3, 1903. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

[29] Tomasson, Robert (Oct 11, 1987). "Social Events - The New York Times". go.gale.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[30] Carlson, Jen (2011-01-12). "Sleep Next Door To Where Al Capone Received His "Scarface"". Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[31] "Old Prospect Hall, Scene Of Many a Historic Event". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1938-08-26. p. 30. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[n85365317-32] Mara, Margaret (1949-04-18). "Boomdeeay Back In Prospect Hall". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

[33] "5,000 Wildly Cheer Walker At Prospect Hall Rally". Times Union. 1929-10-27. p. 82. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-16.

[34] "Mrs. Emma Kolle". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 25, 1936. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-30 – via Newspapers.com.

[nyt20010101-35] Cardwell, Diane (2001-01-01). "Palatial Ballroom Evokes Memories Of a Bygone Era; Lovingly Restored Monument To City Dance-Hall Tradition". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-16.

[NPS_p._10-36] National Park Service 1999, p. 10.

[37] "Polka, Anyone?". New York Daily News. 1970-10-28. p. 339. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-01.

[38] "Polish Groups Looking Ahead For an Angel". New York Daily News. 1971-10-24. p. 89. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-01.

[39] "Grand Prospect Park Hall Owner Dies". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. May 7, 2020. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.

[:6-40] Randle, Aaron (2020-05-24). "Michael Halkias, Who Promised Wish Fulfillment at Banquet Hall, Dies at 82". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[:3-41] Morris), Suzanne Spellen (aka Montrose (2021-09-07). "Entertaining Brooklyn: The History of Grand Prospect Hall". Brownstoner. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[42] "The Grand Prospect Hall: Brooklyn's Jewel". Hellenic News of America. 2012-04-19. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-27.

[NYDN_2011-01-13-43] Cunningham, Jennifer; Fanelli, James (2011-01-13). "Grand Prospect Hall's penchant for cheesy ads pays off for owners raking in the dough". New York Daily News. Tribune Publishing. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

[:5-44] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Wong, Ashley (2021-08-26). "The Dream May Be Over for the Grand Prospect Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[:7-45] "GRAND PROSPECT HALL SLATED FOR THE WRECKING BALL". The Brooklyn Paper. August 19, 2021. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

[46] Schwartz, Ryan (February 17, 2019). "Don Cheadle Hosts SNL: Watch Video of the Best & Worst Sketches". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-17. The cutaways to Cheadle (whose employee served as chef, photographer and DJ) were the best part of this commercial parody for the Grand Prospect Hall wannabe.

[47] "Don Cheadle/Gary Clark Jr.". Saturday Night Live. Season 44. Episode 4413. 2019-02-16. NBC.

[NPS_p._11-48] National Park Service 1999, p. 11.

[GPHFilming-49] "Grand Prospect Hall – New York City's premier historic filming location". Archived from the original on 2019-09-17. Retrieved 2019-09-17.

[50] Gill, Lauren. "Rock band releases album at Slope's gilded Grand Prospect Hall • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-12.

[51] Carlson, Jen (2017-07-28). "Videos: Inside Arcade Fire's Intimate Concert At Brooklyn's Grand Prospect Hall". Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-12.

[52] "Grand Prospect Hall Sold in $30M Park Slope Assemblage". The Real Deal New York. 2021-07-15. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-13.

[53] "Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn Scheduled to Be Demolished". The Real Deal New York. 2021-08-20. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

[trd20210915-54] "City Won't Landmark Brooklyn's Grand Prospect Hall". The Real Deal New York. 2021-09-15. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

[55] "Brooklyn Judge Pauses Grand Prospect Hall Demolition". The Real Deal New York. 2021-09-02. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

[56] Stein, Mark D. (September 15, 2021). "Grand Prospect Hall's 'imminent demolition' likely as landmark status denied, report says". silive. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.

[57] Verde, Ben (September 14, 2021). "Grand Prospect Hall Denied Landmark Status". Brooklyn Paper. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

[58] McShane, Julianne (2021-11-09). "Bittersweet Memories of Grand Prospect Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-20.

[NPS_p._3-59] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g National Park Service 1999, p. 3.

[enc-nyc2-60] Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. (2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City (2nd ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 545. ISBN 978-0-300-11465-2.

[nrhpinv_ny-61] Craig Morrison (September 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Registration:Prospect Hall". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-20. See also: "Accompanying 10 photos". Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2011.

