Wollaston Theatre

I drove by yesterday. The theatre is closed. In one of the poster windows is a leftover poster from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Does anyone have any information on whether there are any current plans for this theatre?

Wollaston Theater has been closed for some time now, supposedly for renovations, for 4 or 5 months there was a hand written note on the door stating that renovations where taking place, although I have never seen any workmen coming or going from there. If someone were to purchase this historic treasure and actually renovate it, it would be a huge asset to Wollaston Center. The gentleman who currently owns the theater also owns several of the surrounding buildings, and if rumors are correct claims to not be able to afford the upkeep.

I happened by today (7/3/04) and saw an older gentleman locking the theater doors, so I struck up a conversation. Apparently the theater is being repaired, after sustaining water damage from a leaking roof last year. The owner was gracious enough to give us a brief tour, and hopes to reopen by the end of the summer.

Although it may look like the theater is being renovated, this is exactly how the theater has looked for years. I'm sure the gentleman with whom you spoke is the owner. I have not been inside the Wollaston Theater in more then 15 years, yet 15 years ago it also looked as if renovations were being done. As I stated before I believe if taken care of and actual repairs were done this theater would be a gold mine. At one time the marquee of the theater was a disgrace, the business association wanted it repaired as it was unattractive and took away from the other business' in the area, but the owner said he could not afford it because he was repairing the inside, he was given a low interest loan to repair the marquee, which was completed, the theater then stayed opened for a couple of years and has been closed ever since.

I am very interested in contacting the owner to discuss securing funding to renovate and reopen this theatre. Does anyone know how to contact this gentleman?

I would suggest the Quincy tax department, which must have an owner's name and contact information.
I drove by the place about a week ago, and it looks like it would be a neighborhood treasure. The only question would be parking.

I saw a number of films here when I was in high school in the sixties, including the surf documentary "Endless Summer." My last visit was five years ago when I saw a second run of "Titanic." Some seats were roped off because the ceiling seemed to be coming apart, possibly from water damage. For a number years, this theater attempted to run "family fare," pictures with G and PG ratings.

Even though the theatre has been closed for years, they are still running an answering machine at 617-773-4600 .

The owner of the Wollaston Theatre is Arthur Chandler. The theatre closed in the spring of 2003 for repairs, according to the Boston Globe archives. Unfortunately, it has yet to reopen. When it was last open, admission was just $1 on Mondays and Tuesdays.

This theatre never advertised in the Boston Globe, even though it is easily reached from Boston on the MBTA Red Line. I have to wonder whether that unnecessarily limited his audience.

The Flagship Cinemas (formerly Showcase, formerly Entertainment Cinemas) at Quincy Center never advertise in the Globe either. I almost wonder if there's a law in Quincy prohibiting theatres from advertising in newspapers...

Quincy is kind of a world unto itself. They also have their own paper, the Patriot Ledger. I think the little Milton theater in that neighboring town only advertised locally, as well. It's a section of Milton that looks like it should be Quincy. Downtown Quincy once had the Strand theater and also the Art, which was sort of art deco in style. I think I saw a beach blanket film there and possibly Hercules around 1962.

It wouldn't make sense for them to advertise in the Boston Globe due to the cost. Usually only large chains put in directories for all their houses, or if there's co-op money for a particular film. The Patriot Ledger is a large circulation paper on the south shore, which should be good enough for their advertising needs. Both theatres need to attract locals in order to survive. I think film cost and the Showcase/GCC/AMC competition/influence with distributors has probably hurt their business.
How close is the red line stop to Wollaston anyway?

It's a block from the Red Line stop.

Just about every other suburban second-run theatre advertises in the Globe -- the Somerville Theatre, the Capitol in Arlington, the Belmont Studio, the Lexington Flick, the Dedham Community, even the Mill Wharf in far-off Scituate.

Dwodeyla is right - the cost is prohibitive. It costs many many thousands of dollars to be listed in the Globe, imagine if you only had one screen, business was already minimal, and your admission (which you only keep a portion of) is low to begin with: If you had no start-up money or excess cash to burn, it would be very difficult to swallow 4 or 5 grand a month for one little listing. And very often, people don't pay too much attention to it anyhow, they just go to the movies where they usually go. For Wollaston, I'd say lack of regular operations hurts more than lack of advertising. People aren't going to keep trying to go to a place if it keeps being closed when they want to go.

