Not a member yet? Register now.

Search

Theaters News Links

Advanced search
 

Theater Guide

Now listing 26,616 theaters & 1,598 photos… more
Browse by...
• Architect
• Chain
• Firm
• Function
• Location
• Newest
• Photo
• Screens
• Seats
• Status
• Style
• Updated
• VR
 

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Add Theater
Add Photo (offline)
Add Theater News
 

Newest Theaters

Nov 20 Mid City 3…
Nov 20 SouthGlenn Stadium
Nov 19 Hoyts Cinema…
Nov 19 Fox Theatre
Nov 18 Kossa Plaza
Nov 18 Post Cinema
Nov 18 Columbia Theatre
Nov 18 Capitol Theatre
Nov 18 Mystic Independent
Nov 18 Hartford Theater
more new theaters
 

Recent Comments

Nov 20 Goshen Theatre (10)
Nov 20 Phoenix Theatre (3)
Nov 20 Crystal Cinemas 8 (4)
Nov 20 Malco Mall Twin (3)
Nov 20 Movies 1 & 2 (4)
Nov 20 Moore Theater (1)
Nov 20 Thunderbird Twin… (5)
Nov 20 Arcadia Theatre (2)
Nov 20 Okla Theatre (25)
Nov 20 Busby Theater (25)
 

Updated Theaters

Nov 20 Paradis Cinema
Nov 20 Bemidji Theatre
Nov 20 Miners' Theatre
Nov 20 Public Hall Cinema
Nov 20 Miners Welfare…
Nov 20 Pontardawe Arts…
Nov 20 Lyric Cinema
Nov 20 Shawnee Movies 6
Nov 20 Wharf Cinemas
Nov 20 Hollywood Malibu…
more updated theaters
 
 
   Discover. Preserve. Protect.
Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » Rhode Island » Newport » Casino Theatre
Also known as Casino Civic Theatre, Freebody Park Theatre

Casino Theatre

Newport, RI
Freebody Street
, Newport, RI 02840 United States
(map)
Status: Closed/Restoring
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Atmospheric
Function: Unknown
Seats: 500
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Stanford White
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
The Casino Theatre, part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, designed by Stanford White, originally opened on July 26, 1880. It has unique shingle-style architecture. Here is a description of the Casino Theatre from the Tennis Hall of Fame website:

"The Theatre on the grounds was also built by Stanford White and was joined to the Court Tennis building by a connecting piazza porch. A visual masterpiece, it served as both a 500-capacity removable seat theatre and as a ballroom for dances. The interior was gold-trimmed ivory with a sky blue ceiling, decorated with golden stars. Attached were dressing rooms and a small utility kitchen. It was the scene of many artistic performances, both amateur and professional. Dances, recitals, poetic readings, shows and ballets were held for the adults, while children were entertained by vaudeville acts and magical mystifications".

In addition to the above mentioned uses, the theatre also has a documented history as a movie theatre, during both the silent and sound eras, closing in 1987.

While the Tennis Hall of Fame has its entrance at 194 Bellevue Avenue, the Casino Theatre entrance is on Freebody Street, across from Freebody Park, once home to the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals.

The current restoration is due to be completed by the Summer of 2010.

Related Websites

International Tennis Hall of Fame
Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

YOUR COMMENTS

 
The Newport Daily News microfilm revealed regular movie programs here, as well as vaudeville acts, during the years before World War I. The place was then named Freebody Park Theatre. In November of 1939 a "gala opening" was announced for the theatre with a double bill of 3 Smart Girls Grow Up & Gunga Din. The theatre then closed only weeks after that. An ad said the Casino would be closed for alterations and that "We will re-open about January 1st." It was signed by manager H. Pastman. There were no re-opening ads until the following summer when it opened as the Casino Civic Theatre with a summer season of live theatre.

The theatre was used in the early 1980s or thereabouts by Flickers, the Newport Film Society, for some of its 16mm film programs. I saw The Shop on Main Street there in that series. I've also been to at least one chamber music concert here. The place really is a true Newport treasure but has always seemed to be under-utilized, at least in recent years. I am told it is undergoing restoration. So we may hear more about it soon. The place seems like a natural for the Newport Music Festival, a summer chamber music festival that uses the mansions, and may even have been used for it in the past. I am trying to delve further into the place's history. The Tennis Hall of Fame website contains some information on the Casino and the surrounding grounds and buildings. www.tennisfame.com
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Aug 24, 2005 at 12:51am
Here are some photos of the Casino Theatre as it is now.

VIEW FROM FREEBODY STREET
SIDE, LOOKING TOWARD FREEBODY STREET
REAR ENTRANCE
VAN ALEN PLAQUE
MAIN ENTRANCE AT SIDE
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Aug 24, 2005 at 1:23am
That Flickers showing of The Shop on Main Street that I saw was on May 5, 1983. The film society was run, if I am not wrong, by George Marshall, who has been heading the R.I. International Film Festival for nearly a decade. Flickers also used other venues, including the Jane Pickens Theatre and a second floor hall off Washington Square that I forget the name of.
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Aug 26, 2005 at 6:38am
Four lovely photos of the interior of the Casino Theatre, an unknown treasure of Rhode Island.
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Oct 8, 2006 at 7:47am
The Casino Theatre is scheduled to re-open, after an extensive restoration. READ ARTICLE
posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Sep 25, 2009 at 3:09am
Gerard, thanks so much for the pictures and the article. This theater certainly means a lot to you. Since I am familiar with the Tennis Hall of Fame, I will look up the theater the next time I visit Newport.

The fact that the Casino was designed by Stanford White - and that it is his only theater that still exists - is really valuable information. It is also clearly documented in the article. Thus, the Casino's architect is clearly not "Unknown", and the site manager should accordingly add the great man's name at the top of this page.
posted by John Dereszewski on Sep 25, 2009 at 6:28am
Site manager, thanks for the prompt response to my Stanford White request!
posted by John Dereszewski on Sep 28, 2009 at 5:10pm
Comment
*

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?
Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!