National Theatre (Boston, 1836)

Not to be confused with National Theatre, Boston (1911).
The National Theatre, corner Portland and Traverse Street, West End, Boston, ca.1860

The National Theatre (1836-1863) was a theatre in the West End of Boston, Massachusetts, in the mid-19th century.[1][2] William Pelby established the enterprise in 1836, and presented productions of "original pieces, and the efforts of a well selected stock company, which, with few exceptions, have been American. The scenery is of the highest order, and the business of the stage well directed. Mr C.A. Eaton made his debut at this theatre, and here Mr. F.S. Hill's early labors were eminently successful. Mr. J.S. Jones has written and produced on this stage thirty pieces, embracing every department except tragedy."[3] William Washburn designed the building, erected on the site of the former Warren Theatre. Performers at the National included Edwin Adams, Marietta Zanfretta, Jean Margaret Davenport,[4] Julia Dean, Jonathan Harrington, W.H. Smith,[5] Mary Ann Vincent, and Billy Whitlock. In 1852 the theatre burnt down, and was rebuilt.[6] In 1863 the building was again destroyed by fire.[7]

  1. ^ Boston Almanac. 1841.
  2. ^ Boston Directory. 1862.
  3. ^ Abel Bowen (1838), Bowen's Picture of Boston (3rd ed.), Boston: Otis, Broaders and Company, OL 6905756M
  4. ^ Samuel Adams Drake (1873), Old landmarks and historic personages of Boston, Boston: James R. Osgood and Co., OCLC 3012180, OL 6905745M
  5. ^ John W. Frick (2003), Theatre, culture and temperance reform in nineteenth-century America, Cambridge, U.K: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521817781
  6. ^ On April 22, 1852, the National was "entirely destroyed by fire." cf. Boston Almanac. 1853.
  7. ^ The National burned down on March 24, 1863. Its remaining "stage fixtures, to a considerable extent, had been removed to the new Tremont Theatre upon the opening of that house in the early part of 1863." cf. Winsor. 1886