f you're interested in Rhode Island history, Newport culture, historic preservation, or local biographies, I thought this community might enjoy these stories. You can find out who these two composers are who have strong ties to Newport! And hear some music composed about Newport's Old Stone Mill which lends to one of the many possible builders.
The People's Theatre opened on Monday, November 10, 1902, at the corner of Thames and Gidley.
An article in the November 8, Newport Daily News describes the theatre; "The place is not too large, but can accommodate a good-sized gathering and will be supplied with all necessaries. Manager Robinson promises to give only clean shows, suitable for women and children, yet lively enough for men. The prices will be lower than even the cheap repertoire companies."
How much cheaper? That week the Opera House was advertising prices of 10, 20 and 30 cents for the evening shows that same week. The People's Theatre showed prices of 10 and 15 cents. What a bargain!
A 1905 Daily News article talks about a tar fire and the "old People's Theatre building." There is no mention of the theatre in the 1904 Newport City Directory. The original photo from the Providence Public Library is undated. We are working to find out how long the theatre remained open.
Today we have offices and rental units at that address.
The People's Theatre opened on Monday, November 10, 1902, at the corner of Thames and Gidley.
An article in the November 8, Newport Daily News describes the theatre; "The place is not too large, but can accommodate a good-sized gathering and will be supplied with all necessaries. Manager Robinson promises to give only clean shows, suitable for women and children, yet lively enough for men. The prices will be lower than even the cheap repertoire companies."
How much cheaper? That week the Opera House was advertising prices of 10, 20 and 30 cents for the evening shows that same week. The People's Theatre showed prices of 10 and 15 cents. What a bargain!
A 1905 Daily News article talks about a tar fire and the "old People's Theatre building." There is no mention of the theatre in the 1904 Newport City Directory. The original photo from the Providence Public Library is undated. We are working to find out how long the theatre remained open.
Today we have offices and rental units at 360 Thames Street and the 362 address no longer exists.
See photos of Newport mansions long gone set to the song "The Forget Me Not Polka," composed by William Schultze for the Germania Musical Society in the 1850s.
Here is a listing of the lost homes shown:
0:25 - Beacon Hill House
0:36 - Linden Gate
0:48 - Lippett's Castle
1:04 - H.A.C. Taylor House
1:21 - Greystone
1:33 - Villa Rosa
1:44 - Gammell Cottage
1:55 - White Hall
2:05 - Armsea Hall
We are excited to collaborate with the Preservation Society of Newport County and bring a night of music to the ballroom at Rosecliff Mansion. Come hear the musical story of Newport's past!
You can join us live or online!
For more details and ticket information:
A Newport Songbook — Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
John Rogers was born in Middletown, Rhode Island in 1839. Before the Civil War he was a music teacher.
On May 2, 1861, Rogers joined the First Rhode Island Volunteers for the standard 3-month enlistment. He was wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. After his enlistment ended, he joined the First Rhode Island Cavalry as an officer, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel, leading the regiment by the end of the Civil War.
After the war he eventually returned to Rhode Island and ran a music store in Newport. He also served as the organist at two churches in the city.
John Rogers died in 1910 while on vacation in Littleton, New Hampshire. He was returned to Newport and is buried in the Island Cemetery.
The photo of John Rogers in uniform is part of the collection at the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
John Rogers was born in Middletown, Rhode Island in 1839. Before the Civil War he was a music teacher.
On May 2, 1861, Rogers joined the First Rhode Island Volunteers for the standard 3-month enlistment. He was wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. After his enlistment ended, he joined the First Rhode Island Cavalry as an officer, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel, leading the regiment by the end of the Civil War.
After the war he eventually returned to Rhode Island and ran a music store in Newport. He also served as the organist at two churches in the city.
John Rogers died in 1910 while on vacation in Littleton, New Hampshire. He was returned to Newport and is buried in the Island Cemetery.
