In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those. Link to ad, then expand: View link
In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those. Link to ad, then expand: View link
In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those in Rhode Island. Link to ad, then expand: View link
“The Lincoln Theatre building in Valley Falls has been sold by the PHC Company of Pawtucket to Robert W. Jalbert of North Providence. The structure, a showplace in the lower Cumberland Valley community when it was built 40 years ago, was sold for $19,000.”
[Note: that means the theatre was probably built around 1917.]
An item in the December 14, 1946 issue of Boxoffice Magazine noted that the Academy had elevator service from the boxoffice area to the second floor auditorium of the theatre. The elevator was operated by John Sheehan, and was available until 8:30 each evening.
PROVIDENCE – The 1500 seat Royal Theatre in the Olneyville district is (slated) to be razed or remodeled into a (supermarket).
Long a landmark, the Royal (has been) inoperative for the past few years though it was rumored the popular neighborhood house would be refurbished and opened by a Boston syndicate. (The)official transfer of the the property was recorded by a local real estate brokerage firm.
The Royal was built in 1914 by Charles Tupper and Earl C. Whelden, who operated it until 1926 when it was leased to Regional Chain Theatres of New England…
For a time the lease was by the D&R Amusement Co, with which the late A.A. Spitz was associated, passing (on) to Boston interests in 1933. Not long after that the lease was acquired by E. M. Loew interests.
Because of its strategic location in the most thickly populated section of the (area), the Royal in its palmier days, when (silent?) movies were in vogue, rarely boasted an empty seat during evening performance. Frequently special stage shows were presented, usually over weekends or for a mid-week evening, in which local talents were given an opportunity to give vent to entertainment ambitions.
The decline of the textile industry in the Olneyville section, and the subsequent removal of many mill-employed families to other sections eventually caused a decline in revenue, and the Royal went from a (seven)-day a week house to a weekend policy (and) finally complete darkness.
While the new owners of the block (housing) the Royal state that the purchase was for investment purposes, it was reported on good authority that among interested tenants is a prominent supermarket operator.
[My note: the Royal continued unoccupied for a several years after this piece. Its lobby was used as a seasonal fruit and vegetable store. When I came home from high school by bus, I used to wait for a bus connection on the Plainfield Street side of the still standing though closed theatre building. The building was razed well after 1956 or later. I don’t know exactly when. A gas station was eventually built on the spot. It remains today.]
From Boxoffice Magazine, March 26, 1955, in an article on the history of art house exhibition in Boston:
“…Yet the history of the art picture in this city is an interesting and unique one. In 1922, during the silent days, George Kraska introduced this type of film to Boston audiences when he hired Symphony Hall and opened with a special engagement of the Russian film "Potemkim,” using the head organist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as the accompanist.“
[Note, the year 1922 must be in error, since Eisenstein’s Potemkin was made later, in 1925. Most likely it was after December 1926 when the movie opened in New York, or else in early 1927. The article also states that later, in 1927, Kraska took over the Fine Arts Theatre, up Massachusetts Avenue a bit at Norway Street, for his programs.]
Link: http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_032655-2
Go to page 95.
OLDTIME PRICES REVIVED
The Rivoli in Hartford. Conn., turned back the hands of time to the days of the 15-cent admission. The gimmick was used for four consecutive matinees of “The Golden Age of Comedy” and “Gorgo.” The 800-seat house charged 15 cents for children and 25 cents for adults and sold popcorn for only five cents."
Notice in Boxoffice Magazine from August 14, 1961 issue on the reopening of the Hope Theatre as the Cinerama, featuring the three-projector wide screen system:
“The new Cinerama Theatre, formerly the Hope on Hope Street, was opened August 9 after extensive renovations to convert it for exhibition of Cinerama productions, the first theatre in Rhode Island to be so equipped. The boxoffice had been selling reserved seats for the opening well in advance. Matinee prices are $1.25 and $1.49 and admission charges for evening performances are $1.75 and $2.00.”
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, March 18, 1950:
“High winds of near hurricane velocity recently toppled a 50-foot cement block screen at the Bellingham Drive-In, just over the Woonsocket [RI] city line. The screen carried down all the telephone wires on the south side of the highway, putting hundreds of phones out of service. Repairs will me made in time for the open airer to operate on schedule this spring.”
