Howard Athenaeum

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The Howard Athenaeum (1845-1953) was often called the Old Howard. It was originally the site of a Millerite temple that was rebuilt as a playhouse in 1845. This building burned down a few months later and a new structure was rebuilt designed by Isaish Rogers in a Gothic style. It became very famous for its opera productions, and also hosted plays and ballets. It gradually lost its audience to other theatres and changed over to burlesque in the early twentieth century.

From the description of Howard Athenaeum account books, 1873-1876. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 612801261

Built by Isaiah Rogers in 1845, the Howard Athenaeum was famous for its opera and its theater productions until it degenerated into burlesque during the 1920's. Known by many Bostonians as the "Old Howard", the theater was razed in 1953.

From the description of Programs, 1847-1892. (Boston Athenaeum). WorldCat record id: 35553652

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives. North American 19th century theatre broadside collection, 1850-1867. George Mason University, Fenwick Library
referencedIn Boston theater watercolors and printed materials, 1797-1886 and undated. Houghton Library
creatorOf Howard Athenaeum. Programs, 1847-1892. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Howard Athenaeum. Howard Athenaeum account books, 1873-1876. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Shwachman, Irene,. [Photographs of Boston, Massachusetts] [graphic] / Irene Shwachman. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Strand (N.Y.),. Portraits of female burlesque entertainers, 1925-1946. Houghton Library
referencedIn Rogers Memorial Collection: Musical and theatrical programs, 1794-1937 (inclusive), 1845-1937 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Rickards, A. H.,. [Howard Athenaeum, Howard Street, Boston, Mass.] [graphic] Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Boston theater watercolors and printed materials, 1797-1886 and undated. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Theatrical scrapbook collection, 1791-1967. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Circus playbills, programs, and other printed material, 1851-1918. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Davenport, Fanny, 1850-1898. Fanny Davenport collection, [1870s]-[1890s] Princeton University Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Davenport, Fanny, 1850-1898. person
associatedWith George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 person
associatedWith Shwachman, Irene, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts--Boston
Subject
Opera programs
Playbills
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1873

Active 1876

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