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BC class project: Figure out how to revive historic but run-down Hyde Park theater

By adamg on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 1:25pm

The Globe reports on the project, which involves the Everett Square Theatre on Fairmount Avenue.

Neighborhoods: 
Hyde Park


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Comments

By East Boston Resident on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 1:32pm.

I wish they had done something like this for the once majestic Seville Theater in East Boston instead of tearing it down to build luxury housing for the wealthy. It would have been great for the community. Greed knows no limits.

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By anonism on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 1:50pm.

X

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By In The Know on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 3:58pm.

Yes, Fairmount.

It is one of the two theaters in that block. The other is used by Riverside Theater Works. Both are on upper floors.

Riverside's has a rather steep and narrow staircase to get up there. After its initial life as a theater, it also served as a local Masonic Hall. After a fire it was closed for a while then rebuilt as it is today.

I participated in shows there quite some years back long before Riverside existed.

The one to be rebuilt fell into disrepair and the roof is toast so water has been coming in for decades. It needs a lot but is quite the space.

The question will be whether they can overcome access needs for ADA and fire safety regs that will be required these days. That's why that basement theater on Boylston street under the music store was never restored and may never be unless they can figure the logistics out.

It will be a challenge for sure, but I support the effort.

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By adamg on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 4:14pm.

You'd think I'd know that - we were regulars at Dottie's back in the day. Fixed.

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By Will D on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 5:46pm.

Dottie's was the bomb!

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By Suldog on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 4:08pm.

It was known as the Nu Pixie in the 1970s and 80s, and a couple of bands I played in had rehearsal space in rooms above the theater. As I recall, there were about seven or eight bands rehearsing there when all spaces were rented.

Sometimes, a couple of bands would use the theater for shows, selling their own tickets and keeping the profits. Here's a shot of my band, Live Wire, on-stage at the Pixie, circa 1981.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V7IT9bKqNuA/S6i_avJbSPI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/Fc43Wj61I7...

Sorry about the quality of the photo, but it's the only one I have of the venue that shows the crowd, proving that people actually paid to see us play. Here's one of just the stage area, taken from the balcony, wherein you can see bright orange hair covering what is now just a wide swath of skin (I'm the bass player, in black, on the right).

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V7IT9bKqNuA/S6jKetEYETI/AAAAAAAAD34/qMDup3-3Qp...

Anyway, I'm glad the place is up for preservation. It's one of the few places we played still standing (The Rat, The Beachcomber, McCarthy's in Mattapan, among others... all gone.)

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

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By u-hub-fan on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 10:09pm.

As I hunted around for photos of the Everett Square, I came across this jewel of a website:

https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/

I'm sure anyone who lit up at this post will dig that site.

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