Off the Bricks

Banned in Boston · STOP 11 · Theater District

In April 1970 the justices of the state's highest court each went to see Hair, then ruled the cast must be 'clothed to a reasonable extent.'

In April 1970 the justices of Massachusetts's highest court each went to see Hair at this Tremont Street theatre. Then they ruled the cast had to be 'clothed to a reasonable extent.' The cast played it uncut that night, and the next day a TV crew filmed them singing on the sidewalk out front. The sidewalk is still there.

This is stop 11 of Banned in Boston. Walk it - any two stops are free.

The plate

Clothed to a Reasonable Extent

Collected on site

010203040506070809101112
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

246 Tremont Street
Directions

1

Battle of Angels had a worse opening night than the censors: the fire effect got away from the crew and 'the first two rows of the audience had to flee,' per the director of a 2021 production.

More footnotes on the story card, in the app.

Argue about it

Was Hair obscene, and who actually got to decide?

Both sides, with their sources, are on the story card in the app.

Censorship, Music, Plaque hunt, Works after dark

In these collections: After Dark

Near Tufts Medical Center · Near Boylston · Near Chinatown · Near Arlington

Sources (7)