boston serial killer tour

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The Original Boston Mob Tours

Our Limos will take you through Boston Mob hotspots and other historic sites and landmarks such as the Boston Custom House.

The Original Boston Mob Tours Focuses on Boston’s Three Crime Families

Our chauffeur-driven vehicles will take you through the heart of South Boston, Boston Proper, and Boston’s Little Italy (i.e Boston’s North End). You will go to the former headquarters of the most prominent crime families in Boston, to the exact spot where men and women, were shot down, butchered, and buried in cold blood.

Private and group Tours Available!

Travel with us on a journey as we document the history of the irish, jewish and the italian mob.

Our Customers Love Our Tour

Travel with us as we document the history of the Irish, Jewish, and Italian mob. See for yourself on our tour that will enlighten you on the disgusting and outrageous acts and corruption of the Boston Police, State Police, and the Boston FBI.

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Beacon Hill Crime Tour

Tour Information

Beacon hill crime, beacon hill crime highlights.

This page provides details of our free Beacon Hill Crime Tour, including tips on directions, times and sights covered.

Tour Description

• Sights Covered
• Meeting Point and Schedule
• Other Free Boston Tours
• Things to Do in Boston

The swanky, gas-lit streets of Beacon Hill are among the most beautiful in all of Boston, but beneath the neighborhood's genteel veneer lies a sinister past.

It's hard to believe, but here on Beacon Hill, the Boston Strangler, the city's most notorious serial killer, who terrorized its citizens during an 18-month killing spree, struck not once, but twice, or that one of the city's most respected citizens, Professor John Webster, would commit one of the most gruesome and famous murders.

Join Free Tours by Foot as we step back in time and visit the crime scenes and meet the victims, the madmen and the detectives who hunted them down, all while exploring the beautiful streets of Boston's Beacon Hill. Come relive some of the most captivating moments in the city's history.

This tour is rated R and is not recommended for guests under 16 unless they are comfortable with graphic information.

Sights we cover on the tour:

• home of Strangler victim Mary Sullivan
• home of Strangler victim Ida Irga
• house of Dr. Charles Parkman
• house of Dr. George Parkman
• site of Harvard Medical College
• site of Charles Street Jail
• and much more!

To learn more about this neighborhood, check out our self-guided Beacon Hill Tour .

Tour information

Reservations:  REQUIRED.  Click here to reserve . Groups of 6 or more must  contact us  before booking.

• Meet your guide outside the  Park St. T Station  on the eastern edge of Boston Common.
• The tour ends at the Cheers Bar at 84 Beacon Street ( map )

Duration:  Approximately 2 hours. Tour distance is approximately 1 mile (1.6K)

When:   View our full tour calendar!

Cost:  This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A  name-your-own-price tour  is a tour for anyone's budget.

Save more money in Boston with a  tourist discount pass .

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Boston Detective Tours

A Boston-Based True Crime Tour of some of Detective Joseph Leeman’s most famous cases.

Join Retired Boston Police Detective Joe Leeman on his gritty tour of Boston’s criminal underworld, by way of an old-fashioned Police Ride Along. Detective Leeman points out numerous crime scenes from Boston past, while enjoying the many historical and architectural locations Boston has to offer. In addition, Detective Leeman will explain several cases where he was assigned as the lead detective, he will speak of these investigations in depth, and explain their ultimate dispositions. Please join Detective Leeman on Boston’s Finest Crime Tour, Boston Detective Tours, True Crime Boston.

Boston Convention Exhibition Center

425 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02210

Tickets and Tour Times

Tour Schedule:

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Tour 1: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Tour 2: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Tour 3: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Follow the link below to purchase your tickets.

Keep up to date on everything Boston Detective Tour’s has to offer by following up on our many social media pages.

Guided Bus Tours Are Coming Summer 2016

Adult $33.00, military/senior/student $25.00, children $20.00, choose a time, walking tour, adult $29.99, military/student $25.99, boston's brutal history.

Mobsters, Criminals, Gangsters, Plots, Ploys, Scams, Heists, Mayhem and Murder await you See first hand where some of Boston's most heinous crimes occurred on one of our acclaimed walking or bus tours. The Boston Crime Tour focuses on the life and crimes of Boston's most legendary gangsters.

The Hidden History of Boston That No Other Tour Can Offer

Get a first hand view into the world of Boston's underground. The Boston Crime Tour was meticulously researched and created by Boston natives who grew up in the very neighborhoods where James "Whitey" Bulger and his Winter Hill Gang operated. Learn the true story of how Boston's Irish mobsters, lead by Bulger, ran amuck in the city of Boston by keeping the Boston Police, State Police, and FBI on their payroll.

See History First Hand

Take a tour with us and see with your own eyes the sites where these unbeleivable stories took place.

