National Theatre (Boston, 1911)

Not to be confused with National Theatre, Boston (1836).

The National Theatre (1911-1978) of Boston, Massachusetts, was a 3,500-seat multipurpose auditorium on Tremont Street in the South End.[1] It functioned as a cinema, lecture hall, and stage. Performers included Jehovah's Witness founder Joseph F. Rutherford[2] and "big-name entertainers like Duke Ellington and Ray Bolger."[3] Movie screenings included The Battle of Gettysburg in 1913.[4] The English High School held graduation exercises in the National.[5] Around 1919 it was known as the "Waldorf Theater."[6] In 1992, it was purchased by Philip Smith.[7]

The space operated "intermittently after World War II for plays and movies."[8] Among the audience members: clothing designer Joseph Abboud.[9] The National closed in 1978. The Boston Center for the Arts oversaw the property thereafter, when it was subject to numerous plans for redevelopment.[10][11][12][13] The building existed until 1997, when it was demolished.[14][15]

Images

  • National Theatre, Tremont St. (near Berkeley St.), Boston, 1911 (photo courtesy Boston Public Library)
    National Theatre, Tremont St. (near Berkeley St.), Boston, 1911 (photo courtesy Boston Public Library)
  • Advertisement for Tillie's Punctured Romance, with Charlie Chaplin, 1915
    Advertisement for Tillie's Punctured Romance, with Charlie Chaplin, 1915
  • Advertisement for "base ball machine" at the Hippodrome (i.e. National), 1915
    Advertisement for "base ball machine" at the Hippodrome (i.e. National), 1915
  • James Curley election campaign rally, 1917
    James Curley election campaign rally, 1917
  • Advertisement for Rutherford at the National, 1920
    Advertisement for Rutherford at the National, 1920

References

  1. ^ Boston Register and Business Directory. 1921. National Theatre, no.535 Tremont St.
  2. ^ Boston Globe, Dec 17, 1920
  3. ^ Maureen Dezell (June 16, 1995). "National: bringing the house down?". Boston Globe. p. 61.
  4. ^ Moving Picture World, July 5, 1913
  5. ^ Boston Daily Globe, June 28, 1918
  6. ^ Anthony Mitchell Sammarco (2006), Boston's South End, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 9780738539492
  7. ^ Los Angeles Times: "General Cinema More Wall St. Than Hollywood : Investments Pay Off Handsomely for Bottler and Theater-Chain Operator" by Kathryn Harris August 11, 1985
  8. ^ Maureen Dezell (October 28, 1994), "City to study theater revamp at BCA", Boston Globe, p. 50
  9. ^ Rhonda Stewart (November 25, 2004), "Abboud had early designs on his career", Boston Globe
  10. ^ Christine Temin (October 4, 1981), "BCA still building, still struggling", Boston Globe
  11. ^ "Striar aims to reopen National by '87", Boston Globe, p. 74, April 3, 1986
  12. ^ Jeff McLaughlin (September 26, 1986), "Arts Center to renovate historic theater", Boston Globe, p. 47
  13. ^ Boston Center for the Arts (1991), Preliminary report on site development opportunities, OL 24634625M
  14. ^ Boston Globe, August 8, 1996
  15. ^ Patti Hartigan (February 27, 1998), "Druker Co. will develop BCA site", Boston Globe
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