YAMINS CIRCUIT ACQUIRES EMBASSY IN FALL RIVER
FALL RIVER – Nathan Yamins, who operates six theatres in Fall River, added a seventh to his circuit when he took a long-term lease on the Embassy. William Purcell, the owner, rebuilt the 900-seat house from a former church and operated it for over a year. The Yamins houses are the Empire, Durfee, Center, Capitol, Park and Strand in Fall River, and the Dartmouth Open-Air, which he operates with the Interstate circuit.
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, December 27, 1947:
“Al Colagiovanni, former relief manager for Associated, has taken over the managership of the Empire Theatre, succeeding Nick Trifolletti, who has resigned."
[Note: about two months after this piece, on February 29, 1948, this theatre would close for good and be demolished a few months after that.]
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, July 7, 1954:
“The Gilbert Stuart Theatre in nearby Riverside is being repainted inside and out. New photographic murals of Gilbert Stuart, native Rhode Islander famous for his portraits of George Washington, and scenes of his birthplace, grace the inner lobby. Artisans also are busy redecorating the bathrooms in new color schemes.”
“Both the Liberty here [Providence] and the Hollywood, East Providence, were shuttered recently. The latter situation is being used as the site of several oldtime auction sales. Both are Bomes' houses."
-Boxoffice Magazine, June 15, 1957
from Boxoffice Magazine, March 30, 1957:
The Hollywood, neighborhood house, presented a rock and roll stage show, topped by Bennie Woods, Jo-Jo Jones and Toni Lee. All seats were sold for $1. Attendance was almost capacity.
from Boxoffice Magazine, October 14, 1950, page 97:
“Motion pictures, with program changes three times weekly, on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, are being shown at Nathan Yamins' Somerset Playhouse, which housed stock companies during the summer. Doors open at 7 P.M. and the showing starts at 7:30. Admissions are: Adults, 42 cents, plus 8 cents tax; children 17 cents, plus 3 cents tax. Saturday afternoon matinees are held at 2 p.m. Scarley Lady chinaware was given to woman patrons at the opening. The offer was repeated later. James Knight, who managed both the Strand and Embassy [in Fall River] and who has been acting as relief manager since the closing of the Embassy, is the playhouse’s new manager. Phyllis G. Davis is in the boxoffice.”
Promotion Drive Started on Film in Production
PROVIDENCE – A long range buildup to the eventual presentation of “Quo Vadis,” now in production in Italy, is being dramatized by Maurice Druker, manager of Loew’s State. Druker has had a large display case erected in the theatre lobby upon which he posts weekly cablegrams reporting the progress of the film, now about half finished.
In addition, photographs showing the picture in the making are displayed. Intense interest has been expressed by patrons entering and leaving the theatre. Many of them have stopped to ask Druker how soon the film will come to the city.
Note: Quo Vadis would open in New York in November, 1951. It opened at this theatre in Providence, then known as Loew’s State, not long after that.
“PROVIDENCE – George Card, long identified with the amusement park business, has been named manager of the new Pike Drive-In located on the Hartford Pike at Johnston, three miles west of this city. Operated by Albert M. Schuman and Louis D. Rogow of Hartford, the new drive-in is on the site formerly occupied by the old Hiway Auto Theatre.
“Very little remains of the old open-airer. Schuman and Rogow practically revamped the place from top to bottom. A new screen has been erected and Century projectors were installed by the Massachusetts Theatre Equipment Co. of Boston, along with in-car speakers.
“Parking facilities for close to 600 cars will be increased as soon as all remodeling and building is completed. As patrons drive in under a new overhead sign, which cost approximately $3,000, they are greeted by side walls beautifully decorated with scenic paintings. The surrounding grounds have been newly landscaped. Among other innovations is a cafeteria-style snack bar.
“The theatre has already been opend to the public, but workmen and painters are continuing the improvement program.”
from Boxoffice Magazine, April 23, 1938:
Fine Arts Marquee.
BOSTON – A new marquee has been put up at the Fine Arts Theatre. It was designed and executed by Leonard Krasna, assistant manager at the house. He was aided by Edward Cincotti and William Harvey.
In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those. Link to ad, then expand:
View link
In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those. Link to ad, then expand:
View link
In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those in Rhode Island. Link to ad, then expand:
View link
An article with photo, on the opening of the Hancock Village Theatre, published May 28, 1949 in Boxoffice Magazine:
View link
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, February 2, 1957:
“The Lincoln Theatre building in Valley Falls has been sold by the PHC Company of Pawtucket to Robert W. Jalbert of North Providence. The structure, a showplace in the lower Cumberland Valley community when it was built 40 years ago, was sold for $19,000.”
