ERROR!
The above newspaper article refers to a 1913 opening. Actually the theatre opened a year later on October 26, 1914. 1919 was the fifth aniversary, not the sixth.
Article in The Providence News, October 24, 1919, on the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Royal Theatre on October 26, 1913.
Lots of background on the theatre is contained here, including the addition to the building that raised seating capacity from 900 to 1500. ARTICLE
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation. NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation. NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation. NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
[i]Warwick, Jan. 25. —-The Apponaug Volunteer Fire Company was called out last night to a blaze in the bowling alley owned by Edward Isaacson on Main Street, Apponaug, shortly after 10:30. The fire was caused by defective wiring in the ceiling and was extinguished with little damage.
Luckily the blaze was not discovered a short time before it was as more serious results might have been caused. The bowling alley is directly under a moving picture theatre and a large audience had just left the building when the fire alarm was sent in.[/i]
From The Providence News, May 22, 1920, concerning recruitment for Coast Artillery Company:
In the theatres this week, in East Greenwich and Apponaug, recruiting talks have been given. Frederick W. Bliss talked in Apponaug Thursday evening and tonight Captain John J. Collins will speak in the Apponaug Theatre and in Star Theatre [East Greenwich] here.
[i]TO SPEAK FOR HOOVER FUND
The Rev. Victor Herbert will speak at the Star Theatre in East Greenwich tonight in behalf of the starving people of Europe.[/i]
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as the Casino or Strand in Centredale? Or were those two, both listed elsewhere with a Smith Street address, actually the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families? Perhaps even at the Community Theatre? Perhaps someone can straighten out the history of film exhibition in Centredale. PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as this theatre? Or a place called the Strand in Centredale? Or were they all the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families? PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as this theatre? Or a place called the Casino in Centredale? Or were they all the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families? PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
Rudolph Valentino in Blood and Sand played the Strand in October 1922. THIS AD urges people who missed it in Providence to drive to Pawtucket to see it.
This aerial photo includes a view from above of the Uptown Theatre, two buildings to the right of Symphony Hall on Huntington Avenue and on the close side of the Christian Science Center. You can make out the marquee as well as the scenery tower at the rear of the building. View link
With some effort one can also make out Loew’s State on Massachusetts Avenue.
Arturo Toscanini conducted the La Scala Orchestra at the Albee on March 20, 1921. Sunday classical concerts were very common in an era when Providence theatres could not present movies, vaudeville, or plays on Sundays. These mouth-watering concerts and recitals have nothing to compare with them today in Rhode Island, sorry to say. ARTURO TOSCANINI
Here is the opening day ad for the Providence Opera House from the Providence Evening Press December 4, 1871. The first offering of the theatre was the comedy play entitled Fashion, by Anna Cora Mowatt. NEWSPAPER AD
The Park Theatre was sued in 1928 by the Vitaphone Corporation.
NEWSPAPER STORY
Lights out in 1919!!!
RESOURCEFUL MANAGER uses headlights from two cars to light theatre.
ERROR!
The above newspaper article refers to a 1913 opening. Actually the theatre opened a year later on October 26, 1914. 1919 was the fifth aniversary, not the sixth.
Article in The Providence News, October 24, 1919, on the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Royal Theatre on October 26, 1913.
Lots of background on the theatre is contained here, including the addition to the building that raised seating capacity from 900 to 1500.
ARTICLE
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation.
NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation.
NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
The first three full-time downtown Providence movie theatres were these: Nickel, Scenic Temple, Bijou. There are others that did show films previously but they were sporadic showings, or in the case of the Lyric, short-lived. Movies were the main policy, though the Scenic Temple did include vaudeville acts. This ad from August 1, 1908 makes clear the growing trend: moving pictures are here to stay! They are not a mere innovation.
NICKEL, SCENIC TEMPLE, BIJOU
Here is a newspaper ad announcing the grand opening of the Bijou on March 28, 1908:
AD FOR OPENING IN 1908
From The Providence News, January 25, 1929:
[i]Warwick, Jan. 25. —-The Apponaug Volunteer Fire Company was called out last night to a blaze in the bowling alley owned by Edward Isaacson on Main Street, Apponaug, shortly after 10:30. The fire was caused by defective wiring in the ceiling and was extinguished with little damage.
Luckily the blaze was not discovered a short time before it was as more serious results might have been caused. The bowling alley is directly under a moving picture theatre and a large audience had just left the building when the fire alarm was sent in.[/i]
From The Providence News, May 22, 1920, concerning recruitment for Coast Artillery Company:
In the theatres this week, in East Greenwich and Apponaug, recruiting talks have been given. Frederick W. Bliss talked in Apponaug Thursday evening and tonight Captain John J. Collins will speak in the Apponaug Theatre and in Star Theatre [East Greenwich] here.
Item in The Providence News, December 23, 1920:
[i]TO SPEAK FOR HOOVER FUND
The Rev. Victor Herbert will speak at the Star Theatre in East Greenwich tonight in behalf of the starving people of Europe.[/i]
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as the Casino or Strand in Centredale? Or were those two, both listed elsewhere with a Smith Street address, actually the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families? Perhaps even at the Community Theatre? Perhaps someone can straighten out the history of film exhibition in Centredale.
PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as this theatre? Or a place called the Strand in Centredale? Or were they all the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families?
PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
The Providence Evening Tribune of September 1, 1923 has an ad including a Centredale exhibitor called Centredale Worsted Mills as being part of Paramount Week with a showing of the film Moran of the Lady Letty. Could that have been the same place as this theatre? Or a place called the Casino in Centredale? Or were they all the same place? Or was this merely a mill showing for workers and their families?
PARAMOUNT WEEK AD
The Lost World, the silent 1925 dinosaur adventure film, played the Albee on a twice-a-day roadshow policy with reserved seats.
SEE AD HERE
Burlesque wasn’t frowned upon at that time in Providence, just five miles away:
1921
1929
Perhaps it was a Pawtucket hang-up.
AD FROM 1926.
Ad for a stage show at the State Theatre in 1926.
CHICK CHICK
Rudolph Valentino in Blood and Sand played the Strand in October 1922. THIS AD urges people who missed it in Providence to drive to Pawtucket to see it.
TIED TO THE TRACKS in 1924.
What was playing at the Scenic in June 1924, you ask?
These films.
This aerial photo includes a view from above of the Uptown Theatre, two buildings to the right of Symphony Hall on Huntington Avenue and on the close side of the Christian Science Center. You can make out the marquee as well as the scenery tower at the rear of the building.
View link
With some effort one can also make out Loew’s State on Massachusetts Avenue.
Arturo Toscanini conducted the La Scala Orchestra at the Albee on March 20, 1921. Sunday classical concerts were very common in an era when Providence theatres could not present movies, vaudeville, or plays on Sundays. These mouth-watering concerts and recitals have nothing to compare with them today in Rhode Island, sorry to say.
ARTURO TOSCANINI
Yes, Gerald DeLuca (that’s me) still posts on CT. But I tend to specialize in cinemas of my area, the state of Rhode Island.
Here is the opening day ad for the Providence Opera House from the Providence Evening Press December 4, 1871. The first offering of the theatre was the comedy play entitled Fashion, by Anna Cora Mowatt.
NEWSPAPER AD