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
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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 "base ball machine" at the Hippodrome (i.e. National), 1915 -
James Curley election campaign rally, 1917 -
Advertisement for Rutherford at the National, 1920
References
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^ Boston Register and Business Directory. 1921.
National Theatre, no.535 Tremont St.
- ^ Boston Globe, Dec 17, 1920
- ^ Maureen Dezell (June 16, 1995). "National: bringing the house down?". Boston Globe. p. 61.
- ^ Moving Picture World, July 5, 1913
- ^ Boston Daily Globe, June 28, 1918
- ^ Anthony Mitchell Sammarco (2006), Boston's South End, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 9780738539492
- ^ 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
- ^ Maureen Dezell (October 28, 1994), "City to study theater revamp at BCA", Boston Globe, p. 50
- ^ Rhonda Stewart (November 25, 2004), "Abboud had early designs on his career", Boston Globe
- ^ Christine Temin (October 4, 1981), "BCA still building, still struggling", Boston Globe
- ^ "Striar aims to reopen National by '87", Boston Globe, p. 74, April 3, 1986
- ^ Jeff McLaughlin (September 26, 1986), "Arts Center to renovate historic theater", Boston Globe, p. 47
- ^ Boston Center for the Arts (1991), Preliminary report on site development opportunities, OL 24634625M
- ^ Boston Globe, August 8, 1996
- ^ Patti Hartigan (February 27, 1998), "Druker Co. will develop BCA site", Boston Globe
External links
- Bostonian Society:
- Photo of National Theatre at 535 Tremont Street, 1931
- Photo of 535 Tremont Street, ca. 1946
- South End, Boston
- Demolished buildings and structures in Boston
- 1911 establishments in Massachusetts
- 1978 disestablishments in Massachusetts
- Cultural history of Boston
- 20th century in Boston
- Former cinemas in the United States
- Former theatres in Boston
- Event venues established in 1911
- Buildings and structures demolished in 1997