This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The very large B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE is on the west side of Washington Street, just south of West Street. As you can see, it had (and still has) only a narrow entrance on Washington Street. Most of its street frontage is on the back alley, Mason Street.
Just south of the Keith Memorial is the theatre it replaced, KEITH’S THEATRE, along with the BIJOU DREAM, which was also part of the Keith circuit.
This map was published the same year that the Keith Memorial opened, and the old Keith’s closed (at least under that name).
This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The BIJOU DREAM is on the west side of Washington Street, about halfway between Avery and West streets. A small piece of it is labelled “ENTRANCE TO KEITH’S THEATRE”, which was behind the Bijou on Mason Street.
Just north of both the Bijou Dream and the Keith’s is the larger B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE, now called Opera House.
This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The KEITH’S THEATRE is on the east side of Mason Street, a block north of Avery Street. A narrow piece of the adjoining BIJOU DREAM on Washington Street is labelled “ENTRANCE TO KEITH’S THEATRE”.
Just north of the Keith’s is the larger B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE, now called Opera House.
I don’t know of any such map of all the Boston theatres. But I’m gradually posting links to the 1895 or 1928 maps for each theatre that appears on either one.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. Near the top left of the map, look at the left side of Washington Street, halfway between Boylston and Lagrange streets. You will see the “LYCEUM THEATRE”, which I presume was torn down in order to build the Gaiety.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. The Park Theatre is visible near the top left corner, in the block bounded by Tremont, Boylston, Washington, and Avery streets. (If you’re having trouble finding it, look just below the end of Haymarket Place.) The map identifies it as the property of Lotta M. Crabtree.
This 1895 map shows a part of downtown Boston. The Tremont Theatre is visible near the top left corner, in the block bounded by Tremont, Boylston, Washington, and Avery streets. Most of its street frontage is on Avery Street, with a small leg reaching out to an entrance on Tremont Street.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. West is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In this block you will see the “BOSTON THEATRE”, which was torn down in order to build the Keith Memorial Theatre (now called Opera House).
To the left of the Boston Theatre are KEITH’S NEW THEATRE, and just barely visible, the Bijou (labelled “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE” on the map).
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. West is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In the middle of that block is “KEITH’S NEW THEATRE”.
Just to its left, on Washington Street, (between it and the Adams House), you can barely make out the words “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE”. This is the Bijou Theatre. Both the Bijou and the Keith’s had entrances on Washington Street, but the Bijou’s auditorium was in front, while the Keith’s was in back.
To the right of the Keith’s on this map is the Boston Theatre. This was torn down in the 1920s and replaced by the Keith Memorial Theatre — still standing today and now called the Opera House.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. East is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In the middle of that block is “KEITH’S NEW THEATRE”.
Just to its left, on Washington Street, (between it and the Adams House), you can barely make out the words “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE”. This is the Bijou Theatre. Both the Bijou and the Keith’s had entrances on Washington Street, but the Bijou’s auditorium was in front, while the Keith’s was in back.
To the right of the Keith’s on this map is the Boston Theatre. This was torn down in the 1920s and replaced by the Keith Memorial Theatre — still standing today and now called the Opera House.
Tremont Temple is shown on both this 1895 map and this 1928 map. It is on the east side of Tremont, just south of School Street, and surrounded on several sides by the Parker House hotel.
To get oriented, note that the 1895 map has west at the top, while the 1928 map has north at the top. If you are on a slow dialup connection, you may not want to follow these links, as the map images are quite large.
If you go to the Bostonian Society’s online historical photo collection and enter “Tremont Temple” into the search box, you’ll find quite a few pictures, including one of the 1852 fire’s ruins and several others showing previous Temples.
The theatre is visible as “BOS MUSIC HALL” on this 1895 map, right in the middle of the block bounded by Tremont, Winter, Washington, and Bromfield streets. Two dead-end streets run into the building: Music Hall Place (from Winter Street) and Hamilton Place (from Tremont Street). The latter is still the theatre’s public entrance today.
(Actually, a third alley also runs to the building from Bromfield Street, but this alley has no name on the map.)
