Somerville Theatre

This theater was saved after a large outpouring of community support in the late 1980s-early 1990s.

The four additional screens were added in the 1990s, not the 1980s.

The same folks own the nearby Capitol Theater in East Arlington.

You list seating as 700. In fact, The main (classical) theatre seats 900, not even counting the 4 new, smaller screens.

ron what same people as the capital in east Arlington

Hi,
I am the General Manager of the Somerville Theatre. It is owned by FEI Theatres. They have a website www.feitheatres.com with info on the Somerville and the Capitol.

I welcome any inquiries about the building.

The theatre was not 'saved' by any community support. The long time owners of the building decided to spend millions of their own dollars on expanding and renovating it. The community expressed a desire to see the original auditorium saved from any possible alterations (i.e. divided into smaller cinemas) but it was never the desire of the owners to do that. The community may love the theatre, but they didn't contribute to its renovation except through years of ponying up their admission and concessions money!

We do our best to keep the theatre a vital part of the city. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Thanks,

Ian Judge,
General Manager
Somerville Theatre
ijudge@feitheatres.com

There used to be many other movie theaters in Somerville. This is the only one still operating.

To learn about the others, visit the "Lost Theatres of Somerville" exhibit at the Somerville Museum, or the exhibit's web site at http://www.losttheatres.org/ .

The Somerville Theatre was listed during the mid 50's as to seating 1040 people.

I just wannted to say this is a very attractive theater. Im interesting in purchasing a theater. Would you happen to know any good sites to go to for this. Please help. I currently own a theater in northern pa, Im selling it though and relocating.. If you could halp me in anyway that would be great ...

The official seating capacity at the Somerville was, for many years, 1000. Seating was reduced in 1990 when a newer projection booth was installed in front of the old one at the back of the balcony, removing 5 rows of seats. Seating was reduced again in 1998 when new and more spacious seats were installed in the Orchestra. Today, there are 891 fixed seats and 14 'wheelchair accesible' seats. The balcony, where the chairs are from 1914, holds more than the orchestra.

Turning 90!

The architects of the Somerville Theatre were Funk & Wilcox. The opening programme on 11th May 1914 was; "The Inventor's Wife" on the screen with Vaudeville acts on stage.

For its first year, the Somerville featured vaudeville and silent films. But in 1915, it became a live stage house, home to the resident Somerville Players stock company, who performed a different play each week. Tallulah Bankhead and Francis X. Bushman were among the future film stars who performed on the Somerville's stage. Busby Berkeley directed live shows here in the 1920s.

The Depression forced an end to live stage productions in 1932, and for the next fifty years, the Somerville became strictly a movie house. By the 1970s, it was a second-run house which usually shared its bookings with the Broadway Theatre in East Somerville.

In the early 1980s, Garen Daly leased the theater and began presenting a published monthly schedule of daily-changing double features, a mixture of recent second runs, independent films, foreign films, and Hollywood classics. The schedules were colorful and graphic, and resembled those published by the Fox Venice, Nuart, UC, and other Landmark theaters of the time.

Daly also brought live performance back to the Somerville stage, presenting an increasing number of Celtic, world, and folk music concerts. He also made the theatre the centerpiece of the Somerville Arts Council's annual ArtBeat festival.

A dispute over unpaid rent and deteriorating building conditions briefly shuttered the theater at the end of 1988, and many people in the community feared that it would close for good or be subdivided into a multiplex. In the end, Daly was allowed to continue operating it for one more year. A community group, Friends In Support of the Somerville Theatre (FISST, later renaming itself Friends of the Somerville Theatre) mobilized to secure historic landmark status for the theatre. FISST also advocated keeping the theatre operating and in one piece. I was part of this group.

When Daly's lease ended, the current owners took over operation of the theatre. The double-feature and repertory programming ended, and the theatre once again became a second-run house, this time with some leaning towards art and foreign films. Concert programming continued and expanded. The theatre is frequently used by World Music, Songstreet, and other local concert promoters.

In the late 1990s, the owners added four additional screens, carving them out of old storefronts and abandoned sections of the building. The main auditorium remains intact and undivided, complete with balcony.

I look forward to attending the theatre's 100th anniversary celebration in 2014!

I certainly remember the FISST movement in the late 80's (I was a kid) because there was a lot of local press about it. Now that I work here and have seen files, blueprints, etc., it really shows me how one-sided the press was back then, so eager to paint the owners as bad people wanting to destroy the theater. That is certainly not the case. The idea of multiplexing the building back then was the same plan that came to fruition in the 90's - using abandoned space in the building rather than splitting up the original theater. I have seen architectural plans dated in the late 80's that are almost identical to the current layout, all of which kept the main theater intact. It was great to get historical landmark status - but I should point out that this status only covers the EXTERIOR and not the interior. It was the owners who decided to keep the theater whole.

Sorry if I sound reactionary, but I have heard so many people badmouth the owners in regard to the period of the late 80's/early 90's and they have little knowledge of the facts. Nobody is perfect, but these people are very proud to own the theater and to have kept it open, even when it has lost money. Everybody always assumes that landlords and property owners are some kinds of villains, twirling their mustache while demanding ransom. That is just not the case and is a stereotype. So many so-called community activists jump to conclusions and rely on rumors and bad local press without talking to the sources themselves.

That said, I am not badmouthing FISST (as I too signed their petitions back in the day) and certainly not Ron, who is a very nice guy, and always a welcome patron at the Somerville, I just want people to know that there are definitely two sides to this story.

And everything has surely worked out for the best in the end: in fact, Garen Daly is bringing the Sci-Fi marathon back to Somerville this February, something we are all very excited about.

I look forward to ten years of preparing the theater for it's hundreth birthday - we are always pushing forward with little improvements, bit by bit, and I hope to see Ron there!

-Ian Judge
General Manager
Somerville Theatre

That's great news about Garen Daly. I'm glad to hear it!

On a regular basis, this theatre has live shows in the main auditorium while showing movies in the other four. Movie patrons and concert attendees share the same lobby, restrooms, and concession stand. If this is done anywhere else, I'm curious to hear about it.

What a GREAT PLACE...I SAW KEVIN SPACEY PERFORM HERE RECENTLY WITH HIS BOBBY DARIN MUSIC TOUR!!!! NOT A BAD SEAT IN THE HOUSE>>GREAT ACOUSTICS ALSO!! email me if you would like pix of the event!

