The Boston Opera House, also known as the Citizens Bank Opera House,[1] is a performing arts and esports venue located at 539 Washington St. in Boston, Massachusetts. It was originally built as the B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre, a movie palace in the Keith-Albee chain. The chain became part of RKO when it was established just before the theater opened on October 29, 1928, and it was also known as the RKO Keith's Theater. After operating for more than 50 years as a movie theater, it was rededicated in 1980 as a home for the Opera Company of Boston, which performed there until the opera company closed down in 1990 due to financial problems. The theater was reopened in 2004 after a major restoration, and it currently serves as the home of the Boston Ballet and also hosts touring Broadway shows.
Tremont Street entrance of RKO Keith's Memorial Theatre (1938)
The Boston Opera House was originally designed as the B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre, a lavish movie theater in the Keith-Albee chain. The Keith's Memorial was one of his most elaborate designs of the prominent theater architect Thomas W. Lamb. It was dedicated to the vaudeville pioneer B.F. Keith. On October 23, 1928, just before the theater opened, the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) company was formed and became the owner of the theater. The theater opened on October 29, 1928, presenting first-run films along with live vaudeville.[2][3] By 1929, the theater had converted to showing only films and remained a leading Boston movie showcase through the 1950s. It became known as RKO Keith's, and bore signage that said both "B.F. Keith's" and "RKO Keith's" (see the 1938 photo shown at right).
In 1965 the Sack Theaters company acquired the theater and renamed it the Savoy Theater. Sack later added a second smaller cinema in the theater's stage space, separated from the original auditorium by a masonry wall built across the proscenium.[4][5]
In 1980, after closing as a movie house, the theater became the home of opera director Sarah Caldwell's Opera Company of Boston and was renamed the Boston Opera House. The theater was acquired and renovated by the opera company with the help of Boston arts patron Susan Timken.[6] After a decade of opera productions at the house, Caldwell's company collapsed due to financial troubles in 1991. Having previously produced opera since 1958 in rented theaters, the company was not financially prepared to cope with the substantial costs of upkeep for the large theater which had previously been poorly maintained for decades. The company's failure left the theater dark and without funds to maintain it.[7]
Unheated, the building fell prey to extensive water damage, severely damaging the electrical system and the decorative plaster interior of the auditorium.[2] The company's costumes, collected for decades and stored under the damaged roof, were lost. In 1996, the former opera company relinquished ownership of the building.[7]
Mayor Thomas Menino, with the aid of Senator Edward Kennedy (whose father, Joseph, was the first owner), helped to get the theater landmark status in 1999 through the Boston Landmarks Commission. After a series of failed or delayed development proposals, the Clear Channel Company agreed to renovate the theater. The need to enlarge the trapezoidal stage house into the street between buildings provoked a multi-year court fight with the neighboring Tremont on the Commons condominium building, whose concerns with fire safety were eventually overcome with the persuasion of Mayor Menino.
The Boston opera community welcomed the efforts of Mayor Menino and Clear Channel to refurbish the Opera House and the damaged interior was restored in a $38 million renovation.[8] It reopened on July 16, 2004, with the Broadway production of The Lion King.[9] Clear Channel kept the historic theater busy and active with long runs of touring Broadway musicals and pop concerts. While its agreement with city included a clause that opera be produced at least two weeks a year, no opera company has yet returned to make the Opera House its home.
The current owner of the theater is Boston Opera House Ventures, LLC, a partnership of local Boston businessmen Don Law and David Mugar. Its primary tenants are Broadway Across America, Boston Uprising and the Boston Ballet. Home to Boston Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker since 2005, the theater became the company's permanent home in 2009.[10]
^Long, Tom (Apr 6, 2003). "Benjamin Sack, 92, scrap dealer built theater chain". The Boston Globe. p. B9. Benjamin Sack (1911-2003) ...founded his chain, Sack Theaters, in 1952. By sheer force of personality, he built his holding, transforming theaters such as the Metropolitan and the RKO Keith Memorial and renaming them the Music Hall and the Savoy. His holdings also included the Beacon Hill, Cheri, Music Hall, and Saxon theaters.