Boston Crime Tour Featured on WCVB-TV's Award Winning Chronicle

Did Hollywood get it right?

You've seen the movies, now learn the truth

James "Whitey" Bulger was famously portrayed in the film Black Mass by Johnny Depp. Bulger was also the inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character Frank Costello in Martin Scorcese's The Departed

Frequently Asked Questions

Refunds and what if rain is forecast during my walking tour.

Please consult the weather forecast. Contact us 24 hours before your scheduled tour in the event that rain is forecast if you decide to forego that day's tour and we will issue rainchecks or complete refund.

If we have to cancel the tour due to inclement weather we will contact you via the information provided when you purchased your tickets.

When will you start making the Bus Tour available?

We are still working out some details with the City of Boston and are hoping to be running bus tours by the summer of 2025.

Where does the walking tour start?

The Seaport District and Fort Point Channel can be easily walked to from the South Station Red line stop, or both the Courthouse or World Trade Center Silver line stops

What else is there to do in the Seaport District?

The area is loaded with other city attractions, resteraunts and museums including

• The Institute of Contemorary Art
• The Harpoon Brewery
• Anthony's Pier 4 Resteraunt
• The Historic Northern Ave. Bridge
• The Boston Fire Museum
• The Site Of The Boston Tea Party
• The Boston Children's Museum
• The Spirit of Boston Cruises
• Boston's Historic Harbor Walk

How long is the tour?

The Tour is roughly 2 hours long, although traffic conditions in the city can sometimes make it take a little longer for the full experience. Don't worry though, unlike some of the criminals included in the tour, we won't hold you hostage. If you need to be somewhere we can make sure to get you back on time, but please plan on the tour being at least 2 hours.

Do You Host Private Tours?

We'll make you an offer you can't refuse.

Reserve Seats While They Last

Join us for an up close look at the places where some of Boston's most notorious crimes occurred. Our street level tours immerse you in the locations where the undesirable element once roamed. We will also give the history of non-crime related sites along the way.

Please note, our walking tours operate at a brisk pace, so they are not recommended for those who have difficulty walking for extended periods and children. Our bus tours may be more appropriate.

Wearing comfortable footwear and clothing is advised. Bringing an umbrella in the event of inclement weather is also recommended. Please consult the weather forecast. Contact us 24 hours before your scheduled tour in the event that rain is forecasted if you decide to forego that day's tour. Rainchecks or refunds will be issued. We look forward to seeing you!

Lastly, the operators of Boston crime tours respectfully request that our guests use discretion regarding photographs. Some locations may have once been a haven for nefarious activities, however, today they are the homes and businesses of regular citizens. There will be plenty of scenic views of our beautiful city along the way where you'll be able to take wicked killah pictures!

Coming summer of 2025, our narrated vehicle tours bring guests to the traditional sights, and also ventures off the beaten path. This unique tour takes visitors to neighborhoods in Boston not spotlighted in most travel guides.

Our narrated tour traces Boston's history and paints the criminal history over it. Learn about how events in history shaped the criminal underworld decades to come. Get the scoop on events that were splashed across news pages, and hear why one individual actually shot at a newspaper building! With bad cops, good robbers, colorful characters and innocent people caught in between, you'll be asking yourself where the gray area begins ends and evil begins.

Passengers are asked to arrive at the pick up location ten minutes early. Please provide a mobile phone number which can receive text messages or email, so that we may be able to send updates, if needed. If you wish to cancel or reschedule, please contact us 24 hours prior to your scheduled tour.

If anyone in your party requires wheelchair access at the time of purchase, we are limited to two chair spaces. Our vehicle is equipped with a chair lift. Sign up for our newsletter for information regarding special American sign language (ASL) guided tours.

Due to the violent content and mature language, the tour is not recommended for very young children.

We look forward to seeing you and showing you a side of Boston that you will nevah forget!

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We'd love to hear from you. If you've got any comments or questions please feel free to drop us a line

Boston Crime Tour

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Boston Crime Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Beacon Hill True Crime Tour

• Not recommended for guests under 12
• Daily at 7pm
• Tour lasts 2 hours
• Tour Runs Daily
• Start Times Available from 5:00 to 8:00pm
• 2 person minimum
• Tour does not operate Thanksgiving or Christmas Day

Frequently Asked Questions

How and when should i book my tour.

Availability is never guaranteed, so we suggest booking your tour as soon as possible on our website or another service that offers our tours. This is especially important for Private Tours as availability is limited.

What about the Weather?

We operate in all weather conditions. The only time a tour will be cancelled due to weather is if the city decides it is unsafe to be outside.

Cancellation policy and refunds

All cancellations must be made by phone. In order to receive a full refund, your tour must be cancelled within 2 calendar days of the tour start time. Guests who reschedule their tour after 2 calendar days are subject to a $20 per person rescheduling fee.

