The Globe Theatre

Today we see advertisements all around us for movies and different forms of

entertainment trying to catch our attention. If we're interested, we can simply go the the nearest

movie theater and see the film that brought us there in the first place. However, a few hundred

years ago the word "theater" possessed a different meaning than it does in today's society. The

first famous theater on record is none other than the Globe Theater. This wasn't your everyday

movie theater. The entertainment that this was meant for was playwrites, and the occasional

gambling session. Before this theater was built, plays took place at inns, inn yards, college halls,

private houses, and a variety of other places (www.william-shakespeare.info).

The original Globe theater, built in 1576, was actually just called "The Theater" and was

owned by James Burbage. He received a 21 year lease on the grounds from a man who looked

down upon theater named Giles Allen. When the lease expired in 1597, Allen raised the price

on it to an amount that the Acting Troupe of the theater couldn't agree to. A miracle happened

then. Burbage found a fault in the preceding lease, giving them the right to demolish the building

and move it south across the river (www.william-shakespeare.info). The theater was transferred

and re-built by the troupe of actors from The Theater and Peter Smith's workforce

(www.elizabethan-era.org.uk). James Burbage died in February of 1597, not living long enough

to see the completion of the construction of the Globe Theater. After his death, Burbage's sons

offered members of the company shares in order to cover charges

(www.shakespearesglobe.com). Because of this, the lease was co-owned by the Burbage

brothers,...

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... of June, 1613, a terrible accident occured. A cannon ball from the special

effects cannon was misfired and resulted in catching the thatched stage roof on fire. The entire

theater burnt to the ground. Any casualties that may have happened are unknown. However, the

theater was re-built by the next year, 1614. It was referred to as the Globe II.

The Globe continued on and prospered as usual until 1644 when the Globe was

demolished by Puritans. After that, any actors caught participating in a play were to be seized an

whipped. Anyone watching would be fined five shillings. This brought an end to the glorious

reign of the Globe theater; it was never re-built after that. What was left of the Globe was

discovered in the 20th century, and the "New Globe" has been built near the original spot where

it still stands today. (www.william-shakespeare.info).