^Long, Tom (November 14, 1997). "Susan H. Timken, 53; was patron of literary, operatic arts in Boston". The Boston Globe.
^ abDyer, Richard (March 25, 2006). "Sarah Caldwell, impresario of Boston opera, dead at 82". The Boston Globe. p. A3.
^Ron Depasquale. "Extreme Makeover", Newsweek, July 26, 2004
^. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2010-07-26.[dead link]
^Gantz, Jeffrey (December 9, 2005). . The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boston Opera House.
Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey. B. F. Keith Memorial Theatre, 539 Washington Street, Boston, Suffolk County, MA (i.e. Boston Opera House)
Bostonian Society:
, 1934
, ca. 1945
, ca. 1950 (RKO Keith Theater at left)
, ca. 1953
, ca. 1958
MIT:
Washington Street, Between Avery Street and West Street, RKO Keith's, by G. Kepes, 1956
Keith's RKO Theater Marquee at Night, "There's No Business Like Show Business," Washington Street, 9:30 P.M., 1950s, by G. Kepes
City of Boston, Landmarks Commission. Boston Opera House Study Report, 1999
boston, opera, house, this, article, about, building, that, opened, 1928, other, uses, disambiguation, also, known, citizens, bank, opera, house, performing, arts, esports, venue, located, washington, boston, massachusetts, originally, built, keith, memorial, . This article is about the building that opened in 1928 For other uses see Boston Opera House disambiguation The Boston Opera House also known as the Citizens Bank Opera House 1 is a performing arts and esports venue located at 539 Washington St in Boston Massachusetts It was originally built as the B F Keith Memorial Theatre a movie palace in the Keith Albee chain The chain became part of RKO when it was established just before the theater opened on October 29 1928 and it was also known as the RKO Keith s Theater After operating for more than 50 years as a movie theater it was rededicated in 1980 as a home for the Opera Company of Boston which performed there until the opera company closed down in 1990 due to financial problems The theater was reopened in 2004 after a major restoration and it currently serves as the home of the Boston Ballet and also hosts touring Broadway shows Boston Opera HouseInterior view of venue view as a 360 interactive panorama Former namesB F Keith Memorial Theatre 1928 29 RKO Keith s Memorial Theatre 1929 65 Savoy Theatre 1965 80 Address539 Washington StBoston MA 02111 1718OwnerBoston Opera House Ventures LLCCapacity2 600ConstructionOpenedOctober 29 1928 1928 10 29 Closed1990 2004ReopenedJuly 16 2004 2004 07 16 ArchitectThomas W LambTenantsBoston BalletBroadway Across America in BostonWebsiteVenue Website Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit Tremont Street entrance of RKO Keith s Memorial Theatre 1938 The Boston Opera House was originally designed as the B F Keith Memorial Theatre a lavish movie theater in the Keith Albee chain The Keith s Memorial was one of his most elaborate designs of the prominent theater architect Thomas W Lamb It was dedicated to the vaudeville pioneer B F Keith On October 23 1928 just before the theater opened the Radio Keith Orpheum RKO company was formed and became the owner of the theater The theater opened on October 29 1928 presenting first run films along with live vaudeville 2 3 By 1929 the theater had converted to showing only films and remained a leading Boston movie showcase through the 1950s It became known as RKO Keith s and bore signage that said both B F Keith s and RKO Keith s see the 1938 photo shown at right In 1965 the Sack Theaters company acquired the theater and renamed it the Savoy Theater Sack later added a second smaller cinema in the theater s stage space separated from the original auditorium by a masonry wall built across the proscenium 4 5 In 1980 after closing as a movie house the theater became the home of opera director Sarah Caldwell s Opera Company of Boston and was renamed the Boston Opera House The theater was acquired and renovated by the opera company with the help of Boston arts patron Susan Timken 6 After a decade of opera productions at the house Caldwell s company collapsed due to financial troubles in 1991 Having previously produced opera since 1958 in rented theaters the company was not financially prepared to cope with the substantial