Guests who reschedule and then attempt to cancel the reservation will not receive a refund. Guests are limited to rescheduling their tour to one time.

Rebooking, can I change my tour date?

Guests are free to rebook with no charge anytime within 2 calendar days prior to the tour. After 2 calendar days, a fee of $20 per person is required to rebook.

Can I drop off my kids?

All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21. 

Can I take a tour alone?

Each tour requires a 2 person minimum to operate. We accept single travelers on tours, but only after the 2 person minimum has been met. All Private Tours require a 2 person minimum.

Where does my tour meet?

Each tour meets at a different location. Information on the start location for your tour can be found in your confirmation and on the tour’s page of our website.

Who is my guide? How will I recognize them?

You will not know who your guide is until the tour begins, and we do not give out that information as the guide might change last minute. Your guide will be holding a white flag with blue checks and our logo on it.

Running late?

Tours begin promptly at the start time listed. If you are running late, please call our office as soon as possible. Although we cannot guarantee we can catch you up with the group, we will do our best.

Will you pick me up?

We do not provide pick up on our group tours. We do pick up our Custom Tour guests at their hotel.

Do you offer transportation?

All of our tours are walking tours and we do not use vehicles of any kind. On the Custom and Must See Tour we do use the NYC Subway to get around. (The subway fee is not included on group Must See Tours.)

How much does a tour cost?

All of our tours are priced differently. Group Tours range from $25 to $74 and Private Tours range from $70 to $300. Add-on options like tickets to the One World Observatory are available on certain tours. On some tours you also have the option to buy food along the way, so bringing a little extra cash is recommended.

Is there Crown Access to the Statue of Liberty?

No tour company is able to procure Crown Access to the Statue of Liberty. The only way to purchase them is by visiting the Statue Cruises website. They tend to sell out very quickly, sometimes up to 9 months in advance during peak season.

Alcohol & Weapons

Weapons of any kind are prohibited on our tours. Alcohol is also prohibited. Guest who bring alcohol or show up intoxicated with be asked to leave and will not receive a refund.

Should I tip my tour guide?

A gratuity of 15% will be added to all groups of 8 or more including NY Pass guests. 

Other gratuities are never expected but are a great way to say thank you to your guide.

Which tours are available as Private Tours?

All of our tours can be booked privately. Prices range from $70 to $300 per person.

Do I have to pay entrance fees?

Entrance fees are included in some of our tours. Please check your confirmation to see if entrance fees are included. If the tour does not specifically say a fee is included, then it is not.

What happens if I miss the tour?

If you miss your tour will have to completely rebook. We do not provide refunds for guests who miss their tour.

Will I have access to a restroom?

We cannot guarantee restroom access on our tours. We suggest visiting a restroom before a tour begins.

Are the tours handicap accessible?

Most of our tours are handicap friendly. However, some of our tours require the use of stairs or will be marked as Not Handicapped accessible. Please inquire is your tour is handicap accessible before booking.

What should I bring with me?

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes and dressing according the the season. During the summer we suggest bringing water.

What are the office hours?

Our office is open from 8:30am-8:30pm.

Legal Disclaimer

By booking this tour you are voluntarily participating in the aforementioned activity and are participating in the activity entirely at your own risk. Be aware of the risks associated with participating in this activity, which may include but are not limited to" physical or psychological injury, pain, suffering, illness, disfigurement, temporary or permanent disability (including paralysis), economic or emotional loss, and death. I understand that these injuries or outcomes may arise from my own or others negligence , conditions related to travel to and from the activity, or conditions at the activity location(s). Nontheless, I assume all related risks, both known and unknown to me, of my participation in this activity. I further agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless TopDogTours, Inc. and any associates against any and all claims, suits, or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation, or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney's fees and any related costs.

Meeting Place

Massachusetts State House 24 Beacon St

24 Beacon St.

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Matador Original Series

8 Serial Killer Tours for the True-Crime Obsessed

T here’s something undeniably interesting about serial killers and true-crime stories. Just look at all the podcasts, books , and documentaries out there detailing everything about the people who do the unthinkable. It may seem twisted to some, but no true-crime experience tops actually going to the locations where they happened. To meet the unlikely demand for the macabre , there are serial killer tours across the country and abroad that satisfy every dark curiosity you could have about people who kill again and again. Here are eight serial killer tours that will make your skin crawl.

1. Devil & the White City H. H. Holmes tour in Chicago, Illinois

Photo: John Dorton /Shutterstock

H. H. Holmes is considered America’s first serial killer, so what better place to start a weird trip around the country’s serial killer crime scenes? Holmes went on his streak in 1893 during the World’s Fair. He was somewhat private as far as serial killers go and committed his acts in a place that was dubbed the “Murder Castle.” It’s no longer standing, but the Devil & the White City tour takes you to what remains of the location, as well as to the places where Holmes targeted his victims.