Jim Powers
macknife@comcast.net

As per KenRoe's comment of 11/13/04, the "Firm" should be listed as Funk & Wilcox.
Also, until Ian can be convinced to reveal more secrets (such as the building's total capacity [all auditoriums]), the seat count listing should be changed to Unknown.

On Dec. 21, 2003 Ian listed the total seating for today as 891 fixed seats and 14 wheel chair accessible seats.

I believe that the seat count Ian provided accounts only for the big house (the original auditorium).

OK, by popular demand:

Main Theater: 891 fixed/14 accessible (421 in orchestra, balance in balcony)

Cinemas:
2: 128
3: 192
4: 120
5: 190

Hope that helps!

Ian rules. The seat count listing should be changed to 1535.

Since last Friday, the Boston Globe's movie listings for the Somerville and the Capitol in Arlington sport a spiffy new F.E.I. THEATRES logo. Right now these are the only two theatres in this 'chain', but perhaps they're planning to acquire or build more?

We decided that we needed more of an identity in the paper - and the ad agency who puts those ads together designed it for us!

As far as new theaters go... I can't say at the moment... but if anyone knows of any nice ones looking to sell in the eastern Mass. area, drop me a line!

Well, I'd love to see FEI take over and reopen the Gaiety, or the Modern, or the Paramount, or the RKO Boston, or the Broadway in Southie (if it's still standing) ....

To Ian M. Judge:

Ipswich MA had a great theater..The Strand..it used to show first run movies..it was torn down in the early eighties...for some reason it is not in the "cinema treasures" database, but I can recall going to it in the 60's to see first run features instaed of travelling to Boston
As time has passed, population and median income have increased significantly in this general area (Ipswich/Rowley/Hamilton)..Ipswich has revitalized it's downtown recently, with plans for more improvement..here's where you come in...

Ipswich is about to sell it's old Town Hall to a party that intends to turn it into a cinema or cinema pub, for around $350K...I don't think it's a done deal yet..maybe your people should investigate...Google "Ipswich Chronicle" and you will eventually find info on the situation!

Jim Powers
macknife@comcast.net

Anyone out there who remembers when the freight trains rumbled by during the show?

Jack Rivers Projectionist Assistant !937-1951

I don't, but Ian just might. The railroad tracks were removed from Davis Square in the early 1980s, as part of the Red Line extension project.

I remember the tracks but no trains - I think the last scheduled freight ran through around 1981 or so, though the tracks were probably used after that for equipment moves or when the nearby Fitchburg main line went down. I think they were all removed by '83, at least through the center of the square, though the other ends (now the bikepath) lasted a lot longer. My uncle recalls that many times he and other kids would hop a slow moving freight to get to Davis Sq. (he actually used to have the job of changing the marquee at Somerville in the 60's for a time). This worked out fine until one day they hopped the wrong train; it took a turn at Somerville Junction and highballed it to New Hampshire before he could get off!

I'd imagine the tracks being so close to the theater was quite a disruption back in the days of many trains!

Jack Rivers - were you a projectionist assistant at Somerville? If so, I'd enjoy talking to you about the old days.

The Somerville Theatre Sign now in the lobby was put in storage by my Dad, (Harry"Shortie"Rivers-Projectionist). Dad taught me how to run the show(standing on a box) when I was 5 years old. Many memories of growing up every day at the movies in the 30's and 40's.

jackrivers@jackrivers.org

A couple of festivals coming up at the Somerville next month:

Boston Underground Film Festival, April 6-10. I assume this is in the main theatre, but the site doesn't say.

Independent Film Festival of Boston, April 21-24. In theatres 2 through 5 of the Somerville, as well as at the Brattle, the Coolidge, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Actually Ron, BUFF is in one or two of our newer auditoriums, while IFF wll be using the main theater to premiere "Lonesome Jim" the new film by Steve Buscemi on 4/21.

The Somerville is starting a midnight movie series later this month, on Friday and Saturday nights, sometimes with an additional show the following Monday at 7 pm:

July 22-23 and 25: Fight Club
July 29-30 only: The Princess Bride
August 5-6 and 8: Shaft (the original from 1971)
August 12-13 and 15: Dr. Strangelove
August 19-20 and 22: Office Space
August 26-29: Looney Tunes Festival (includes 11 am Sunday show)

(Now Ian, this should be put up on the official theatre web site so I can tell other folks about it!)

The http://www.losttheatres.org/ website has been (and continues to be) updated with some great new photos and history of some of Somerville's other historic theaters. It is a great resource for anyone local with an interest in old theaters.

Our midnight series was quite sucessful despite our limited publicity budget, so audiences may see more specialty programming at Somerville in the future. Thanks to all those that attended!

-Ian Judge
Somerville Theatre

Hi Ian,

Thanks for posting that webpage! I live about a 10 minute walk away from the Somerville Theater and am there fairly often. Has there been any talk about maybe using one of the screens to play older or more "arthouse" kinds of movies? The Somerville Theater mostly plays second runs of theatrical releases, it would be very cool if some more types of movies were programmed!

Matt

Hi Matt,

We have considered doing some specialty programming, but it is difficult to make a go of that stuff between dvd and the other repertory houses in Boston (Brattle, HFA, MFA, Coolidge). We have considered programming a calendar schedule around the live events in our main theater, but have yet to move forward with any plans.

I am always looking for ways to improve programming, and I hope we will be able to make some big changes in the next few years to keep the place going and make it more of a unique destination.

We've also invested some money in the improvement of our presentation by having our projectors serviced more regularly and hiring an experienced projectionist to do strictly maintenance work with the goal of throwing a superior picture on screen. In the next year or so we are also planning upgrades to the sound and screen in the main theater as well as the sound in our smaller cinemas.

I welcome your feedback, so keep it coming! Say hi the next time you stop by the theater.

-Ian Judge
Somerville Theatre

Ian's a bit too modest to announce it here, but the Somerville Theatre has a spiffy new website, complete with lots of historical photos. Check it out.

While you're there, check out the pages for the Somerville's sister theatre, the Capitol in neighboring Arlington.

