Hmmmm! I never heard of it or saw any such movie theatre advertised in the Providence Journal. I know there was a Quonset Drive-In at about that location and I saw movies there, but I don’t remember a hard-top. Perhaps new information will emerge. Lots of surprises on this website. Of course there was also at least one base movie theatre, in the Quonset base itself, for military personnel and their families.
This Cinema de Paris seems to be in a different location on Rue Sainte Catherine from the one I just posted above. Can anyone clarify? This old postcard also shows several other Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres that include the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Apr 12, 2005 at 10:17am
Childs was there in my day too and I ate there several times. I believe their pancakes were legendary. I have another (low-quality) photo of the first Bijou, published in the Providence Journal in 1996. Here it is: View link
Here is a postcard from the 1920s showing Westminster Street from the Union Trust Building. On the right you can see the vertical marquee for the first Bijou Theatre along with a bit of its white façade. Further down you can make out the Arcade Building. View link
Fay’s was on the block between Union and Eddy, between Fountain and Washington Streets, with the entrance on Union and the rear on Eddy. That’s what I meant by “behind the Biltmore.”
The Emery (later to be called the Carlton) was at 79 Mathewson Street, a block away from Fay’s. You can see the name “Emery” still on the front of what remains of the Emery/Carlton.
Regarding the Music Hall in Pawtucket, the information I have from 1928 and 1935 city directories is that its address was 229 Main Street. I don’t know anything else about it.
Some comments on this theatre were posted on the listing for the earlier Bijou before this listing went up. You should check that one too at: /theaters/6598/
Does anyone have an actual street address for this second Bijou?
Here is a photo I took of Le Laurier. I thought I took it in 1989, but that doesn’t seem to agree with the “demolished in January 1988” timeline above. View link
Here is a photo I took…er, NOT of the above activity, but of the cinema façade. Note the lettering on “Paris.” Same script, same star for a dot over the “i”. Just like the Paris in Providence and New York…and Boston, I believe. View link
Also, note the sense of the hugeness of the original auditorium of the Capitol behind. See up top what appears to be the exterior of a separated fire-containment projection booth as a safety measure during the nitrate era.
I remember this as the place I first saw the Taviani Brothers' 1974 “Allonsanfan” starring Marcello Mastroianni, in 1979. In Italian with French subtitles.
Here is a photo I took of the Élysèe in 1989 or so. View link
Fay’s was located in the block behind the Biltmore Hotel, in that area occupied now mostly by a parking garage. I never was taken there (too young to go on my own!) but I have read and heard from people who went that it was never just movies. There was always a live act or performer alternating with a movie. The Carlton was up a block on Mathewson. The auditorium of the Carlton was razed, but the front part of the building remained and is still there, across from the Mathewson Street Church.
Both those films were distributed by United Artists. What were some of the films for the other 26 theatres? Were they all UA features? Might this have been a UA strategy to give a pile of their films some exposure for one day? Interesting.
The Columbus on Broadway is stunningly beautiful. Though they have stopped showing movies regularly, they have occasional film programs, the R.I. Film Festival in August. The presentation of Keaton’s silent “The General” a year ago with live orchestra was stupendous.
Yes, the Liberty is included under “Art Cinema.” It was on Broad Street. The building is still there. I posted lots of comments there. I just submitted a listing for the second Bijou. It seems to have been a burlesque house referred to as “The Sink” or “Sinkhole of Depravity” according to a Journal article. What do you remember about Fay’s? (That’s listed too.)
Update needed. The alternate names Globe and Cine 1 & 2 should be added to make searching easier. I remember it only as the Globe.
Hmmmm! I never heard of it or saw any such movie theatre advertised in the Providence Journal. I know there was a Quonset Drive-In at about that location and I saw movies there, but I don’t remember a hard-top. Perhaps new information will emerge. Lots of surprises on this website. Of course there was also at least one base movie theatre, in the Quonset base itself, for military personnel and their families.
This old postcard shows several Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres including the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.
This old postcard shows several Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres including the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.
