Bellevue Theatre

I frequented this theater (and I mean FREQUENT!!) during my growing-up years in Pawtucket, not far from Central Falls. The Bellevue was affectionately (?) known to us at that time as "The Belly-ache"! It was packed with kids on Saturdays, some of whom became overly noisy at times, whereupon a cop would yell SHUT UP!! as loudly as he could, and we did! I believe his name was Mr. Crawley.

Marialivia,
Interesting to read this comment and your one on the Strand in Pawtucket. Do you know of any photos of the place?

Gerald: Unfortunately no. I would be SO happy to have a photo of either of these theaters, but especially the Strand. It was torn down to make way for a parking lot, possibly in 1958 or 1959. I know that when our new candy counter opened in September of 1948, the Pawtucket Times did a little article with ME standing behind the counter!! I don't even have a copy of that, but I wonder if you could find it in the Times archives? Are you located in Pawtucket? As for the Bellevue, I think it's possible that it was at least partially owned by the Crawley family, some of whom lived on Pine Street in C.F. They were a large family and perhaps some of them remain in the area.

Gerald: Unfortunately no. I would be SO happy to have a photo of either of these theaters, but especially the Strand. It was torn down to make way for a parking lot, possibly in 1958 or 1959. I know that when our new candy counter opened in September of 1948, the Pawtucket Times did a little article with ME standing behind the counter!! I don't even have a copy of that, but I wonder if you could find it in the Times archives? Are you located in Pawtucket? As for the Bellevue, I think it's possible that it was at least partially owned by the Crawley family, some of whom lived on Pine Street in C.F. They were a large family and perhaps some of them remain in the area.

You should be able to find that article on Pawtucket Times microfilm at the city library. I'm not from Pawtucket but from Johnston. I never saw the Bellevue but went to the Strand in the 1950s.

Marialivia, I have a picture of the Strand from 1940 but I am new to this site and I see that the ability to post photos is not enabled right now.

I can look into hosting pictures maybe on my webspace from my ISP.

I have a lot of picture of quite a few theaters.

FWIW, my mother distinctly remembers the Bellevue. She was born 1932 in Valley Falls and going to the theater was the 'thing' to do in those days along with the numerous dance halls in Central Falls.

My mothers memory is very, very but sometimes I show her pictures to jog it a bit.

Roland L.,
Would love to see your photos of local R.I. area theatres. Why not host them on?:
http://www.photobucket.com/
Free and easy. I did it. Once you've got the photo to Photobucket, simply copy the URL and paste on the appropriate Cinema Treasures page.

Roland L.: Your mother and I were born the same year and probably frequented the Bellevue (and other theaters in the area) at the same time. In fact, we probably knew each other somewhat, as it was an area where people of the same age group seemed to know somebody who knew somebody who knew them, etc.!! ML

Marialivia, do you recall the theater being directly across from Stanley's, the hamburger joint?

I came across some information today that states the Bellevue was once located at 470 Dexter St. and was named the Dexter Theater until 1917. This info differs than the 536 Dexter St. address but it could be that the original building was burned and they moved to the 536 Dexter St. address. Perhaps I will dig into this more and see when the address changed.

Roland, I do remember a Stanley's, but I can't recall if it was directly across from the Bellevue. At least from the mid-30s, the Bellevue was right around the corner from Rand Street. At one time there was a small restaurant at the very corner, adjacent to the theater, which was called "The Pig 'n' Whistle" during the 40s. I do recall Dakin's Fish and Chips, which was on the opposite side of Dexter Street, closer to Pawtucket. It was there for many years and is the only landmark I can think of which might give you a clue as to the street number. ML

Marialivia, oh do I have a treat for you.

The man who played the 'cop' was Thomas Balfour and it was a constables outfit. Mr. Balfour was also given the piano that was in the theater before it was raised.

Guess what his second job was at the theater? He was the projectionist!!

Oh, the lady who sold the tickets and ran the concessions was Annie Lamoreux and she was actually in a convent at one time but they sort of rejected her!!

I bet you're wondering how I know this info, huh?

Pictures are being sought right now of this theater.

Also, do you remember a place near the Leroy called the Candy Kettle?

Roland: You are really taking me back down the rosy road of Nostalgia!! You probably have the info about the cop and the ticket lady because people simply KNEW each other back then! Especially in the Pawtucket/Central Falls area. I remember very well a candy store just above the Leroy (going towards CF), and the name "Candy Kettle" rings a bell. My mother was very fond of this candy store, which to me at that time seemed very "fancy." Ordinarily, if I were going to the movies with my friends or just by myself, I would buy my candy at the drug store. But on the rare occasions when my mother took me, we'd stop in at the "fancy" candy store first!! ML

Marialivia, the reason I knew the name of the cop and the ticket lady was that I talked with a lady who is approaching her 80th birthday. Funny though the ocnversation started on an unrelated matter but when I expressed my interest in the old theaters, she started off with the Bellevue and asked if I knew about it.