Thanks for your quick response Ian! If you don't mind me asking, I'm curious how much revenue is generated by the concerts and live events as compared to the movies? (not the actual dollar amounts, but percentage wise). The ticket prices at the Somerville are very reasonable for the area, and some times I've gone there, the attendence was very low. I hope that having those live events and concerts help generate the extra revenue to keep the place going strong!

Matt,

Without getting into too much detail, let me say that without the live events, I very much doubt the Somerville Theatre would still be open. The studios and large theater chains make it very difficult for small independent operators to get films. It used to be that we would get stuff 3-6 weeks out, which would enable us to draw decent audiences (and occasionally we still get movies that 'fresh', case in point being "Walk the Line" which we got 4 weeks out and is still doing great business due to word of mouth and Golden Globes, etc). The past few years, the studios have been giving us movies that are 5-8 (or more) weeks out and by that time they don't have as much life in them.

That said, we have been in talks recently with the major studios about seeking some relief from the situation as it stands now. Some have been quite friendly and some have been indifferent. The MPAA has also been helpful to us in this regard. I would love for Somerville to become a first run theater and compete with Harvard Square and Kendall. While it would raise pirices slightly (due to obligations to studios for new product) it would enable a larger audience to utilize the theater, which is often filled way below capacity, as you mentioned. But we have no idea if going first run would even be possible given the way the industry works.

The Somerville is lucky also in that the building contains leasable office and commercial space, so those parts of the building serve to subsidize the theater to some degree. If we were a single-use building, it would be tough to make a go of it.

Thankfully the theater owners are dedicated to keeping the theater going and have used their own money to keep it afloat when others might not have been able to.

-Ian Judge
Somerville Theatre

For photographs and additional information on this theatre, go to:
http://www.losttheatres.org/theaters.htm

After Reading this I feel sad. The big chains don't care pure bottom line. I am glad I live Near Somerville and Arlington,Ma. The two best Theatres any where bar none The Somerville Theatre and The Capitol Theatre run by F.E.I. They do it the right way what a joy to see movies at either theatre. Fresh Popcorn good clean theatres clean prints. A Great Movie Going Experience. AAAAA++++
Jim Callahan Winchester,Ma

According to a sign outside, the Somerville Theatre will have no live shows this July and August, to allow for renovations in the main theatre. The work will include repainting and "new stage facilities". I assume the main hall will also be closed for movies during those two months, but I don't know for sure. (Ian?)

Jim, thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate your patronage. We have
tried so hard to improve our presentation & cleanliness, though sometimes our
prints arrived already scratched due to the second-run status we hold (if they
are really damaged, we do order new prints, but this can take a few days,
especially over a weekend.)

Ron,

Yes, the main hall will be closed for apx. 8 weeks. We will be repainting the
entire room, something not done since 1932. We are following paint and color
guidelines from a 1989 historical analysis of the building that thankfully
lists the proper colors to be used.

The stagehouse will be renovated, including new fire suppresion systems, new
rigging, new drapes and a new screen. Upgrades to the sound system for movies
are also planned.

The theater that emerges in the fall will look better than it has in decades,
and will be better suited to host live shows. We anticipate more dance shows
and perhaps more legitimate theater, as the new stage will be deeper and wider.

This is a huge commitment on the part of the theater owners, and one more step
towards my goal of having the theater completely overhauled by the 100th
anniversary in 2014.

Also, on a side note, Warner Brothers has agreed to let us play "The Lake House"
on June 16th, a rare first-run presentation day-and-date with the Harvard Square
Theatre (except our admission price will remain its usual $6.50, far less than
the Harvard Square). Hopefully, this will be something Warner's let's us do in
the future.

Ian You are running a class act At the Somerville Theatre. So glad to hear you are restoring the main theatre to it's glory days you and the owners are doing a great service to the public. The Somerville Theatre is the Heart of Somerville. Thank you.

Good Luck and Best regards, Jim

That is all great news, Ian! I'm looking forward to seeing the result next fall.

It hasn't been mentioned on this site yet, but the Boston Science Fiction Festival and Marathon will be returning to the Somerville Theater for the February 2007 event. It will be the 4th time in the events 31 + year history that the Fest will be held at the Somerville.

For more info:

www.Bostonsci-fi.com

And, check into it's active Messageboard:

http://sf.theboard.net/

Oh, what great memories I have of this building and the surrounding area. Years ago, the 3rd floor of the building was all apartments and back in 1981/82, my roommate and I had a great apartment overlooking the square. At that time, we were able to look straight down into the construction of the Davis Sq. T station. I had a great triangular-shaped bedroom at the end of the building and the huge arched window over the inscription in the building was my bedroom. At night, through the back wall of my bedroom, I was able to hear the muffled sounds of the movie projector and the guy who ran it, having a good time with friends. It was such a great time. It's good to see the building being put to such good use. Much has changed in the building and surrounding square since we lived there, much of it for the better. David Sq. has since become a "hip" place - something it wasn't back then. Still, we loved living there even then. Can't wait to attend the Science Fiction Festival in February!
All the best, David.

That third floor is now once again office space, as it was when the building was constructed.

Thanks Ron! So that would explain why the apartments back in the 70s/early 80s had a sort of "office" feel. You could definitely tell they were not originally built as apartments. The partitions within the space were simple frames of 2"x4" lumber with sheet paneling nailed over them, old linoleum flooring, and not nearly enough electrical outlets! What a fun place is was though for two "kids" (we were 19 and 21 at the time) to live. At that time, our monthly rent was $125.00 per month!!! Try finding anything like that in Somerville today. Back then, we also used to spend much time at the Orson Welles Theater and Off the Wall cinema in Cambridge. The Orson Welles used to have a great annual Fright Night Festival where you could come and spend the entire night in the theater watching horror flicks and the Off the Wall showed just that - really great off-the-wall stuff.

The Brattle Theatre acquired Off The Wall's film collection this summer. On Sunday, October 8, from noon to 2:30 pm, they will show a selection of Off the Wall films for free, as part of Harvard Square's Oktoberfest. Be there!

Meanwhile, the Somerville Theatre will show a Chuck Norris Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, September 15-16.

David/Ron,

The apartments on the third floor were gradually de-tenanted (as each tenant left, no new tenant was sought) when the Fraimans bought the building in 1984, with the intention of turning the space back into offices - it just took them 10 years to get around to doing it.

The space where your bedroom used to be is now a meeting area and lounge for an advertising agency. It also serves as the 'filmmakers lounge' during the annual Independent Film Festival.

