Strand Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)

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Once a majestic vaudeville and movie palace, the Strand opened it's doors on Columbia Road in the heart of Uphams Corner on November 11, 1918. Over the years, stars such as Fannie Brice, Milton Berle, and Fred Allen often took center stage. The Strand roard on through the 20s and survived the Great Depression, but fell into such a downward spiral of mismanagement and decay that it had to shut it's doors for more than a decade in the 1960s and '70s. The city took over the building by eminent domain in the early '70s and began making some renovations to get it reopened in 1979. The Harriet McCormack Center for the arts handled the Strand's operation for years, but as time went on, the famous landmark not only fell into further disrepair, it suffered major financial problems. In 2004 the mayor took back the Strand. Soon afterward, the city launched the renovation. Because of the repairs, the Strand was closed for six months in 2005, seven months in 2006, and several months in 2007 and '08. Burns says the Strand is now open for business full time. www.cityofboston.gov/arts/theatre/strand.asp