Carlton Theatre

The address for the Calton Theatre is 79 Matthewson Street, Providence, RI.

The Carlton Theatre is a faint memory from my childhood, since the auditorium was torn down before or at the beginnng of my teen years in the early 1950's. What was the original entrance area and building front remains as a group of shops. The only movies I remember seeing here were the Italian film ANGELO in 1951, which my Italian-speaking parents brought me to, and a couple of years later I saw Disney's PETER PAN. For the record, Mr. Van Bibber, the spelling of the street is Mathewson (only one "t").

The Carlton, judging by the address in the Providence Business Directory of 1915, was previously known as the Emery.

Interesting bit of programming at the Carlton: in January, 1936 they showed the film THE LAND OF PROMISE. It was described in the newspaper ad as "Produced in Palestine under the auspices of Palestine Foundation Fund, auspices of Zionist Organization of Rhode Island." Some details on the film can be found at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162427/

The Carlton Theatre seated 1500 people.

The Carlton was demolished in 1954 to create a parking lot.

In 1952 the Carlton showed one of my favorite Italian films from that period: TOMORROW IS TOO LATE, with Pier Angeli and Vittorio De Sica. It dealt with the sexual awakening of adolescents and was very well done. In New York it had opened to great success in the Loew's State in Times Square, unusual for a foreign film. I actually first saw it later at Providence's Avon. That film even went on to play at drive-ins...like the Pike Drive-In on Hartford Avenue in Johnston, RI.

Only the auditorum portion of the Carlton was razed. The original façade still remains (with the Emery name), housing Mathewson Street businesses.

Here is a photograph of the Carlton after it was closed and shortly before it was demolished in the mid-fifties. The façade, however, and front part of the building still remain, minus marquee. Only the auditorium was demolished. The inscription "Emery Theatre" remains over the front.

The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac lists the Emery Theatre (which became the Carlton) as having a seating capacity of 1786. Dimenions: proscenium opening, 38x20 feet, footlights to back wall, 32 feet; between side walls, 75 feet; height to gridiron, 56 feet.
This Emery Theatre should not be confused with Emery's Majestic (later the Majestic), a couple of blocks away on Washington Street.

CORRECTION. There were errors in my entries of April 2 and April 14 above. The façade does NOT remain. Nothing remains. As of today there is a parking lot where the theatre used to be. I was confusing the Emery/Carlton with the Scenic/Rialto, whose façade does indeed still survive. The Carlton was totally demolished. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me, and I hope this will begin to set the record straight.

The Emery Theatre, which became the Carlton, opened in 1914.

The Providence Evening Bulletin of June 30, 1937 reported that the Empire (later called the "Bijou"), RKO Albee, and Carlton were closing for various periods of time for "overhauling." They all re-opened before long.

Here is a postcard of the Emery, which later became the Carlton.

PROVIDENCE THEATRES: "TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion," by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett's detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.

From "The Board of Trade Journal" of April, 1915:
"Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip," with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can't accomodate those seeking to see "the movies," neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson's new theatre has all it can attend to."

This photo was taken on March 19, 1954 as the Carlton was being demolished. The manager John E. Toohey stands amid the rubble like Gloria Swanson in the famous photo of New York's Roxy.

When I was 11 in 1953, my sister took me to see Walt Disney's Peter Pan playing with the Disney featurette Bear Country. This was the beginning of April. In a matter of weeks, on April 23, the theatre was to shut down after its last show.

Actually, the theatre lingered on until the very end of the month with The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima and a double bill of The Mummy and The Mummy's Curse. Peter Pan was announced for a return visit, but no ads appeared beginning around May 1st. The theatre had closed for good.

The Italian film Anna also played here in that "final" April of 1953. It starred the luscious Silvana Mangano of Bitter Rice fame. Here she played a woman with a tainted past who decides to become a nun. There is a famous song/dance scene in the movie when Mangano sings ""El negro Zumbon," a 'bajon' sung in Spanish. It became a popular song hit even in America. The movie was dubbed for wider release, and appeared in that version here.