Some of the other tenants of the building in the early 80's were a jeweller, a gun-and-rod club, and a rather notorious private club at the corner of Dover and Meacham.

Thanks again! Thant's fantastic! I'll definitely be there. It was at Off the Wall where I originally saw such cinematic wonders as Plan 9 from Outer Space, Robot Monster, Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble.

Where were the jeweler and the gun club? In the storefronts, or on the upper floors? (I'd also love to hear more about the 'notorious private club', but maybe we should save that for a face-to-face conversation.)

In the mid-1980s, I remember the entire Dover Street side being taken up by American Discount Pharmacy. The storefront between there and the (then much smaller) theatre lobby contained The Mane Attraction, a hair salon. Later, Buck-a-Book replaced the pharmacy, and the first version of Someday Cafe replaced the hair salon.

Thanks for the info on what now occupies my old bedroom. It would be really cool to see it again sometime! I also remember a very busy social club on the 2nd floor back then. Greek, I believe it was. On our way up to our 3rd floor apt., when you got to the 2nd floor, the door to the Greek club was usually open and there was always so much smoke in the room you could cut it with a knife! My how times have changed.

Hmm, could that social club have been in the old ballroom?

Ron:

The jeweller was where the original Someday was. It became the Yarn Shop, then the hair place, then a little realtor's office, then the Someday, and finally was absorbed into the lobby.` The gun club was in the upper stories, I'm not sure where.

I can't remember what was on the corner in the early 80's, but the Discount Pharmacy went in around 1985.

The greek club used the former Crystal Ballroom that was on the second floor (where theaters 4 and 5 are today). There was also a dentists office and a small dance studio there.

The basement was leased to the MBTA for the duration of the T project. They used it to store supplies.

The third floor was built as office space and with a giant 'council chamber', a room with only ceiling lights and no side windows that was used for a masonic/K of C kind of organization. This was all turned into office space in the late 1920's and then into 10 studio apartments in the 60's.

Ron - I'll gladly chat about the private club sometime.
David - if you ever want to see your old place, stop in the theater and ask for me. If I am there, I'll show you around.

-Ian

The basement originally contained a bowling alley. I don't know when this closed, but it was a long time ago.

Thanks Ian! I definitely will. I'd love to see the old place.

Yes, the basement bowling alley space was what the MBTA leased. There were three lanes; they closed in the 60's as much as I can tell. The lanes were on the Dover street side, running back to front. Under the storefront on the corner (where the Someday was until this month) was a billiards hall, and under the theater lobby was a cafe that also served as a speakeasy during prohibition. The basement also contained bathrooms for visitors and of course dressing rooms for the theater space.

Also, briefly in the 30's the bowling alleys were used to set up an indoor mini-golf course (open till 1:30am each night!).

Today, theaters 2 and 3 occupy the bowling alley space (as well as the first floor along Dover St.) and the old billiards hall is storage space for the storefront on the corner. The old speakeasy/cafe space was divided into a storeroom for the theater and offices for the Someday cafe (though with the change of tenants, that space reverts to the theater).

Was it candlepin or tenpin? In either case, with only three lanes, it probably had trouble competing with the much larger Sacco's Bowl-Haven once that opened in 1939.

(Is there another urban neighborhood in the USA where both a 90+ year old movie theatre and a 65+ year old bowling alley are still open and thriving? If so, I'd love to hear about it.)

Say, about that basement space reverting to the theatre ... any chance of turning that into a tiny video-only Theatre 6, like the two at the Coolidge?

just a reminder...

CHUCK NORRIS FILM FESTIVAL
September 15th and 16th
Somerville Theatre, Davis SQ.

Friday, September 15, 2006:
8pm - Invasion USA
10pm - Breaker! Breaker!
Midnite - Lone Wolf McQuade

Saturday, September 16, 2006 :
2pm - Silent Rage
4pm - Invasion USA
6pm - Missing in Action 2
8pm - Lone Wolf McQuade
10pm - Code of Silence
Midnite - Breaker! Breaker!

Sound like a great line up.

David,
Regarding your old bedroom on the third floor. Before it became an apartment it was a dance studio. "Helen Nichlos Dance Studio" (At least Helen was there in the 50's and early 60's.) The studio started at the arched windows and went left at least 3 windows.
On Saturdays her dance classes, aprox 15 kids for each class, would go on all day. TAP DANCING at that! I felt sorry for the office space below the studio on the second floor. I was one of the projectionists at the theatre at that time. The only apartment of the 3rd floor was in the left corner of the building next to the dance studio. It was ocupied by the building maintenance man (at that time he was called a "janitor") and his family. The window you looked out to watch the T being constructed was used to get the film cans up to the projection booth. We would put a pully out the window, throw the rope to the ground and a theatre employee would attach the rope to the film can and pull it up. That was a lot easier than carrying them up 3 floors to the booth.

Ken,
Thanks for the history on the third floor. That's pretty cool to know how it was used previous to being converted to apts. The area you describe was the exact footprint of our apt - the arched window and then the next 3 windows to the left. Good idea about getting the film cans up to the 3rd floor. We would have liked that idea when we used to schlep groceries up to the 3rd floor after walking back from Porter Sq. Star Market in the snow! A friend of mine, Bob, was one of the projectionists at the time - he later worked at the Capitol in the mid-80s. At the time I lived there, the guy who occupied the apt next to ours, would keep an eye on our cars parked on Dover Street. I believe he had former janitor's apt you described, and since he had the apt on the corner of Dover street and at least one of his windows looked in that direction, he could sort of keep an eye out for anything amiss.
Thanks again for all the info!

Hi Ken I remember the fill cans being pulled up on a rope to the third floor as we waited for the theatre to open for the Sat. Mat.in the late 50s early 60s.What a great time we had every week.

Jim,
Thanks for your comments. That could have been me up in the window at the other end of the rope waiting for the "CANS" to arrive. That was where the projection booth was located. Yes, those were fun days and good times are back with all the updates going on at the theatre. I can't wait to see pictures of the completed project. Remember the one-hour of cartoons at the Sat. Matinee? That's the only time the kids were quiet. They sang very good during the "follow the bouncing ball" cartoon. ha ha
Are you, by any chance, related to the Callahan Family that lived on Paulina St?

