The Federal Street Theatre (1793–1852), also known as the Boston Theatre,[1] was located at the corner of Federal and Franklin streets in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was "the first building erected purposely for theatrical entertainments in the town of Boston."[2]
The original building[3] was designed by Charles Bulfinch. It was "the first professionally designed American theater by a native architect."[4] It occupied land formerly owned by Thomas Brattle, Edward H. Robbins and William Tudor.[4] In 1798 fire destroyed the theatre; it was rebuilt the same year. The second building existed through 1852.[4]
Management included Charles S. Powell (1794–1795); John Steel Tyler (1795–1796); John Hodgkinson (1795–1796); John Brown Williamson (1796–1797); John Sollee (1797); Giles Leonard Barrett (ca.1798); Joseph Harper (ca.1798).[4][5]
Musicians affiliated with the theatre included Trille La Barre; Peter Von Hagen Sr.; R. Leaumont; and Gottlieb Graupner.[6] Scene painters included Christian Gullager (1793–1797).[4]
1795 – Judith Sargent Murray's "The Medium, or Happy Tea-Party," debuts 2 March 1795.[10]Judith Sargent Murray wrote the first two plays by an American, male or female, to be performed in Boston.
A young Hawaiian called "Bill" performed in the pantomime "The Death of Captain Cook."
March 22-29 – Deborah Sampson Gannett spoke about her time in the Continental Army and exhibited the manual exercise with her rifle that she learned during her service. Each night, before her speech and exhibition, the theatre company performed a play. They were The Will, or a School for Daughters, King Henry the IVth with the Humors of Sir John Falstaff, The Way to Get Married, and The Grand Historical Drama of Columbus; or, American Discovered.[13]
1845 – Alonzo Potter gave his first series of twelve Lowell Lectures. The Theater was "filled to overflowing." His topic was on the "Psychological argument to illustrate the being and character of God."[15]
Macallister. "Soirees magiques.... Several new and attractive experiments including for the first time, the aerial handkerchiefs, and the flying watches"[14]
1853 – Alonzo Potter gave his fifth (and final) series of twelve "Lowell Lectures on "The Bible as the refining, elevating and improving instrument of humanity."[20]
Image galleryedit
The Federal Street Theatre burnt in February 1798.
February 1824
Detail from 1834 broadsheet of "L-a-w," sung by Mr. Andrews
December 1846
Detail from advertisement for Macallister's performance, November 1851
^Thomas Pemberton. "A Topographical and Historical Description of Boston, 1794." Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1st ser., III (1794, reprinted 1810), 255–56. Quoted in Stoddard. 1970; p.191.
^"Architectural Description of the Boston Theatre." Federal Orrery (Boston) 11-10-1794
^Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe, Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D.,: Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1871), 121. and William Bacon Stevens, A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (October 19, 1865), 56-57.
^Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe, Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D.,: Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1871), 121. and William Bacon Stevens, A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (October 19, 1865), 56-57.
^Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe, Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D.,: Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1871), 121. and William Bacon Stevens, A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (October 19, 1865), 56-57.
^Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe, Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D.,: Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1871), 121. and William Bacon Stevens, A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (October 19, 1865), 56-57.
^Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe, Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D.,: Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1871), 121. and William Bacon Stevens, A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (October 19, 1865), 56-57.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boston Theatre (Federal Street).
John Alden. "A Season in Federal Street: J. B. Williamson and the Boston Theatre, 1796–1797." Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society65 (1): 9–74. 1955.
Martin Banham (1998). The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. New York: Cambridge University Press. Cf. especially p. 361, article on the "Federal Street Theatre".
Frank Chouteau Brown. "The First Boston Theatre, on Federal Street: Built 1793, finally discontinued 1852. Charles Bulfinch, Architect," Old-Time New England, v.36 (1945), 1–7.
Brooks McNamara. The American Playhouse in the Eighteenth Century (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1969), pp. 121–27.
