The Wilbur Theatre is a historic performing arts theater at 244–250 Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wilbur Theatre originally opened in 1914, but underwent renovations in 2008. The Wilbur Theatre sits in the heart of Boston's historic theater district and is known for hosting live comedy and music.
 The Wilbur, 2009 | |
 | |
| Address | 244–250 Tremont Street Boston, Massachusetts United States |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,093, (1,200 General Admission)[citation needed] |
| Current use | Comedy and music venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1913 |
| Architect | Blackall, Clarence H.; Haynes Construction Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Bill Blumenreich | |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Coordinates | 42°21′2″N 71°3′56″W / 42.35056°N 71.06556°W |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Boston Theatre MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000443[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1980 |
The venue seats 1,093,[citation needed] but the main floor (orchestra level) has removable tables and seating, to create a general admission standing room (bringing capacity to 1,200).[citation needed] It features basic concessions, including a full bar, on each of the three floors (Orchestra, Mezzanine, Balcony).
History
editClarence Blackall built the theater in 1913, and it was opened the following year. The Wilbur was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and designated as a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1987.
In 1998 SFX Entertainment (now Live Nation) bought the Boston theater properties of Jon B. Platt, which included the lease on the Wilbur.[2] The lease ended in 2006.[3]
In 2007 the theater was put on the market.[4] Bill Blumenreich, a former owner of the Comedy Connection[5][6] in Quincy Market, leased the building in 2008.[7][6] The theater continues to regularly host comedic and musical acts, as well as other events.[8]
Comedy specials
editThe following specials were filmed at the Wilbur Theatre:
| Comic | Special title | Network | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Silverman | Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love[9] | HBO | May 27, 2023 |
| Taylor Tomlinson | Look At You | Netflix | March 8, 2022 |
| Jim Jefferies | Intolerant | Netflix | June 24, 2020 |
| Katya Zamolodchikova | Katya: Help Me I'm Dying | Amazon Prime | December 12, 2019 |
| Joe Rogan | Strange Times[10] | Netflix | October 2, 2018 |
| Norm Macdonald | Hitler's Dog, Gossip, and Trickery[11] | Netflix | May 9. 2017 |
| Dana Carvey | Straight White Male, 60[12] | Netflix | November 4, 2016 |
| Tig Notaro | Boyish Girl Interrupted[13] | HBO | August 22, 2015 |
| Jim Jefferies | BARE[14] | Netflix | August 29, 2014 |
| Jim Gaffigan | Obsessed[15] | Comedy Central | April 27, 2014 |
| Tom Green | Tom Green Live[16] | Showtime | 2012 |
| Gary Gulman | In This Economy?[17] | Comedy Central | September 1, 2012 |
| Kathy Griffin | Gurrl Down[18] | Bravo! | June 22, 2011 |
| Bruce Bruce | Losin' It[19] | Showtime | February 26, 2011 |
| David Cross | Bigger & Blackerer[20] | Sub Pop Records | May 25, 2010 |
| Craig Ferguson | A Wee Bit o' Revolution[21] | Comedy Central | March 22, 2009 |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ Bound for Boston: SFX subsidiary gains legit house American Artists
- ^ The Wilbur Theatre is up for Sale
- ^ Palmer Jr, Thomas C. (August 16, 2007). "Next act awaits the Wilbur Theatre". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Palmer Jr, Thomas C. (March 12, 2008). "Comedy club owner to lease the Wilbur". The Boston Globe.
- ^ a b Kandarian, Paul E. (May 18, 2014). "At the helm of the Wilbur Theatre". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
- ^ "Wilbur Theatre gets its acts together - BostonHerald.com". www.bostonherald.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-05.
- ^ "The Wilbur – Boston". thewilbur.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
- ^ Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love (2023), retrieved 2023-05-27
- ^ "Strange Times". IMDb.
- ^ Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery (2017), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ "Netflix Announces Premiere Dates for New Line-Up Of Original Stand-up Comedy Specials". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
- ^ Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted (2015), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Jim Jefferies: BARE (2014), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed (2014), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Tom Green: Tom Green Live (2012), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Gary Gulman: In This Economy? (2012), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Kathy Griffin: Gurrl Down (2011), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Bruce Bruce: Losin' It (2011), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ David Cross: Bigger & Blackerer (Video 2010), retrieved 2017-07-23
- ^ Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit o' Revolution (2009), retrieved 2017-07-23
Further reading
edit- Yearbook of the Boston Architectural Club, 1915. Includes illus. of Wilbur Theatre
- George McKinnon. "A born-again Wilbur will celebrate success." Boston Globe, 20 Jan 1980
- Anthony J. Yudis. "Theatre plaza to spotlight the district." Boston Globe, 09 Oct 1983
External links
edit- Library of Congress. Drawing of Ye Wilbur Theatre, Tremont St. and Hollis St., Boston, Massachusetts, 1927.
- Boston Athenæum Theater History. Wilbur Theatre (1914–), 250–252 Tremont Street
- New York Public Library:
- Photo of interior, Wilbur Theatre, Boston, Mass., 20th century
- Program for the Wilbur Theatre, Boston (Oct. 1956)
- Bostonian Society:
- Photo of 244-272 Tremont Street, c. 1935
- Photo of 250-268 Tremont Street, c. 1959
- City of Boston, Landmarks Commission. Wilbur Theatre Study Report, 1983
Images
edit-
Program, 1915 -
Seating chart, c. 1917 -
Advertisement, 1922 -
Program, 1922 -
Lobby, 2009 -
Sign, 2010
