Continued Evolution of Forest Hills Stadium

By Michael Perlman

The eagle-adorned Forest Hills Stadium, Photo by Michael Perlman

Forest Hills Stadium, which became America’s first tennis stadium in 1923, and operated as a restored concert and pro tennis venue since its reopening in 2013, may soon offer year-round opportunities. Madison House Presents, which is about to coordinate another concert season starring a number of legendary artists, has potential plans to introduce diverse attractions including a novelty “Grand Slam Automat” feature, a spinoff of the nostalgic Horn & Hardart Automat branches, which served an average of 800,000 patrons daily at 180 self-service cafeterias throughout New York and Philadelphia, shaping 20th century American dining and culture. 

Grand Slam Automat preliminary rendering, Courtesy of Madison House Presents & Creative Director Bill Sullivan - Note: Current text is only for theme

Winter Wonderland ice skating daytime rendering, Courtesy of Madison House Presents & Creative Director Bill Sullivan

Also part of the vision is to offer ice skating on its hallowed courts, in addition to a Christmas tree with holiday vendors as part of a "winter wonderland” carnival. “We have been dreaming about this general idea for years, and now there are a number of options that we are working on,” said Concert Manager Mike Luba of Madison House Presents, who works closely with Jason Brandt, the stadium’s general manager. “When the concepts are more fully developed, we will present the ideas to the board of the West Side Tennis Club (WSTC), and they will let us know if we have the approval to move forward,” said Luba. 

Winter Wonderland ice skating rendering, Courtesy of Madison House Presents & Creative Director Bill Sullivan  

Since a proposal has yet to be submitted, there are hopes that the vision will materialize in time for next winter. He continued, “As the WSTC has been a great partner on the stadium restoration/renovation, I am hopeful that they will continue to be supportive of ideas which are not only good for the WSTC, but for the neighborhood and Queens.”

Madison House Presents continues to keep the community and visitors on its radar, and expressed much sentiment for a historic stadium. “The stadium and its grounds are magic, pure and simple, and we are always dreaming of events that will hopefully boost the quality of life for those who get to experience them,” said Luba. 

Winter Wonderland carnival rendering, Courtesy of Madison House Presents & Creative Director Bill Sullivan

Forest Hills was once home to smaller scale Horn & Hardart Retail Shops near the stadium at 71-63 Austin Street and 116-63 Queens Boulevard, and the firm’s vice president, Frank Hardart, Jr, resided at 188 Ascan Avenue and 64 Dartmouth Street in Forest Hills Gardens. Marianne Hardart, the great-granddaughter of H&H Automat co-founder Frank Hardart, keeps the Automat’s history alive and emphasized much pride. “People always ask me about bringing back the Automat, as it held a special place in their heart and our country’s history, and it sounds like Forest Hills Stadium’s installation of Automat windows would be a beautiful tribute.” 

Horn & Hardart Retail Shop, 71-63 Austin St, Forest Hills, Courtesy of John W. Romas Collection

Courtesy of Michael Perlman & Rego-Forest Preservation Council

Horn & Hardart Automat at 1557 Broadway, 1st branch in NYC which opened in 1912 - Now Grand Slam, Courtesy of Michael Perlman & Rego-Forest Preservation Council

Marianne Hardart also explained how the H&H Automat was a forerunner from its architecture to affordability of delicious fresh food. “Those little windows sparked the imagination of diners of all ages and introduced a new way of generations of Americans by getting a handful of nickels from a thrower and then going to the windows to pick your food. It was an adventure especially for children, and was also a place that tore down barriers based on class, gender, or race, as it welcomed everyone.” 

