Leland Powers School

Leland Powers School
c. 1916
Former names
School of Elocution (1879-1943)
TypePrivate
Active1904–1979
PresidentLeland Powers
Location, ,
42°20′16″N 71°05′57″W / 42.3378°N 71.0992°W / 42.3378; -71.0992

The Leland Powers School, also known as the Leland Powers School of Communication, Leland Powers School of Radio, Theatre, and Television, Leland Powers Theatre School, the Leland Powers School of Expression, Leland Powers School of the Spoken Word, and originally called the Leland Powers School of Elocution, was originally located on Massachusetts Avenue in the South End. A purpose-built building on Evans Way, behind the Museum of Fine Arts was constructed in 1914. This building was taken by eminent domain in the 1970s. The school moved three more times - 2001 Beacon Street, Cleveland Circle, 10 Charlesgate East in the Back Bay, and 70 Brookline Avenue, adjacent Fenway Park before it closed in 1979. Speaker and author Leland Powers founded the school in 1904.[1] The school educated several notable speakers and authors of the early 20th century, including drama educator T. Earl Pardoe, actress Reta Shaw, and journalist Wendall Woodbury.[2]

  1. ^ Hesperides. (2007) A Handbook of American Private Schools. Read Books. p 236. ISBN 978-1406766318
  2. ^ Tibbetts, M.M. (1954) Random recollections: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Leland Powers School, 1904-1954. Boston: Leland Powers School.