Iconic Mass. theatre to enter new era as venue approaches 100th anniversary

Long before he would perform at the Wang Theatre with his band, Ernie Boch Jr. and the Automatics, Boch used to sleep on the sidewalk outside the historic venue to score tickets to shows.

It was the beginning of his relationship with the historic venue, now called the Boch Center Wang Theatre.

In the early 1970s, he saw his first show in the theater when legendary musician Cat Stevens performed. Boch said he watched Stevens while sitting on a pillow on the floor right in front of the stage.

“ I had never seen anything like it,” Boch said Wednesday at an event honoring the venue’s 100th anniversary. “The Wang Theatre for me, has been just everything when it comes to pop culture and music.”

The Wang Theatre’s list of events over its history extends far beyond one of the most influential singers/songwriters of all time. It also includes countless Broadway productions, established comedians and community events.

This legacy, coupled with Boch’s personal experiences, inspired him to sign a 10-year deal that will extend the Boch Family Foundation’s commitment to the theatre through 2036.

The 10-year deal is worth about $12.5 million, J. Casey Soward, president and CEO of the Boch Center Wang Theatre, told The Boston Globe.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for us at the Boch Center as we approach the 100th anniversary of this theater,” Soward said at Wednesday’s event.

“The Wang Theatre has reflected the ever-changing world of the arts and entertainment while continuing to bring people together in a beautiful historic setting,” he added. “For nearly a century, this theater has been a cornerstone of culture, creativity, and community here in Boston.”

Boch’s signing was coupled with a formal declaration of the Wang Theatre’s yearlong centennial programming.

Programming components include the “100 Acts of Kindness” initiative that will involve giveaways, ticket upgrades and the chance to nominate people to be featured on the building’s iconic marquee.

The Wang Theatre will also screen films that celebrate Boston’s role in cinematic history through the “Century Cinema Series.”

Lastly, special performances, open houses and exhibits through the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, which is housed inside the Wang Theatre, will also take place throughout the year.

More programming in honor of the milestone anniversary are expected to be announced closer to the Wang’s official anniversary on Oct. 16.

The Wang Theatre originally opened as The Metropolitan Theatre in 1925. The venue was one of the largest of its time, with the ability to seat more than 3,600 people.

The theatre’s Art Deco interiors and architecture “resembled that of Louis XIV’s palace and encompassed all the ‘Roaring Twenties’ décor,” the Wang’s website states. “It created a scene designed to take its patrons’ breath away as soon as they entered the building.”

While the Wang Theatre originally showcased silent films, live performances and stage productions, it started hosting concerts, touring Broadway shows and community events by the mid-20th century.

The venue was eventually renamed the Wang Theatre after a philanthropist and founder of Wang Laboratories, Dr. An Wang donated $4 million to restore the building, according to the National Academy of Engineering.

Wang, along with other local arts advocates and donors, is credited with keeping the theatre alive as it was on the brink of demolition in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

“Dr. Wang came and felt there was merit here and wanted to save it,” Mark Weld, Boch Center board chairman, said at the event on Wednesday.

“Dr. Wang contributed an enormous amount of money and here it is,” Weld added while motioning to the theatre’s elaborate lobby.

An extensive renovation project in 1992 has also helped preserve the Wang Theatre’s original grandeur while updating its facilities.

More information about the centennial initiatives and events can be found online.

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