Keith's Theatre (Boston) facts for kids

Keith's Theatre, Tremont Street, Boston, around 1906.

B.F. Keith's Theatre was a very popular entertainment spot in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1894 to 1928. It was a special kind of theatre called a vaudeville playhouse. This meant it showed many different types of acts, like singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, and even early movies!

The theatre was owned and run by a man named B.F. Keith. It was located right across from a famous park called Boston Common, in an area of the city known for its many theatres. You could enter the theatre from two different streets: Tremont Street and Washington Street. Important people who helped run the theatre included B.F. Keith himself, along with E.F. Albee and H.E. Gustin. An artist named Virgilio Tojetti painted some of the beautiful decorations inside the building. Years later, in 1939, the theatre was changed into a movie house and was called the Normandie.

What Kind of Shows Did B.F. Keith's Theatre Have?

B.F. Keith's Theatre was known for its exciting variety of performances. People could see many different acts on stage, making each visit a new experience.

Live Performances and Music

• The Fadettes of Boston were a very popular all-female orchestra that performed at the theatre. They were known for their talented musicianship and lively shows.

Early Movies and Moving Pictures

B.F. Keith's Theatre was also one of the first places where people could see moving pictures! Before movies became common, these theatres showed new inventions that amazed audiences.

• The Edison Vitascope was one of the first movie projectors ever invented. It allowed audiences to see short films projected onto a screen.
• The Lumière Cinematograph was another early movie projector and camera created by two French brothers. It also showed short, silent films, giving people a glimpse into the future of entertainment.

Images for kids

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  A look inside Keith's Theatre around 1894, showing its grand design.

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  An advertisement for Keith's Theatre from 1897, showing what was playing.

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  A postcard view of Keith's Theatre at night, around the early 1900s.

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  A small part of a 1911 map of Boston, pointing out where Keith's Theatre was located.

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  An advertisement from 1917 for performers like Clark & Bergman, Belle Baker, and Adelaide & J.J. Hughes.