#1
Posted: 11/1/07 at 10:21am
To all you theater lovers.....
The Colonial Theater
106 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts
(1900- )
The oldest Boston theater to survive intact and one of C.H. Blackall's finest creations, the the Colonial Theatre opened on December 20, 1900. Apart from the Tremont Theatre, it was the first playhouse to be erected in the Boston theater district that originated around the turn of the century around the Southern end of Tremont Street. Outwardly relatively modest in appearance, the Colonial's interior is in the Rococo style, featuring lavishly carved detail and paintings in the style of Francois Boucher. An extensive sequence of murals by Blackall and H.B. Pennell are unique within Boston. The Colonial opened with the production of Ben Hur, which featured William Farnum and W.S. Hart in the principal roles. Both actors later became silent film stars. This was also where Flo Ziegfeld launched his follies; playbill examples of which can be found in the library's collection. The Colonial is also notable for its association with Irving Berlin, Sigmund Romberg, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.
The Athenæum owns an intact copy of the Colonial's opening night program of Ben Hur. In fact, several of the theater's earliest programs can be found here. Playbills follow the basic quarto booklet format. Intact programs dating from 1912 and on feature colorful cover illustrations with characters in 18th century costume, and additional advertisements; perhaps an indication of the Colonial's growing prosperity.
George Bernard Shaw's acclaimed play Pygmalion was first produced in Vienna in 1913 with the part of Eliza Doolittle expressly written for the British actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell (nee Beatrice Stella Tanner, 1865-1940). Mrs. Campbell performed the part at the Colonial in 1915 (See Jenks, Box 7, folder #42). Enamored of the actress, Shaw maintained a correspondence with her, which was published after his death. American actor, Jerome Kilty created a dramatic dialog of extracts from the correspondence entitled Dear Liar, which was successfully performed in the United States and London between 1959 and 1960. (from bostonathenaeum.org)
****************************************
Exterior of the Colonial Theater
Back of the Colonial Theater
Does these pictures remind you of "CURTAINS" the musical?
Lobby
Stairs to the Mezzanine & Balcony
Inside the Colonial Theater
(Special thanks to the Colonial Theater for giving me permission to take pictures inside, as long as I dont point the camera on the stage
)
Stage Proscenium ( Curtains- the musical, anyone?)
They recreated this proscenium at the Al Hirchfield Theater for Curtains
View from the Stage
The Box Office & Entrance
Goodbye - Colonial Theater
I always wanted to do something like this.. take pictures of beautiful historic theaters, not only in NYC but other major cities . As some of you may have known .. I live in Boston and its my pride to share to you ..one of our nation's legacy..
THE COLONIAL THEATER (known as the famous out of town try out theater for
Porgy & Bess, Oklahoma, High Fidelity, La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes, Follies, Annie Get Your Gun, Grand Hotel and so many more) Recently featured as the background for the Musical, "Curtains" at the Al Hirsfield Theater. Colonial Theater is a very special theater to me, sometimes I will go to Colonial just to stare at its magnificent & beautiful architecture .... Pls pardon that some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy bec. I only had 15 minutes (during the intermission of Sweeney Todd) to take these pictures and these pictures probbably dont do justice to the splendor & magnificence of the Colonial Theater. Enjoy !
and when in Boston .. pls do visit the Colonial Theater !
J*
For more info on THE COLONIAL THEATER:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Theatre
The Colonial Theater
106 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts
(1900- )
The oldest Boston theater to survive intact and one of C.H. Blackall's finest creations, the the Colonial Theatre opened on December 20, 1900. Apart from the Tremont Theatre, it was the first playhouse to be erected in the Boston theater district that originated around the turn of the century around the Southern end of Tremont Street. Outwardly relatively modest in appearance, the Colonial's interior is in the Rococo style, featuring lavishly carved detail and paintings in the style of Francois Boucher. An extensive sequence of murals by Blackall and H.B. Pennell are unique within Boston. The Colonial opened with the production of Ben Hur, which featured William Farnum and W.S. Hart in the principal roles. Both actors later became silent film stars. This was also where Flo Ziegfeld launched his follies; playbill examples of which can be found in the library's collection. The Colonial is also notable for its association with Irving Berlin, Sigmund Romberg, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.
The Athenæum owns an intact copy of the Colonial's opening night program of Ben Hur. In fact, several of the theater's earliest programs can be found here. Playbills follow the basic quarto booklet format. Intact programs dating from 1912 and on feature colorful cover illustrations with characters in 18th century costume, and additional advertisements; perhaps an indication of the Colonial's growing prosperity.
George Bernard Shaw's acclaimed play Pygmalion was first produced in Vienna in 1913 with the part of Eliza Doolittle expressly written for the British actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell (nee Beatrice Stella Tanner, 1865-1940). Mrs. Campbell performed the part at the Colonial in 1915 (See Jenks, Box 7, folder #42). Enamored of the actress, Shaw maintained a correspondence with her, which was published after his death. American actor, Jerome Kilty created a dramatic dialog of extracts from the correspondence entitled Dear Liar, which was successfully performed in the United States and London between 1959 and 1960. (from bostonathenaeum.org)
****************************************
Exterior of the Colonial Theater
Back of the Colonial Theater
Does these pictures remind you of "CURTAINS" the musical?
Lobby
Stairs to the Mezzanine & Balcony
Inside the Colonial Theater
(Special thanks to the Colonial Theater for giving me permission to take pictures inside, as long as I dont point the camera on the stage
) Stage Proscenium ( Curtains- the musical, anyone?)
They recreated this proscenium at the Al Hirchfield Theater for Curtains
View from the Stage
The Box Office & Entrance
Goodbye - Colonial Theater
I always wanted to do something like this.. take pictures of beautiful historic theaters, not only in NYC but other major cities . As some of you may have known .. I live in Boston and its my pride to share to you ..one of our nation's legacy..
THE COLONIAL THEATER (known as the famous out of town try out theater for
Porgy & Bess, Oklahoma, High Fidelity, La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes, Follies, Annie Get Your Gun, Grand Hotel and so many more) Recently featured as the background for the Musical, "Curtains" at the Al Hirsfield Theater. Colonial Theater is a very special theater to me, sometimes I will go to Colonial just to stare at its magnificent & beautiful architecture .... Pls pardon that some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy bec. I only had 15 minutes (during the intermission of Sweeney Todd) to take these pictures and these pictures probbably dont do justice to the splendor & magnificence of the Colonial Theater. Enjoy !
and when in Boston .. pls do visit the Colonial Theater !
J*
For more info on THE COLONIAL THEATER:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Theatre
Updated On: 11/2/07 at 10:21 AM
I have seen it in Eugene O' Neil Theater plus I will be going back this Sunday. 