2. Helter Skelter Tour in Los Angeles, California

Photo: trekandshoot /Shutterstock

Few people have stuck in the general American consciousness like Charles Manson. The Helter Skelter Tour makes his atrocities all the more real through a 3.5-hour exploration of the Tate-LaBianca murders committed by the Manson family. It focuses on the killers and the victims both before and during the crimes. Each tour includes audio recordings of the murderers describing their heinous acts, a discussion about motivation, trips to both murder locations, a visit to where the victims had their last dinner, and a stop at both the driveway where the killers washed and the hillside where the evidence was found.

The tour is led by Scott Michaels who made a documentary on the murders called The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter . It’s like a 3.5-hour Netflix murder documentary, only you’re actually going to the places where these murders happened instead of sitting on your couch.

3. Cream City Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer tour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Photo: ESB Professional /Shutterstock

The Cream City Cannibal tour website sums up the experience best on its website: “This tour is so gruesome, it was banned on Groupon — twice.”

The name refers to the all-too-recent 1990s killings by Jeffrey Dahmer, who took the lives of 17 men and boys. The Cream City Cannibal tour follows his exact footsteps for seven of those murders. The tour lasts 75 minutes and includes conversations about the gory details of killing and eating a human, Dahmer’s psychological state, and “tales of caution.” It’s a walking tour and only done in the brief months that walking in Milwaukee is possible. People are protesting the tour, which is currently in its sixth year, including friends and families of the victims — to which Barry Weiss, the tour’s owner, says that his graphic tour is an important learning tool that academics, the media, and the FBI have used to learn more about Dahmer. You be the judge.

4. Zodiac Killer Tour in San Francisco, California

Photo: Kunal Mehta /Shutterstock

This one’s only for the dedicated. The five-hour tour takes you to seven Zodiac Killer murder sites in chronological order. That means going through San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, through Napa Valley, and then finally back to the city. The Zodiac killer is one of the most famous unsolved murder mysteries. It’s not even known how many murders are directly attributable to the Zodiac Killer, but likely the first one dates back to June 4, 1963, when two high schoolers from Lompoc, California (this writer’s hometown) were killed on a beach.

Of course, this being California, it’s not all murder and mystery. The tour also states that the “views along the way are beautiful and the sites themselves intriguing.”

5. Beacon Hill Crime Tour in Boston, Massachusetts

Photo: Jon Bilous /Shutterstock

The Beacon Hill Crime Tour is a twofer. Free Tours By Foot, a pay-what-you-wish tour company in Boston, hosts a tour that illuminates two famous cases: the Boston Strangler and the murders done by Harvard professor John Webster. The walking tour brings people close to the crime scenes, which are places that people walk through every day without truly understanding the history of what’s taken place there.

6. Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa

Photo: Villisca Ax Murder House

If walking around spooky spots isn’t good enough for you, then how does staying the night in the house where eight people were murdered by an ax sound? In 1912, Josiah Moore, his family, and two guests were hacked to death in the Moore house. The identity of the killer remains unknown, but legend has it that the victims still walk the halls — and that legend is backed by numerous paranormal investigators who have audio, video, and photographic evidence of paranormal activity. You can tour the house during the day or night, but the real attraction is staying overnight. Sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to scare your sadistic heart.

7. Torso Murder Tour in Cleveland, Ohio

Photo: Kenneth Sponsler /Shutterstock

Thirteen headless and mutilated bodies were found on the streets of Cleveland between 1935 and 1938. Whoever did it was never caught, despite Eliot Ness — leader of the famous “Untouchables” who took down organized crime during Prohibition — being on the case. You can take a bus tour that rolls down Broadway and retraces the steps of the “Mad Butcher” to see what Ness saw. At the end, you speak with an expert, and you can even take a stab at guessing who the murderer and some of the unidentified victims were.

8. Jack the Ripper Tour in London, England

Photo: Pyty /Shutterstock

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Six of Massachusetts' most notorious serial killers

True crime and serial killers remain popular as ever, as seen with the popularity of Netflix's new Jeffrey Dahmer series, the latest in a trend of docudramas adapting real life crimes — "The Staircase," "The Thing About Pam," "American Crime Story," "The Girl from Plainville," and so many more. 

Learn more about some of Massachusetts' most notorious serial killers — two of whose stories are in the process of being made into docudramas themselves — below:

The Boston Strangler 

No list of Massachusetts serial killers would be complete without the "Boston Strangler," who murdered 13 women in the Boston area between June 1962 and January 1964. All of the victims, who ranged in age from 19 to 85, were found dead in their homes, and most had been strangled with their own nylon stockings. 