[n85342309-62] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "New Prospect Hall". Times Union. 1901-10-19. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-14. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

[p85342919-63] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "New Prospect Hall". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1901-10-19. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-15. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

[NPS_p._4-64] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h National Park Service 1999, p. 4.

[NPS_p._5-65] National Park Service 1999, p. 5.

[NPS_pp._3-4-66] National Park Service 1999, pp. 3–4.

[Freudenheim_1999_p._247-67] Freudenheim, Ellen (1999). Brooklyn!, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Guide to New York's Most Happening Borough. St. Martin's Press. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-312-20446-4. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

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@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 [[Greek Americans|Greek-American]] couple Michael and Alice Halkias bought the hall in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Prospect Park Hall Owner Dies |website=Spectrum News NY1 &#124; New York City |date=May 7, 2020 |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/news/2020/05/07/grand-prospect-park-hall-owner-dies | access-date=May 8, 2020 | archive-date=May 17, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517055414/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/news/2020/05/07/grand-prospect-park-hall-owner-dies | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Michael Halkias was a former [[real estate agent]], [[Travel agency|travel agent]], and [[Employment agency|employment agent]] who helped Greek people immigrate to the United States. He also worked in radio, advertising, and publishing before purchasing the hall.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Randle |first=Aaron |date=2020-05-24 |title=Michael Halkias, Who Promised Wish Fulfillment at Banquet Hall, Dies at 82 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/obituaries/michael-halkias-dead-coronavirus.html |access-date=2021-09-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913143325/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/obituaries/michael-halkias-dead-coronavirus.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Under the Halkiases' ownership, Prospect Hall was renamed Grand Prospect Hall.<ref name="nyt20010101" /> The couple renovated the hall in a piecemeal fashion over the following 18 years, with a staff of 30 to 90 restorers. Michael Halkias chose to redesign the main ballroom in "happy colors" rather than the original paint scheme, with [[Carving|carvings]] of fruit in different colors based on what he shouted to the painters. ''Brownstoner'' wrote that "the Halkias' never met gilding and ostentation that they didn't like".<ref name=":3" /> Michael also attempted to clean the facade several times, but ultimately decided to paint it in 1998. He recovered the original [[Mural|murals]] after a chance encounter while waiting in line at a bank in [[Bay Ridge, Brooklyn]], when a stranger mentioned that he had had purchased them.<ref name="nyt19990110" />
-In 1983, [[Borough president|Borough President]] [[Howard Golden]] proclaimed March 10th to be an annual "Grand Prospect Hall Day" in Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-19 |title=The Grand Prospect Hall: Brooklyn's Jewel |url=https://hellenicnews.com/the-grand-prospect-hall-brooklyns-jewel/ |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Hellenic News of America |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927001240/https://hellenicnews.com/the-grand-prospect-hall-brooklyns-jewel/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Starting in 1986, the Halkias' gained a measure of local fame for producing and starring in [[Local advertising|cheaply shot commercials]] for the hall which aired regularly on local television.<ref name="NYDN 2011-01-13">{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Jennifer |last2=Fanelli |first2=James |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/grand-prospect-hall-penchant-cheesy-ads-pays-owners-raking-dough-article-1.154094 |title=Grand Prospect Hall's penchant for cheesy ads pays off for owners raking in the dough |work=[[New York Daily News]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |date=2011-01-13 |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304142156/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/grand-prospect-hall-penchant-cheesy-ads-pays-owners-raking-dough-article-1.154094}}</ref> The ads contained various shots of the interior spaces, showing events held there, set to orchestral music, with a sales pitch from the Halkiases typically including a phrase which became associated with them: "We make your dreams come true!"<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Ashley |date=2021-08-26 |title=The Dream May Be Over for the Grand Prospect Hall |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/nyregion/grand-prospect-hall-brooklyn-new-owner.html |access-date=2021-09-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905225612/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/nyregion/grand-prospect-hall-brooklyn-new-owner.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The tagline, according to ''[[The Brooklyn Paper|Brooklyn Paper]]'', is "instantly recognizable to any New Yorker who owned a television set."