On this 1928 map, it is the ORPHEUM THEATRE, owned by Loew’s Theatres Company. Loew’s is also shown as the owner of a long and narrow adjoining building which fronts on Washington Street; presumably this was the theatre’s added entrance on Washington Street.
To get your orientation, note that the 1895 map has north at the top, while the 1928 map has west at the top.
(Warning to dialup users: the map images are huge and will take a long time to load)
The Beacon Theatre is visible on this 1982 map. It is on the west side of Tremont Street, just north of Beacon Street, adjoining Houghton & Dutton Co. Dry Goods.
The Olympia is visible on this 1928 map, at the corner of Howard Street and Scollay square. It adjoined the Howard Athenaeum on one side, and the Star Theatre (later renamed Rialto) on the other.
(warning to dialup users: the map image is quite large and will take a long time to load)
The Howard Athenaeum is visible on this 1895 map and on this 1928 map. It is on the south side of Howard Street, a small side street running west from Scollay Square.
On the 1928 map you will see the Olympia right next door to the Howard, though the Olympia’s entrance was around the corner on Scollay Square itself.
(warning to dialup users: these map images are quite large and will take a long time to load)
And some of us get worked up about theatres closing or being demolished. That too may seem like a minor issue compared to the ones you list … but it’s why this web site exists.
Movies should be an escape from the annoyances of real life — and that includes cell phones.
This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The very large B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE is on the west side of Washington Street, just south of West Street. As you can see, it had (and still has) only a narrow entrance on Washington Street. Most of its street frontage is on the back alley, Mason Street.
Just south of the Keith Memorial is the theatre it replaced, KEITH’S THEATRE, along with the BIJOU DREAM, which was also part of the Keith circuit.
This map was published the same year that the Keith Memorial opened, and the old Keith’s closed (at least under that name).
This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The BIJOU DREAM is on the west side of Washington Street, about halfway between Avery and West streets. A small piece of it is labelled “ENTRANCE TO KEITH’S THEATRE”, which was behind the Bijou on Mason Street.
Just north of both the Bijou Dream and the Keith’s is the larger B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE, now called Opera House.
This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.
The KEITH’S THEATRE is on the east side of Mason Street, a block north of Avery Street. A narrow piece of the adjoining BIJOU DREAM on Washington Street is labelled “ENTRANCE TO KEITH’S THEATRE”.
Just north of the Keith’s is the larger B.F. KEITH MEMORIAL THEATRE, now called Opera House.
Yes, Norton’s book is about live-stage theaters. However, many former stage theatres became movie theatres, and vice versa.
I don’t know of any such map of all the Boston theatres. But I’m gradually posting links to the 1895 or 1928 maps for each theatre that appears on either one.
The theatre is visible on this 1895 map of Back Bay.
It is labelled “FIRST SPIRITUAL TEMPLE” at the corner of Newbury and Exeter streets, near the bottom left corner of the map.
Here’s an 1895 map of a section of Boston’s South End. The Columbia Theatre is visible at the corner of Washington and Motte streets.
The railroad right-of-way appears narrower on this map than on the 1928 map, and therefore probably less of a psychological barrier.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. Near the top left of the map, look at the left side of Washington Street, halfway between Boylston and Lagrange streets. You will see the “LYCEUM THEATRE”, which I presume was torn down in order to build the Gaiety.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. The Park Theatre is visible near the top left corner, in the block bounded by Tremont, Boylston, Washington, and Avery streets. (If you’re having trouble finding it, look just below the end of Haymarket Place.) The map identifies it as the property of Lotta M. Crabtree.
This 1895 map shows a part of downtown Boston. The Tremont Theatre is visible near the top left corner, in the block bounded by Tremont, Boylston, Washington, and Avery streets. Most of its street frontage is on Avery Street, with a small leg reaching out to an entrance on Tremont Street.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. West is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In this block you will see the “BOSTON THEATRE”, which was torn down in order to build the Keith Memorial Theatre (now called Opera House).
To the left of the Boston Theatre are KEITH’S NEW THEATRE, and just barely visible, the Bijou (labelled “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE” on the map).
that should have said: West is at the top of the map.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. West is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In the middle of that block is “KEITH’S NEW THEATRE”.