She just went on an on about the theaters like the Capitol, Strand, Leroy, Lafayette, etc,... She told me the origins of how Eddie's Ice Cream Parlor started as Ed owned the concession stand at the Lafayette before branching off into an ice cream place on the corner of Broad and Blackstone streets......

Sorry, getting off topic as I should stick to theaters but I just get too excited!!!

She is looking for pictures that she may have of the Bellevue and other theaters.

Another tidbit, Mr. Balfour, the 'cop', lived at Wilfrid Manor on Hunt St, Central Falls until his 95th or 96th birthday.

Roland: Don't be sorry -- I'm enjoying the wandering off topic! I don't remember too much about the area around the Lafayette, as I lived on Lonsdale ave. back then. I don't remember even going to the Lafayette until I was in my 20s. But the Bellevue, as I said earlier, was a place I frequented from early childhood. And as I've noted earlier, we called it "the Belly-ache." I never enjoyed the "cowboy movie" that preceded the main feature, but I do remember seeing "The Three Mesquiteers" and didn't know until many years later that John Wayne himself was one of them! Mostly, I remember Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. I seem to remember that there was a stairway in back -- was there a balcony? If so, I'm sure I must have ventured up there, as I was an adventurous sort. I hope your friend finds those pictures of the Bellevue! I'll be watching. ML

Yes, I would like to see photos of all those theatres. Do either of you remember the Broadway? I posted it a while ago but as of now there are no comments. Look here.

Gerald, I am not sure if I remember the theater but I have plenty of friends that lived on or around Broadway in Pawtucket. I was a frequent customer of Barry's Pharmacy on Broadway. It was the last true drug/soda fountain store that I recall.

I'll ask my friends.

I now have four people who attend this theater on the lookout for photos of this theater and one thinks he has pictures of the Imperial Theater in Pawtucket.

Here's the good news. All remember that the Crawley's did run the theater and lived on the corner of Rand and Dexter streets.

Here's the better news. A lady that I see almost 2-3 times a week is the Crawley's daughter and I never knew it! My mother confirmed this fact with this lady on Saturday so when the lady this week, I'll ask if she can help us out with pictures or any artifacts. Oh, this lady is a nun!!!

I thought the Lafayette was everyone's favorite theater in Central Falls but I guess not. It appears the Bellevue was the place to go.

The 1949 Film Daily Yearbook listed the seating capacity as 600.

Tne branch of the Crawley family that I knew lived on Pine Street back then, but I'm sure they were related to the theater owners. I was sad to hear that Billy Crawley, the one I knew best and whom I dated in high school, had passed away, as well as his sister Ruth. I still hope to see photos someday of the old "Belly-ache" and of the Fairlawn! ML

I was in the Bellevue Theater in 1982. A client of mine who owned FKC Engineering in the rear on Rand Street was leasing it as warehouse space and as far as I know it's still there. It's right accross from Stanley's Hamburgers. I was born in CF in 1939 and spent every Saturday at the matinee. I lived on Mowry Street, attended Dexter Street Scool and West Sude School. Grew up on Stanley's hamburgers and Sparky's wieners on the corner of Mowry and Dexter. My mother managed Taylors womens store. My grandmother (Emma Noelte) was the Grande Dame of Dexter Street and Tommy Lyons pulled his wagon collecting Junk. He died a millionaire. RLPBBV@aol.com

Mr. P, in THIS PICTURE of Dexter Street, across from Stanley's, would the red brick building be next to where the Bellevue was (parking lot to its right) or is the red building originally the theatre itself? Rand Street is to the left of the building, just beyond the stores with the apartments above them. I took this yesterday.

The red brick building is the Bellevue Theater. The parking lot is where Najarians 5 & 10 was.

Mr. P, thank you very much. Sometimes you can loook at an old builking and say to yourself, "This was a theatre," because of some external evidence like a scenery tower. Here there is nothing evident. Do you know about what year the Bellevue closed? I never went to the Bellevue and am from Johnston. I have a keen interest in old RI theatres. Here you can see my FLICKR SET of pictures on that topic.

I would guess that it closed in the fifties. I moved to Cumberland in 1948 and it was still going strong. I'd have to say around 1955.

Well, of all places to get some photo opt. I recently bought a magazine commemorating the soldiers and shipmates from the Pawtucket/Central Falls area.

Keep in mind that it was published in June of 1921. One can then deduce that the Bellevue had to run the very early flickrs and silents.

For the non French among us, the wording reads Compliments of Bellevue Theater, Walter J. Cooper, owner-manager, Dexter Street, Central Falls, RI.


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