Hi Ken I bet it was you up in the window. Yes indeed I do remember the cartoons. I use to get called on stage on Sat.day night when I was a bit older 12 or 13 to draw the tickets stubs for a cash prize. I got Arthur Viano to notice me by sitting in the front row center with my Boy scout uniform on ( Tricky) he use to give me A root beer float and a box of fresh pop corn the best bar none. I got to know Mr. Viano over time he really was a very nice man. As for the Callahan's on Paulina St. I don't think we are related as far as I know. I do have family That use to live on Highland Ave. Now live on Cedar Street. The Family is from Charlestown. My Dad Was manager Of Markey's Cafe in the mid 50s. to around 65. Ian Judge and the Owners are doing a great Job keeping The Old Gal Strong and alive. It Just would not be Davis Square with out The Somerville Theatre. Mr. Viano Would Be Proud.

Caught a first run showing of the Departed here last night. This theater did it right. The small theaters have a real sense of style. The "owl" lightcovers and curtains (not sure what to call them) are just wonderful. They have popcorn with real butter...wow. I ususally try to get there a few times a month. The main theater is pretty amazing as well. I've seen quite a few flicks here before they switched to the modern seating. I remember taking in a show of "A Circle of Friends" during one summer when the air conditioning was broken and they had huge fans in the place...took me back to my days as a kid at the National, Puritan, and Center.

I've seen a few concerts here as well. The sound is as amazing as the sound at the Orpheum. I bought balcony tickets to a John Lennon show called "Working Class Hero" and was very impressed (by both the show and the theater). Being a Beatles fan, I hope there are more tribute shows booked at this great theater. Oh, I saw "Get Back" here as well.

But, I digress...

This theater blows the Common and Fenway out of the water in terms of style. The Capitol is also amazing. This, the Capitol, the Coolidge, and Brattle are great theaters. I think the Kendall is pretty nice as well, but the location is bad for someone like me who travels via the T.

HI Jim,
Thanks for the info. You are correct, Arthur and Bob Viano would be proud!
Take care,
Ken

With Ken MacLeod's permission, here I share the stories he emailed me about working at Somerville back in the day:

"I have many memories of the Somerville Theatre. I started as an usher when in highschool (SHS) working for Bob and Arthur Viano. I was always interested in projection and spent my free time learning the trade with then projectionist Pete Peterson. Received my state license and worked all of the Viano theatres. I remember the Teele Sq Theatre, I had to climb a ladder on the back wall to get up to the booth. Ran 3-D movies at the Somerville & helped Arthur and Bob Viano remove the old cloth screen at the back of the stage and install the new screen for 3-D and Cinemascope film in the early mid 50's.

Bob and Arthur's dad, "Mr. Viano" was a very business like person. We (employees) were afraid of him. When we saw him coming, those of us that could hide, would do just that. Arthur and Bob were great to work for. I was a sophomore in HS when Arthur hired me as an usher. Usually 2 ushers on weekends and one thru the week, except on Tuesdays when we would change the marquee for the new show starting Wednesday. There were two changes per week. Sunday thru Tuesday, then the second show Wednesday thru Saturday. Two shows daily, one at 1:45 PM and the second at 7:45 PM. Sunday was continuous with three shows starting at 1 PM. All shows were double feature with a
newsreel at the start.

On Sundays at about 6 PM, there would be a 15 minute intermission so the ushers could clean all the popcorn boxes from the stage in front of the screen. At that time, the popcorn boxes were cardboard and they sailed very well.

The usher's room was located on the balcony entrance between the two stairways going up to the balcony seats. We had uniforms, (dark red sport coats, well worn....). The marquee letters were also kept in the ushers room.

On the weekends I would spend most of my time in the men's restroom! The toilets (1) and urinals (2) would always overflow and cause a flood. At that time there were over 1100 seats in the theatre. You can imagine the line to the men's room when the house was full. (Yes, we had full houses at times depending on the film shown). Almost everyone smoked and at intermission time the lobby and restrooms were filled with smoke.

Music for intermission was played thru the sound system with 78 RPM records up in the projection booth. Intermission was scheduled for three minutes, but with a good size house, it could go 10 or 15 minutes. It just depended on how many people were at the candy counter spending
money.

One of the duties of the usher was to turn down the house lights and open the curtain at the beginning of the show. The curtain was manual operation at that time. It took practice to open the curtain smoothly. The stage and main house lights were on dimmers. Before the show would
start, I would dim the house lights so the stage footlights would illuminate the main curtain. Then I
would signal the projection booth operator (George "Pete" Peterson) to start the show. We had a buzzer system from back stage up to the booth. When the newsreel came on, I would slowly dim the stage footlights then open the curtain. What a great feeling that was! Ha ha! But It did look good to the audience.

The usher would stand at the back of the auditorium with his flash light in hand. It was my duty to
know were the empty seats were and escort the theatre guests down the aisle to their seats.
I did all of that for 0.62 cents per hour. Not bad money at that time. Popcorn was 10 cents/box
and 5 cents/per bag. Admission was 25 cents in the afternoon and 50 cents at night.

There is something about the theatre atmosphere that once you have worked in one, it's very hard or really, impossible to forget. I think a lot of it has to do with the fresh popcorn. I remember at the Somerville, when I would be working up in the booth, when a new batch of popcorn was popping, I could smell it comming through the booth port holes from the auditorium. When the balcony was open and I smelled the popcorn popping, I would always see some patrons get up, go down stairs, and come back with popcorn in their hands. It's still the same for me today. When we go to the
theatre, before we get to the ticket office I smell the fresh popcorn.

The box office attendant and candy girl were there for a long time. The lady in the box office was Mrs. MacGoff and the candy girl was her daughter Ruth. Both Ruth and her mother worked the box office and also the candy counter. Ruth was in High School at the time and also worked there during her college days. I was in Boston on business back in 1975 and visited the theatre. Mrs. MacGoff was still there working the candy counter and her husband, who was retired, was working the box office. I also visited the projection booth and it looked the same as it did when I left in early 60's

Another duty of the ushers, which I had forgotten to mention, was as follows: Bob or Arthur Viano
would drive me to another theatre (usually the Ball Square Theatre) and give me admission money.
He would park around the corner and wait for me. I would purchase a ticket, enter the
theatre, count the number of movie patrons in the theatre, wait about 10 minutes, then leave.
I would then report back to Arthur or Bob with the numbers. I guess other theatre managers probably did the same thing checking on their competition.

