^As of 1980: "The oldest playhouse in Boston still operating as a theater has seen better days. The State, now a Combat Zone flagship for porn films, opened in 1879 as the Park Theater. It was built by famous actress Lotta Crabtree who also had constructed a private tunnel from the theater to the nearby hotel where she lived. Edwin Booth and Richard Mansfield were among the great stars who played the theater as did Jeanne Eagels in her famous role of Sadie Thompson in 'Rain.' The theater did a slow slide into burlesque where Gypsy Rose Lee made her only local strips, and into second runs and down to porn." cf. George McKinnon. "A born-again Wilbur will celebrate success." Boston Globe, January 20, 1980