The Boston Museum [And Gallery of Fine Arts]

Conceived by Moses Kimball, who had purchased the old New England Museum, it was opened in 1841; and its own stock company gave its first performance in 1843, thereafter remaining one of the nation's finest ensembles. Its favorite performers were William Warren and Mrs. R. H. Vincent, but at one time or another in its long career many great artists of the era appeared, either as members of the troupe or as guest stars. The subterfuge of housing a theatre in a museum was not uncommon, for it allowed many otherwise puritanical people to enjoy playgoing. The theatre closed in 1893.