The lobby area wasn't too bad during intermission with a large house. Patrons were allowed to leave the theatre during the intermission. They were given a re-entry pass for re-admission. A different color pass was used for each day. It worked out very well."

*****

Special thanks again to Ken for giving all of us, especially myself & our current staff, a glimpse into the past.

This is a recent night view of the Somerville Theater marquee.

This theater is amazing. I went to the Halloween double feature here, and although the prints were very old and it didn't take place in the large house due to renovations, it was a great time!

I noticed while in town this past weekend the Somerville Theatre is now showing all first-run films, at a second-run admission prices; does this portend the AMC Loews Assembly Square (which now has reduced showtimes Sunday through Thursday) closing soon?

Rumor is that Assembly will close after New Years.

At Somerville (Davis Sq.) we are being allowed to play day-and-date on some titles with the Harvard Sq. by a couple of distributors, but by no means all of the studios; however, with Assembly closing, it could provide a few more opportunities to do so. Fresh Pond still has clearance over the Somerville for most mainstream pictures, so it seems likely that certain pictures might open at Harvard & Davis, while others at Fresh Pond only (for example, 'Blood Diamond' is opening at Somerville and Harvard Square, but something a little more 'general audience' like 'We Are Marshall' will probably go to Fresh Pond.)

In today's Boston Globe, I see many AMC theatres with 'reduced' weekday showtimes (that is, nothing starting after 8 pm) -- not just Assembly Square, but also Braintree, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, and Tyngsboro. I doubt AMC is planning to close all of these, so there must be some other explanation.

Further discussion of this should probably go on the Assembly Square Cinemas page.

Ron,

I would not take this to signify much - many theaters do this on weekdays to save on payroll etc., afterall, not many people go to the movies after 9pm on weeknights. Our Capitol Theatre has an abbreviated schedule Mon-Thu, and if Somerville didn't stay open for events, we'd probably have one there too.

Hi...I'm a newbie to this site but wanted to say as a kid growing up in Teele Sq. during the 60's, (I missed the teele Sq. theater by a few yrs) I always made the trek down to Davis to catch the movies on Saturdays. I remember the price was 25 cents for 2 movies and a couple of cartoons in the middle. And YES.... I do remember the trains rumbling by during the shows. What a rumbling noise it made. You could feel the theater shake. Ahhh...The good old days


Mike

Does anyone remember the guy's name who worked the ticket counter and did all sorts of odd jobs around the theater during the early 60's? He always had a cgar in his mouth.

Mike

Does anyone remember the guy's name who worked the ticket counter and did all sorts of odd jobs around the theater during the early 60's? He always had a cgar in his mouth.

Mike

Does anyone remember the guy's name who worked the ticket counter and did all sorts of odd jobs around the theater during the early 60's? He always had a cgar in his mouth.

Mike

Sorry about the multiple listing guys...Like I said...I'm new to this site


Mike

Does anyone remember Joe & Nemo's that used to stand next to the Somerville Theatre?

I vaguely remember it. How long has it been gone? One place I definitely remember that's no longer there is the old Railside Pub, which was just to the north of the theatre on Holland St. Sometimes used to go in with friends for a few quick ones after seeing a film.

Oh, and welcome to the website Mike.

That was probably demolished when the Red Line was built (1979-84). Where was Joe & Nemo's?

Off the top of my head, I don't remember where Joe & Nemos was. It's probably way back in the mental cobwebs somewhere. Yeah, Railside was demolished sometime around '83 during all the changes that were going on in the square at that time. The building where it was located backed up to the tracks.

In reference to the Railside Pub, North of the theatre, back in the 50's it was the Pine Tree Diner. Looked similar to the Rose Bud at the other end of Davis Sq. We would go there after the evening movie and have coffee and a hamburger, usually on Friday night.
In the early 50's I was an usher at the theatre. I remember one Saturday Matinee during the feature, (It was either a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film) the screen went white. Usually this happened if the film broke, but that was not the case this time. The screen stayed white for at least 5 minutes. The kids were stomping their feet as usual if something went wrong. I looked back to the projection booth at the rear of the balcony and saw the projectionist sitting in his chair sound asleep. At that time the booth was located behind the rear wall of the balcony. I knocked on the porthole glass and finally woke him up. He had missed the change over from one projector to the other one. In those days two projectors were used. Each reel of film lasted aprox 15 to 20 minutes max. A 80 minute movie would have about 5 reels of film. It was very easy to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the projectors clicking away. I'm sure other projectionists will agree. By the way, the operator (projectionist) was a part time operator NOT George Peterson the regular operator at the theatre.
Hope everyone has a Healthy New Year.

In one of my earlier comments, I made reference to the McGoff family working many years at the theatre. I apologize for mispelling their names. The correct spelling is McGoff not MacGoff. I'm so use to typing Mac that my brain did not stay in sync with my fingers.
Again, Happy New Year to all.

The manager of the Assembly Square Cinemas told me they will close on January 15.

Once this happens, the Somerville Theatre will be the only movie theatre in Somerville -- for the first time in its 92+ year history.

Here is another recent photo of the Somerville Theater.

The Somerville Journal has an article online about recent renovations to the Somerville's main auditorium, and about the return of the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival to this theatre next month.

The article comes complete with two photos of Ian Judge, the theatre's "genial, movie-loving general manager" who has contributed many comments to this page.

It was not printed in last week's hardcopy newspaper, but presumably will be in this week's issue.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990

Somerville Theatre (added 1990 - Building - #89002330)
Also known as Hobbs Building
55 Davis Sq., Somerville
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Funk & Wilcox
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture, Commerce, Community Planning And Development, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Professional, Specialty Store, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater

Another night view of the Somerville Theater can be seen here.

The Somerville Theatre recently received a license to serve beer and wine to theatregoers (especially those attending live shows). They are now remodeling their lobby to allow for this.

This is a 2007 photo of the Somerville Theater.

Just in case anyone's concerned, the steel skeleton at the left side of that photo is not construction on the Somerville Theatre/Hobbs Building. It is a new building being erected on the other side of Dover Street.

