Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston Street,
Boston,
MA
02116
106 Boylston Street,
Boston,
MA
02116
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Showing 51 - 72 of 72 comments
The fourth photo is not any theatre in Boston. It is the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. (look carefully at the right edge of the “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” advertisement in the enlarged photo)
Yes, the first 3 photos are of the Colonial exterior circa 1960s. The fourth photo is not the Colonial – possibly it’s the south facade of the Met/Wang ?? Not sure of that.
The setting of the new Broadway musical “Curtains” is none other than this wonderful theater. I saw “Curtains” last month—-a mildly entertaining show about a (fictional) Broadway-bound musical trying out at the Colonial in the late 1950s. David Hyde Pierce plays a Boston detective (and musical theater buff) investigating the murder of the show’s leading lady.
I saw a poster about it this morning and was thinking of posting the same thing. Their web site is View link .
These are probably videos rather than films, but it still sounds like a worthy event.
A rare chance to see movies at the Colonial will take place on Saturday, April 21 2007 when the Boston finals of the Campus Movie Fest film festival will be held there.
Some interior photos of the Colonial, dating from 2000, can be found here:–
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Yes, it was renovated / restored circa late-1990s; I think that Evergreen Studios did the work (not sure of that). It looks great today.
Does anybody know if the theatre’s been renovated? I have been to dozens of shows there (including pre-Broadway performances of Mame, Dear World, and On a Clear Day). The last time I was there (1995) it needed it desparately. And, yes, it’s in the Colonial Building on Boylston Street, directly across from the Boston Common. Mahalo.
Does anybody know if the theatre’s been renovated? I have been to dozens of shows there (including pre-Broadway performances of Mame, Dear World, and On a Clear Day). The last time I was there (1995) it needed it desparately. And, yes, it’s in the Colonial Building on Boylston Street, directly across from the Boston Common. Mahalo.
Amazingly, it’s virtually identical right down to the boxes. The layout is actually a “Exit plan”, so it doesn’t give actual row letters, but the layout is the same. The chart shows all the exit doors, stairways, etc in any possible direction. When I get a chance, I will scan it and post it here.
Which might be worth comparing to the current seating chart.
Thanks! I guess this is it. These old programs are so interesting, the old ads are great. It also gives a layout of the theater for seating in each one.
I agree. The Colonial’s office building was called the “Colonial Building”. The New York City theatres listed in the program were probably all controlled by the Klaw & Erlanger syndicate.
It’s got to be this one. I’ve never heard of any other theatre in Boston called ‘Colonial’, and this building does have a 9th floor.
I have found a whole pile of programs for the old Colonial Theater, and assume it’s for this one. The programs date to 1904, and it’s almost a complete set. For example, “Mother Goose” was playing during the week of March 21, 1904, and someone penciled in that it ran for 7 weeks.
I think it’s this theater, but the only address it gives is “For space in this program address:
Colonial Theatre Program, Room 901, COlonial Building, Boston. No street given.
Interestingly, it gave attractions for representative NY Theaters too for the same week (3/21/1904), for example:
New Empire Theater – The Other Girl
Garrick Theater – The Ruling Power
Criterion Theatre – Merely Mary Ann
Savoy Theater – Raffles
New Lyceum Theater – The Admirable Crichton
Hudson Theater – Man Proposes
new York Theater – The Tenderfoot
In 2000, to mark the Colonial’s 100th birthday, the theatre published a history book, complete with numerous high-quality color photos. This book was similar to the book about the New Amsterdam Theatre in NY. There were 2000 copies printed and the price was about $85. There is a copy in the THSA Archives/Library in Elmhurst IL, and I assume that a few libraries closer to home have it also.
Actually, Emerson College does not yet own this building. However, they have a purchase option which they expect to exercise in June. They plan to turn the top nine floors into a dormitory. The Colonial Theatre will remain a commercial live stage.
Here is Emerson’s official press release, issued on February 24.
The Colonial opened during the Christmas season of 1900, apparently on December 20, although I have also seen Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Behind the right auditorium wall are several floors of dressing rooms.
This page has some history of the Colonial Theatre, but no mention of movies.
More history and architecture
The Colonial Theatre is near the top right of this 1928 map. one building west of the corner of Boylston and Tremont streets.
The two buildings on either side, the Little and the Walker, are now also owned by Emerson College, as is the Majestic Theatre on the other side of narrow Van Rensselaer Place. The adjoining Plymouth Theatre was demolished in 1978; a few years ago, yet another Emerson College building rose on part of its site, containing two small live stages.
The Colonial ran film for some period during World War II. One would have to look at microfilm ads in the Boston newspapers to come up wit specific films and dates.
There was a booth for follow spotlights at the rear of the 2nd balcony and I assume that it doubled as a projection booth for the film showings in the 1910s and in 1927.