Richard Stoddard. A Reconstruction of Charles Bulfinch's First Federal Street Theatre, Boston. Winterthur Portfolio, Vol. 6 (1970), pp. 185–208.
Richard Stoddard. "Aqueduct and Iron Curtain at the Federal Street Theatre, Boston," Theatre Survey, VIII (1967), 106–11.
External linksedit
Boston Public Library.
Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library. ; includes playbills from the Federal St. Theatre
Paul Lewis (2012). "The First Seasons of the Federal Street Theatre: 1794–1798". Forgotten Chapters of Boston's Literary History: an Exhibition at the Boston Public Library and Massachusetts Historical Society, March 28 – July 30, 2012. Boston College. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
"Object of the Month". Massachusetts Historical Society. May 2012.
federal, street, theatre, 1793, 1852, also, known, boston, theatre, located, corner, federal, franklin, streets, boston, massachusetts, united, states, first, building, erected, purposely, theatrical, entertainments, town, boston, boston, contents, history, ev. The Federal Street Theatre 1793 1852 also known as the Boston Theatre 1 was located at the corner of Federal and Franklin streets in Boston Massachusetts United States It was the first building erected purposely for theatrical entertainments in the town of Boston 2 Federal Street Theatre Boston Contents 1 History 2 Events 3 Image gallery 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Opening performance February 3 1794The original building 3 was designed by Charles Bulfinch It was the first professionally designed American theater by a native architect 4 It occupied land formerly owned by Thomas Brattle Edward H Robbins and William Tudor 4 In 1798 fire destroyed the theatre it was rebuilt the same year The second building existed through 1852 4 Management included Charles S Powell 1794 1795 John Steel Tyler 1795 1796 John Hodgkinson 1795 1796 John Brown Williamson 1796 1797 John Sollee 1797 Giles Leonard Barrett ca 1798 Joseph Harper ca 1798 4 5 Musicians affiliated with the theatre included Trille La Barre Peter Von Hagen Sr R Leaumont and Gottlieb Graupner 6 Scene painters included Christian Gullager 1793 1797 4 The British actress Charlotte Wattell appeared here in about 1811 Events edit1794 Feb 3 Tragedy of Gustavus Vasa 7 Feb The Child of Nature and The Agreeable Surprise 8 April The Chapter of Accidents and Midas a burletta 9 1795 Judith Sargent Murray s The Medium or Happy Tea Party debuts 2 March 1795 10 Judith Sargent Murray wrote the first two plays by an American male or female to be performed in Boston 1796 March 9 Judith Sargent Murray s The Traveller Returned debuts 11 John O Keefe s Farmer with Susanna Rowson 12 1802 A young Hawaiian called Bill performed in the pantomime The Death of Captain Cook March 22 29 Deborah Sampson Gannett spoke about her time in the Continental Army and exhibited the manual exercise with her rifle that she learned during her service Each night before her speech and exhibition the theatre company performed a play They were The Will or a School for Daughters King Henry the IVth with the Humors of Sir John Falstaff The Way to Get Married and The Grand Historical Drama of Columbus or American Discovered 13 1832 Shakespeare s Richard III with Charles Kean 14 1834 Jonathan Harrington ventriloquist 1845 Alonzo Potter gave his first series of twelve Lowell Lectures The Theater was filled to overflowing His topic was on the Psychological argument to illustrate the being and character of God 15 1846 James Sheridan Knowles Hunchback with Charles Kean and Ellen Kean 14 1847 Alonzo Potter gave his second series of twelve Lowell Lectures on the philosophy of man again to a full house 16 1848 Alonzo Potter gave his third series of twelve Lowell Lectures to a packed auditorium 17 1849 Alonzo Potter gave his fourth series of twelve Lowell Lectures to an admiring throng 18 1851 Macallister Soirees magiques Several new and attractive experiments including for the first time the aerial handkerchiefs and the flying watches 14 Lucrezia Borgia 19 1853 Alonzo Potter gave his fifth and final series of twelve Lowell Lectures on The Bible as the refining elevating and improving instrument of humanity 20 Image gallery edit nbsp