The theatre at 105 Second Avenue that became the Fillmore East was originally built as a Yiddish theater in 1925–26, designed by Harrison Wiseman in the Medieval Revival style, at a time when that section of Second Avenue was known as the "Yiddish Theater District" and the "Jewish Rialto"[1] because of the numerous theatres that catered to a Yiddish-speaking audience.

The venue provided Graham with an East Coast counterpart to his existing Fillmore in San Francisco, California.

[3] Opening on March 8, 1968, the Fillmore East quickly became known as "The Church of Rock and Roll," with two-show, triple-bill concerts several nights a week.

British blues-rock trio Cream played the Fillmore East when it was called the "Village Theater" on September 20 & 23, 1967.

The evening’s shows were noteworthy not only for Berry’s knock-’em-dead sets, with Reality Sandwich, a NYC rock band, superbly laying down the beat, but also for the rare four-act bill.

Because of its excellent acoustics, the enthusiastic and attentive audiences and Graham's innovative way of handling the concert environment, the hall became a favorite spot for the recording of many live albums.

The final concert took place on June 27, 1971, with three billed acts, The Allman Brothers Band, The J. Geils Band, Albert King, and special surprise guests Edgar Winter's White Trash, Mountain, The Beach Boys, Country Joe McDonald in an invitation-only performance.

[38] The concert was simulcast live by New York City radio stations WPLJ and WNEW-FM, with between-set banter by many of New York City's then-trend-setting disc jockeys, including WPLJ's Dave Herman and Vin Scelsa and WNEW-FM's Scott Muni and Alison Steele.

After a short run the Rock Opera closed and on December 15, 1972, Jerry Fuchs presented the opening night of concerts with a performance featuring Bloodrock, Elephants Memory, and Trapeze.

The band KISS, in preparation for their first "official" show as a signed, professional act, rent the Fillmore East for rehearsals on December 24-30, 1973.

[39] On December 31, 1974, the Ike & Tina Turner Revue headlined a bill that included Quicksilver Messenger Service and Hidden Strength.

[44] However, in May 2010 Live Nation conceded that the new name had not caught on and due to "unrelenting demand" the name "Irving Plaza" was restored beginning on June 23, 2010.