Our Story

The beginning

• The Ware brothers—North Shore natives and vaudeville musicians—opened the theater on December 8, 1920, just as the public was starting to gather again after the devastation of the Spanish Flu pandemic.

• The theater was hailed as “the most impressive auditorium of its size east of New York.”

• It was designed by Funk and Wilcox, the distinguished architects of Boston’s Athenaeum and Olympia Theater and Dorchester’s Strand Theater.

The movies

• Upon opening, and through the era of silent films, The Ware theater featured a $50,000 Austin pipe organ ($650,000 in today’s dollars), which was on the right side of the theater.

• In 1944—as The Golden Age of cinema began to decline—the building was leased by cinema chain giant E.M. Loew, who later purchased the building in 1962.

The era of magic

• While most movie palaces were being demolished or abandoned, Cabot Cinema was purchased by Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company.

• The magic company held magic in high esteem—a performing art on par with opera—and created a fantastical world of illusions night after night for almost 37 years.

• Many North Shore families were involved in founding and running the magic company, and some continue their support of the theater to this very day.

21st century rebirth

• After the death of Cesareo Palaez, the founder of the magic company, Cabot Cinema was put up for sale in 2013.

• Fearing it might get demolished or become a condo complex, five citizens gathered their resources to strategize a way to save the theater.

• We honor our Five Founders for their insight and leadership, along with Scott Houseman who helped organize the group. Supporters and visionaries Steve Dodge, Jim Dawson, and other early board members were also critical to the theater’s revival.

• We received our non profit designation in November of 2014 and opened as The Cabot. A year later, J. Casey Soward was hired as the first Executive Director. His expertise gathered from the historic Orpheum Theatre and Berklee College of Music have ushered in an era of diverse world class programming, while maintaining the theater as a gathering place for the community.

Our ‘Five Founders’ from left to right: Paul Van Ness, Thad Siemasko, William Howard, Rich Marino and Henry Bertolon. Photo by Ken Yuszkus of The Salem News.

Transformative renovations and restorations

• In 2015, The Cabot embarked on a multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation to not only restore parts of the theater to its original 1920’s grandeur, but to upgrade and modernize all current systems.

• Renovations included: replacing all theater seating, opera box restoration, new sound and stage lighting systems, and new heating and air conditioning.

• In 2020 we expanded our lobby while restoring many original architectural details including the rose window. The lobby was named for The Dodge Family after Steve and Anne Dodge.

• After 7 years of projects to improve access, we achieved ADA compliance when the stage and balcony lobby became fully accessible in 2023.

Off Cabot: Our intimate performance space

• In 2022 we wanted to help bring the community back together as we healed from the pandemic. We restored a historic hall on Wallis St, creating a new gathering place: Off Cabot Comedy & Events.

• In partnership with live comedy leader John Tobin Presents we feature local and national comedians every week.

• Off Cabot also offers unique intimate musical experiences from live band karaoke and musical bingo to a songwriters’ series reminiscent of The Bluebird in Nashville.

2023: A Landmark Year

• The Cabot is in a new era with high caliber performances including legends such as Elvis Costello and Herbie Hancock, while simultaneously strengthening our community through education and free events.

• Last year we’ve welcomed…

  • 90,000 patrons through our doors

  • 1,260 members into our membership community

  • 265 artists on our stages

  • and filled over 60 spots in In Focus, our new young filmmakers’ program.

2023 highlights included Ray LaMontagne, growing our In Focus program, Donny Osmond, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, our Community Conversation in support of trans youth, Darryl Hall, Graham Nash, and Grace Potter.