The fire curtain at America’s Oldest Theatre has hung above the stage since circa 1890, making it over
130 years old. Originally installed in the 1865 interior when the theatre had two horseshoe shaped
balconies, it is nearly six feet taller than the current stage’s height. The original image on the
curtain was painted over during the 1920 renovation with the painting “The Bells First Note - 1753”
by the artist
In the nineteenth century fires in theatres had become all too common due to the gas stage lights of the time. By 1903 it became law that theaters must have a fireproof curtain that could be lowered in case of a fire to protect the audience while they evacuated.
Due to its age and condition audiences had not seen this piece of history in decades. Other than lowering it annually for inspection to make sure it was functional; it has remained safely above the stage. In the summer of 2025 with the support of The Arcadia Foundation the curtain has been restored.
The restored curtain debuted to the public pre-show in April 2026 as part of the theatre’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary with a production of the award-winning musical 1776.
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (the artist) was an American painter best known for his series of 78 scenes from American history, entitled The Pageant of a Nation, the largest series of American historical paintings by a single artist. He was born in Philadelphia in 1863 and died there in 1930.
