Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Colonial Theatre officially opened its doors in Boston with the hit Broadway play BEN-HUR on December 20, 1900.  An adaptation of the Lew Wallace novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the play was written by Marc Klaw and Abraham Erlanger and starred William Farnum and William S. Hart. It had been a big hit in New York, and Boston was going to celebrate its arrival to the city by welcoming it to a brand new theatre. 

With the production scheduled to open in late 1900, Colonial architect Clarence H. Blackall wasted no time, and construction began on July 12, 1899. Blackall wanted the theatre to have every modern convenience - and also be a great theatre-going experience for massive productions like BEN-HUR. He designed the stage to be 45 feet deep and to hold up to 60 tons of scenery, and ensured that every seat in the house would have a good view.

BEN-HUR was sure to be a spectacle for Boston audiences; it operated with a cast and crew of 350 people and featured eight live horses on stage in full gallop during the chariot race scene. It cost $91,000 to produce and came from New York on seventeen railroad cars. 

When December 20 came, there wasn't an empty seat in the theatre. In fact, over 50 people had stood outside in the cold for more than 40 hours waiting for a $2 ticket to the show. Boston's elite were in attendance, including Massachusetts Governor and his guest, Winston Churchill! The evening was a great success, with critics raving about both the show and the venue. The production went on to run for for 139 performances in Boston. 

The Colonial has been in operation ever since that first performance in 1900. As Boston's longest continuously operating theatre, the Colonial is and always will be a theatre for the community. 

Photo 1: Souvenir program
Photo 2-3: Colonial program
Photo 4-6: Souvenir program