Just to its left, on Washington Street, (between it and the Adams House), you can barely make out the words “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE”. This is the Bijou Theatre. Both the Bijou and the Keith’s had entrances on Washington Street, but the Bijou’s auditorium was in front, while the Keith’s was in back.
To the right of the Keith’s on this map is the Boston Theatre. This was torn down in the 1920s and replaced by the Keith Memorial Theatre — still standing today and now called the Opera House.
This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. East is at the top of the map.
Near the top left of the map, take a look at the block bounded by Washington, West, Mason, and Avery Streets. In the middle of that block is “KEITH’S NEW THEATRE”.
Just to its left, on Washington Street, (between it and the Adams House), you can barely make out the words “BIJOU OPERA HOUSE”. This is the Bijou Theatre. Both the Bijou and the Keith’s had entrances on Washington Street, but the Bijou’s auditorium was in front, while the Keith’s was in back.
To the right of the Keith’s on this map is the Boston Theatre. This was torn down in the 1920s and replaced by the Keith Memorial Theatre — still standing today and now called the Opera House.
The Lancaster Theatre is visible on this 1928 map. It is on Lancaster Street, near the top right of the map.
(the map is quite large, so you may not want to click that link if you’re on a dialup connection.)
I thought this was all being demolished, which was why they dug up the time capsule ahead of schedule. Am I totally confused?
Tremont Temple is shown on both this 1895 map and this 1928 map. It is on the east side of Tremont, just south of School Street, and surrounded on several sides by the Parker House hotel.
To get oriented, note that the 1895 map has west at the top, while the 1928 map has north at the top. If you are on a slow dialup connection, you may not want to follow these links, as the map images are quite large.
If you go to the Bostonian Society’s online historical photo collection and enter “Tremont Temple” into the search box, you’ll find quite a few pictures, including one of the 1852 fire’s ruins and several others showing previous Temples.
correction to the above: the 1895 map has west at the top. The 1928 map has north at the top.
The theatre is visible as “BOS MUSIC HALL” on this 1895 map, right in the middle of the block bounded by Tremont, Winter, Washington, and Bromfield streets. Two dead-end streets run into the building: Music Hall Place (from Winter Street) and Hamilton Place (from Tremont Street). The latter is still the theatre’s public entrance today.
(Actually, a third alley also runs to the building from Bromfield Street, but this alley has no name on the map.)
On this 1928 map, it is the ORPHEUM THEATRE, owned by Loew’s Theatres Company. Loew’s is also shown as the owner of a long and narrow adjoining building which fronts on Washington Street; presumably this was the theatre’s added entrance on Washington Street.
To get your orientation, note that the 1895 map has north at the top, while the 1928 map has west at the top.
(Warning to dialup users: the map images are huge and will take a long time to load)
Oops — that should have said this 1928 map !
Warning to dialup users: the map image is huge and will take a long time to load.
The Beacon Theatre is visible on this 1982 map. It is on the west side of Tremont Street, just north of Beacon Street, adjoining Houghton & Dutton Co. Dry Goods.
The Star Theatre is visible near the top of this 1928 map, on Scollay Square next door to the much larger Olympia.
(warning to dialup users: the map is big and will take a long time to load)
The Olympia is visible on this 1928 map, at the corner of Howard Street and Scollay square. It adjoined the Howard Athenaeum on one side, and the Star Theatre (later renamed Rialto) on the other.
(warning to dialup users: the map image is quite large and will take a long time to load)
The Howard Athenaeum is visible on this 1895 map and on this 1928 map. It is on the south side of Howard Street, a small side street running west from Scollay Square.
On the 1928 map you will see the Olympia right next door to the Howard, though the Olympia’s entrance was around the corner on Scollay Square itself.
(warning to dialup users: these map images are quite large and will take a long time to load)
And some of us get worked up about theatres closing or being demolished. That too may seem like a minor issue compared to the ones you list … but it’s why this web site exists.
Movies should be an escape from the annoyances of real life — and that includes cell phones.