I was watching a movie last night on TV and it reminded me of when I worked at the Somerville Theatre back in the 50's. The movie was "Strategic Air Command" with James Stewart. The movie played at the Somerville and was held over for two weeks. The 1st weekend was a sellout I believe. For the 1st weekend showing we had 2 search lights positioned in front of the theatre lighting up the sky. Back in those days it was a fun thing to get in the car and "follow the search lights" to see where they originated.
The U.S.Air Force had a display at the second floor entrance to the balcony with all types of Air Force equipment being displayed and explained by Air Force personnel. The Somerville Theatre was the 1st theatre to get the print after it finished it's run at the downtown Boston theatres.
This is just one of the many fond memories I have while working at the theatre.
Ken MacLeod

Here is a recent night view of the Somerville Theater.

The Somerville Theatre is converting one of its outside box office windows to a walk-up ice cream window, selling Richardson's Ice Cream from Middleton, MA.

The marquee is advertising Shrek 3 and Spider-Man 3 so one function should be first run movies.

I've submitted that as a correction several times, but nobody has fixed it. The theatre will also show "The Simpsons Movie" as a first run.

And "The Bourne Ultimatum" I might add....

OK, now it says Movies (First Run), but it should *also* say Movies (Second Run) and Movies (Film Festivals).

I got the first run movies added. Your on your own for the rest. LOL

When I worked there in the '80s, we used to call our manager the "Marlboro Light Man"--touseled hair, angled cigarette and checkered Palestinian scarf. Was that Bill?

I passed the theater last weekend as the marquee was changing. Since the renovations, staff have it much easier than when Garen Daley used to send me climbing on top of the icy old awning in February while local kids took my ladder. Of course, the coffee was an even worse danger. We had no fridge, keeping the milk in the freezer and leaving it on the counter to defrost. You had to catch it at the right stage, after it was no longer gelato but before it had turned to yogurt.

The current management ought to sponsor a reunion for all former employees. There are probably enough of us to fill the entire main theater. Maybe you could show "Diva," which all of us have only seen eleven hundred times anyway.

That place held a lot of hidden treasures, including a gigantic flyspace. Any clues what happened to the old vaudeville banner?

This is a recent close-up view of the Somerville Theater.

What great picture. Oh By the way I do remember the freight train going by the theatre it use to be about 100 cars. I liked to sit in the front row the old gal sure did shake. But the show keep running. What a great place.

What great picture. Oh By the way I do remember the freight train going by the theatre it use to be about 100 cars. I liked to sit in the front row the old gal sure did shake. But the show keep running. What a great place.

Talk about the freight trains, before the train gates were controled from the building between Holland St. and College Ave. the gates were operated manually. There was a very small enclosure in the Pine Tree Diner area that housed the gentleman that operated the gates.
When a train was due he would walk over the the manual gate cranks (located next to the sidewalk on Holland St.)and manually crank the gates up and down. The time frame that I remember was in the late 40's. The train engines at the time were steam with a coal tender behind it. The worst part of the old trains, besides the smoke, were the open cattle cars at the end of the train, usually 3 or 4. One could smell them comming and long after the train passed.
Can't wait to get back to Mass. and see the Theatre. Haven't seen it since 1975
I wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

If you have not seen Davis Square or the theatre since 1975, you are in for quite a surprise!

Ken - yes, if you haven't seen the square since '75, you are in for quite a surprise. You'll probably need to just sit on one of the benches in the square for a while to absorb the changes. When I was living in an apartment on the 3rd floor of the theatre building in the early 80s, a friend of mine looked out the living room window one day (which overlooked the entire square) and said "this neighborhood is in for some big changes." Man, was he right-on. The "gentrification" has marched in. I was so sad to see the closing of La Contessa in '07. Fortunately, some of the good old places are still around - like the Rosebud, Johnny D's and of course, the theatre itself. When you do make it to the area, check out Porter Square also. You won't recognize it either. Even with all the changes in Davis Sq., fortunately it hasn't been cannibalized and over-developed (my opinion anyway) as much as Porter Square.

And if you're visiting before the end of April, try to stop by Sacco's Bowl-Haven on Day Street. It will soon be sold and converted to other uses, though the buyer says she wants to keep some of the bowling lanes.

David & Ron - Thanks for the comments. It will probably be next year before we get to visit back home. Have lived in the Houston Texas area since 1975. I did sip a few at the Rosebud back then. Is the Uptown Cafe on Holland Street still there? One of my English teachers in high school frequented that establishment. I was on a bowling league at Bowl-Haven back then (I think it had a different name at the time, not sure about that). I also bowled at the alleys in the basement of the Hobbs building. I think there were 6 or maybe 8 alleys there. If you were in the theater, on a quiet day, one could hear the bowling ball hit the pins. You guys have a healthy and happy New Year.

Rosebud is still here. I think the Uptown Cafe is now Johnny D's. The basement of the Hobbs building now contains two of the newer small cinemas, as Ian Judge mentioned above.

Here is an April 2008 photo.

According to articles in the Boston Herald (May 14 2008) and the Quincy Patriot Ledger, the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) at the Dedham Community Theatre has opened a second exhibit gallery in the basement of the Somerville Theatre. Even with 2 exhibit spaces, the MOBA has room to showcase only a portion of its dubious collection. The MOBA gallery will add still another attraction to the Somerville Theatre complex.

The MOBA opening is tonight at 7 pm.

Yes indeed! The Museum of Bad Art has found a home in our basement. This is in a storage area opposite the restrooms. This space has been storage since the building was built; it originally contained 10 stalls for the 10 storefronts that lined the ground floor, but has been one large storage room for years. Some paint and carpet and voila - MOBA! Admission to the museum is free with a movie ticket.

Ian What A Great Job Your doing at The Somerville Theatre AAA+++

For its Christmas week attraction in December 1921, the Somerville Theatre presented the Somerville Players, "New England's Finest Stock Company", in the play "The Night Cap", direct from the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. Performances at 215PM and 8PM. They ran a fairly large ad in the Boston Globe on Dec. 24, 1921.

If you have that ad, I'm curious: did the show run on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day?

The play ran the entire week. However, it's not clear if the twice-daily performance was just on Christmas day, or every day during the week. I'm not sure, but I think that Dec. 24th was a Sunday in 1921.

Correction- Dec. 24th was a Sat. in 1921. The Somerville Theatre's ad in the newspaper was unusual in that it was printed on its side, with the top of the ad to the right and the bottom to the left; one had to pivot the page in order to read it. Perhaps this was an attention-getting device.

