Moving beyond the merits of these two construction projects, I’m just glad to see the area being reclaimed for entertainment use, whether that be movies or live performances. Ten years ago, all three of these buildings (the Opera House being the third) were rundown wrecks whose futures were very much in doubt.
Are you planning to visit any local theatres while in the Boston area? I bet that Ian Judge at the Somerville Theatre would love to meet you, and so would the folks at the Coolidge and Brattle.
Keep in mind that the original Paramount was purpose-built for movies only and that’s why its stage was quite limited. Any adaptation to make it a live venue would have required major alterations. I haven’t been inside yet but it sounds like Emerson has made all of the right decisions here.
The Plaza Theatre in Memphis TN and the Varsity Theatre in Palo Alto CA were both converted to bookstores. From the descriptions and comments, it sounds like some of the theatre detail remains, but I haven’t been to either one since the conversions.
The most famous theatre-to-bookstore conversion may be El Ateneo in Buenos Aires, Argentina , which looks like it should be spectacular.
For the past week, AMC has not advertised the Harvard Square theatre in the Boston Globe’s movie directory. Are they planning to close or sell it? AMC still advertises their other cinemas at Boston Common, Braintree, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Danvers, and Framingham (but not Methuen or Tynsboro).
I remember ads for the College Cinema but never went there. I thought it was west of campus, not on High Street. If you know something about it, can you add it to this site?
If I’m going to a chain movie theatre, I’ll buy my concessions next door at CVS for 1/5 the price. If I go to an independent, I buy the overpriced candy because I want to keep the place in business.
Is there some reason you can’t still park at the Federal Building for free? Do they charge now?
Thanks for coming out to do this lecture! i only wish it had been longer (as you had to skip over some of the slides or clips)
Moving beyond the merits of these two construction projects, I’m just glad to see the area being reclaimed for entertainment use, whether that be movies or live performances. Ten years ago, all three of these buildings (the Opera House being the third) were rundown wrecks whose futures were very much in doubt.
Santa Monica is the only place you can go west of here, otherwise you’re in the Pacific Ocean.
Are you planning to visit any local theatres while in the Boston area? I bet that Ian Judge at the Somerville Theatre would love to meet you, and so would the folks at the Coolidge and Brattle.
The best way to get a status changed is to fill out this form. Specify ‘Correction’ in the ‘Regarding’ menu.
Nicolas, do you think any part of the theater interior could or should have been saved instead of demolished?
Keep in mind that the original Paramount was purpose-built for movies only and that’s why its stage was quite limited. Any adaptation to make it a live venue would have required major alterations. I haven’t been inside yet but it sounds like Emerson has made all of the right decisions here.
The Plaza Theatre in Memphis TN and the Varsity Theatre in Palo Alto CA were both converted to bookstores. From the descriptions and comments, it sounds like some of the theatre detail remains, but I haven’t been to either one since the conversions.
The most famous theatre-to-bookstore conversion may be El Ateneo in Buenos Aires, Argentina , which looks like it should be spectacular.
This theatre needs to show films exclusively, not shared with other local theatres, if it is going to draw a consistent audience.
This is right next to a T station, so is parking really needed at all? Can’t people just park in the surrounding neighborhood and walk to the theatre?
Status should be changed to ‘Open’, since the theatre hosted its first public event last night (Max Raabe & Palast Orchester’s show A Night in Berlin)
Won’t that limit their selection of films to only those released in digital format?
For the past week, AMC has not advertised the Harvard Square theatre in the Boston Globe’s movie directory. Are they planning to close or sell it? AMC still advertises their other cinemas at Boston Common, Braintree, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Danvers, and Framingham (but not Methuen or Tynsboro).
My browser does not know how to follow URLs that begin with “C:” instead of “http:”. Can you post another message with an http: URL for the ads?
I remember ads for the College Cinema but never went there. I thought it was west of campus, not on High Street. If you know something about it, can you add it to this site?
A seating chart for the new Paramount is now online.
How can a major business district next to a huge university become abandoned? Where do the students eat and shop if not here?
Opening this April, according to the article.
Does AMC run any single-screen theatres, anywhere? Their name means American Multi-Cinema, after all…
How many separate stage auditoriums will they have in the JC Penney building?
Is that a bad sign? Film is a better medium than digital.
When did it close and why?
If I’m going to a chain movie theatre, I’ll buy my concessions next door at CVS for 1/5 the price. If I go to an independent, I buy the overpriced candy because I want to keep the place in business.
The Carving Station restaurant was replaced by another called Pressed Sandwiches, but now that has closed as well.