More: Zodiac Killer(s): What do astrological signs and murderers have to do with each other?

After being charged with a series of rapes in 1964, Albert DeSalvo confessed to being the strangler, though conclusive physical evidence linking him to any of the killings was not confirmed until 2013, after DNA obtained from his exhumed remains matched DNA  found on the strangler's final victim, 19-year-old Mary Sullivan.

Doubts remain among some as to whether DeSalvo was responsible for all 13 murders, as Sullivan was the only victim from whom DNA was recovered.

An upcoming movie, "Boston Strangler," focuses on the case, starring Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin , the reporter who broke the story. The film was shot in Boston earlier this year and is set to be released on Hulu. 

The New Bedford Highway Killer 

From March 1988 to April 1989, the bodies of nine women were found along Route 140 — and their murders have never been solved. The victims — the youngest was 19 and the oldest  36 — were targeted in New Bedford as either known sex workers or individuals struggling with addiction.

More: Three men charged in Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger's 2018 death. What we know

In 1990, murder charges were brought in one of the deaths but were dropped the following year due to lack of evidence. Other potential suspects have been suggested, including a possible connection to a serial killer in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1992 and 1993, but the cases remain unsolved. 

Kenneth Hanson 

Known as "The Giggler," Kenneth Hanson murdered two adults and two children in Boston between April 1967 and December 1969. After some of the murders, Hanson called police and let them know the location of the bodies before giggling and hanging up — hence the nickname.

Hanson left his victims in somewhat public places: two were found floating in the Fort Point Channel, one in a water filled pit in Boston's notorious Combat Zone , and one in a tunnel under South Station. 

More: Brookline's true crime tales: Four gritty stories with local ties

A phone tip from his sister led to Hanson's arrest for the murder of his last victim, after which he was charged with the prior three. He was convicted of the murder he was first arrested for and pleaded guilty to the further three in 1972. Hanson committed suicide in prison in 1989. 

Alfred Gaynor 

Between April 1995 and February 1998, Alfred Gaynor murdered nine women in Springfield, raping most of them and robbing many of them to fund his drug habit. 

Gaynor did not admit guilt during his trial for the murder of four of his victims, but was convicted of the crimes in May 2000, receiving four life sentences with no chance of parole. His mother died in 2006, after which his tune changed — significantly.

More: 'Dexter' series may include scenes from Westford property

In 2008 he admitted to not only the four murders he was convicted of, but an additional five as well — included one his nephew, Paul Fickling, was serving a life sentence for. Fickling's original sentence was overturned and he was subsequently convicted of complicity in the murder, receiving a sentence of 20 years, 14 of which he had already served.

Gary Lee Sampson 

Technically a spree killer, because of the lack of a "cooling off period" between his murders, Gary Lee Sampson  took the life of three people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in one week of July 2001.

A fugitive bank robber, Sampson attempted to turn himself in the day before his first murder, calling the FBI before being disconnected. The next day, he carjacked and killed his first victim in a secluded part of Marshfield, before doing the same to his second victim, three days later, in Abington. The next day, he murdered his third victim, in Penacook, New Hampshire. 

More: Gone now 39 years, Judith Chartier's family reflects on the girl she once was

Sampson then called authorities to turn himself in again; this time he was successful. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death. Though Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1984, federal law allowed for it when a carjacking or kidnapping results in murder. Sampson died in December of last year.

Tony Costa 

The subject of a recent book by Massachusetts author Casey Sherman , Antone "Tony" Costa, nicknamed the "Cape Cod Vampire" and "Tony Chop Chop" killed up to five women in Truro from 1968 to 1969.

A handyman and informant for the Provincetown Police Department, Costa was ingrained in that town's hippie, drug-fueled lifestyle, preying on transient women whose disappearances weren't immediately worrisome. While his story was national news, getting the attention of both Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer, his fame was quickly eclipsed by that of the Manson family in the summer of 1969.

More: Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 people. These are the victims and what we knew about them

Costa was convicted in 1970 of two of the murders and sentenced to life in prison; he committed suicide in 1974. Liza Rodman, who Costa babysat , also wrote a fascinating book about Costa. A series based on Sherman's book is in development with Robert Downey Jr.'s production company. 

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The Killers

• Date October 3 , 2022
• Event Starts 7:30PM
• Doors GA Doors open at 6:00 PM | All other doors open 6:30PM
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The killers: imploding the mirage tour.

With special guest: Johnny Marr

General admission ticket holders  click here  for more information.

The Killers will be heading back to the road to celebrate both Pressure Machine and Imploding The Mirage, along with their much-loved catalogue of global hits, in 2022. Tickets for these shows go on sale on Friday, July 23rd, at 10 am local time via the band’s website .

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Special ticket inventory is released for various events throughout the year. Call 617-624-1847 to speak to someone from our staff to learn more.  