This Cinema de Paris seems to be in a different location on Rue Sainte Catherine from the one I just posted above. Can anyone clarify?
This old postcard also shows several other Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres that include the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Apr 12, 2005 at 10:17am
Childs was there in my day too and I ate there several times. I believe their pancakes were legendary. I have another (low-quality) photo of the first Bijou, published in the Providence Journal in 1996. Here it is:
View link
This old postcard shows several Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres including the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.
Here is a postcard from the 1940s or 1950s showing Rue Sainte Catherine with the Palace Theatre visible on the right.
View link
Here’s an old postcard of Main Street in East Greenwich. The Greenwich Theatre is on the right…with a yellowish marquee here.
View link
Here is a postcard from the 1920s showing Westminster Street from the Union Trust Building. On the right you can see the vertical marquee for the first Bijou Theatre along with a bit of its white façade. Further down you can make out the Arcade Building.
View link
Fay’s was on the block between Union and Eddy, between Fountain and Washington Streets, with the entrance on Union and the rear on Eddy. That’s what I meant by “behind the Biltmore.”
The Emery (later to be called the Carlton) was at 79 Mathewson Street, a block away from Fay’s. You can see the name “Emery” still on the front of what remains of the Emery/Carlton.
Regarding the Music Hall in Pawtucket, the information I have from 1928 and 1935 city directories is that its address was 229 Main Street. I don’t know anything else about it.
Some comments on this theatre were posted on the listing for the earlier Bijou before this listing went up. You should check that one too at:
/theaters/6598/
Does anyone have an actual street address for this second Bijou?
Here is a photo I took of Le Laurier. I thought I took it in 1989, but that doesn’t seem to agree with the “demolished in January 1988” timeline above.
View link
Here is a photo I took…er, NOT of the above activity, but of the cinema façade. Note the lettering on “Paris.” Same script, same star for a dot over the “i”. Just like the Paris in Providence and New York…and Boston, I believe.
View link
Also, note the sense of the hugeness of the original auditorium of the Capitol behind. See up top what appears to be the exterior of a separated fire-containment projection booth as a safety measure during the nitrate era.
re: “Prices that day were 25 cents and 34 cents."
Hell, I would have gone in the afternoon for only 15 or 20 cents. Were there senior discounts?
Here is a photo I took of the Cine 539 in 1989 or so.
View link
I remember this as the place I first saw the Taviani Brothers' 1974 “Allonsanfan” starring Marcello Mastroianni, in 1979. In Italian with French subtitles.
Here is a photo I took of the Élysèe in 1989 or so.
View link
Here’s a photo I took of the Snowdon in 1989 or so. I believe it is now retail shops.
View link
Here’s a photo of the Electra, with Chinese calligraphy on the marquee. I took it around 1989.
View link
Fay’s was located in the block behind the Biltmore Hotel, in that area occupied now mostly by a parking garage. I never was taken there (too young to go on my own!) but I have read and heard from people who went that it was never just movies. There was always a live act or performer alternating with a movie. The Carlton was up a block on Mathewson. The auditorium of the Carlton was razed, but the front part of the building remained and is still there, across from the Mathewson Street Church.
Both those films were distributed by United Artists. What were some of the films for the other 26 theatres? Were they all UA features? Might this have been a UA strategy to give a pile of their films some exposure for one day? Interesting.
“The Visit"
"Sundays and Cybèle”
I don’t remember being that scared, though I kind of liked it. I wrote a review for The Echo.
A right turn, not left.
The Columbus on Broadway is stunningly beautiful. Though they have stopped showing movies regularly, they have occasional film programs, the R.I. Film Festival in August. The presentation of Keaton’s silent “The General” a year ago with live orchestra was stupendous.
Yes, the Liberty is included under “Art Cinema.” It was on Broad Street. The building is still there. I posted lots of comments there. I just submitted a listing for the second Bijou. It seems to have been a burlesque house referred to as “The Sink” or “Sinkhole of Depravity” according to a Journal article. What do you remember about Fay’s? (That’s listed too.)