In 1949, San Wanamaker -- an American actor, director, and producer-- visited the site of the old Globe theatre, and was disheartened to find that the only tribute to Shakespeare was a plaque on the wall of a brewery.
Apparently San Wanamaker was a determined personality: in 1970 he founded a Trust to reconstruct the theatre, and started 23 years of fundraising. By the time of his death, some construction had started. The new Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was completed in 1997, three years after Sam Wanamaker's death, and it recreates the original playhouse as faithfully as possible.
Above is the special square with Sam Wanamaker's name on it. Read more at the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre site.
Continue to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - the stage
