The West End Museum Announces New Events: Talk by Author Lizabeth Cohen & Musical Performance by the Old Howard Troupe

Boston, MA–The West End Museum is proud to host the following educational and entertaining events. Pre-registration is required for all three events at thewestendmuseum.org.

Lizabeth Cohen: Saving America’s Cities
February 4 @7PM; $10 / Free to Museum Members; Pre-registration required at thewestendmuseum.org
Trident Booksellers will facilitate book sales at event for author signing

Prizewinning historian and author Lizabeth Cohen will discuss her new book, “Saving America’s Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age.” Cohen examines Logue’s work in urban redevelopment during the three decades following WWII in: New Haven during the 1950s, Boston during the 1960s (when he headed the Boston Redevelopment Authority), and New York State from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s. Urban renewal in this era has acquired a very poor reputation, much of it deserved, but it was not an unchanging story of urban destruction. After disasters like the demolition of Boston’s West End, there were improvements in approach over time and even some progressive goals, such as: creating more socially mixed communities, learning to negotiate with communities, pressuring suburbs to share the burdens of urban inequality, and holding the federal government responsible for funding more affordable housing, rather than depending mostly on the private sector. (Media note: Download hi-res images here.)

105th Anniversary Screening of “Birth of a Nation” with Discussion
February 8 @ 4PM; $10 / Free to Museum Members; Pre-registration required by phone at 617-723-2125
Light refreshments will be served

First shown on February 8, 1915, “Birth of a Nation” is one of the most iconic and influential films in U.S. history, combining a multitude of innovations in filmography and storytelling with a message of revisionist propaganda that contributed to the renewal of the Klu Klux Klan. It is the first ever film to: comprise 12-reels, have a full musical score played by an orchestra, feature shots like the close-up and fade-out. African Americans in Boston protested the film’s portrayal of the Klan as a heroic force for good, but white Bostonians flocked to the film in droves. In 1992, the Library of Congress preserved the film as a significant piece of U.S. history. (Media note: Download hi-res images here.)

An English Music Hall Night with The Old Howard Troupe
February 14 @7:30PM; $10 / $5 Museum Members; Pre-registration required at thewestendmuseum.org

The Old Howard Troupe takes its name from the renowned Howard Athenaeum in old Scollay Square, affectionately known the world over as “The Old Howard.” The Troupe’s veteran artistes revive the experience of the old English music hall for the enjoyment of modern audiences. Their over-the-top stage costumes span the heyday era of this British theatrical genre, from Victorian to late Edwardian (just on the verge of the flapper era). The Troupe performs classic songs like “Let Me Call you Sweetheart” and “Daisy Bell” as well as lesser-known tunes with irresistible choruses such as “A Little Bit of Cucumber” and “I’ve Had a Glass of Gin.” Many songs feature tongue-in-cheek humor, and audience members are invited to sing along on the choruses. This vintage entertainment is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. (Media note: Download hi-res images here.)

About the West End Museum:
The West End Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End  neighborhood. The Museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Last Tenement,” highlights the immigrant history of the neighborhood through its decimation under Urban Renewal in 1959; two additional galleries feature rotating exhibits. The Museum is located  near North Station at 150 Staniford St. Suite 7. Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm; Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm. Admission is free.