costs of upkeep for the large theater which had previously been poorly maintained for decades The company s failure left the theater dark and without funds to maintain it 7 Unheated the building fell prey to extensive water damage severely damaging the electrical system and the decorative plaster interior of the auditorium 2 The company s costumes collected for decades and stored under the damaged roof were lost In 1996 the former opera company relinquished ownership of the building 7 Mayor Thomas Menino with the aid of Senator Edward Kennedy whose father Joseph was the first owner helped to get the theater landmark status in 1999 through the Boston Landmarks Commission After a series of failed or delayed development proposals the Clear Channel Company agreed to renovate the theater The need to enlarge the trapezoidal stage house into the street between buildings provoked a multi year court fight with the neighboring Tremont on the Commons condominium building whose concerns with fire safety were eventually overcome with the persuasion of Mayor Menino The Boston opera community welcomed the efforts of Mayor Menino and Clear Channel to refurbish the Opera House and the damaged interior was restored in a 38 million renovation 8 It reopened on July 16 2004 with the Broadway production of The Lion King 9 Clear Channel kept the historic theater busy and active with long runs of touring Broadway musicals and pop concerts While its agreement with city included a clause that opera be produced at least two weeks a year no opera company has yet returned to make the Opera House its home The current owner of the theater is Boston Opera House Ventures LLC a partnership of local Boston businessmen Don Law and David Mugar Its primary tenants are Broadway Across America Boston Uprising and the Boston Ballet Home to Boston Ballet s annual production of The Nutcracker since 2005 the theater became the company s permanent home in 2009 10 See also EditBoston Opera House 1909 Benjamin Franklin Keith 1846 1914 namesake of B F Keith Memorial Theatre RKO Boston TheatreReferences Edit Talcott Sasha Carol Beggy March 19 2005 Bank near agreement on theate The Boston Globe Retrieved August 10 2020 a b History Boston Opera House Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved August 10 2020 Citizens Bank Opera House Broadway in Boston Retrieved August 10 2020 Boston Opera House Cinema Treasures Long Tom Apr 6 2003 Benjamin Sack 92 scrap dealer built theater chain The Boston Globe p B9 Benjamin Sack 1911 2003 founded his chain Sack Theaters in 1952 By sheer force of personality he built his holding transforming theaters such as the Metropolitan and the RKO Keith Memorial and renaming them the Music Hall and the Savoy His holdings also included the Beacon Hill Cheri Music Hall and Saxon theaters Long Tom November 14 1997 Susan H Timken 53 was patron of literary operatic arts in Boston The Boston Globe a b Dyer Richard March 25 2006 Sarah Caldwell impresario of Boston opera dead at 82 The Boston Globe p A3 Ron Depasquale Extreme Makeover Newsweek July 26 2004 Past Shows at the Opera House Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2010 07 26 dead link Gantz Jeffrey December 9 2005 Just right Boston Ballet s Nutcracker at the Opera House The Boston Phoenix Archived from the original on September 26 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boston Opera House Boston Opera House website Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey B F Keith Memorial Theatre 539 Washington Street Boston Suffolk County MA i e Boston Opera House Bostonian Society Photo of Washington Street at night in winter 1934 539 555 Washington Street ca 1945 164 164a Tremont Street ca 1950 RKO Keith Theater at left 504 558 Washington Street ca 1953 515 539 Washington Street ca 1958 MIT Washington Street Between Avery Street and West Street RKO Keith s by G Kepes 1956 Keith s RKO Theater Marquee at Night There s No Business Like Show Business Washington Street 9 30 P M 1950s by G Kepes City of Boston Landmarks Commission Boston Opera House Study Report 1999Coordinates 42 21 15 N 71 03 46 W 42 3542 N 71 0627 W 42 3542 71 0627 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boston Opera House amp oldid 1127456873, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