[Note: that means the theatre was probably built around 1917.]
An article on the opening of the Rex can be found in Boxoffice Magazine, October 30, 1948:
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_103048
Go to page 75.
An item in the December 14, 1946 issue of Boxoffice Magazine noted that the Academy had elevator service from the boxoffice area to the second floor auditorium of the theatre. The elevator was operated by John Sheehan, and was available until 8:30 each evening.
Article in Boxoffice Magazine, March 26, 1955:
OLDTIME PROVIDENCE THEATRE TO BE RAZED
PROVIDENCE – The 1500 seat Royal Theatre in the Olneyville district is (slated) to be razed or remodeled into a (supermarket).
Long a landmark, the Royal (has been) inoperative for the past few years though it was rumored the popular neighborhood house would be refurbished and opened by a Boston syndicate. (The)official transfer of the the property was recorded by a local real estate brokerage firm.
The Royal was built in 1914 by Charles Tupper and Earl C. Whelden, who operated it until 1926 when it was leased to Regional Chain Theatres of New England…
For a time the lease was by the D&R Amusement Co, with which the late A.A. Spitz was associated, passing (on) to Boston interests in 1933. Not long after that the lease was acquired by E. M. Loew interests.
Because of its strategic location in the most thickly populated section of the (area), the Royal in its palmier days, when (silent?) movies were in vogue, rarely boasted an empty seat during evening performance. Frequently special stage shows were presented, usually over weekends or for a mid-week evening, in which local talents were given an opportunity to give vent to entertainment ambitions.
The decline of the textile industry in the Olneyville section, and the subsequent removal of many mill-employed families to other sections eventually caused a decline in revenue, and the Royal went from a (seven)-day a week house to a weekend policy (and) finally complete darkness.
While the new owners of the block (housing) the Royal state that the purchase was for investment purposes, it was reported on good authority that among interested tenants is a prominent supermarket operator.
[My note: the Royal continued unoccupied for a several years after this piece. Its lobby was used as a seasonal fruit and vegetable store. When I came home from high school by bus, I used to wait for a bus connection on the Plainfield Street side of the still standing though closed theatre building. The building was razed well after 1956 or later. I don’t know exactly when. A gas station was eventually built on the spot. It remains today.]
From Boxoffice Magazine, March 26, 1955, in an article on the history of art house exhibition in Boston:
“…Yet the history of the art picture in this city is an interesting and unique one. In 1922, during the silent days, George Kraska introduced this type of film to Boston audiences when he hired Symphony Hall and opened with a special engagement of the Russian film "Potemkim,” using the head organist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as the accompanist.“
[Note, the year 1922 must be in error, since Eisenstein’s Potemkin was made later, in 1925. Most likely it was after December 1926 when the movie opened in New York, or else in early 1927. The article also states that later, in 1927, Kraska took over the Fine Arts Theatre, up Massachusetts Avenue a bit at Norway Street, for his programs.]
Link:
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_032655-2
Go to page 95.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, August 14, 1961:
OLDTIME PRICES REVIVED
The Rivoli in Hartford. Conn., turned back the hands of time to the days of the 15-cent admission. The gimmick was used for four consecutive matinees of “The Golden Age of Comedy” and “Gorgo.” The 800-seat house charged 15 cents for children and 25 cents for adults and sold popcorn for only five cents."
Notice in Boxoffice Magazine from August 14, 1961 issue on the reopening of the Hope Theatre as the Cinerama, featuring the three-projector wide screen system:
“The new Cinerama Theatre, formerly the Hope on Hope Street, was opened August 9 after extensive renovations to convert it for exhibition of Cinerama productions, the first theatre in Rhode Island to be so equipped. The boxoffice had been selling reserved seats for the opening well in advance. Matinee prices are $1.25 and $1.49 and admission charges for evening performances are $1.75 and $2.00.”
Bruce, as you can see, that was a 1954 article, 56 years ago.
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, March 18, 1950:
“High winds of near hurricane velocity recently toppled a 50-foot cement block screen at the Bellingham Drive-In, just over the Woonsocket [RI] city line. The screen carried down all the telephone wires on the south side of the highway, putting hundreds of phones out of service. Repairs will me made in time for the open airer to operate on schedule this spring.”