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Looking for the perfect group entertainment option? Look no further than your very own suite rental. Call 617-624-1847 today to book your unique event. Visit our Suite Rentals page for more information.

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The Boston Strangler

From June 1962 through January 1964, 13 single women between the ages of 19 and 85 were murdered throughout the Boston area. Many people believed that at least 11 of these murders were committed by the same individual because of the similar manner in which each murder was committed. It was believed that the women, who all lived alone, knew the attacker and let him in, or that he disguised himself as a repairman, or a delivery man to get the women to voluntarily let him into their apartments. “In every case, the victims had been raped – sometimes with foreign objects – and their bodies laid out nude, as if on display for a pornographic snapshot. Death was always due to strangulation, though the killer sometimes also used a knife. The ligature – a stocking, pillowcase, whatever – was inevitably left around the victim’s neck, tied with an exaggerated, ornamental bow.” This series of crimes was often referred to as “The Silk Stocking Murders” and the sought after attacker became known as the “Boston Strangler.”

A couple of years before “The Silk Stocking Murders” began, a series of sex offenses began in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area. A smooth-talking man, in his late twenties, went door-to-door looking for young women. If a young woman answered the door, he would introduce himself as a talent scout from a modeling agency looking for new models. If she was interested he would tell her that he needed to get her measurements. Many women expressed interest and allowed him to measure them with his measuring tape. He would then fondle the women as he took their measurements. Several women contacted the police and this man was referred to as the “Measuring Man.”

In March of 1960, police caught a man breaking into a house. He confessed to the burglary, and without any prompting, he also confessed to being the “Measuring Man.” The man’s name was Albert DeSalvo. The judge sentenced DeSalvo to 18 months in jail, but he was released after 11 months for good behavior. Following his release, he began a new crime spree throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. During this spree, DeSalvo, while dressed in green, broke into over 400 homes and sexually assaulted over 300 women. While police throughout New England were in search of the “Green Man”, Boston homicide detectives continued their search for the “Boston Strangler.”

In October of 1964, a young woman who was one of the “Green Man’s” victims came forward to police saying that a man posing as a detective entered her home and sexually assaulted her. From her description of the man, the police were able to identify the man as Albert DeSalvo. A photo of DeSalvo was published in newspapers and several women came forward to identify him as their attacker. He was arrested on a rape charge and was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for psychiatric observation, where he befriended convicted murderer George Nassar. It is speculated that the two worked out a deal to split reward money if one of them confessed to being the Boston Strangler. DeSalvo confessed to his attorney, F. Lee Bailey, that he was the Boston Strangler. Through DeSalvo’s ability to describe the murders in accurate detail, Bailey believed that DeSalvo was in fact the Strangler. After hours of questioning, where DeSalvo described murder by murder, the details of his victim’s apartments and what they wore, the police were convinced that they had the killer.

Despite his confession, there was no physical evidence to link Albert DeSalvo to the “Silk Stocking Murders.” Doubt remained, and police brought the Strangler’s one surviving victim, Gertrude Gruen, to the prison to identify the man she fought off as he attempted to strangle her. To observe her reaction, the police brought two men through the prison lobby, the first was Nassar and the second was DeSalvo. Gruen said that the second man, DeSalvo, was not the man; however, when she saw the first man, Nassar, she felt there was “something upsetting, something frighteningly familiar about that man.” Through it all, DeSalvo’s wife, family and friends never believed he was capable of being the Strangler.

Because there was no physical evidence and he did not match witness descriptions, he was never tried in any of the “Boston Strangler” murders. He was however sent to prison for life for the rapes and sexual assaults from the “Green Man” case. He was sent to Walpole maximum security state prison in 1967 to serve his sentence; but six years later he was stabbed to death in his cell. After nearly 50 years, no one has ever been charged as the Boston Strangler.

In July 2013, the Boston Police Department believed that they had discovered DNA evidence linking Albert DeSalvo to Mary Sullivan, who had been raped and strangled in 1964 – the final victim of the Boston Strangler. After taking DNA from DeSalvo’s nephew, the Boston Police said it was a “near certain match” to DNA evidence found on Mary Sullivan’s body and on a blanket taken from her apartment. Upon this discovery, the court ordered the exhumation of DeSalvo’s body.

After extracting DNA from DeSalvo’s femur and some of his teeth, it was determined that DeSalvo was the man who killed and raped Mary Sullivan. While the case of Mary Sullivan’s murder has been closed, the mystery of the Boston Strangler still remains open to speculation.

For more information, please visit: Boston Strangler Case Solved 50 Years Later

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Megadeth Announces Destroy All Enemies U.S. Tour

Featuring Mudvayne and All That Remains

Tickets for the 33-city nationwide tour on-sale this friday, april 26.

