The Old Howard Theater has a famous (and infamous!) legacy within Boston’s dramaturgical history. The building began in 1841 as a tentstyle tabernacle for the Millerite sect, a group that prophesied the world’s end in 1844. When the prediction failed, the property was sold and transformed into the Howard Athenaeum, opening in October 1845. A devastating fire in February 1846 destroyed the structure, which was then rebuilt using Quincy granite in a striking Gothic Revival design, and reopened in October 1846.
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Though only a few artifacts (though many memories!) still survive today, you can join the West End Museum on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m. for “The Old Howard Theater: From Virtuoso to Vaudeville and Vice” to honor the indomitable spirit and the audacious legacy of the Old Howard Theatre! This one-of-a-kind performance will feature inimitable vocalist Dan Gabel, with Josiah Reibstein and the Hubtones, paying homage to the unforgettable acts that once graced its stage, and give you an intimate look at the always fascinating, sometimes surprising, and occasionally sordid stories behind the theater’s history—you won’t want to miss it!