The photo of John Rogers in uniform is part of the collection at the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
The Star Theatre opened on Monday, March 2, 1908. The announcement in the Newport Daily News said it was, "Clean wholesome amusement. Pleases Everyone. Harms No One." An article about the opening in the same paper ends with, "It is the purpose to run the theatre in a first-class manner, that it may be a place which ladies and children may frequent the property."
By 1911, the theatre was gone.
If you look next door to the theatre in the old photo, you will see that the Brick Alley Pub was a dentist's office!
Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
The Star Theatre opened on Monday, March 2, 1908. The announcement in the Newport Daily News said it was, "Clean wholesome amusement. Pleases Everyone. Harms No One." An article about the opening in the same paper ends with, "It is the purpose to run the theatre in a first-class manner, that it may be a place which ladies and children may frequent the property."
By 1911, the theatre was gone.
If you look next door to the theatre in the old photo, you will see that the Brick Alley Pub was a dentist's office!
Want to know more about our work preserving our city's musical history:
Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
If you’ve walked down Thames Street, you’ve passed a building with a surprising bit of Newport history.
Back on May 23, 1908, this was the Bijou Theatre. Opening day featured six hours of films (a huge novelty at the time) with live musical numbers between reels. One of those songs was “Summertime,” not the Gershwin version we know today, but an earlier tune by Harry von Tilzer, the same composer behind “On the Old Fall River Line.”
In 1928, neighbors spotted smoke coming from the eaves and rushed over. The fire damage ended up being minimal thanks to their quick action, but the Bijou most likely never reopened. By 1934, the building was remodeled and its third floor removed.
Today, the first floor is home to The Spice & Tea Exchange and Spartina 449, and the upstairs has been converted into modern lodging by The Newport Lofts.
Learn more about our work:
Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
The Bijou Theatre opened on May 23, 1908. Opening day featured six hours of films with live musical numbers between reels. One of those songs was “Summertime,” not the Gershwin version we know today, but an earlier tune by Harry von Tilzer, the same composer behind “On the Old Fall River Line.”
In 1928, neighbors spotted smoke coming from the eaves and rushed over. The fire damage ended up being minimal thanks to their quick action, but the Bijou most likely never reopened. By 1934, the building was remodeled and its third floor removed.
Today, the first floor is home to The Spice & Tea Exchange and Spartina 449, and the upstairs has been converted into modern lodging by The Newport Lofts.
Composed by Ebenezer Babbitt and Edward Y. Mason, this 1897 march was published in Fall River, Massachusetts by W.A. Tobin and dedicated to Commodore Charles S. Plummer, the Newport Yacht Club’s second Commodore (1895–1898 and 1900–1901).
Charles S. Plummer (1859–1924) was born in Portland, Maine, but grew up in Middletown, Rhode Island. He was the nephew of John Rogers, Civil War cavalry officer and longtime Newport musician, and worked in Rogers’ music store. When Rogers died in 1910, Plummer purchased the business and ran it under his own name for the next nine years.
His obituary paints a vivid picture of his life on the water:
“He owned several different sailboats, and spent all his spare time upon the water, engaging in many races, and generally coming out a winner.”
Plummer died at his home in Portsmouth and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
This march is a small but fascinating piece of Newport’s musical and maritime history, connecting local composers, community musicians, and one of the city’s most dedicated yachtsmen.
Today we’re sharing two photos of 210 Thames Street, and if you’re looking at the modern photo, it’s the building right next to Starbucks.
The early image comes from the Providence Public Library Digital Archives, taken around 1904. It shows Rogers Music Store, owned by John Rogers. If you look closely beside the carriage, you can make out the painted words: “Piano, Rogers, Tuning.”
Rogers was a local music teacher before serving in the Civil War, eventually leading the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry. After the war, he returned to Newport and ran his music store on Thames Street.
And what stood where Starbucks is today?
You could go bowling or stop in at the Apothecary.