The Federal Street Theatre burnt in February 1798 nbsp February 1824 nbsp Detail from 1834 broadsheet of L a w sung by Mr Andrews nbsp December 1846 nbsp Detail from advertisement for Macallister s performance November 1851References edit Boston Directory 1823 Thomas Pemberton A Topographical and Historical Description of Boston 1794 Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society 1st ser III 1794 reprinted 1810 255 56 Quoted in Stoddard 1970 p 191 Architectural Description of the Boston Theatre Federal Orrery Boston 11 10 1794 a b c d e Stoddard 1970 Elias Nason A Memoir of Mrs Susanna Rowson NY Munsell 1870 H Earle Johnson The Musical Von Hagens New England Quarterly Vol 16 No 1 Mar 1943 p 112 Early American Imprints Series 1 American Apollo Feb 27 1794 American Apollo 24 April 1794 Skemp Sheila 2009 First Lady of Letters Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press p 254 ISBN 978 0 8122 4140 2 Skemp Sheila 2009 First Lady of Letters Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press p 258 ISBN 978 0 8122 4140 2 Nason 1870 Young Alfred F 2004 Masquerade United States of America Vintage Books pp 203 206 ISBN 0 679 76185 3 a b c American Broadsides and Ephemera Series 1 Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania J B Lippincott Company 1871 121 and William Bacon Stevens A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania October 19 1865 56 57 Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania J B Lippincott Company 1871 121 and William Bacon Stevens A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania October 19 1865 56 57 Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania J B Lippincott Company 1871 121 and William Bacon Stevens A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania October 19 1865 56 57 Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania J B Lippincott Company 1871 121 and William Bacon Stevens A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania October 19 1865 56 57 Lucrezia Borgia Gleason s Pictorial 1 Boston Mass 1851 Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe Memoirs of the Life and Services of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania J B Lippincott Company 1871 121 and William Bacon Stevens A Discourse Commemorative of the Rt Rev Alonzo Potter D D LL D Late Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania October 19 1865 56 57 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boston Theatre Federal Street John Alden A Season in Federal Street J B Williamson and the Boston Theatre 1796 1797 Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society 65 1 9 74 1955 Martin Banham 1998 The Cambridge Guide to Theatre New York Cambridge University Press Cf especially p 361 article on the Federal Street Theatre Frank Chouteau Brown The First Boston Theatre on Federal Street Built 1793 finally discontinued 1852 Charles Bulfinch Architect Old Time New England v 36 1945 1 7 Brooks McNamara The American Playhouse in the Eighteenth Century Cambridge Mass Harvard University Press 1969 pp 121 27 Douglass Shand Tucci 1999 Built in Boston City and Suburb 1800 2000 Amherst University of Massachusetts Press Cf p 209 Caleb Snow History of Boston 2nd ed 1828 Richard Stoddard A Reconstruction of Charles Bulfinch s First Federal Street Theatre Boston Winterthur Portfolio Vol 6 1970 pp 185 208 Richard Stoddard Aqueduct and Iron Curtain at the Federal Street Theatre Boston Theatre Survey VIII 1967 106 11 External links editBoston Public Library Federal Street Theatre Collection Harvard Theatre Collection Houghton Library Harvard College Library Early American playbills Guide includes playbills from the Federal St Theatre Paul Lewis 2012 The First Seasons of the Federal Street Theatre 1794 1798 Forgotten Chapters of Boston s Literary History an Exhibition at the Boston Public Library and Massachusetts Historical Society March 28 July 30 2012 Boston College Retrieved 2 April 2012 Object of the Month Massachusetts Historical Society May 2012 42 21 19 97 N 71 3 23 48 W 42 3555472 N 71 0565222 W 42 3555472 71 0565222 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federal Street Theatre amp oldid 1145168552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
