Abandoned Steinert Theater may be renovated

Last June I wrote the post Wicked Cool: Boston’s very own phantom opera house. The post was about a 650 person theater called Steinert Theater, which first opened in 1896 and was famous for its impeccable acoustics, but was forced to close after Boston’s tragic Coconut Grove fire in 1942.

Last week Boston Globe writer Steve Annear wrote an article indicating that the new owners of the building that houses Steinert Hall is contemplating renovating this theater which sits 35 feet below ground at 162 Boylston Street.

Developers say the project is complicated and could take 2-3 years to renovate. Long time Boston residents will remember the same rumblings back when the Boston Opera House and Modern Theatre – both on Washington Street – were first rumored to be renovated and reopened to the public. Let’s cross our fingers and hope this can happen.  If Steinert Theatre returns to its former glory it would join 9 other Theater houses in Boston’s Theater District including:

Boston Opera House
Colonial Theater 
Charles Playhouse
Cutler Majestic Theatre
Modern Theatre at Suffolk
Paramount Theater
Shubert Theatre
Wang Center of Performing Arts
Wilbur Theatre