Forest Hills Stadium Creative Director Bill Sullivan poses with his book, "Forest Hills" in front of the WSTC Clubhouse, Photo by Michael Perlman, August 2018

Bill Sullivan is an artist who serves as Forest Hills Stadium Creative Director. He has designed logos, media material, and most recognizably, colorful portrait heads and plaques celebrating the stadium’s role in tennis and music that can be found along the stadium arcade’s colonnade. In commemoration of the WSTC’s 125th anniversary in 2017, he produced banners which bear homage to historic achievements. He even authored the book “Forest Hills,” which features a large collection of his re-imagined photos that capture the evolution of tennis viewed through its players and its impact on architecture, art, and fashion. 

Architect Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison, the famed public buildings architect who designed Forest Hills Stadium, Courtesy of Murchison's descendants

Sullivan praised Stadium architect and past WSTC member Kenneth Murchison as a Renaissance man. “Murchison had a theatrical vision with a pageantry to celebrate the tennis match, and created a planned experience. Every year it changed into a slightly new form, and my book is about the element of change within the stadium’s horseshoe.”

One of the well-known Art Deco locations on 6th Ave & W 57th St in the 1930s - Now demolished, Postcard courtesy of Michael Perlman & Rego-Forest Preservation Council

Sullivan patronized one of the last Automats on West 57th Street. Looking forward, he said, “We are trying to integrate the quality and streamlined aesthetics of a very American experience, and offering a new way to serve around 10,000 people.” Concertgoers could “pick, swipe, and take” hot and cold sandwiches from the Grand Slam Automat’s compartments. The Tilden, named after tennis player Bill Tilden, could offer a Philly cheesesteak, and The Connolly, as in tennis player “Little Mo” Maureen Connolly, could serve grilled chicken. “It would have clocks with four time zones for the Grand Slam; Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open,” said Sullivan.
The vision does not end there. “A new scoreboard would celebrate tennis and music’s past,” said Sullivan. Some upcoming concerts include Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters on June 13, Roger Daltrey performs The Who’s “Tommy” with The New York Pops on June 17, Boy George & Culture Club on July 28, and David Byrne on September 15. The expansive lineup continues with the first-ever food festival, “The Infatuation’s EEEEEATSCON” on October 6, and New York radio station WFUV creating an on-site experience within a dedicated space, the “FUV Clubhouse,” to broadcast select shows live on air. The complete lineup which includes comedy is at www.foresthillsstadium.com At the public’s request, plans continue with new gender-inclusive permanent restrooms on its main concourse, which will minimize wait time for a more enjoyable concert experience.

Sullivan called Jason Brandt a chess master of today’s space, and explained, “Jason often talks about ‘creating discoverable experiences,’ and we always want people to think there’s something new and interesting around the corner in Forest Hills. We are the caretakers of this cathedral of American tennis and music, which is unlike any place in the world, but there was a lost past at Forest Hills Stadium. Now people are rediscovering how the stadium and its grounds were built.”

Dadras Architects, a firm led by partners Robert Dadras and Victor Dadras, who founded the Downtown Revitalization Group, which specializes in historic preservation, urban design, and adaptive reuse, is well-acquainted with Forest Hills, and also expressed much enthusiasm for the stadium’s future. “The idea of bringing back an Automat is innovative, and I also suggest events for the diverse audiences that live in Forest Hills would be very much appreciated,” said Robert Dadras. He referenced the stadium and Forest Hills as superb examples of urban planning and architecture accomplished correctly. “Anything that can help preserve and restore Kenneth Murchison’s iconic structure would be a positive thing, since it stands as a rare example in today’s world of what can be achieved if folks collaborate to produce a quality place to live, work, and play.” 

Forest Hills Tennis Stadium as America's Tennis Stadium in Ad, The Technology Review November 1922, Courtesy of  Michael Perlman

A similar version appears in Michael Perlman's Forest Hills Times column: www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/27564281/article-The-Continued-Evolution-of-Forest-Hills-Stadium

Zac Brown Band: Welcoming Summer 2014 at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium

Stadium Architect Kenneth Murchison's great-granddaughter Lynne de Wardener-Burris and great great-granddaughter Skye Burris

Zac Brown Band, Courtesy of Zac Brown Band website

Act Two at the iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium! On June 21, the summer will begin with high notes as the three-time Grammy winner and Multi-Platinum Zac Brown Band will take the stadium stage, and open the summer 2014 concert series. Other great names headlining today’s entertainment will soon be announced.

