I drove my bike two miles from my house to this theater and back to see Star Wars when it first came out. Two miles my not seem like a long way but I remember til this day that my friend was on the handlebars and it was poring rain going both ways.
My memories of the Airline are from my formative years. I remember going to United Skates of America and sneaking through the fence into the drive in behind. We would sit in the play area and try to listen carefully to hear some of the sound coming from the cars. By the time I was old enough to drive the Airline was falling apart and no longer seemed like the cool place to hang out.
Dollar dreams is a great dollar store but nothing compared to the great HUGE screen theater it once was. I saw “1976” on a school field trip in 6th grade.
The Parkway was right down the street from our house on Manor Road when I was just a little kid. My Mom and Dad would take my Sister and me to movies there already dressed in our PJ’s. They knew we would be asleep by the middle of the show and it was easier to carry us into our beds that way when we got home. My sister and I would play in the playground area and run back to the car when we saw the movie starting. It is one of the few family memories I have of all four of us. My parents divorce and my Mom’s death have have made the memories of the Parkway even more special.
A friend of my Dad’s bought the neon sign from this drive in. Last I heard he lived Mission Hills California. I don’t know if he took the sign out there with him or not.
As of June 2004 nothing has been done with this theater. It is still closed and still no real plans. Every once in a while someone proposes an idea but nothing has come of any of the ideas yet. You would think that because this building is across from City Hall it would be a big issue. It isn’t however, and the building is a fire waiting to happen. Fitchburg is dying and taking this theater with it.
This theater in now gone. It was torn down around 1990 or 1991 to make room for a Walgreens. My aunt used to manage this theater in the late 70’s. The basement was filled with old movie posters from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. I sure wish I had those posters now. eBAY would make me a millionaire.
The Bing Theatre (now known as the Bing Arts Center), named in honor of Bing Crosby, opened in 1951. The building that houses the lobby and two storefronts was formerly a garage while the auditorium was constructed for the theatre.
The “X” Main Street Corporation expects to soon receive the title to the building and has already begun cleaning it up and repainting the outside. Formerly owned by the Western Massachusetts Theatre chain until it closed 5 years ago, the theatre has been vandalized in the last couple of years. A new screen and repairs to the projector will be needed. The Bing’s current seating capacity of 900 will be reduced to 400. This will be done by narrowing the auditorium by walling off the sides to use as classroom or art gallery space. When the Bing Arts Center opens it will show art, foreign, and classic movies, have some live performances, and a cinema academy.
Sorry Roger, You are of course right. I apologise. Those words are indeed yours and I am now giving you full credit.
Don’t miss a chance to see a show here. The best of the OLD TIME Theaters. If you live within 100 miles of Clinton Massachusetts it is worth the trip.
I drove my bike two miles from my house to this theater and back to see Star Wars when it first came out. Two miles my not seem like a long way but I remember til this day that my friend was on the handlebars and it was poring rain going both ways.
My memories of the Airline are from my formative years. I remember going to United Skates of America and sneaking through the fence into the drive in behind. We would sit in the play area and try to listen carefully to hear some of the sound coming from the cars. By the time I was old enough to drive the Airline was falling apart and no longer seemed like the cool place to hang out.
Dollar dreams is a great dollar store but nothing compared to the great HUGE screen theater it once was. I saw “1976” on a school field trip in 6th grade.
The Parkway was right down the street from our house on Manor Road when I was just a little kid. My Mom and Dad would take my Sister and me to movies there already dressed in our PJ’s. They knew we would be asleep by the middle of the show and it was easier to carry us into our beds that way when we got home. My sister and I would play in the playground area and run back to the car when we saw the movie starting. It is one of the few family memories I have of all four of us. My parents divorce and my Mom’s death have have made the memories of the Parkway even more special.
A friend of my Dad’s bought the neon sign from this drive in. Last I heard he lived Mission Hills California. I don’t know if he took the sign out there with him or not.
As of June 2004 nothing has been done with this theater. It is still closed and still no real plans. Every once in a while someone proposes an idea but nothing has come of any of the ideas yet. You would think that because this building is across from City Hall it would be a big issue. It isn’t however, and the building is a fire waiting to happen. Fitchburg is dying and taking this theater with it.
This theater in now gone. It was torn down around 1990 or 1991 to make room for a Walgreens. My aunt used to manage this theater in the late 70’s. The basement was filled with old movie posters from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. I sure wish I had those posters now. eBAY would make me a millionaire.
The Bing Theatre (now known as the Bing Arts Center), named in honor of Bing Crosby, opened in 1951. The building that houses the lobby and two storefronts was formerly a garage while the auditorium was constructed for the theatre.
The “X” Main Street Corporation expects to soon receive the title to the building and has already begun cleaning it up and repainting the outside. Formerly owned by the Western Massachusetts Theatre chain until it closed 5 years ago, the theatre has been vandalized in the last couple of years. A new screen and repairs to the projector will be needed. The Bing’s current seating capacity of 900 will be reduced to 400. This will be done by narrowing the auditorium by walling off the sides to use as classroom or art gallery space. When the Bing Arts Center opens it will show art, foreign, and classic movies, have some live performances, and a cinema academy.