We are in the process of restoring the Dreyfus Hotel which is located next door to the Emery Theatre (now a parking lot) on Mathewson and Washington Streets. Does anyone have any photographs or information on this adjacent building? Thanks!

There are a couple on this site. Look above to my links, especially the postcard of June 16. There is one in the kiosk at the corner of Mathewson and Fountain Streets. The Rhode Island Historical Society may have some. The Providence Journal archives will certainly have some. The book Temples of Illusion by Roger Brett has a history under the theatre names of Emery and Carlton.

In addition to its regular programs, the Carlton Theatre, in 1951, began presenting video broadcasts of sporting events such as championship fights and football games. The debut occurred on September 29 with an exclusive look at the Notre Dame - Indiana game, which was not carried on any commercial channel. In addition, viewers saw a double feature plus short subjects, all for $1. Only a handful of patrons turned out, according to an article in the Providence Journal the following day.

060603- prov theaters-dvb files

I was an eyewitness to the razing of the Mathewson St Theater bldg,?(1948)
located directly behind the Washington St Dreyfus Hotel bldg near
(cor Washington/Mathewson Sts) and mid block between Fountain and
Washington - (bldg razed abt 1948 )- Your Emery/Carlton bldg (1916
postcard ) -seems to be Mathewson St.mid block Westminster/Washington Sts-
(Tilden-Thurber bldg on next cor there? Westminster St ?)
What say you ? The old Carlton Theater bldg in the next block??

dvb notes
In 1947 the Carlton Theater bldg 1st floor was the Shepard's Tea Room
restaurant - with direct inside connection to the 5 story Shepard's Dept. Store bldg
bounded by Westminster/Union/Washington Sts.-& maybe an alley Oh
it was Clemence St sure its all coming back.........(Pie Alley )
My question is the name /history and pics of the Mathewson St Theater
razed abt 1948 and definitely no active Mathewson St theater 1948 -1958 era
and no Carlton Theater on Mathewson St in the1940's or1950's......
.....hmmmmmm
I'll try to find the answers after all that was my backyard ..
I know the area ......read on

I lived and worked the Providence downtown area 1943 thru 1950-(incl) and at one time, attended movie sessions 28 nights every month----for the two years 1945 -1946- Each evening after dinner
(Miss Dutton's-Washington St ) I'd do a walking tour of the eight different marquees starting up Washington FAYS-
STRAND-MAJESTIC-thru Mahewson St to cor Westminster St where I could read 4 marquees from one spot
nearby RKO ALBEE-& down across from Shepard's -the EMPIRE (@Union St) &-LOEWS State-Weybosset St
and on Mathewson St --the Carlton(you say) (razed 1948? I say)---If I had seen all movies showing,-I would go see something again--- most of the biggie flicks usually held over I got to see 9 or 10 times -I still thrill at the Hitchcock Climax(s) and the unique camera work

Providence Theater Notes - 1940's FAYS-stage shows featured BUDDY PAGE's Orchestra
Buddy had many pre show dinners @ Miss Dutton's Green Room one of his curtain call songs still
rings in my ears "Say it with Music"--Thanks Mr FAY and BUDDY & crew

EM FAY provided the band and outdoor Concerts Free to the public in front of the OUTLET Co.
176 Weybosset St EM FAY was long time friends with Joseph SAMUELS/Outlet Co Concert Sponser
ref- The OUTLET STORY -RIHS

doug v brown- 060604
dvbrwn@mindspring.com

You have some fascinating memories here, sir! Thank you for posting your recollections.

Regarding the Carlton Theatre: it existed until 1953. Providence Journal advertisements that I checked have verified this. I myself remember seeing Angelo and Peter Pan here when a child. I saw Peter Pan there in 1953 when I was 11. The site is now a parking lot in the block between Fountain Street and Washington Street. The theatre on Mathewson Street between Washington Street and Westminster Street that was razed in the 1940s and that you went to was probably the Rialto, across from Shepard's Tea Room. The front part still exists! There is a link to a picture I posted on the Rialto page. Shepard's Tea Room replaced a much older theatre called the Casino that survived only into the 1920s. I would be very much interested in what (else) you have to say about the Empire, about the Bijou ("the sink"), the Capitol, the Metropolitan, and any other Providence theatres. Can you post more information on those pages? They are ALL on Cinema Treasures.

