Howard Athenaeum - Milestones

Milestones

During its early period, the Howard Athenaeum played host to many performing superstars, among them was the eminent comedian, William Warren, who was for years considered the top comedian in the nation. Scandal also surfaced when, on May 4, 1853, the Howard Athenaeum found itself under unfavorable national scrutiny. Sarah Parker Remond, a medical doctor, anti-slavery activist and lecturer with the American Anti-Slavery Society, had bought a ticket through the mail for the Donizetti opera, Don Pasquale, but, upon arriving, refused to sit in a segregated section for the show. She was forcibly removed and pushed down a flight of stairs. She eventually won a desegregation lawsuit against the managers of the Howard Athenaeum and received $500 in a settlement.

By the late 1860s, however, the theater had lost much of its audience to its more popular rivals— the Boston Museum and the Boston Theatre— and had begun presenting variety shows. In 1869, The Howard Athenaeum introduced an era of vaudeville with "Lydia Thomson and Her British Blondes.", By the end of the 19th century, the theatre had completely switched over to burlesque with performers such as Ann Corio, Sally Rand, Fanny Brice, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sophie Tucker and "Tillie the Tassel." From its fashionable grand opera days in the mid-19th century, the Old Howard had become a tawdry establishment especially beloved by Harvard undergraduates for its strip-tease acts. President Kennedy was allegedly a regular patron of the Old Howard in his Harvard days (The Harvard class of 1937 even made Ann Corio an honorary member.) The Boston Phoenix for February 17, 2007, said: "...the Howard hosted everyone in show biz from John Wilkes Booth to Phil Silvers to Minsky’s Burlesque star Ann Corio to an “exotic Indian dancer” named Princess Lahoma." Plus a few vice raids. The list becomes even longer when you add these Howard alumni: Abbott & Costello, Jimmy Durante, Fred Allen, W. C. Fields, Jackie Gleason, Al Jolson, Buster Keaton, Bert Lahr and Jerry Lewis. And, even more unbelievable, boxers John L. Sullivan and Rocky Marciano gave boxing demonstrations on the stage. During this exciting era of burlesque and variety, the Howard would advertise: "There is always Something Doing at the Old Howard."