Then and Now - Bates Opera House - Braintree, MA

The Bates Opera House was located on the Weymouth/Braintree line. It was built by Samuel Bates in the 1860s and was a four story rectangular building with the 800 seat auditorium and stage on the second floor. The opera house held live performances as well as community events like town meetings. 

It was converted to show movies in the late 1920s. On May 21, 1935, three explosions shook the building because of a fire that started in the Strand ballroom of the opera house. No one was injured in the fire, but the building was badly damaged. It was demolished in July 1935. The opera house was replaced by a one story retail building that was constructed in the foundation of the opera house. 

The building was home to several restaurants over the next few decades and caught fire again in March 2015. It was torn down again and replaced by another restaurant named Bates Bar and Grill, after the opera house.