Talk about a hidden gem, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, which is located inside the Wang Theater, is just that. The museum’s displays are spread throughout different areas of the theater, from the corridors to separate rooms. The catch is that the way to view the collection is via a tour of the whole theater. It’s a small sacrifice since the Wang is simply stunning. And visiting at an off time allows you to fully take in its beauty.
Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame
The first part of the collection is on the second floor, in the heavily trafficked hallways during showtime. It is dedicated to the heroes of early folk music, which, with the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame moniker, makes sense. Find displays dedicated to such luminaries as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Not only are there information displays, but also artifacts related to their lives and music.
The next corridor takes you into the history of Boston music; the exhibit is called Boston: A Music Town. It’s an extensive display that doesn’t just feature folk music (although it is well-represented). Boston-area folkies such as Tom Rush and Peter Rowan share exhibit space with a vast diversity of other Beantown acts, including the Cars, the Dropkick Murphys, and New Kids on the Block. From underground acts such as the Modern Lovers to lesser-known bands including the Ultimate Spinach, to very well-known groups like Aerosmith and New Edition, this exhibit covers the breadth of the Boston bands. There’s even memorabilia featuring Arthur Fiedler, great maestro of the Boston Pops and the city’s jazz scene, with nods to venerable clubs including Club Passim and Wally’s Cafe.
The David Bieber Archives and Cultural Heroes
The David Bieber Archives of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is a segment of the collection of David Bieber, which spans 50 years of collecting music-related memorabilia, including that of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Byrds. Also in this room is part of Ernie Boch Jr’s celebrity guitar collection, provided by the likes of Joe Perry and many others. Boch, owner of the Boch Auto Group, has sponsored the Wang Theater for the last ten years and signed another decade lease recently. The room itself, which used to be a smoking room for men, is pretty neat, with a huge fireplace and massive bar. It also has a collection of far-out guitars designed by Boston fixture and former member of one of the later incarnations of Jonathan Richman’s Modern Lovers, Asa Brebner.
The last of the exhibits is the Cultural Heroes display. Here are seven busts of musicians who were integral to civil rights. Among the seven are Bessie Smith, Woody Guthrie, and Lead Belly. These colossal heads are sculpted by Alan LeQuire and are awe-inspiring.
Touring the Wang Theater
Full disclosure–I came for the museum portion, but the tour of the building was excellent. I’d been there before for a few concerts, including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Sigur Rós, and Ryan Adams. I remembered that it was stunning, but with the crowds at the concerts, it’s hard to fully enjoy the splendor. On this tour, though, I was able to immerse myself in the architecture of this building.
The building opened in 1925 as the Metropolitan Theater and was renamed the Boston Music Hall. It was designed by Clarence Blackall, who built over 300 theaters and many other attractive municipal buildings. During the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the theater was looking the worse for wear. Years of smoking in the building and some neglect led to major renovations. Dr. An Wang donated millions toward the restoration of the building. Hence the name, the Wang Theater.
The lobby includes 15-foot chandeliers that are hand cranked to the ground so that they can be cleaned. Its grandeur was actually modeled after the Palace of Versailles. Bathed in lavish red and gold, the theater itself is an absolute thing of beauty. With ornamental designs painted on the ceiling depicting gods of mythology and statues perched over the side floor doors, this is an unforgettable venue, more like a chateau than a theater.
If You Go
If you’re interested in taking a tour of the theater for yourself, check out the information here. We chose a private tour, but group tours are also available. On the private tour, our personable and informative guide tailored it to our wants. He also showed very cool features, such as the hand crank on the elevator that was actually used up until a few years ago. Both the theater tour and the music exhibits combine for a true Boston hidden gem.
