Everett Square Theater, 1915, Hyde Park, MA
1915 - The Everett Square Theatre was built as a moving picture house. Harry M. Ramsay designed the theater to the Littlefield Trust, who was the original owner. The theater cost $65,00 seating 798 people! The theater hosted live vaudeville, musical, and other performances for the M&P circuit. Due to decline of the theater space in the 20th century in closed its doors in the 1980s.
Famous comedians, actors and musicians have performed at the theather, including famed Milton Berle who played on May 25th, 1925, he then signed his signature on the backstage wall, which remains today.
1933- The street was renamed from Everett Square to Logan Square, and the following year the theater was renamed, the Fairmount Theatre.
Mid-1940s- the theater stopped the live performances and only showed motion pictures.
December 26, 1969- The Everett Square reopened as the Nu Pixie Cinema. The new owner described it as a "pixie" cinema, and named it after the nickname, due to having less than a 1,000 seat maxi-cinema, but more than a 200 seat mini-cinema.
1980s- It was renamed Premiere Performances bringing live shows back to the building. But, a few years later the theater part was cancelled, due to seating and needing for more space for guests. and it was turned into an auction house. Shortly there after, it was closed and has been abandon since.
1986- A group of Hyde Park business owners purchased the theater intending to restore and reopen it. They formed Showtime Restoration Volunteers and tried to raise funds for restoration but attempts fell unsuccessful.
2008- Hyde Park Main Streets and Historic Boston Inc. (HBI) helped the owners and were able to get a $30,000 grant to replicate the original sign and restore the theater’s foyer. The foyer is being used to create a space for temporary art installations, displays, and events that will help revive awareness of the theater space and build support for its eventual rehabilitation. A full restoration is estimated to cost between $5 and $10 million.
This theatre is rumored to be haunted; sources says a group of theatergoers was massacred on the balcony and people have reported blinking lights, unexplained noises and feelings of uneasiness, as if someone or something is present inside the building.
All information and pictures are from https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2014/08/05/everett-square-theatre/ and google images of Everett Square Theater
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