Music Hall
28 Chestnut Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
28 Chestnut Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing all 15 comments
I just noticed there were few photos of the Music Hall so I added some that I took in 2011. Marvelous story of being saved from the wrecking ball, and how the theatre’s reopening revitalized the area.
Lost Memory check out Warrens post of July 21,2008 for inside photo.
Too bad you didn’t have a camera with you. We could use some interior photos. :)
Since I was there last month, I recognize the Music Hall. It’s a beautiful theatre!
This is a 2009 photo.
Last night, as part of their Summerfilm program, the Music Hall showed West Side Story. I’d never been to the Music Hall before, but it’s a fabulous-looking theatre, with a big screen that' covered by a dark red velvet curtain, plus an old-fashioned-looking concession stand.
I’ll be attending a show at the Music Hall in a couple of weeks, for the first time! I’m excited!
In 1945, the Music Hall was sold at public auction and re-opened as a cinema called the Civic, according to the NYT article. That name is not mentioned in the introduction, even though it remained for many years.
A photograph and article in today’s issue of The New York Times:
View link
PaulNoble: Interesting that you would post this as I viewed The View today and heard Barbara speak of being at this theatre over the weekend and that it had to be evacuated though she didn’t go into any detail, on air. Thanks for giving us the balcony scoop. BTW, has anyone read her book?
Friday evening, May 23, 2008, a support column in the basement gave way during a sold-out appearance by Barbara Walters, promoting her book “Audition.” 900 people were evacuated after the balcony dropped 4 to 5 inches. The building has undergoing renovations.
Quite lovely. I saw it in 2004 also. This is the oldest theater I have ever seen in person; and I have seen a lot of old theaters, living close to NYC.
The architect was William Ashe and it opened on January 29, 1878. It was also known as the Portsmouth Theatre and the Civic Theatre. The Arcadia Press book mentioned by Gerald DeLuca has a great deal of info and lots of photos.
There is a book out dedicated to this theatre: The Music Hall: Portsmouth, by authors Zhana Morris, Trevor F. Bartlett & Friends of the Music Hall. It is published by Arcadia and is part of the “Images of America” series.
I got to see this grand old theatre in October 2004. Unfortunately, my timing wasn’t right for the Portsmouth Film Festival, but I did take in a Jazz and Blues concert featuring Dr. John. This theatre pre-dates the ornate movie palaces built in the 20’s and 30’s but it’s still worth a visit. The acoustics are superb and other than a few seats behind the balcony support poles, there’s not a bad seat in the house.