Prov Theaters- dvb files-060607 Corrections on CARLTON Theater -79 Mathewson St
Research in progress- Looking for photo of 1952 CARLTON theater -Weybosset St- odd numbered side across from Garnet St-that bldg possibly razed 1953-1954.........
Possible that the Providence Journal story (1996) confused the history of the older Carlton theater
79 Mathewson St (razed 1946?) with the new Carlton theater Weybosset St-(razed 1953-54?)
by using the file photo of "The man in the rubble " which is connected with the 1946 razing

If anyone has info on the New Carlton-Weybosset St 1950-1954 please comment here or
contact

dougvbrown
dvbrwn@mindspring.com

There was no Carlton on Weybosset Street, ever. Period. The only Carlton was on Mathewson Street, number 79, built in 1914 as the Emery Theatre, closed in 1953, demolished in 1954. Period.

This World War I era photo shows the Dreyfus Hotel at the corner of Washington and Mathewson Streets. Next to the Dreyfus can be seen the Emery Theatre, behind the lamp-post.

060620- Prov Theaters- dvb files

The Prov City Directories 1946 -thru-1954 list The Carlton Theater -John Toohey/mgr
at 79 Mathewson St -( ref Prov Public Library ) Jun 2006

File Photos of the theater bldg 1st as the EMERY(1916)-and 2nd the CARLTON(1953) and
being razed "The Man in the rubble"(1954) and a recent photo (Jun 2006) across the
79 Mathewson St parking lot i.e. showing the rear corner of the Merchantile bldg (Washington St)
windows details -there is positive ID of Emery=Carlton Theater
Bldg being located at 79 Mathewson St closed & razed Mar 1954.............

Movies seen 1945 fall on two separate showings

"DILLINGER" Lawrence Tierney (debut) and "OVER 21" Irene Dunne

Tierney, as Dillinger, a black &white classic gangster film, but not quite Film Noir
unforgetable prison scenes never saw Tierney acting before that or ever again..........sorta
makes his Chicago Bijou Theater alley death scene ,,,,, so final........

Hi! i'm an interior architecture student from RISD researching on the Rialto Theater.

Does anyone know why the architecture of the facade of Rialto and Carlton are so similar? Were they by the same architect, and who was he??

I know that the original structure of Rialto (when it was first the Westminster Congregational Church) was designed by Warren, Tallman & Bucklin (architects of the Arcade), and William R. Walker & Sons did the 1902 facade renovations (to become the Scenic Temple?)
Please solve the mystery for me?

thanks,
ming

071118= Prov Theaters dougvbrown files -dvbrwn@mindspring.com

Researching Mathewson St (79) Carlton -(121)Rialto- (126)Casino and
(193) Union St Empire Theater bldgs Prov.,RI
Read recently that the Carlton Theater bldg -at 79 Mathewson St Prov. RI
architect was William R. Walker & Sons who designed several other bldgs down city Prov-- After reading MING's keen observation of the Carlton facade VS the Rialto facade my mystery is the Casino Theater bldg -126 Mathewson St Prov RI .... if it was also designed by William R. Walker & Sons ?

As an eyewitness to the Casino Theater bldg (Shepard's Tearoom-1947)
the 1916 photo of the Emery/Carlton Theater bldg had me fooled to thinking it was the Casino Theater -because of the alley windows design ..
at Shepard's one alley window was actually the kitchen rear door & on hot days many smoke break hrs and the alley architecture was etched in my
mind and the aromas......Guess you have to had been there
Thanks MING.....

An ad appearing in the Providence newspaper on August 30, 1926:

Edward M. Fay announces the reopening next Monday at noon of the new Emery, a Fay Theatre, 79 Mathewson Street.

Completely refurnished, redecorated and re-established as a modern theatre, a marvel of the decorator's art. Under new and efficient managerial supervision. A Playhouse providing entertainment in comfort for each member of the family. Its shows guaranteed to be consistently good --- vaudeville and pictures.

Here is an October 1916 ad.