On June 21, doors will open at 5 PM for a 6 PM show, and as the sun sets somewhat later that evening, the audience will be left with an impression for concerts to come. Tickets will be available on March 22 at 10 AM through Ticketfly.com. America’s first concrete tennis stadium, dating to 1923, has undergone restoration work in addition to some renovations, which include ticketed seating, improved ADA seating, widened aisles, handrails, and easier access to food, beverages, and other accommodations. The public can now bookmark a new website, www.foresthillsstadium.com. 

In August 2013, U.K. folk rock band Mumford & Sons, along with opening bands Bear’s Den and The Vaccines marked a new chapter of Forest Hills history by entertaining 17,000 fans in a stadium that was nearly sold for a condo just 3 summers earlier.

Mumford & Sons plays Forest Hills! Courtesy of Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council

Mumford & Sons became the first major musical act at the stadium since the 1980s, which not only attracted new fans, but struck a chord for patrons who recalled the annual Forest Hills Music Festivals of the 1960s through the early 1980s. Forty-nine years to the day, The Beatles delivered a legendary performance. Memorable summers also featured music greats including Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, and the Rolling Stones. 

Frank Sinatra about to go on stage with Count Basie at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium's Summer 1965 Music Festival, Photo courtesy of Robert Rauschenbach

Some fans also recalled pivotal moments in tennis history, such as those witnessed during the U.S. Open prior to 1978, or when Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson broke racial color barriers. Others reminisced the stadium’s cinematic role in “Strangers On A Train,” where Alfred Hitchcock filmed Davis Cup matches between Australia and the United States. 

"America's Tennis Stadium" ad, published in MIT's "The Technology Review" in 1922, Courtesy of Rego-Forest Preservation Council

A foremost public building architect, Kenneth Murchison, made his mark on Forest Hills by designing the stadium. “A resurgence of a concert scene at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium is a wonderful addition to the cultural fabric of the city,” stated Murchison’s great-granddaughter Lynne de Wardener-Burris, who first visited with her family last summer. She explained, “Many current music and sports venues are so removed from the people they are meant to attract, that it was refreshing to see this gem in midst of a thriving residential community. It felt like a people's place built on a human scale, and I know my great-grandfather would love that his work is being preserved and utilized.”

Architect Kenneth Murchison, Courtesy of Pati de Wardener

Past and present community residents are equally enthusiastic about the stadium’s second season. “We are very excited to see the Zac Brown Band,” said Sandra Mandell, who owns Oliloli Studio on Metropolitan Avenue. “It is such a treat to attend a concert right in our neighborhood. I am looking forward to my first experience at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, a venue rich with history, and I hope this new era brings more art and culture to Forest Hills.”

Jodi Kass-Tracten now resides in Redding, Connecticut, but will never forget Forest Hills. “In the mid-1960s, the night that Sammy Davis Jr. performed was magical. The air was crisp and the place was packed. He sang for hours, and then of course no one wanted him to leave, so he sang some more.” She continued, “It’s still such an elegant place, and I'm thrilled that the Stadium has reopened for concerts.”

“My mother knew my sister and I were Beatles fans, so she bought us tickets in the summer of 1964,” said Las Vegas resident Judith Becker. She explained, “I can vividly remember everyone’s excitement, as they looked up to see their helicopter arriving and landing on the grass courts. I spent my teenage years seeing concerts with friends, and I remember sneaking in through a hole in the fence.” In closing remarks, she added, “I haven't been back to Forest Hills for many years, but I would sure go back to see a concert at the Forest Hills Stadium, a beautiful and intimate venue.”

