Castle Square Theatre

421 Tremont Street,
Boston, MA 02118

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Additional Info

Architects: E.W. Maynard

Previous Names: Arlington Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Castle Square Theatre Boston 1895 - Proscenium Arch and Boxes

The Castle Square Theater was located in Boston’s South End, a short distance south of the Wang Theatre. Its imposing entrance was part of the facade of a new hotel. Its auditorium was adapted from an unfinished circular structure intended for the display of a cycloramic painting. The spacious foyers and auditorium were exceptionally elegant. The house served as home base for a stock company and an opera/operetta troupe.

In 1917 a projection booth was constructed at the rear of the orchestra floor. The intent was to provide a horizontal throw to the screen. A film policy began in October 1917. By 1921 the house had been renamed the Arlington Theatre. During the 1920’s the theater returned to live shows and later the name reverted back to the Castle Square Theatre. It closed with the onset of the Depression and the entire complex was demolished in December 1932 and January 1933.

Contributed by Ron Salters

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 7, 2011 at 12:14 pm

In a 1918 Boston street directory, both the Castle Square Theatre and the Castle Square Hotel are listed at 421 Tremont St., between Chandler St. and Appleton St.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 21, 2011 at 11:13 am

In the 1921 Boston business and street directory, it’s listed as “Arlington Square Theatre”.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on February 21, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Somewhere I think I read that today’s Chandler Inn (once called the Diplomat hotel) is a remaining piece of the old Castle Square Hotel.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 22, 2011 at 10:24 am

I also remember reading a long time ago that the Diplomat Hotel contained some remnant of the old Castle Square Hotel, which was part of the Castle Square Theatre building, but I don’t know how true that is.

EdwardFindlay
EdwardFindlay on March 8, 2011 at 10:03 pm

View link A shot of the theatre.

The building on the extreme left is still standing. The ARL’s property and drive way takes up most of the block, the Chandler may have part of an older building in it but I highly doubt it has anythign to do with the Castle Squarehttp://www.josephhaworth.com/castle_square_theatre.htm

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on March 9, 2011 at 12:16 pm

If you click on “Site Map” in the website that Edward Findlay has linked to there are a large number of photos of 19th Century theaters.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 10, 2011 at 6:24 am

An 1896 book called The Planning and Construction of American Theatres attributes the design of the Castle Square Theatre to architect E. W. Maynard.

MarkB
MarkB on July 14, 2012 at 6:41 pm

The Castle Square was built in 1894, adding a rectangular stage on to the round cyclorama that had previously been used as a riding academy,

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on July 14, 2012 at 7:43 pm

A photo of the interior: View link

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 2, 2018 at 11:18 am

Undated photo of a building promoting Castle Square and other theatres added via Jai Sotomayor.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.