The Park Theatre (est.1879) was a playhouse in Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It later became the State cinema.As of 1980: "The oldest playhouse in Boston still operating as a theater has seen better days. The State, now a Combat Zone flagship for porn films, opened in 1879 as the Park Theater. It was built by famous actress Lotta Crabtree who also had constructed a private tunnel from the theater to the nearby hotel where she lived. Edwin Booth and Richard Mansfield were among the great stars who played the theater as did Jeanne Eagels in her famous role of Sadie Thompson in 'Rain.' The theater did a slow slide into burlesque where Gypsy Rose Lee made her only local strips, and into second runs and down to porn." cf. George McKinnon. "A born-again Wilbur will celebrate success." Boston Globe, January 20, 1980 Located on Washington Street, near Boylston Street, the building existed until 1990.

History In 1879 Henry E. Abbey, proprietor of Abbey's Park Theatre in New York, opened Boston's Park Theatre.Henry E. Abbey (1845–1896). "Death of Henry E. Abbey." New York Times, October 18, 1896 Abbey was one half of the theatrical management firm Abbey and Schoeffel, along with his backer John B. Schoeffel. Schoeffel was assistant manager.

It occupied the building of the former Beethoven Hall, "reconstructed and practically rebuilt;" its 1,184-seat auditorium was "60 feet wide, 63 from the state to the doors, and 50 feet high." The architect of the rebuilt theatre was Abel C. Martin."The Death of Mr. A. C. Martin," American Architect and Building News 6, no. 202 (November 8, 1879): 145. It sat on Washington Street at the corner of Boylston Street in today's Chinatown/Theatre district.no.619 Washington Street. Boston Almanac, 1880–1882. Boston Almanac and Business Directory, 1887, 1891, 1894. Boston register, 1921

In the 1890s it presented "farcical comedy." Managers and proprietors included Henry E. Abbey; Jack A. Crabtree;John (Jack) Ashworth Crabtree (1854–1920), brother of Lotta Crabree. Harvard Univ. Lotta Crabtree Will Case, 1870–1928 : Finding Aid Lotta Crabtree;Dale, Alan (1890). Familiar chats with the queens of the stage. New York: G. W. Dillingham. Charles Frohman, Rich & Harris;Boston Evening Transcript, April 17, 1908 Lawrence McCarty; John B. Schoeffel (Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau); John Stetson Jr.; and Eugene Tompkins.Eugene Tompkins (1850–1909). John William Leonard, ed. Men of America: a biographical dictionary of contemporaries. New York: L. R. Hamersly & Company, 1908New York Times, February 23, 1909

Louis Baer led the 11-piece orchestra in the 1890s.

In the 20th century the building became "Minsky's Park Burlesque," the "Hub," "Trans-Lux,"CinemaTreasures.org. State Theatre, 617 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111Boston Athenæum Theater History , Park Theatre (1879–1990) and then "The State" cinema."State Theater 1," no.617 Washington St., Boston. "Downtown Boston theater loses license for 3 days." Boston Globe, July 19, 1983 The building survived until its razing in 1990.Sweeney, Emily. Once a relic of the past, earthy art form sees a revival. Boston Globe, April 9, 2009McLaughlin, Jeff. "Midtown cultural district headed for reality." Boston Globe, October 13, 1987

Images

Performances

1870s–1880s Fedora, with Fanny Davenport and Robert Mantell"Boston Notes." The Theatre (NY), no.5, v.1, April 19, 1886 Gunter's Prince Karl Andrea Gretchen Fun in a Photograph GalleryThe players blue book. Worcester, Mass.: Sutherland & Storms, 1901

1890s James A. Herne's Sag Harbor Merchant of Venice, with Sidney WoollettNew York Times, June 20, 1897 1492New York Times, July 18, 1893 C.A. Byrne and Louis Harrison's VenusNew York Times, September 12, 1893 Trilby Lost, Strayed or Stolen Dumas Clemenceau Case.

1900s Choir Invisible Henry Arthur Jones' The HypocritesThe Billboard, November 30, 1907 R.A. Barnet's Cap of Fortune and the Show GirlAnne Alison Barnet. Extravaganza king: Robert Barnet and Boston musical theatre. Northeastern University Press, 2004 Fay Davis Whitewashing Julia Original January 11, 1904 playbill

1910s The Dancing GirlBoston Globe, January 5, 1915 The Girl of the Golden West Maternity, starring Alice BradyBoston Globe, May 22, 1917 The Soul of a Magdalen, starring Olga Petrova

1920s On with the DanceBoston Globe, February 10, 1920 Robin HoodBoston Globe, December 12, 1922

References

External links

Detail of 1882 map of Boston showing location of Park Theatre, via Boston Public Library's Atlascope Boston tool. Historic New England. Sidewalk at Park Theatre, 619 Washington St., photo Library of Congress. Drawing of Park Theatre by Anthony F. Dumas, 1929 Boston Athenaeum. Park Theatre Programs, 1879–1898. Flickr. Photo of the State theatre, 1984