The audience at Mumford & Sons, August 28, 2013 photo courtesy of Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council

America's first concrete tennis stadium, Courtesy of Michael Perlman, Rego-Forest Preservation Council

 A similar edition of this feature appeared in Michael Perlman's Forest Hills Times column: http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/24773509/article-Zac-Brown-to-kick-off-summer-in-Forest-Hills

Kenneth Murchison, The Mastermind Behind The Forest Hills Tennis Stadium

Rego-Forest Preservation Council, a longtime advocate of the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and supporter of the late great architect, Kenneth Murchison, takes pride in sharing....

Kenneth Murchison, A Prominent Architect Who Left His Mark In Forest Hills

by Michael Perlman, Columnist of the Forest Hills Times/Queens Ledger

http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/22026912/article-Kenneth-Murchison--a-prominent-architect-who-left-his-mark-in-Forest-Hills

Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison, a foremost public building architect & artist

An aerial photo of Forest Hills Tennis Stadium from 1929

Last week, this column noted that the West Side Tennis Club will host the first annual NY Open from July 4-7 as part of a series of summer events to commemorate the club’s 100-year Forest Hills operation.

President Roland Meier hoped the anniversary events would lead to a gradual restoration and revitalization of the iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, which once hosted the U.S. Open, Davis Cup, Wightman Cup, and singles championships, in addition to the annual Forest Hills Music Festival.

“I believe we can hold quality tennis events, ice hockey in the winter, and a few classical and modern music concerts on a small scale which our club can associate with,” he stated.

In response to the stadium’s influential history and 90th anniversary this August, one may find it difficult to grasp its lack of use for nearly 15 years. Despite minimal maintenance and recent extreme weather, its condition is not as poor as some people claimed when condos were proposed for the site in 2010 and then rejected.

Recent engineering assessments by the club address likely needs such as sealing cracks and upgrading sewer lines, and the president speculated a cost of less than $2.5 million in repairs.

Now is the time to rediscover and honor the prominent architect behind America’s first concrete tennis stadium. His name is Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison (1872-1938), and the Forest Hills tennis stadium is a testament to his cultured life and legends that were born.

In November 1917, the NY Times referenced Murchison as part of the West Side Tennis Club’s nominating committee, which presumes why he was commissioned to design the stadium. Within 10 years of the West Side Tennis Club’s success in Forest Hills, the temporary grandstands surrounding the perimeter were inadequate.

The club and the United States Lawn Tennis Association partnered to finance the 14,000-seat stadium, which cost $150,000. Construction began in April 1923 and was completed that August in time for the Davis Cup, where an American victory took center court.

To help finance the expense, the NY Times reported on May 22, 1923, that 900 out of 1,500 choicest seats have already been taken under a 10-year subscription plan for $100, where the subscriber would have their name affixed to a metal plate, guaranteeing their seat for major events.

The Massachussetts Institute of Technology published “The Technology Review” (November 1922) which read, “America’s Tennis Stadium, now under construction at Forest Hills, Long Island is to be ready for the Women’s Nationals on August 13th and for the Davis Cup Challenge Round on August 31st. The West Side Tennis Club sought a general contractor whose record and facilities guarantee trustworthy workmanship and speed of construction without sacrifice of the economy. The Foundation Company was chosen to do the job.”

The firm specialized in superstructures and substructures, and built in Paris, Rio De Janeiro, London, Montreal, and Chicago. An authentic stadium plaque bears names of the architect, builders, engineer, Stadium Committee, and Board of Governors.

The horseshoe-shaped stadium’s concrete façade features a distinctive colonnade of archways, which appear golden at sunset, and allow spectators to walk underneath. The upper portion of the façade is embellished with cornice detail conveying understated charm, glazed terra-cotta shields which bear the West Side Tennis Club logo, and Moderne eagles which brace vertical flagpoles. Authentic concrete and wood grandstands face the tennis courts and the Tudor clubhouse designed by Grosvenor Atterbury in 1913.