If the Wollaston could get some renovations and reopen with some good free press about it's history and make a "grand reopening" and let people know the place is open and here to stay, they might start going again. But there are no guarantees, especially with second-run features. I know that if the theater I run (Somerville) didn't have real estate attached to it, it would surely be closed. It is a tough business!

Knowledgable Quincyites ought to list some of the town's old and now evidently demolished local theaters on this site. In the late '40s and early '50s when my aunt lived on Presidents Lane in Quincy, I remember visiting a few wonderful theaters: the Art on Hancock Street, the Strand on Coddington, the Capitol on Quincy, the Publix on Washington (or so I believe their names and approximate locations to have been). About ten years ago on a visit to Boston, I took the Red Line from Cambridge and walked the streets, finding that none of these theaters remained. On the town line between Quincy and Braintree, there was a drive-in theater aptly named the "Braintree."

Sorry-- the Drive-In was aptly named the "Quintree."

In the early 1990s, Garen Daly (formerly of the Somerville, and later of the Dedham Community Theatre) brought a few live music shows to the Wollaston.

But he didn't keep it up for very long, and I recall him telling me that the physical condition of the theatre was a big reason that he stopped.

As I stated before Mr. Chandler owns almost the entire block of stores where the Wollaston Theater is located, since the day he purchased the theater he hasn't done one bit of work on it except for the marquee which the Business Association insisted upon. If anyone is lucky enough to catch Mr. Chandler in the Wollaston area and inquires about the theater reopening his answer is always the same, it will open when the renovations are done, which I suppose is true, but since no renovations are being done at this time it is going to be a long time before it reopens. Since I was a child my one dream has been to buy that theater and reopen it, but I have never had the funds needed for such a project.

Box Office Bill, I am a resident of East Braintree and am surprised to find out that a drive-in was located here. Where exactly was the Quintree Drive-in? Was it located where the former Quintree Mall and current Quirk car dealership is?

mb848--It was likely on route 37. The years were '49-'50 and I was seven to eight years old, a pint-sized nut about movies who more than a half-century later still has disturbingly vivid and usually accurate memories about the circumstances I saw them in. I remember seeing two films at the Braintree: "The Loves of Carmen" and "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady," likely in the summers of '49 and '50 respectively. I'm sorry I can't be more precise about the location: I clearly recall that it was on a major highway between Quincy and Braintree in the days before the present route 93/3. Is it possible that route 3 has been modernized from an older thoroughfare that might have been accessed the drive-in? or that the drive-in was located further east on route 53 in East Braintree? I've named a few indoor theaters in Quincy (i'm less sure about the Publix than the others, but it was a theater on Washington Street that showed Paramount films where I saw "Fancy Pants"), and am curious about their fates. I grew up in Brooklyn NY and visited my transplanted aunt several times during that period. During my college years in the early '60s, I passed through the area because some friends lived nearby. At that time, Quincy seemed the same as it had been a decade earlier. On more recent work-related trips there, I've encountered great changes.

Box Office Bill- You sure have a great memory! The outdoor theater that you are thinking of was probably the one that was located off the present 93/3, I believe it was called the South Shore Drive In (though it could have had a different name before that). One screen is actually still standing, and is very close to Route 37. I was curious about the name "Quintree Drive-In", because I read something at one time that said there was a drive-in on Quincy Avenue, Route 53 called the Quin-tree. I have never seen any reference to it anywhere else, so I'm not sure where that one was.....Anyway, as I am in my 30's, I missed the era of great movie houses in Quincy, but I do remember the Strand. I went there as a young child and I think it was torn down in the early to mid 80's. I have also done a little research and found out there was also a Regent Theater on Hancock Street in North Quincy. I'm not sure how long that one was around, but it was built at the same time as the Wollaston, about 1925-26. I also know there was a Quincy Theater in Quincy Square on Hancock Street, is this the "Art" theater that you remember? I've never heard of the Capitol theater...was that on Quincy Ave?

