# @columbuslibrary on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DJOxsBCN3IZ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33997959-columbuslibrary-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7562cc7a83.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-05-04T12:00:47.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Columbus Library (@columbuslibrary) — https://gondola.cc/columbuslibrary

## Caption

“America’s longest continuously running rock club”: The Newport has seen it all ➡️

When the State Theater opened its doors in 1922, it was one of Columbus’ grandest new buildings. It was built with entirely local materials and labor – its designers, the Dusenbery brothers, believed in “patronizing their home industries whenever possible”.

The fireproof building's floor was laid with “fancy tile”, the foyer decorated with black and white marble, and “prismatic” crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling (the first of their kind seen in Columbus).

When it opened, its 1800 capacity was the second largest in the city. 

In 1970, the theater had a new name: the Agora Ballroom. Immediately, its famous alumni became too many to count: Chuck Berry, Queen, Rush, The Grateful Dead, The Ramones, Emmylou Harris, Genesis, Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen were among the first to take the stage.

In 1984, it changed once more, becoming the Newport Music Hall. In its first nights with a new name, the venue welcomed back-to-back sold-out performances by Neil Young. According to a Dispatch interview with Scott Stienecker of promowestlive: “Neil wanted to go windsurfing, so we took him out to Alum Creek".

Since then, PromoWest and the Newport name remain, though the club has been sold several times. Its notable alumni include Metallica, U2, Iggy Pop, Snoop Dogg, Weird Al, Pearl Jam, X, Tori Amos, R.E.M., Melissa Etheridge, The Monkees, and thousands more.

It is known today as “America’s longest continually running rock club”.

#newportmusichall #rockhistory #ohiohistory

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## Tags

ohiohistory, newportmusichall, rockhistory

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