Archive - MacAllen's Theater GUide

History of This Site

Back in the late 1990’s, self pro-claimed web-nerd Philip Greenspun and some other M.I.T. technophiles started a company called ArsDigita. Much to their surprise, they started earning wads of cash. In an effort to stymie the proliferation of ghastly websites looking to whore themselves out to the highest bidder, they offered a webprize worth 1,000 dollars and a trip to Cambridge Massachusetts.

Along came Ian MacAllen stumbling through the internet. Thanks to Shirin Imran, he ceased dithering away his hours and began writing html code. Seeing the aD prize offer, he quickly setout to build a useable service thus launching The Original Theater Guide.

Somehow, The Original Theater Guide actually became a prize winning finalist. Along with 1,000 dollars, aD promised to provide server space. Soon The New Theater Guide launched with the promise of new and innovative services. Unfortunately, aD soon went belly up, mostly because of the dot-com crimes of a few bad venture capitalists. Redhat purchased all of aD’s assets, but had no obligation to fulfill any promises aD had made to a few dozen kids.

After some years studying the liberal arts at Rutgers College, Ian MacAllen found a well paying job (well paying at least, for a liberal arts major). With his new found wealth, he invested in some discount server space. Thus in 2003, MacAllen’s Theater Guide launched.

2004 Earlier
The new look was stolen from Erik Kennedy. He is not affiliated with this site other than in that he knows me, I know him, and we drink together. However, hats off to him; the design is clean and crisp.

2004 Now
Its a new look. Its not borrowed from anyone, even drinking buddies.