BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
TH-CBD_471 BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION Building Information Form Form No Area CBD NR Ind.#1H-56 ADDRESS 244-250 Tremont COR. NAME Wilbur Theatre / Ye Wilbur Theatre present original MAP No. 24N/12E SUB AREA Theatre building permit 4/26/13 DATE 1913-14 opening 4/19/1914 source (Photo) ARCHITECT Clarence H. Blackall source permit BUILDER Haynes Construction Ce. source.E. Medical Ctr. TYPE (residential) single double MNER Wilorigmatau pree presen PHOTOGRAPHS 3 5/4.3/6.79 Ward 3, Parcel#5645 UTV#19/329860/4690560 row 2-fam. 3-deck ten apt. (con-residential)_ theatre NO. OF STORIES (1st to cornice) 2 (equivalent in PLUS height to 3) ROOE flat cupola dormers - MATERIALS (Frame) clapboards shingles SCuCCO (Englishbon)tFIck asphalt asbestos alum/vinyl stone marble trifoncrete iron/steel/alum. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Symmetrical free-standing 3-bay Colonial Revival theatre.
Triple entrance portals marked by fluted Greek Ionic columns set in antis and supporting pedimented entablatures. Three arched, elongated second floor windows open onto decorative iron balcony; marble semi- circular tympanums carved with theatre masks. Above, Adamesque panels and marble plaque inscribed "Wilbur Theatre" followed by leafy modillion EXTERIOR ALTERATION mderate drastic comice and roof balustrade. CONDITION (good fair poor_ LOT AREA 10,400 sg. feet NOTEWORTHY SITE CHARACTERISTICS Small park at intersection of Tremont and Stuart directly to north: Music Hall adiacent te south and east. SIGNIFICANCE (cont'd on reverse) The Wilbur. Theatre is significant as the best Boston example of Colonial Revival theatre design, as the work of nationally prominent theatre (Map) architect Clarence Blackall, and as the scene of several premieres and many notable performances.
The Wilbur differs from other area 1, 19800 theatres in its free-standing plan and the simplicity of Blackall's eclectic design, NRI) June, 1979 MOV a combination of Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival motifs.
Fine detailing 9 1980 Moved; date if known Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Conservation Agricultural Education Architectural Exploration/ The Arts settlement Commerce Industry Communication Community/ Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ bumanitarian Iransportation development Significance (include explanation of themes checked above) includes the portals, copied directly from the 1837 Thomas Bailey Aldrich house Coo e peo ac , on Beacon Hill.O The well-preserved interior, which seats 1000, was designed Ior dramatic productions rather than spectacles and was praised for its intimate atmosphere, more like a conservative club or distinguished home than a theatre. Decorators were Pennell, Gibbs and Quiring, whose senior partner, H.B. Pennell, also worked on the Golonial, Shubert and Saxon/Majestic. Ornamental plastering was by John Bowen.
Clarence Blackall (1857-1942), senior partner in the Boston firm of Blackall, Clapp and Whittemore, designed 14 Boston theatres and was considered one of the most experienced U.S. theatre architects of his day. His other buildings in the theatre area include the Colonial, Music Hall/Metropolitan, Modern, Pilgrim/ Olympia, Little and White Buildings and Hotel Avery. Premieres at the Wilbur included pre-Broadway runs of "Our Town" and "Mary, Mary." In 1947, Marlon Brando became an overnight superstar ior his performance with Jessica Tandy in "A Streetcar Named Desire."5 The Wilbur was named for Arthur I. Wilbur (d. 1917), veteran Boston theatre manager, organizer of the Wilbur Opera Company and partner in the firm of Stair& Wilbur, which formed one of the largest U.S.
theatre chains.7 Wilbur was associated with the Shuberts in the erection of the Wilbür Theatre, which was built on the site of the Winthrop School for Girls. Preservation Consideration (accessíbility, re-use possibilities, capacity for public use and enjoyment, protection, utilities, context) Preserectrmended windatiservationiber Studye Boston city Landmark - the National Register (indiv, Cuanlet statuoethanten d edaltoeleethecolondacad conter 10-year lease began in 1969, at which time the managers restored the building to its 1914 appearance at a cost of $250,000. However, at the expiration of the lease the Jujamcyn Co. has decided not to renew, and Tufts has put the building up for sale. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) 1.
American Architect and Building News, vol 106, #2016, 8/12/1914 (plates and plans) Boston Sunday Globe, 4/19/1914 (illus. article on theatre) Boston Globe, 4/20/1914 (opening performance) Boston Transcript, 4/5/1913, 4/21/1914, 5/2/1914 and 4/1561939 5. Elllot Norton, Broadway Down East, p. 64,68-70, 108 6. - Douglass Tucci, "The Boston Rialto..." City Conservation Leagues 1977 7- New York Times, March 24, 1917 (obit. Arthur Wilbur) 8. Tobie Stein, unpublished manuscript on Wilbur Theatre (copy at Boston Landmarks Commission.) 9. Major Bibliographical References See continuation sheets, Section 9 UTM NOT VERIFIED AOTEAGE NOT VER'PED 10.
Geographical Data see individual and area forms Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name Boston South UMT References A 1,9 Zone Quadrangle scale 1"=25,000' 312994 0 Easting 4601650 Northing LILLL LILLL Zone Easting Northing -ULLILLi LILILIL FLJ LLLLLL LILLLL LLILLL GLi HLU LLLu LIILLL Verbal boundary description and justification The southern boundary of the Theatre Area starts at a oint on Washington St., 520' south of, the intersection of Kneeland & Washington. From this point it uns due west along an arbitrary straight Tine to a point on Charles St. South 442' south of Stuart treet. From thence it follows. Charles St. South one block north to the intersection of Stuart st., List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11.
Form Prepared By name/title Candace Jenkins, Registration Director ostol Fox Landmarks Commission organization Massachusetts Historical Commission street & number 294 Washington Street date telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston, MA 02108 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national .state local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according tothe criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.
State Historic Preservation Officer signature atma hWeslouski 10/20/80 title For HCRS use only I hereby certify tbat this property is included in the National Register till Reeper of the National Repister Attest: Katuch Andus Chief of Registration - date date date 12-17/80 12/4/80 GPO 938 835 Property Besten Sheatre Muttipl Resonce Auea State MA Suffolk Working Number Hl, 7,80, 2781 TECHNICAL DUE 1/1/8/ CONTROL Photos Maps 13 This muttipte resounce area is significant fer the quality s' its architectne HISTORIAN nd foi its assoccalion wilh the development of the important boston music industu darouth &f the theater /maire house industry. Thedrstriets and individual rüldings accept chieved sighificanee between c.1890ad the 1930s - contained in this m. R.A.
ou Pattice Andus igrificont groups f lab 9th/ealy 20thcent- commercial brüldings, therenter 1/4/80 ;the musce industiy (especiall, piano manufacturing) and ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pamples fevery laind of theater that develgped in Beston in this peried. This is a good multiple esource homination-they hove incuded all the reguired calegores guyormalion. ARCHEOLOGIST OTHER HAER Inventory. Review REVIEW UNITCHIEF BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.2.82 Send-back Re-submit Entered DEC 9.1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service wilbur 978 TOMY AWARD BEST MUSICAL "AINT MISBEHAVIN* FEB 23- APRIL 14 Wilhur Theater Baster Theater MRA Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000272