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, December 27, 1947:
YAMINS CIRCUIT ACQUIRES EMBASSY IN FALL RIVER
FALL RIVER – Nathan Yamins, who operates six theatres in Fall River, added a seventh to his circuit when he took a long-term lease on the Embassy. William Purcell, the owner, rebuilt the 900-seat house from a former church and operated it for over a year. The Yamins houses are the Empire, Durfee, Center, Capitol, Park and Strand in Fall River, and the Dartmouth Open-Air, which he operates with the Interstate circuit.
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, December 27, 1947:
“Al Colagiovanni, former relief manager for Associated, has taken over the managership of the Empire Theatre, succeeding Nick Trifolletti, who has resigned."
[Note: about two months after this piece, on February 29, 1948, this theatre would close for good and be demolished a few months after that.]
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, July 7, 1954:
“The Gilbert Stuart Theatre in nearby Riverside is being repainted inside and out. New photographic murals of Gilbert Stuart, native Rhode Islander famous for his portraits of George Washington, and scenes of his birthplace, grace the inner lobby. Artisans also are busy redecorating the bathrooms in new color schemes.”
An item in Boxoffice Magazine, July 9, 1955, states that the Island Park Theatre had closed for several months follwing a fire.
“Both the Liberty here [Providence] and the Hollywood, East Providence, were shuttered recently. The latter situation is being used as the site of several oldtime auction sales. Both are Bomes' houses."
-Boxoffice Magazine, June 15, 1957
from Boxoffice Magazine, March 30, 1957:
The Hollywood, neighborhood house, presented a rock and roll stage show, topped by Bennie Woods, Jo-Jo Jones and Toni Lee. All seats were sold for $1. Attendance was almost capacity.
from Boxoffice Magazine, October 14, 1950, page 97:
“Motion pictures, with program changes three times weekly, on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, are being shown at Nathan Yamins' Somerset Playhouse, which housed stock companies during the summer. Doors open at 7 P.M. and the showing starts at 7:30. Admissions are: Adults, 42 cents, plus 8 cents tax; children 17 cents, plus 3 cents tax. Saturday afternoon matinees are held at 2 p.m. Scarley Lady chinaware was given to woman patrons at the opening. The offer was repeated later. James Knight, who managed both the Strand and Embassy [in Fall River] and who has been acting as relief manager since the closing of the Embassy, is the playhouse’s new manager. Phyllis G. Davis is in the boxoffice.”
A picture of the exterior from 1952 appears in Boxoffice Magazine, April 19, 1952. Go to page 26.
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_041952
There is a small photo of the front of this theatre in Boxoffice Magazine, issue of April 19, 1952. Go to page 26.
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_041952
from Boxoffice Magazine, August 19, 1950:
Promotion Drive Started on Film in Production
PROVIDENCE – A long range buildup to the eventual presentation of “Quo Vadis,” now in production in Italy, is being dramatized by Maurice Druker, manager of Loew’s State. Druker has had a large display case erected in the theatre lobby upon which he posts weekly cablegrams reporting the progress of the film, now about half finished.
In addition, photographs showing the picture in the making are displayed. Intense interest has been expressed by patrons entering and leaving the theatre. Many of them have stopped to ask Druker how soon the film will come to the city.
Note: Quo Vadis would open in New York in November, 1951. It opened at this theatre in Providence, then known as Loew’s State, not long after that.
from Boxoffice Magazine, August 19, 1950:
“Old Hiway Auto Park Now Is Pike Drive-In
“PROVIDENCE – George Card, long identified with the amusement park business, has been named manager of the new Pike Drive-In located on the Hartford Pike at Johnston, three miles west of this city. Operated by Albert M. Schuman and Louis D. Rogow of Hartford, the new drive-in is on the site formerly occupied by the old Hiway Auto Theatre.
“Very little remains of the old open-airer. Schuman and Rogow practically revamped the place from top to bottom. A new screen has been erected and Century projectors were installed by the Massachusetts Theatre Equipment Co. of Boston, along with in-car speakers.
“Parking facilities for close to 600 cars will be increased as soon as all remodeling and building is completed. As patrons drive in under a new overhead sign, which cost approximately $3,000, they are greeted by side walls beautifully decorated with scenic paintings. The surrounding grounds have been newly landscaped. Among other innovations is a cafeteria-style snack bar.
“The theatre has already been opend to the public, but workmen and painters are continuing the improvement program.”
from Boxoffice Magazine, April 23, 1938:
Fine Arts Marquee.
BOSTON – A new marquee has been put up at the Fine Arts Theatre. It was designed and executed by Leonard Krasna, assistant manager at the house. He was aided by Edward Cincotti and William Harvey.