COMPANY BACKGROUND

CSS Security was started as Concert Service Specialists, in 1975 by Ira Maltz providing security at the Calderone Concert Hall on Franklin Avenue in Hempstead, NY. Through his knowledge of entertainment security and strong contacts both in the industry and the community, Maltz began providing services to some of the areas’ most iconic events and venues. Ira learned early on that by putting the right people in the right positions he could ensure the continuity of the events he ran and provide exceptional security and service to his clients. When the Calderone closed in 1980, Maltz went out on tour with Aerosmith and upon his return, he was approached to help open Jones Beach Amphitheater. From there, the business grew to include such venues at the Academy, Roseland Ballroom, Irving Plaza, Hammerstein Ballroom, Webster Hall, The Marquee, and Central Park Summerstage. In October 2012, CSS Security was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as Long Islands’ oldest, largest, and most prominent supplier of entertainment security.

Over the years, CSS Security has grown from a mom and pop business run out of a home office, to an office of administrative support staff, training staff, supervisors, venue managers, and security directors. In 2019, we moved our corporate headquarters to a larger office in Bellmore, NY to accommodate our growing support and executive staff.

Today, CSS Security manages over 500 New York State Licensed guards year round (up to 800 seasonally) and provides services to over 100 venues. Despite our impressive growth, we continue on with the same philosophy we had in the beginning, hiring the right people to do the right thing. Our management team has grown not only in years of experience, but in breath of knowledge. That knowledge is proudly passed on through our ranks to ensure the success of CSS for years to come.

President and Founder, Ira Maltz

Ira Maltz started in the security business in 1972 at the Academy of Music on 14th Street in Manhattan as a security guard.  In 1975 he founded CSS (originally Concert Service Specialist, Inc.) at the Calderone Concert Hall on Franklin Avenue in Hempstead as he says, “thanks to two men named Mark Puma and Phil Basile who gave me that chance.”

A short time later Maltz received calls from various venues.  Promoter Larry Vaughn hired CSS to handle backstage security at Nassau Coliseum.  CSS handled security for Aerosomith after they played the Calderone and did a small theater tour for Aerosmith across the East Coast and a club tour across Long Island at Speaks in Island Park and Hammerheads in Babylon.  The Calderone closed in 1980 and Maltz went out on tour with Aerosmith.

Maltz was next approached by Richard Flanzer, who produced the Sunset Concert Series at Belmont Racetrack.  In the summers of 1981 and 1982, to bring in security for rock concerts after the races.  When Maltz came off the road Ron Delsener asked him to open the Jones Beach Theater in 1983 and handle security there, where he remained for the next 22 years.

Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductee Denis McNamara requested his services for what was to be the first of many WLIR parties in the park at Firemen’s Field in Hempstead and throughout the years for many other WLIR events.

Maltz and CSS have handled security for the Rolling Stones, LIMHoF Inductee Billy Joel, the Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, and Paul McCartney – from rock and roll to hip hop, country and folk to Broadway openings.  CSS has also handled Long Island concert security for Brookhaven Amphitheater, SUNY Stony Brook, the Waldbaum’s Balloon Festival, the Woodstock Festival in Yaphank, Great South Bay Music Festival and shows at the Vanderbilt and C.W. Post College, and many others.

Ira Maltz has lived on Long Island since 1965 and is proud to have helped make the concert business on Long Island a success!