More Newport musical history:
Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
Today we’re sharing two photos of 210 Thames Street, and if you’re looking at the modern photo, it’s the building right next to Starbucks.
The early image comes from the Providence Public Library Digital Archives, taken around 1904. It shows Rogers Music Store, owned by John Rogers. If you look closely beside the carriage, you can make out the painted words: “Piano, Rogers, Tuning.”
Rogers was a local music teacher before serving in the Civil War, eventually leading the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry. After the war, he returned to Newport and ran his music store on Thames Street.
And what stood where Starbucks is today?
You could go bowling or stop in at the Apothecary.
More Newport music history:
Historic Music of Newport - Preserving Newport's Musical Heritage
"In Newport: Fox Trot Song" was composed in 1927 by Newporter James Lawrence Weaver. He self-published the music in the city. The photo "Newport, Capital of Vacationland" is credited to the Newport Chamber of Commerce.
We’re sharing “then and now” photos of Newport’s historic theaters and music shops along Thames Street. We’re starting with 146 Thames Street, once home to the Colonial Theatre, an important part of Newport’s early 20th‑century entertainment scene.
The first photo comes from the Providence Public Library Digital Archives. Although the library labels it as 1904, the Colonial Theatre didn’t actually open until February 1911. By examining the show posters visible in the window, we can date the image to February or March of 1911, right around the theater’s opening. The Colonial operated until 1940, hosting touring productions, vaudeville acts, and early motion pictures during a period when Newport’s cultural life was rapidly evolving.
The second photo shows the same location today. While the building no longer hosts performances, it remains part of the fabric of Thames Street, now home to a shop filled with Christmas decorations.
We’re sharing “then and now” photos of Newport’s old theaters and music shops, starting with 146 Thames Street, once home to the Colonial Theatre.
The first photo comes from the Providence Public Library Digital Archives. The library lists it as 1904, but the Colonial Theatre didn’t actually open until February 1911. By looking closely at the show posters in the window, we can date the photo to February or March of 1911, right around opening night. The Colonial stayed active until it closed in 1940, leaving behind decades of vaudeville, touring productions, and early film screenings.
The second photo shows the same spot today. You can’t catch a live show there anymore, but you can pick up some fun Christmas decorations.
This photo shows the long-gone Musicians School at Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island in 1921.
Every week we uncover something new. This photo shows a small part of our archive: original sheet music, early band photographs, and rare documents created by musicians who lived and performed here over a century ago.
Some of these pieces came from composers who traveled from all over the world and ended up in Newport, others were written right here on our beaches, in our halls, and in our neighborhoods. It’s an incredible mix of cultures, stories, and sounds.
We’re slowly digitizing, researching, and sharing everything we find so this history isn’t lost. If you’re into local history, old music, or just cool archival discoveries, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
"Mr. William F. Marshall, who peacefully passed away at his residence in this city yesterday, was born in Manchester, England, in 1822, and early devoted himself to music, and especially the violin. He came to this country in 1839; in 1840 playing for the Mozart Society of Pawtucket, and others. In 1844, in his twenty-second year, in connection with the late Richard B. Taylor, he organized the Providence Handel and Haydn Society, being its director for some years, and producing notably, the "Messiah," "Creation," and "David." In 1849 he was called to the directorship of the Beethoven Society, and also conducted the American band at the Providence concert of Jenny Lind. At the opening of the Civil War he became a member of the band of the First Rhode Island regiment, under Colonel Burnside, and later leader of the Fourth Rhode Island Regimental Band, being at Bull Run, Hilton Head and Roanoke Island. In 1862 he assumed direction of the band of the Naval Academy, with which he remained three years; and was the first instructor of the Newport band. OF late years, though failing health and hearing, he has done but little in his profession. He leaves a widow and son, Francis W. of Newport, the late Dr. Henry F. Marshall, being his eldest son."
- Newport (R.I.) Daily News, December 31, 1890
He is buried in the Island Cemetery, in Newport, Rhode Island.