The Somerville Theatre in Davis is another cool place, and I'm glad that it, too, along with the Coolidge Corner Theatre, was saved from the wrecking ball. I've seen some cool movies there, including:

THE DEPARTED
PAN'S LABYRINTH
SHREK III
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
and afew others.

I've also seen Arlo Guthrie live in concert, in the big main theatre--he was really cool.

A year ago last March, there was a singalong screening of the film West Side Story. What a wonderful afternoon it was. It was a pleasure to be in line and in the audience with all the other WSS movie-goers, and, it was great sitting on the balcony. The main theatre of the Somerville Theatre, in addition to being one of two theatres left here in this area that has a balconied theatre, is also quite baroque-looking inside, as a real movie-theatre palace generally is. Wonderful for a movie
experience. It's also the only moviehouse around that one can get in for under 9 or ten dollars, even in the evening. Hope it stays that way. Does anybody know, btw, if they still have the policy of not letting kids under 8 years of age into the theatre for evening shows? Just curious.

Hi Mpol,

Thank you for the kind words.

We do still have that policy of no children after 6pm - it is my personal preference, and audiences have responded positively to it. Obviously we would make an exception if we had a kid-oriented film (like last year when we screened "The Wizard of Oz") but generally we do not book kids movies there unless forced to by the studios.

-Ian Judge/Somerville Theatre General Manager

Hi, Ian.

Thanks for the compliments. I understand why you have the policy of not letting young children into the theatre after six p. m. I was just curious--that's why I asked. I remember that you also had a summer midnight movies program. What happened to that? Again, just curious. Again, you've screened many wonderful movies, have had many wonderful concerts, and it's a great, old movie palace. Here's hoping this theatre stays on forever, and that you keep up the great work. Btw, would it be possible to get some more of the older classic films into your theatre? That would be cool. Again, had a great time at the screening of WSS last year.

I plan on seeing the film "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" when it opens at your theatre.

This is another photo of the Somerville Theater.

Great Picture!
I look forward to visiting the theatre in May when we visit family in the area.
Ken MacLeod
Kingwood, TX

Is the piano still under the stage? If you get behind the dressing room and look under the stage you will see the old piano and voting boxes if they are still there.

Somerville Theater at night

The huge crowd shown in that photo was for a 'secret' hour-long U2 concert on Wednesday, March 11. No tickets were sold. The only people admitted to the theatre were winners of radio station giveaways, and they were all bused into Davis Square from elsewhere.

Ian Judge should be given credit for being able to keep the "secret" that Bono/U2 had been booked into the Somerville Theatre. Despite the best efforts of the local media to get the facts, he kept his mouth shut, CIA/military- style. For the 24 hours prior to the concert, there were many great shots on local TV of the load-in on stage and at the rear of the stage-house.

Thanks Ron Salters - it was tough!

maaynardian60 - the piano is still in the orchestra pit (holding up the floor that was built directly on top of it) but no voting boxes. The actual dressing rooms were extensively rebuilt in 2005. Very little of the original dressing rooms existed when we began renovations.

Here is a 2009 photo.

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dhh6zg

Another photo is here.

As part of renovations this summer, we will be totally renovating the projection booth in the main theater, returning it to its original location within/behind the back wall of the balcony (the current booth from 1990 is in front of this back wall.)

We will be reseating the balcony for the first time since 1914! New seats!

We will be installing Dolby Digital sound, and surround sound speakers in the entire auditorium.

We have arranged with Boston Light & Sound to install two beautiful Norelco AA-II projectors that were recently removed from the home screening room of noted film restorer Robert Harris. This will enable us to show archival prints and ultimately 70mm film as well. We will have a much more flexible booth when all is said and done.

Ian/Somerville Theatre

Glad to hear all of this news. Will you need to close the main theatre while any of this work is done?

Well, I finally made it back to Somerville on vacation in May. By brother Bob (who still lives in the area) and I met with Ian Judge on May 19th for a tour of the theatres and building. I had not seen the theatre since 1975. Wow! What a difference.

We visited for almost 2 1/2 hours, me telling Ian how it was back in the 50's and early 60's when I worked there and Ian showing us all the updates that have been made since then. I thought I knew where every door was in and around the main theatre. Ian showed us places I never knew existed. The stage and back stage area have been completely updated with a new screen, curtains, lights, dressing rooms etc. Maynardina60 left a post a while back asking about the piano in the orchestra pit. I can assure you that it is still there and will probably remain there forever. I thought the floor tile in the loby was the original. Ian told us that it was replaced and they had found tile that matched the original tile.
It looks great.

I'm glad that the original Men's Room is no longer in use. When I worked as a usher I spent a lot of time down there with mop and bucket in hand when the toilet or urinals overflowed.

On Sundays when the show was continuous from 1PM to 11PM, the manager would go home for dinner around 5PM for about 1 hour. One of the ushers would take tickets during that time. Ian and I had a few laughs about that duty.

I thought the small theatre (used for rental purposes) is a great idea. We also visited the "Museum of Bad Art" Very interesting indeed.

After we left the thratre we visited Davis Square, the old bowling alley and had lunch at the RoseBud. It brought back many good memories.

Thanks Ian for a great day. I appreciate the time you spent with us and look forward to the 100 year celebration in 2014. I certainly plan to be back again before then. I still have many questions that I did not ask while with you. I thought about them after I left. Can't wait to see the new projection booth in the main theatre when it is completed.

Ken MacLeod
Kingwood, TX

Among the handouts at the 1983 Boston conclave of the Theatre Historical Society was a page full of copies of small Somerville Theatre ads from the collection of Robert "Bob" Viano, who was a cousin of the Viano family which had owned the theater. He was also a THS member. There is an ad from the Somerville Journal of 4-30-1915 which states that beginning Monday May 10th, The Somerville Theatre Stock Company would begin their summer series on stage. Matinees daily at 230PM and evenings at 8PM. Tickets ranged from 10 cents to 35 cents. It seems that a serial movie "The Diamond from the Sky" had started, with a new chapter each week. Not to worry, movie goers! Each weekly chapter of the serial would continue to be shown during the intermission of the stage play "Within the Law", and subsequent plays. Talk about getting your money's worth !