<ref name=":7" /> The commercials have been parodied on both ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'' and ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/02/17/snl-recap-don-cheadle-best-worst-sketches-watch-video/ |title=Don Cheadle Hosts SNL: Watch Video of the Best & Worst Sketches |last=Schwartz |first=Ryan |work=TVLine |date=February 17, 2019 |accessdate=2019-09-17 |quote=The cutaways to Cheadle (whose employee served as chef, photographer and DJ) were the best part of this commercial parody for the Grand Prospect Hall wannabe. |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220050850/https://tvline.com/2019/02/17/snl-recap-don-cheadle-best-worst-sketches-watch-video/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Don Cheadle/Gary Clark Jr. |series=[[Saturday Night Live]] |network=[[NBC]] |season=44 |number=4413 |date=2019-02-16}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> [[Jimmy Kimmel|Kimmel]] paired the Halkiases with [[Pete Alonso]] of the [[New York Mets]], spoofing the commercials. Kimmel was quoted in ''The New York Times'' saying "If you live in New York, and if you've ever owned a television, you've probably seen these commercials," joking that they "are wonderful, but they've been running the same ones for 125 years."<ref name=":6" />
+In 1983, [[Borough president|Borough President]] [[Howard Golden]] proclaimed March 10th to be an annual "Grand Prospect Hall Day" in Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-19 |title=The Grand Prospect Hall: Brooklyn's Jewel |url=https://hellenicnews.com/the-grand-prospect-hall-brooklyns-jewel/ |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Hellenic News of America |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927001240/https://hellenicnews.com/the-grand-prospect-hall-brooklyns-jewel/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Starting in 1986, the Halkiases gained a measure of local fame for producing and starring in [[Local advertising|cheaply shot commercials]] for the hall which aired regularly on local television.<ref name="NYDN 2011-01-13">{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Jennifer |last2=Fanelli |first2=James |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/grand-prospect-hall-penchant-cheesy-ads-pays-owners-raking-dough-article-1.154094 |title=Grand Prospect Hall's penchant for cheesy ads pays off for owners raking in the dough |work=[[New York Daily News]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |date=2011-01-13 |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304142156/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/grand-prospect-hall-penchant-cheesy-ads-pays-owners-raking-dough-article-1.154094}}</ref> The ads contained various shots of the interior spaces, showing events held there, set to orchestral music, with a sales pitch from the Halkiases typically including a phrase which became associated with them: "We make your dreams come true!"<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Ashley |date=2021-08-26 |title=The Dream May Be Over for the Grand Prospect Hall |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/nyregion/grand-prospect-hall-brooklyn-new-owner.html |access-date=2021-09-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905225612/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/nyregion/grand-prospect-hall-brooklyn-new-owner.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The tagline, according to ''[[The Brooklyn Paper|Brooklyn Paper]]'', is "instantly recognizable to any New Yorker who owned a television set."<ref name=":7" /> The commercials have been parodied on both ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'' and ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/02/17/snl-recap-don-cheadle-best-worst-sketches-watch-video/ |title=Don Cheadle Hosts SNL: Watch Video of the Best & Worst Sketches |last=Schwartz |first=Ryan |work=TVLine |date=February 17, 2019 |accessdate=2019-09-17 |quote=The cutaways to Cheadle (whose employee served as chef, photographer and DJ) were the best part of this commercial parody for the Grand Prospect Hall wannabe. |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220050850/https://tvline.com/2019/02/17/snl-recap-don-cheadle-best-worst-sketches-watch-video/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Don Cheadle/Gary Clark Jr. |series=[[Saturday Night Live]] |network=[[NBC]] |season=44 |number=4413 |date=2019-02-16}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> [[Jimmy Kimmel|Kimmel]] paired the Halkiases with [[Pete Alonso]] of the [[New York Mets]], spoofing the commercials. Kimmel was quoted in ''The New York Times'' saying "If you live in New York, and if you've ever owned a television, you've probably seen these commercials," joking that they "are wonderful, but they've been running the same ones for 125 years."<ref name=":6" />
 In 1999, Grand Prospect Hall was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP). The listing describes the hall as "probably the largest and best-preserved example of its type, the Victorian assembly hall set within a great ethnic community facility, remaining in the country".<ref name="NPS p. 11">{{harvnb|ps=.|National Park Service|1999|p=11}}</ref> However, NRHP status does not restrict what non-federal owners can do with a property. At the time, the building was not granted official [[New York City landmark|city landmark status]] from the [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] (LPC), which would grant protections from redevelopment.<ref name=":5" /> In 2001, the Halkiases reopened the original bar on the first floor after restoring it.<ref name="nyt20010101" />