Megadeth is bringing its iconic live show to North America with a 33-city, nationwide tour, Destroy All Enemies, produced by Live Nation, this fall including stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, St. Louis and many more. Tickets for all dates will be on sale Friday at 10am local time with an exclusive presale for the Cyber Army/Megadeth Digital beginning today, Tuesday, April 23 at 12pm local time Megadeth.com .

Bringing along Mudvayne and All That Remains, the tour begins in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and runs throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28. Performing classic hits from Rust In Peace, Countdown to Extinction and more, the tour also brings Dave Mustaine and bandmates back to North America to perform their latest studio album The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! Featuring some of Mustaine’s strongest-ever songwriting, the tour offers an equally ambitious live performance that delivers on all fronts.

“Our ‘Crush The World’ tour has been a tremendous experience for the four of us,” shared Dave Mustaine. “We are all playing tight, and that has made it possible for me to really focus on solos and singing, we are playing more songs than ever before, and we are closer to each other, onstage AND off. I’m excited to see Mudvayne, and All That Remains. Join us as we DESTROY ALL ENEMIES.”

The North American jaunt comes on the heels of a highly anticipated and successful stint in Latin America wrapping this month and starting back up in Europe this summer. With stops in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and México and forthcoming dates in Sweden, Italy, France, Germany and more, the band’s global appeal and lasting impact is more apparent than ever as continued calls for international touring are demanded.

Megadeth, alongside founder and frontman Dave Mustaine, are renowned for their unparalleled energy and mastery on stage. In 2023, the GRAMMY-Award winning band dominated arenas and festivals, reaffirming its status as one of heavy metal’s most formidable live acts. Dubbed “as ferocious and hard-hitting as ever” by AllMusic , Megadeth enjoyed sold-out shows and critical acclaim on the latest run of the Crush The World Tour captivating audiences and showcasing the latest and greatest hits.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the Destroy All Enemies Tour, visit www.megadeth.com .

Destroy All Enemies U.S. Tour 2024

Aug 2               Rogers, AR                   Walmart AMP

Aug 3               Houston, TX                 713 Music Hall

Aug 5               Albuquerque, NM          Isleta Amphitheatre

Aug 6               Denver, CO                  Ball Arena

Aug 8               Phoenix, AZ                  Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Aug 9               Los Angeles, CA           YouTube Theater

Aug 10             Concord, CA                 Toyota Pavilion at Concord

Aug 12             Auburn, WA                  White River Amphitheatre

Aug 13             Bend, OR                     Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Aug 16             Las Vegas, NV              Bakkt Theatre at Planet Hollywood

Aug 17             Salt Lake City, UT         Maverick Arena*

Aug 20             Irving, TX                      The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Aug 21             Austin, TX                     Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Aug 23             Macon, GA                   Atrium Health Macon Amphitheater*

Aug 24             West Palm Beach, FL    IThink Financial Amphitheatre

Sept 3              Tinley Park, IL               Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Sept 5              Huntington, WV             Marshall Health Network Arena*

Sept 6              Charlotte, NC                PNC Music Pavilion

Sept 7              Raleigh, NC                  Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sept 9              Reading, PA                 Santander Arena*

Sept 10             Albany, NY                   MVP Arena*

Sept 11             Boston, MA                   Leader Bank

Sept 13             Bethel, MY                    Bethel Woods Center For The Arts

Sept 14             Wantagh, NY                Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Sept 15             Richmond, VA               Virginia Credit Union Live!*

Sept 17             Cincinnati, OH               Riverbend Music Center

Sept 18             Pittsburgh, PA               Stage AE

Sept 20             Noblesville, IN               Ruoff Music Center

Sept 21             Clarkston, MI                Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sept 24             Minneapolis, MN           The Armory

Sept 26             St Louis, MO                 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL

Sept 27             Southaven, MS             Bankplus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove*

Sept 28             Nashville, TN                Nashville Municipal Auditorium

*Non Live Nation Dates

About Megadeth:

With a musical legacy spanning four decades, Megadeth has sold in excess of 50 million albums worldwide earning numerous accolades including 1 Grammy award with 13 nominations and five consecutive platinum albums. Megadeth’s debut album, Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! was named by VH1 as the “Greatest Thrash Metal Debut Album of All Time.” The band’s latest album The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! was released in September 2022 via Tradecraft/UMG. It debuted at No. 1 across Billboard’s Top Rock, Hard Rock, and Alternative Albums charts, and No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and the lead single “We’ll Be Back” was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Metal Performance.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

Megadeth Media Contact: Sara Jordan Jacobson | [email protected]

Live Nation Contact:

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Navier Grimes | [email protected]

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Boston Calling Reveals 2024 Lineup with The Killers, Ed Sheeran & Tyler Childers

Hozier, Megan Thee Stallion, Trey Anastasio, and Leon Bridges among other notable acts set to play

Boston Calling has unveiled its 2024 lineup featuring The Killers, Ed Sheeran, and Tyler Childers as headliners, plus other notable acts including Hozier, Megan Thee Stallion, Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB, Leon Bridges, Reneé Rapp, and Khruangbin.

