Strand Theatre (Dorchester, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Strand Theatre is a restored vaudeville house located in Uphams Corner
in Dorchester, Massachusetts
.
house. It opened on the evening of November 11, 1918, billed as Dorchester's million dollar movie palace, with a double feature -- Queen of the Sea, starring Annette Kellerman
, and Out of a Clear Sky, starring Marguerite Clark, with extra added attraction Miss Emilie Earle, the songstress de luxe. It closed in 1960 due to disrepair, only to be reopened again in 1979 after the city of Boston
made extensive renovations. The theater was designed by Funk and Wilcox in Boston and built by McGahey and O'Connor. The theater boasted the first theater organ in New England which reportedly cost $75,000. It hosted Chaminade Opera Group in 1990 under the direction of Florence Louise Pettitt
.
. In March of 2006, the Strand closed its doors again for more improvements, including upgrading the safety and fire systems and renovating the box office and dressing rooms. In July of 2008, the Strand's stage floor and orchestra pit were replaced and repairs were made to the facade and marquee. On January 9, 2007, Mayor Thomas Menino
gave his State of the City Address
from the stage of the Strand Theatre to help bring attention to restoration efforts and help revive the Strand's prominence in the city of Boston.
Uphams Corner
Uphams Corner is a section of Dorchester, the largest neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The intersection of Dudley Street and Columbia Road is the heart of Uphams Corner, and one of Dorchester's main business districts. Uphams Corner is served by several bus lines and the MBTA's...
in Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
.
History
The Strand was built in 1918 as a movie and vaudevilleVaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
house. It opened on the evening of November 11, 1918, billed as Dorchester's million dollar movie palace, with a double feature -- Queen of the Sea, starring Annette Kellerman
Annette Kellerman
Annette Marie Sarah Kellerman was an Australian professional swimmer, vaudeville and film star, and writer...
, and Out of a Clear Sky, starring Marguerite Clark, with extra added attraction Miss Emilie Earle, the songstress de luxe. It closed in 1960 due to disrepair, only to be reopened again in 1979 after the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
made extensive renovations. The theater was designed by Funk and Wilcox in Boston and built by McGahey and O'Connor. The theater boasted the first theater organ in New England which reportedly cost $75,000. It hosted Chaminade Opera Group in 1990 under the direction of Florence Louise Pettitt
Florence Louise Pettitt
Louise Pettitt , born Florence Louise Staples, was one of the first American female opera conductors. For over forty years, she simultaneously served as orchestral conductor, dramatic director, and vocal director for the Chaminade Opera Group, which she founded in 1959...
.
Restoration Efforts
In 2005, the Strand closed for six months for repairs, including upgrading the electrical switch gear, replacing 300 seats in the orchestra section, as well as cleaning and repairing the remaining 1,100 seats. These repairs were made in part by a $6 million, four-year capital investment from the city of BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. In March of 2006, the Strand closed its doors again for more improvements, including upgrading the safety and fire systems and renovating the box office and dressing rooms. In July of 2008, the Strand's stage floor and orchestra pit were replaced and repairs were made to the facade and marquee. On January 9, 2007, Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
gave his State of the City Address
State of the City Address
The State of the City Address - or State of the City Speech - is a speech customarily given once each year by the mayors of many cities in the United States and Canada. Other international cities have also adopted the tradition; for example, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg has delivered a State...
from the stage of the Strand Theatre to help bring attention to restoration efforts and help revive the Strand's prominence in the city of Boston.
External links
- http://www.cityofboston.gov/arts/theatre/strand.asp
- http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=81
- http://www.cityofboston.gov/arts/theatre/strand.asp
- http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=81]
- http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-8247983.html