Today, Kenneth Murchison’s descendants live in Rhode Island, New York, California, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and London. Lynne De Wardener-Burris, Kenneth Murchison’s great-granddaughter who lives on Long Island, expressed interest in volunteering to preserve the stadium, as well as other descendants.

Murchison’s grandson is Hays Browning of Washington, D.C., who visited the stadium at age 11. Based upon family stories, he described his grandfather as a good tennis player. In a detailed interview, he spoke of his grandfather’s accomplishments. He stated, “We’ve always been proud of his career, and he left buildings behind as evidence of his work.”

Murchison studied at Columbia University and Paris’ Ecole des Beaux Arts. That was where he befriended John Russell Pope, who designed Washington, DC’s Jefferson Memorial, National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives. Murchison worked with Realtor Douglas Elliman to design New York City’s first cooperative apartments at 39 East 79th Street for friends including Mrs. James Roosevelt and Emily Post.

His other New York residential projects are his family’s residence at 49 East 63rd Street, where Maxfield Parrish once painted, and his residence at the Beaux Arts Apartments at 307 & 310 East 44th Street, which is regarded as a major Art Deco work. His patriotic contribution can be found at Staten Island’s U.S. Marine Hospital.

“Large projects did not deter him,” said Browning. Some of his great public works are Baltimore's Pennsylvania Station, Jacksonville’s New Union Station, Buffalo’s Lehigh Valley and Lackawanna terminals in Buffalo, Havana’s Terminal Station, Hoboken’s Delaware-Lackawanna Station, and Jamaica’s Long Island Railroad Station.

On a more personal scale, he founded and designed the Dunes Club in Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, where his family summered, and he also designed the once affluent Sands Point Bath and Tennis Club of Long Island. North Carolina’s famed Orton Plantation was the Murchison family’s winter retreat, and examples of his work were additions to the Manor House and the Luola’s Chapel designed in his sister’s memory. It remained in their family until recently. Also in North Carolina, his name is memorialized in Wilmington’s Neo-Classical Revival Murchison National Bank Building.

Besides architecture, Murchison furthered his artistic talents and was an individual of high society.

“He founded the Beaux Arts Balls at Hotel Astor, which benefitted architects during The Great Depression,” said Browning. “He was a talented musician of 14 instruments, was excellent on the piano, and he conducted New York’s Mendelssohn Glee Club.”

In Bryant Park, he stood in the footsteps of George Washington and dressed in his attire to participate in a pageant commemorating the 143rd anniversary of Washington’s inauguration.

Pati de Wardener of Exeter, Rhode Island is the wife of Murchison’s grandson, Max de Wardener. She echoed Browning’s pride, and emphasized how Murchison’s legacy is evident in her family.

“His grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherited his work ethic, sense of community, humor, and style,” she said. “Some are business owners, photographers, electrical engineers, and teachers. Everyone inherited his love of music.”

His 1916 Broadway musical comedy, “Come To Bohemia,” was one example of his expertise as a composer.

After examining stadium photos, de Wardener explained, “Even with its age and scars, it exudes a grace that is timeless. The stands, although wood and not limestone, transports one back to the beautiful amphitheaters of ancient Rome and Greece. I see an ice skating rink in the winter, rollerblading, a jogging track, a dog park, a space for arts & crafts festivals, and an inviting sidewalk cafe nestled under the shade of arches where neighbors would gather.”

Robert Rauschenbach, a 50-year Forest Hills resident who grew up around the stadium, feels enriched. He enjoyed acts including Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Olivia Newton John, and Bette Midler, as well as the US Open and the Robert F. Kennedy Tournament featuring politicians playing celebrities.

“That stadium needs to be embraced as a shrine,” he said. “Without Forest Hills, there would be no US Open or Arthur Ashe Stadium.” He continued, “Forest Hills is a true icon in the classic sense of what a tennis stadium should be. It was built to last, and with some TLC, it will last hundreds of years.”