The Park Square Theatre was a theatre in Park Square in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, designed by architect

Clarence Blackall Clarence Howard Blackall (February 3, 1857 – March 5, 1942) was an American architect who is estimated to have designed 300 theatres. Life and career Blackall was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1857. He attended college at the University of Ill ...

. It opened January 19, 1914, as the Cort Theatre, named for impresario John Cort. It was his first theatrical venue in Boston. In August 1915 the Cort Theatre was purchased by

Archibald Archibald is a masculine given name, composed of the Germanic elements '' erchan'' (with an original meaning of "genuine" or "precious") and ''bald'' meaning "bold". Medieval forms include Old High German and Anglo-Saxon . Erkanbald, bishop of ...

and

Edgar Selwyn Edgar Selwyn (October 20, 1875 – February 13, 1944) was a prominent figure in American theatre and film in the first half of the 20th century. An actor, playwright, theatre director, director and theatrical producer, producer on Broadway ( ...

and renamed the Park Square Theatre."Park Sq. Theatre renamed Selwyn after its owners." Boston Globe, June 11, 1921 In 1921 it was renamed the Selwyn Theatre, one of many Selwyn theatres in the United States. In time the building was replaced by a parking garage.

Shows

The Cort Theatre opened Monday, January 19, 1914, with the musical comedy, ''When Dreams Come True''.

Joseph Santley Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatre, musical theatre, theatrical plays motion pictures and tele ...

starred, reprising his role in the Broadway production. Other shows include the following: * '' Twin Beds'' * James Forbes' ''The Show Shop'', with George Sidney and

Zelda Sears Zelda Sears (née Paldi; January 21, 1873 – February 19, 1935) was an American actress, screenwriter, novelist and businesswoman. Early life and background She was born as Zelda Paldi near Brockway Township, St. Clair County, Michigan, into ...

* Roi Cooper Megrue's ''Under Fire'', with William CourtenayBoston Globe, Feb. 4, 1916 * Edgar Selwyn's ''Rolling Stones'' *

Jane Cowl Jane Cowl (December 14, 1883 – June 22, 1950) was an American film and stage actress and playwright "notorious for playing lachrymose parts". Actress Jane Russell was named in Cowl's honor. Biography Cowl was born Jane Bailey in Boston, Mas ...

and

Jane Murfin Jane Murfin (October 27, 1884 – August 10, 1955) was an American playwright and screenwriter. The author of several successful plays, she wrote some of them with actress Jane Cowl—most notably '' Smilin' Through'' (1919), which was adapted ...

's ''Lilac Time'' *

Avery Hopwood James Avery Hopwood (May 28, 1882 – July 1, 1928) was an American playwright of the Jazz Age. He had four plays running simultaneously on Broadway in 1920. Early life Hopwood was born to James and Jule Pendergast Hopwood on May 28, 1882 ...

's ''Fair and Warmer'' * ''The Naughty Wife'', with Charles Cherry * George V. Hobart's '' Buddies''Boston Globe, Oct. 22, 1919 * Edgar Selwyn and Channing Pollock's ''The Crowded Hour'', with Wilette Kershaw *

Eugene Walter Eugene Ferdinand Walter, Jr. (November 30, 1921 – March 29, 1998) was an American screenwriter, poet, short-story author, actor, puppeteer, gourmet chef, cryptographer, translator, editor, costume designer and well-known raconteur. During his y ...

's ''The Challenge'', with

Holbrook Blinn Holbrook Blinn was an American stage and film actor. Early years Blinn was the son of Civil War veteran Col. Charles Blinn and actress Nellie Holbrook-Blinn. He was born in San Francisco and attended Stanford University before he began a career ...

* ''Nightie Night'', with Francis Byrne * Roi Cooper Megrue's ''T for 3'', with

Arthur Byron Arthur William Byron (April 3, 1872 – July 16, 1943) was an American actor. who played a mixture of British and American roles in films. Early years Byron was the son of actors Kate Crehan and Oliver Doud Byron. He was a nephew of the stage ...

* ''The Right Girl'', with Charles PurcellBoston Globe, June 13, 1921

Gallery

File:1915 Cort theatre BostonGlobe Feb27.png, February 1915 ad Image:1915 ParkSq theatre BostonDailyGlobe Dec19.png, December 1915 ad Image:1916 ParkSq theatre BostonGlobe Feb4.png, 1916 ad Image:1917 ParkSq theatre BostonGlobe Oct1.png, 1917 ad Image:1919 ParkSq theatre BostonGlobe Oct22.png, 1919 ad Image:1921 ParkSquare theatre BostonGlobe June13.png, June 1921 ad File:1921 SelwynTheatre BostonGlobe Sept9.png, September 1921 ad

References

External links

* Library of Congress
Drawing of Selwyn's Park Sq. Theatre
formerly Cort Theatre, Providence St. and Park Sq., Boston, Massachusetts. 1922. * Bostonian Society: *
Photo of Selwyn Theatre
Park Square, Boston, ca.1925 *
Photo of Selwyn Theatre
Columbus Avenue and Park Square, Boston, ca.1925 *
Photo of Selwyn Theatre
Park Square, Boston, ca.1925 {{Boston theatres Former theatres in Boston 1914 establishments in Massachusetts Cultural history of Boston 20th century in Boston Back Bay, Boston Event venues established in 1914