National Theatre (Boston, 1911)

{{Distinguish|National Theatre, Boston (1836)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

The National Theatre (1911-1978) of Boston, Massachusetts, was a 3,500-seat multipurpose auditorium on Tremont Street in the South End.{{cite book |quote=National Theatre, no.535 Tremont St. |title=Boston Register and Business Directory |year= 1921 }} It functioned as a cinema, lecture hall, and stage. Performers included Jehovah's Witness founder Joseph F. Rutherford{{citation |title=Boston Globe |date= Dec 17, 1920}} and "big-name entertainers like Duke Ellington and Ray Bolger."{{cite news |author=Maureen Dezell |title=National: bringing the house down? |work=Boston Globe |date= June 16, 1995 |page= 61}} Movie screenings included The Battle of Gettysburg in 1913.{{citation |title=Moving Picture World |date= July 5, 1913 }} The English High School held graduation exercises in the National.{{citation |title=Boston Daily Globe |date=June 28, 1918 }} Around 1919 it was known as the "Waldorf Theater."{{Citation |publisher = Arcadia Publishing |isbn = 9780738539492 |title = Boston's South End |author = Anthony Mitchell Sammarco |date = 2006 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/bostonssouthendm00anth }} In 1992, it was purchased by Philip Smith.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-11-fi-2994-story.html Los Angeles Times: "General Cinema More Wall St. Than Hollywood : Investments Pay Off Handsomely for Bottler and Theater-Chain Operator" by Kathryn Harris] August 11, 1985

The space operated "intermittently after World War II for plays and movies."{{citation |author=Maureen Dezell |title=City to study theater revamp at BCA |work= Boston Globe |date= October 28, 1994 |page= 50}} Among the audience members: clothing designer Joseph Abboud.{{citation |author=Rhonda Stewart |title=Abboud had early designs on his career |work=Boston Globe |date= November 25, 2004 }} The National closed in 1978. The Boston Center for the Arts oversaw the property thereafter, when it was subject to numerous plans for redevelopment.{{citation |author=Christine Temin |title=BCA still building, still struggling |work= Boston Globe |date= October 4, 1981 }}{{citation |title=Striar aims to reopen National by '87 |work= Boston Globe |date= April 3, 1986 |page= 74 }}{{citation |author=Jeff McLaughlin |title=Arts Center to renovate historic theater |work= Boston Globe |date= September 26, 1986 |page= 47}}{{Citation |date = 1991 |author = Boston Center for the Arts |title = Preliminary report on site development opportunities |ol = 24634625M}} The building existed until 1997, when it was demolished.{{citation |title=Boston Globe |date= August 8, 1996 }}{{citation |author=Patti Hartigan |title=Druker Co. will develop BCA site |work= Boston Globe |date= February 27, 1998 }}