#1
This is my early holiday present to everyone who love beautiful & historic theaters in United States...Hopefully next year we can all see the FABULOUS FOX Theater in Atlanta, CHICAGO THEATER in Chicago, THE OPERA HOUSE in Boston and a suprise theater in NYC and thanks for giving me a chance this year to share my passion and love for theater's architecture & history to all of you....
and special thanks for the staff of The Wang Center for The Performing Arts for giving me permission to take pictures of this grand theater, so I can all share our precious theater to all of you at home ...
Jay
The Wang Center for the Performing Arts (Citi-Arts)
270 Tremont St.
Boston, MA.
Design : French Renaisssance
Seats : 3,600
The Wang Theatre was originally known as the Metropolitan Theatre when it opened in 1925. It was developed by Max Shoolman and designed by architect Clarence Blackall, with the assistance of Detroit theatre architect C. Howard Crane (who with 250 theatre designs was arguably America's most prolific movie palace architect). It seats 3,600 people. In 1962 it became the home of the Boston Ballet and was renamed The Music Hall. During the 60s and 70s, audiences could see the Stuttgart Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet and Kirov Ballet as well as popular movies and performing artists. With time though, they could no longer attract the large touring companies because of the size of their stage as well as their outdated production facilities. Converted to a not for profit center in 1980 and renamed the Metropolitan Center, they were able to attract theatrical performances again. In 1983, Dr. An Wang made a very large donation and the Wang Center was "born." From 1989 - 1992, $9.8 million was raised to restore the Theatre to "its glory days of the 1920s". Boston based architecture firm Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc restored the theatre.
The lobby was used in the movie The Witches of Eastwick as part of the house in which Jack Nicholson's character lived. (from Wikipedia)
EXTERIOR
THE BOX OFFICE
THE GRAND LOBBY
Staircase with a portrait of Dr. An Wang
Second Floor Lobby's Chandelier
View of the Grand Lobby from the Second Floor
View of the Grand Lobby from the Third Floor
THE BALCONY & THE MEZZANINE
Statue right
Statue left
Stage Proscenium (the Arch) & Stage View (from Balcony)
left side
right side
The ORCHESTRA
View from the Orchestra Pit
The orchestra pit
***************
Photos courtesy of the Boston Historical Scociety
Metropolitan Theater (Wang) 1959
Metropolitan Theater (Wang) 1947
Metrpolitan Theater (Wang) 1930
1930's postcard of the Metropolitan Theater
My Photo Thread Series on Historic & Beautiful Theaters Across America
1. The Pantages Theater (Los Angeles)
2. The Colonial Theater (Boston)
https://Boston.BroadwayWorld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=947662&dt=3
Posted: 12/1/07 at 12:27pm
This is my early holiday present to everyone who love beautiful & historic theaters in United States...Hopefully next year we can all see the FABULOUS FOX Theater in Atlanta, CHICAGO THEATER in Chicago, THE OPERA HOUSE in Boston and a suprise theater in NYC and thanks for giving me a chance this year to share my passion and love for theater's architecture & history to all of you....
and special thanks for the staff of The Wang Center for The Performing Arts for giving me permission to take pictures of this grand theater, so I can all share our precious theater to all of you at home ...
Jay
The Wang Center for the Performing Arts (Citi-Arts)
270 Tremont St.
Boston, MA.
Design : French Renaisssance
Seats : 3,600
The Wang Theatre was originally known as the Metropolitan Theatre when it opened in 1925. It was developed by Max Shoolman and designed by architect Clarence Blackall, with the assistance of Detroit theatre architect C. Howard Crane (who with 250 theatre designs was arguably America's most prolific movie palace architect). It seats 3,600 people. In 1962 it became the home of the Boston Ballet and was renamed The Music Hall. During the 60s and 70s, audiences could see the Stuttgart Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet and Kirov Ballet as well as popular movies and performing artists. With time though, they could no longer attract the large touring companies because of the size of their stage as well as their outdated production facilities. Converted to a not for profit center in 1980 and renamed the Metropolitan Center, they were able to attract theatrical performances again. In 1983, Dr. An Wang made a very large donation and the Wang Center was "born." From 1989 - 1992, $9.8 million was raised to restore the Theatre to "its glory days of the 1920s". Boston based architecture firm Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc restored the theatre.
The lobby was used in the movie The Witches of Eastwick as part of the house in which Jack Nicholson's character lived. (from Wikipedia)
EXTERIOR
THE BOX OFFICE
THE GRAND LOBBY
Staircase with a portrait of Dr. An Wang
Second Floor Lobby's Chandelier
View of the Grand Lobby from the Second Floor
View of the Grand Lobby from the Third Floor
THE BALCONY & THE MEZZANINE
Statue right
Statue left
Stage Proscenium (the Arch) & Stage View (from Balcony)
left side
right side
The ORCHESTRA
View from the Orchestra Pit
The orchestra pit
***************
Photos courtesy of the Boston Historical Scociety
Metropolitan Theater (Wang) 1959
Metropolitan Theater (Wang) 1947
Metrpolitan Theater (Wang) 1930
1930's postcard of the Metropolitan Theater
My Photo Thread Series on Historic & Beautiful Theaters Across America
1. The Pantages Theater (Los Angeles)
2. The Colonial Theater (Boston)
https://Boston.BroadwayWorld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=947662&dt=3
Updated On: 12/1/07 at 12:27 PM
