Ron, I saw on the New Bedford Centre Theater page you said you have a MGM Theatre Photograph from 1941 of this theater. Would it be possible to email me that image, I was asked by the city’s Preservation Planner if I have any old photos and I can’t find any before 1979. She is working with some people who are trying to put a plan together to restore the facade of this theater. If you could I would appreciate this and would be willing to share any photos of any of the theaters I have with you. If it’s possible please email me at
Ron, The theater was called the New Bedford Opera House, but was also referred to as the Grand Opera House, here is a little info:
The Grace Church on Union Street was purchased by the New Bedford Opera House Association in November 1881 and converted into a theater. The architects Cummings and Sears of Boston were in charge of the renovations. The first performance held in the new theater was given by the Union Square Theater Company on March 28, 1882. This was the second church building in New Bedford to be converted into a hall for theater, the first being Liberty Hall, the old Congregational church, in 1837. The opera house was torn down in 1896 and rebuilt as the New Bedford Theater.
Ron,
I did some more research and came up with this, In 1903 George Hastings' daughter, Edith sold the building to Andrew E. Hathaway. When Mr. Hathaway acquired the property, there was a hardware and clothing store on the first floor. The Empire Clothing Store was on the second floor, and John O' Neil’s photography studio was located on the third floor. Mr Hathaway remodeled the building as a theatre in 1903. It opened on November 9, 1903, with a seating capacity of nine hundred people. In 1914 Mr. Hathaway sold the building with its theatre to the W.T. Grant Co.. The theatre was remodeled into a clothing and houseware store. This firm closed in 1975 when the store went out of business.
I also have a few photos of the building when it was a theatre and a postcard of a play group that performed there when theatre first opened.
This is a link to Flickr of New Bedford, MA Theatres
View link
Ron, I saw on the New Bedford Centre Theater page you said you have a MGM Theatre Photograph from 1941 of this theater. Would it be possible to email me that image, I was asked by the city’s Preservation Planner if I have any old photos and I can’t find any before 1979. She is working with some people who are trying to put a plan together to restore the facade of this theater. If you could I would appreciate this and would be willing to share any photos of any of the theaters I have with you. If it’s possible please email me at
Ron, The theater was called the New Bedford Opera House, but was also referred to as the Grand Opera House, here is a little info:
The Grace Church on Union Street was purchased by the New Bedford Opera House Association in November 1881 and converted into a theater. The architects Cummings and Sears of Boston were in charge of the renovations. The first performance held in the new theater was given by the Union Square Theater Company on March 28, 1882. This was the second church building in New Bedford to be converted into a hall for theater, the first being Liberty Hall, the old Congregational church, in 1837. The opera house was torn down in 1896 and rebuilt as the New Bedford Theater.
Ron,
I did some more research and came up with this, In 1903 George Hastings' daughter, Edith sold the building to Andrew E. Hathaway. When Mr. Hathaway acquired the property, there was a hardware and clothing store on the first floor. The Empire Clothing Store was on the second floor, and John O' Neil’s photography studio was located on the third floor. Mr Hathaway remodeled the building as a theatre in 1903. It opened on November 9, 1903, with a seating capacity of nine hundred people. In 1914 Mr. Hathaway sold the building with its theatre to the W.T. Grant Co.. The theatre was remodeled into a clothing and houseware store. This firm closed in 1975 when the store went out of business.
I also have a few photos of the building when it was a theatre and a postcard of a play group that performed there when theatre first opened.