Hathaway's Theatre
874 Purchase Street,
New Bedford,
MA
02740
874 Purchase Street,
New Bedford,
MA
02740
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Sheedy's Theatre
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Opened on November 9, 1903 as Sheedy’s Theatre. By 1905 it had been renamed Hathaway’s Theatre. It was located on Purchase Street on the east side between William Street and Elm Street. It was still open in 1913, but had closed by 1914 in live theatre use.
Empire Clothing Company occupied this building, not sure if it was before or after the theatre. The building was standing until just recently, it was torn down and a new medical building was just built in its place.
Contributed by
Jay Avila
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Thanks for your research, spinner. A.E. Hathaway was listed as an employee of the Grand Opera House in New Bedford in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Was the Grand Opera House a different theatre from the New Bedford Opera House, which later became a movie theatre, or was it the same building with 2 different names? – (the Cahn guides are full of errors ! ) If Hathaway did build the Hathaway theatres in Brockton and Lowell, perhaps that explains why he closed the New Bedford house after only 11 years.
Ron, The theater was called the New Bedford Opera House, but was also referred to as the Grand Opera House, here is a little info:
The Grace Church on Union Street was purchased by the New Bedford Opera House Association in November 1881 and converted into a theater. The architects Cummings and Sears of Boston were in charge of the renovations. The first performance held in the new theater was given by the Union Square Theater Company on March 28, 1882. This was the second church building in New Bedford to be converted into a hall for theater, the first being Liberty Hall, the old Congregational church, in 1837. The opera house was torn down in 1896 and rebuilt as the New Bedford Theater.
spinner- I have read the Page for the New Bedford Th. here in CT, and knew that it had been the New Bedford Opera House. So I was thrown off by finding a “Grand Opera House” listed for New Bedford in the 1897 Cahn Guide. I think that Julius Cahn, who was foremost a theatrical agent in NY, must have had his hands full trying to keep his annual Guide accurate and up to date in an age long before computers ! The Hathaway theatres in New Bedford and in Lowell (but not the one in Brockton) are listed in a 1909 roster of Keith Circuit theatres which I have seen.
Ron, I saw on the New Bedford Centre Theater page you said you have a MGM Theatre Photograph from 1941 of this theater. Would it be possible to email me that image, I was asked by the city’s Preservation Planner if I have any old photos and I can’t find any before 1979. She is working with some people who are trying to put a plan together to restore the facade of this theater. If you could I would appreciate this and would be willing to share any photos of any of the theaters I have with you. If it’s possible please email me at
Spinner,
Can’t any of the photos you have be posted here by linking to a photo server like Photobucket or Flickr? I would find them very interesting.
This is a link to Flickr of New Bedford, MA Theatres
View link
An interesting tidbit: According to the 1904 City Directory, the theater was called “Sheedy’s” but in 1905 it’s listed as Hathaway’s. It appears as such in every city directory up till 1913, as it was sold in 1914, making this theater a short lived one at just 10 years.
According to a note at the bottom of page 47 of the Sanborn Fire Map of 1906, the theater had a capacity of 950. it also appears to have had a balcony and box seats.
Hathaway’s Theatre was still listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, but its principal business appears to have been live theatre. Lonergan Players' Magazine, a weekly program published by Hathaway’s Theatre, in its issue dated March 16, 1914, said that the company was presenting “The Blue Mouse” that week, and would present “As Ye Sow” the following week.
Also, if the theater building was replaced by a new medical facility recently, the only such building on that two-block stretch of Purchase street is at 874 Purchase, at the corner of Elm, so that must have been the theater’s address as well.