Ben M. Hall

Ben M. Hall (1921-1970) was an American author and theater historian. His 1960 book, The Best Remaining Seats, was a seminal work in the history of theaters. It was the first to survey the origins and architecture of America's movie palaces, the palatial cinemas built between the 1910s and the 1940s to showcase the films of Hollywood's major studios.

In 1969, Hall founded the Theatre Historical Society of America.

Born and raised in the South, Hall resided in Manhattan, near the Hudson River, at 181 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. He lived in the upper two floors of a former steamship company. He was murdered there in December, 1970, just short of his 49th birthday.

Hall founded the Theatre Historical Society of America by circulating the following letter:

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