The "Art" was the "Art" and was located on Hancock Street, close to City Hall and diagonally across from the historic Unitarian Church. The design was Art Deco. I saw "The Prince of Foxes" there in January '50, whence I associate it with 20C-Fox films (theaters in those days were wedded to particular studios). At the Strand in Summer '50 I saw "The Flame and the Arrow," whence I link it to Warner Bros. Both films initiated me to Renaissance Italy, an awful thing to have done. The Strand had a Palladian design. The theater that you call the Regent might very well have been the one I called the Capitol. It was located near St. John the Baptist RC Church and was designed in streamlined Beaux Arts. I remember seeing the sepia-tinted "Lust for Gold" there in Summer '49. My staggering recall for such details might be a curse, but sites like this can put different generations in touch with a common cultural history. Quincyites ought to get these theaters listed on this site.

There was a Quintree Drive-In in Braintree before General Cinema's South Shore Twin Drive In. The question remains, where was it located? Locals may want to check the old telephone books or microfilm at the Library.

Microfilmed newspapers would be the best bet -- look for Summer '50 for a sure bet.

The one and only time when I visited this venue was in 2002. The building is in poor condition and I'm almost surprised that they hadn't lost their public occupancy permit. The ceiling was disintegrating badly and sections of seats were roped off as a result. The interior is "nice," but nothing special. No huge chandelier, no ornate plaster work. The staff were somewhat rude and the presentation was fair (for example, house lights were _switched_ off and not dimmed). I was somewhat disappointed. At the time, they were still running carbon arc--as far as I know, they were the only theatre in the Boston area that hadn't converted to xenon. Unfortunately, I did not get a look at the booth.

It's the sort of venue that probably has "potential" to be successful, but the building is likely so far gone that it would be tremendously expensive to salvage it and, thus, probably not worthwhile. Very sad.

The owner refused for years to raise prices -- well into the 1990s you could still see a movie here on a Monday night for $1. Concessions were cheap too. While I'm sure the audience loved the low prices, the owner would have done better to raise them and invest in keeping the place in good repair.

By the way, the Flagship Cinemas in Quincy Center last month changed their ticket price to $2.50 at all times. But they still don't advertise in the Globe, so who's going to know about it? I hope they know what they're doing, but it looks like a desperate move to me.

I believe that the Wollaston is an historical site, therefore they should be able to get low interest loans in order to fix the inside, as I've stated before Mr. Chandler has been saying for years that he is in fact fixing the inside, which of course is not true. Its really a shame because there are several elderly housing complexes in the area and the seniors enjoyed going to a local theater, since many of them do not drive.

As for the Flagship Cinema in Quincy Center, yes the do only charge $2.50 but the movies that are shown are already out on dvd. So although it is cheaper to pay $2.50 then to rent the dvd I would still rather view the movie in my own home if it is out on dvd. I haven't been to a movie there recently but my son has and he says the inside is disgusting.

Only the exterior of the Wollaston is a listed as historically significant - not the interior, so loans for the interior may not be available, and if they are, they are still LOANS and loans cost money. Either way, I've heard the building has major structural issues that would take a great deal of money to repair.

Renovating a theater is not as simple as some people may think it is. It is a huge and expensive undertaking that does not always pay off financially. Once the theater is open, business needs to meet certain levels, and you have to have a good film booker to know what will play well.

Criticize the owner all you want, but he probably doesn't have the money to renovate and yet doesn't want to give up the theater either. People have no idea what variables there are in situations like this; you can say 'what a shame' or 'why don't they do something about it' but you can't really know the circumstances unless you are the owner.

I never said I personally knew Mr. Chandler, nor do I know what his financial situation is, however, he does OWN the entire block that the theater is located on. He also didn't have a problem getting a low interest LOAN to repair the marquee.

Furthermore, I assumed this site was for opinions, which mine was. I do not appreciate your "tone" I never said I knew what Mr Chandler's intentions were or are, but yes it is "a shame" that he continues to lie to whomever questions him about the status of the theater. If you were to meet him outside the theater today HE would tell you that he is in the process of doing renovations.

Whoa, taking my comments way too personally.

