Austin and Stone's Dime Museum (ca.1880s-1900s) of
Boston, Massachusetts, was an entertainment emporium in
Scollay Square
300px, Scollay Square, Boston, 19th century (after September 1880)
350px, Scollay Square, Decoration Day, 19th century (after September 1880)
Scollay Square (c. 1838–1962) was a vibrant city square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was na ...
(no.4
Tremont Row
Tremont Row (1830s-1920s) in Boston, Massachusetts, was a short street that flourished in the 19th and early-20th centuries. It was located near the intersection of Court, Tremont, and Cambridge streets, in today's Government Center area. It exi ...
), established by William Austin and Frank Stone. It featured a freak show as well as dancing girls for entertainment. The freak show and other exhibits such as two-headed animals cost ten cents, while admission to the girlie show cost an additional
dime. Performers included William S. Hutchings, the "lightning calculator."
[William S. Hutchings (1832-1911). New York Times, August 26, 1911] Comedian
Fred Allen
John Florence Sullivan (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956), known professionally as Fred Allen, was an American comedian. His absurdist, topically pointed radio program ''The Fred Allen Show'' (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and for ...
wrote about the Museum in his memoir, ''
Much Ado About Me.''
References
Images
Image:1889 Austin Stones BostonGlobe Feb3.png, Advertisement, "international assemblage of giants," 1889
Image:1893 Austin Stones BostonDailyGlobe 15Feb.png, Advertisement, "Prof. Welton's performing cats," 1893
Image:1894 Austin Stone BostonDailyGlobe 3January.png, Advertisement, 1894
Image:1896 PembertonSq Boston map byStadly BPL 12479 detail.png, Detail of 1896 map of Boston, showing Austin & Stone's Museum near Howard St.
Image:Austin Stone Boston USA ca1900.png
External links
Fred Allen's Memoirs of Scollay Square* Bostonian Society
Photograph of 3-7 Tremont Row ca. 1908-1912
Government Center, Boston
Former theatres in Boston
19th century in Boston
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