The annual music festival returns May 24th-26th, 2024 at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, Massachusetts.

Boston Calling’s 2024 lineup also includes The Revivalists, Young the Giant, Blondshell, Chappell Roan, Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, Jessie Murph, Royel Otis, Francis of Delirium, Ric Wilson, Madi Diaz, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and more.

Tickets to Boston Calling 2024 are now on sale here .

Revisit our coverage of Boston Calling 2023 here , and sign up for our weekly live music email digest .

Get Boston Calling Tickets Here

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Variety is the spice of his comic life

Paul f. tompkins is bringing his stage variety show ‘varietopia’ to city winery..

Stand-up comedian Paul F. Tompkins wears many hats. In addition to his day job, he hosts a podcast, performs sketch and improv, and does voice-over acting. As a lover of old-fashioned style, he also wears many actual hats — and cravats, three-piece suits, boutonnières, and the occasional cape. This love of classic showbiz trappings makes him a perfect fit for his other gig: variety show host.

“Varietopia” is a recurring stage variety show that Tompkins curates, stages, and hosts in Los Angeles. He just embarked on his first-ever “Varietopia” tour, which will stop at City Winery for two shows on May 2. (The full lineup is, by design, a secret.)

“Varietopia” began in 2002, when Tompkins was a mainstay at the Largo nightclub in Los Angeles. Owner Mark Flanagan booked guests whose specialties included spoken-word poetry, music, and stand-up comedy (its scene fostered musicians Aimee Mann and Fiona Apple, stand-up Patton Oswalt, and comedy band Tenacious D, among many others). This format inspired Tompkins to bring that same kind of grab-bag energy to a show of his own, which he periodically staged over the ensuing years.

“I wanted to host a show, and I didn’t want it to be just a parade of stand-ups, because there’s plenty of that already,” said Tompkins over the phone from LA. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to do something where I could do all the different things that I like to do. I like to do stand-up, I like to do sketch, I like to host, I like to participate in music. So that was the impetus. It really reawakened in me the love of variety shows I had when I was a kid, when they used to be a much more common thing. The format itself isn’t dated, just to have different things in one show.”

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After several years at Largo, Tompkins moved the show to the Lodge Room, a concert venue whose bigger space allowed him to expand from singer-songwriters to a house band with a full horn section. There is no “typical” “Varietopia” show, but past acts have included magicians, book readings, and character monologues. Last year’s St. Patrick’s Day show included Tompkins, in character as Monsignor Damien Fearnley, singing “Jesus’ Day Out,” an Irish-tinged song about how Jesus sometimes gets bored and pops back on to Earth.

Given the show’s longevity, it may seem surprising that Tompkins has never toured with the show. He said that this was largely because of its many logistical challenges, and credited musical director Jordan Katz with ironing those out.

“Music requires so much more all around, in terms of travel and lodging, tech, that it was very daunting for me,” said Tompkins. “I had [touring] in the back of my mind but I didn’t know how to do it. [Katz] has been the person putting all of the logistics together. That stuff is beyond me. He’s been terrific at putting that stuff together.”

Katz, reached via email, said the feeling is mutual.

“Paul is a comedy legend! And a great human!” he wrote. “I’m thrilled everyday to collaborate with him on this show. He’s so gifted in so many mediums. This show feels like a musical convergence of all that talent. It’s an extremely unique live experience, and such a fun time. I’m extremely lucky to help bring this show to life.”

That “comedy legend” business is no exaggeration — Tompkins has had a multi-faceted career that has spanned four decades. He still regularly performs his blustery, faux-exasperated brand of stand-up — his take on peanut brittle is a regular crowd request — and you’ve likely heard his voice on one animated show or another. (His recurring role as Mr. Peanutbutter on Netflix’s “Bojack Horseman” earned him a mention in a “Jeopardy!” clue this month.) He frequently appears as a variety of characters on the cult-classic podcast “Comedy Bang! Bang!,” and he hosts his own informally chatty podcast, “Stay F. Homekins,” with his wife, the actor Janie Haddad Tompkins.

Tompkins said that this seemingly disparate work is all part of the same skill set. “I think that every creative thing that I engage with informs the other, because it’s all extensions of me and my creativity,” he said.

VARIETOPIA WITH PAUL F. TOMPKINS

At City Winery, 80 Beverly St. May 2 at 6 p.m. (sold out) and 9:30 p.m. Tickets $30-$45. citywinery.com/boston