Melodeon (Boston, Massachusetts) facts for kids

The Melodeon was a popular place in Boston, Massachusetts, where people went to enjoy shows and events. It was open from 1839 to around 1870. You could find it on Washington Street.

At the Melodeon, there were all sorts of performances. People came to listen to music concerts, hear interesting lectures, attend church services, join conferences, see cool visual displays, and enjoy other fun entertainments.

Charlotte Cushman, a famous actress

Theodore Parker, a well-known speaker

Donetti's Comic Troupe of Trained Animals, 1852

Lola Montez, a dancer and actress, 1851

William Makepeace Thackeray, a famous writer

Professor Anderson, the "Wizard of the North"

History of the Melodeon

The building where the Melodeon was located had a history even before it became the Melodeon. It used to be a theater called the Lion Theatre from 1836 to 1839. After that, it was known as the Mechanics Institute for a short time in 1839.

Different groups and people managed the Melodeon over the years. One of the first was the Handel and Haydn Society, a famous music group, in 1839. Later, people like Leander Rodney and E. Warden took charge. For a while in 1857, it was even called "The Melodeon Varieties."

Exciting Shows and Events

The Melodeon was a busy place, hosting many different kinds of shows. From music to magic, there was always something new to see!

Shows in the 1830s and 1840s

In its early years, the Melodeon was a hub for music.

• In 1839, the Handel and Haydn Society performed. They were a very popular music group.
• The "Rainer Family," also known as Tyrolese minstrels, gave musical performances in 1840.
• Famous singers and musicians like Mr. Braham and Mr. Henry Phillips performed.
• In 1844, the amazing violinist Ole Bull played concerts.
• Well-known actors like William Charles Macready and Charlotte Cushman also appeared on stage.
• The Hutchinson Family Singers, a famous singing group, performed in 1846.
• In 1849, Theodore Parker, a well-known speaker, gave a sermon about the "Spiritual Condition of Boston."

Shows in the 1850s

The 1850s brought even more variety to the Melodeon's stage.

• In 1850, there were "Optical wonders," which were like early slide shows with "dissolving views" and "magnifying daguerreotypes" (an early type of photograph).
• A famous magician known as "Professor Anderson, the wizard of the North," amazed audiences in 1852.
• The very unusual "Donetti's Comic Troupe of Acting Monkeys" also performed that year!
• In 1855, the Melodeon hosted the New England Anti-Slavery Convention. This was an important meeting where people spoke out against slavery.
• The famous writer William Makepeace Thackeray gave lectures in 1855.
• In 1857, Lola Montez, a well-known dancer and actress, performed.

Shows in the 1860s

Even as the Melodeon neared the end of its time, it continued to host interesting events.

• In 1862, the French Zouaves, a group of soldiers known for their unique uniforms and drills, performed.
• The Stereopticon, a device that projected images, was also shown.
• The talented pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk played music by famous composers like Chopin in 1862.
• In 1865, A. Bronson Alcott, a famous American writer and educator, gave a presentation.

Images for kids

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  Charlotte Cushman, a famous actress

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  Theodore Parker, a well-known speaker

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  Donetti's Comic Troupe of Trained Animals, 1852

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  Lola Montez, a dancer and actress, 1851

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  William Makepeace Thackeray, a famous writer

• 

  Professor Anderson, the "Wizard of the North"