User:Carfare/sandbox2: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

 

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[[Category:Cultural history of Boston]]

[[Category:Cultural history of Boston]]

[[Category:Former cinemas and movie theaters in Boston]]

[[Category:Former cinemas and movie theaters in Boston]]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Boston]]

[[Category:Former music venues in the United States]]

[[Category:1922 establishments in the United States]]

[[Category:Rock music venues]]

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Former theater in Boston, Massachusetts (1922–1968)

42°20′43″N 71°05′13″W / 42.34517°N 71.08702°W / 42.34517; -71.08702

Loew’s State Theatre was a theater in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Originally opened in 1922, it was later renamed the Donnelly Memorial Theatre in 1959 and the Back Bay Theatre in 1964. Designed by Thomas White Lamb, the theater was located at 205 Massachusetts Avenue. The theater was closed in May, 1968 and demolished.

Marcus Loew‘s State Theatre Company separately acquired adjoining properties totaling 55,091 square feet along Massachusetts Avenue between Norway and Astor (now Burbank) streets in 1919 and 1920.^[1][2] Architect Lamb designed the theater in Adam style and the final cost exceeded $2 million dollars.^[3][4] The venue seated 3,700 and was the second largest theater in the United States, the first being the other Loew’s State in New York City^[5][a] A smaller, connected building named Fine Arts Theatre was also built and leased, which had a separate entrance on Norway Street.^[6]

Opening night was March 13, 1922. Dozens of actors arrived at South Station at 10:30 A.M. that morning and afterward received at the Massachusetts State House and Boston City Hall in the afternoon prior to the screenings. A motorcade parade extended though the city proper and into South Boston.^[7] and first pictures shown were The World’s Champion starring Wallace Reid, comedy The Rainmaker, and And Women Must Weep. Ethel Clayton‘s The Cradle was scheduled to be shown but cut due to the lengthy opening ceremonies.^[7] Guests of honor governor Channing H. Cox and mayor James Michael Curley gave speeches.

Actors attending opening night included Mae Murray, Monte Blue, Theda Bara, Mae Marsh, Miriam Cooper, Creighton Hale, Diana Allen, Blanche Sweet, Jeanne Eagels, Rubye De Remer, Johnny Hines, Mary Anderson, Doraldina, Grace Valentine, Ann Forrest, Betty Browne, Marguerite Clayton, Louise Fazenda, Crawford Kent, Hermine Shone, Pauline Garon, Viola Dana, Bert Lytell, Sheldon Lewis, Virginia Pearson, James Kirkwood, Teddy Sampson, Billie Dove, Montagu Love, William Collier Jr., Nina Whitmore, Conway Tearle, Billy Mason, and Charles Brabin.^[5]

The Royal Ballet had a five day performance at the theater in 1957.^[8]

In 1959, the theater was purchased for an undisclosed amount by the Boston Archdiocese. Cardinal Richard Cushing acquired the property for the stated purpose of holding conventions, lectures, meetings and the showing of religious motion pictures. The cardinal also planned to use the theater as an instrument to warn Catholics in South America against the “false prophets of communism“.^[9] Christened the Donnelly Memorial Theatre in memory of Edward Calvin Donnelly, Sr., Catherine Donnelly, and John Donnelly for their long involvement and contributions to the Catholic Church. The Donnelly family business was in the outdoor advertising industry in Boston from 1850–1978.^[10] The archdiocese later sold the theater to the Christian Science Church in 1963.^[11]

Located across the street on Mass Ave, the First Church of Christ planned a future demolition of the building and expansion of their campus upon acquiring more area properties.^[11] In the interim, the building was renamed the Back Bay Theatre and rented as a live performance and concert hall. Pete Seeger, Al Hirt, Peter, Paul and Mary, Ray Charles, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Cream, The Mothers of Invention, Jefferson Airplane, The Beach Boys and The Doors all performed at the venue. Jimi Hendrix also possibly played here in Little Richard‘s band in 1965.^[12]

During the silent film era, live background music accompanied the running of films. The State had a 3/13 Wurlitzer 235 Special, Opus 1349 theatre organ installed, which was removed from the theater shortly before demolition in 1968. The organ survives today, installed at Babson College.^[13]

The theater was closed in May, 1968 with a sold out final performance by The Four Seasons.^[14] Razed during the summer of 1968, Symphony Community Park and Church Park Apartments now take up part of the theater’s former footprint.

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