Webster Theater
Encyclopedia
The Webster Theater is a music venue in the South
end of Hartford, Connecticut. The Webster Underground is an attached smaller venue, which usually acts as a second stage during concert
s on the main stage.
by the Shulman family. Hartford's mayor
, councilmen
, and Connecticut
state Senators
were in attendance for opening night. In the 1930s and 1940s, the theater hosted a weekly "dish night," a common practice for theaters of the time, where each patron would receive a free dish to entice them to the theater. The theater was successful until the advent of the television
kept more people in their homes, while the Interstate Highway System
brought more people out to the suburbs.
After falling attendance, in 1974 the Shulmans lease
d the theater to Starship Enterprises who promised to show family films while introducing live music
into the theater. They redecorated the main lobby and had sprawling moonscape
s painted on the ceilings. However, the family film plan failed to bring sufficient funds to the theater, and new management turned the Webster into a showcase for adult films.
In the Fall of 1986 Mr. Shulman saw a chance to revive the theater. Along with the owner of the Warner Theater
in Torrington
, Shulman invested about $50,000 to restore carpeting, paint, and install a 17' by 34' screen which was, at the time, the largest in the state. The theater featured movies on the second release, and admission was $2 for adults and $.99 for children and senior citizens.
and ClearChannel offered to buy the Webster, but neither was successful. Fred Durst
supposedly signed Staind
backstage at the Webster. No Doubt
and Incubus
, both unknown artists at the time, opened for well-known 311
at the Webster. Today, the theater is primarily a music venue seven days a week, featuring nation
al acts on the Mainstage and mostly local and regional
talent on the Underground stage.
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
end of Hartford, Connecticut. The Webster Underground is an attached smaller venue, which usually acts as a second stage during concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s on the main stage.
History
The Webster opened on November 19, 1937 as a movie theaterMovie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
by the Shulman family. Hartford's mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, councilmen
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
state Senators
Senators
The term Senators can refer to:*The members of a senate*The Ottawa Senators, a National Hockey League ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada...
were in attendance for opening night. In the 1930s and 1940s, the theater hosted a weekly "dish night," a common practice for theaters of the time, where each patron would receive a free dish to entice them to the theater. The theater was successful until the advent of the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
kept more people in their homes, while the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
brought more people out to the suburbs.
After falling attendance, in 1974 the Shulmans lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
d the theater to Starship Enterprises who promised to show family films while introducing live music
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
into the theater. They redecorated the main lobby and had sprawling moonscape
Moonscape
A moonscape is an area or vista of the lunar landscape , or a visual representation of this, such as in a painting. The term "moonscape" is also sometimes used metaphorically for an area devastated or flattened by war, often by shelling....
s painted on the ceilings. However, the family film plan failed to bring sufficient funds to the theater, and new management turned the Webster into a showcase for adult films.
In the Fall of 1986 Mr. Shulman saw a chance to revive the theater. Along with the owner of the Warner Theater
Warner Theatre (Torrington, Connecticut)
The Warner Theatre is an Art-Deco style movie palace located at 68-82 Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut. It opened on August 19, 1931 as part of the Warner Bros. chain of movie theaters. Today it operates as a mixed-use performing arts center...
in Torrington
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
, Shulman invested about $50,000 to restore carpeting, paint, and install a 17' by 34' screen which was, at the time, the largest in the state. The theater featured movies on the second release, and admission was $2 for adults and $.99 for children and senior citizens.
Modern day
In the 2000s, CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and ClearChannel offered to buy the Webster, but neither was successful. Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
supposedly signed Staind
Staind
Staind is an American rock band that was formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. For 16 years, the band consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki...
backstage at the Webster. No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
and Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
, both unknown artists at the time, opened for well-known 311
311 (band)
311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
at the Webster. Today, the theater is primarily a music venue seven days a week, featuring nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
al acts on the Mainstage and mostly local and regional
Régional
Régional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
talent on the Underground stage.