Immigrant NeighborhoodSocial & Religious InstitutionsWomen A black and white photo that has been colorized of a woman sitting in the grass in front of a brick building.

Ruth Roman

Ruth Roman (1922-1999) was raised in the West End, her Jewish-Lithuanian family moving from tenement to tenement. Her fledgling interest in acting was nurtured at the Elizabeth Peabody Settlement House in the West End, where Ruth’s flare for the dramatics led to leading roles at its playhouse. While she is today remembered as a Hollywood film star – with standout roles in Lightning Strikes Twice (1951), Strangers on a Train (1951), and Tomorrow Is Another Day (1951) – the roots of her career can be found in the West End neighborhood.

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Art & LiteratureImmigrant NeighborhoodNeighborhood LifeSocial & Religious InstitutionsWest Boston Photograph of a long four story stone building with store fronts on the street level

The Boston Museum: A Pioneer in Boston’s Early Live Entertainment Scene

In an age of ongoing Puritan restrictions on theatrical shows, Moses Kimball founded the Boston Museum as a venue which bowed to the cultural aspirations and respectability of mid-19th Century Boston, but at the same time gave the people what they wanted; live performances. Before the renowned Howard Athenaeum (and later the Old Howard) had opened its doors across the square, the Boston Museum attracted large audiences to the Scollay Square area to witness music, drama, and even moral instruction on stage.

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