I looked up the Wollaston Theatre on the Quincy Patriot Ledger's web site, and found these articles:

Juen 10, 2003: Owner Arthur Chandler said yesterday that fixing a leaking roof is a slow process, and said he didn't have a timeline for the theater's opening. "We're still trying to make headway," Chandler said. (Most of this article is actually about the reopening of the Flagship Cinemas.)

August 12, 2002: "Just the ticket: THEY LOVE The Wolly". The article describes the joys of visiting this theatre on dollar nights, complete with 10-cent coffees, 55-cent popcorn, and 60-cent candy bars. But it also points out the lack of air-conditioning as well as "the rows of roped off seats, leaky ceiling patches and peeling paint".

September 27, 2000: Mazel Tov also to the same players n and other politicians n who've transformed Wollaston Center and Quincy Center from near seedy to near beautiful in recent years. They've creatively used block grants, private donations and even outright giveaways such as last year's "non-repayable loan" for $60,000 to Wollaston Theater owner Arthur Chandler n to successfully spur business owners to spruce-up their properties.

Ron: I had no idea that the loan Mr Chandler received to fix the marquee didn't have to be repayed, not that its any of my business. But, Mr. Chandler's other excuse for not fixing the marquee in the first place was because "it was costing so much to renovate the inside" Makes no sense to me. At the moment the only decent part of the theater IS the marquee, the rest of the front is still a mess, including the movie poster for "ELF" which has been up for ever.

If you call the theatre's answering machine at 617-773-4600, you will hear this message:

"We're still working on what has to be done. We're hoping to reopen soon and we thank you for checking on us. Thank you."

The message hasn't changed in months.

My friends and I spent many Friday nights at the Wollaston theater and I have a lot of fond memories of it.

The last time I viewed a movie there was probably some time in the 1980's and it was a less then pleasent experience. The paint was peeling from the walls, a whole bunch of seats were either missing or blocked off and the whole building smelled of mold and mildew from the leaky ceiling.

It's a shame that it is in the state that it's in, but I can't believe that it would be cost effective to renovate it. The only hope for the theater is if some rich patron comes along and restores it as a labor of love.

- Al
http:\\www.carnali.com

A photo from early 2004:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/italiangerry/Cinemas/WollastonQuincyMA.jpg

I last visited the Wollaston in 2002. Yes, the paint was peeling off the walls and ceiling and the place smelled of mold. But, I recall it being exactly the same way in the 80's as I was growing up. The side rows of seats have been roped off for years. The bottom line is, the Wollaston will need much work to rehab the interior, but it really hasn't deteriorated much (at least to the naked eye) in the past 20 years or so. It is my opinion that the Wollaston is not nearly a "lost cause". Fixing the roof and doing some cosmetic work would probably go a long way. The place hasn't seen a new coat of paint in the past 25 years, at least.

I have heard from credible sources that there are severe structural problems with the back wall of this theater - meaning any renovation/reuse would be very cost prohibitive. I doubt that there is much money to be made in second run movies at this location; the best bet would be if a donor or community group tried to save the theater.

Ian,
You are right on. Surely, any profits made from second-run flicks or "dollar nights" would not even begin to cover the costs of an extensive renovation. If there are indeed severe structural issues, then this is a different story entirely. It is obvious that Mr. Chandler does not have the resources available to make this a viable venue once again, so we can only hope for another solution!

617-773-4600 has been "temporarily disconnected".

If anyone passes by the theatre, could you report on what it now looks like? Does it have any signs, are the windows boarded up, etc.

The City of Quincy conducted an extensive Historical and Architectural Survey in 1986.

It includes this photo, which shows the marquee advertising "Jour of Natty Gann", "Family Adventure", and "Nitemare Elm St 2". I cannot find the second film in the Internet Movie Database, but the other two came out in 1985.

This page has the Survey's detailed description of the theatre and its surroundings. I'll quote briefly from it:

"The Wollaston Theatre is a well-loved aspect of Wollaston community life and every effort should be made to insure its preservation. It was built as a 1259-seat legitimate theatre at a cost of $90,000 in 1926. The original owner was W. W. Wilson, a Wollaston realtor, but he sold it to the well-known contractor Edward H. Sears, who had actually built the building, by 1932. The architect for the building is listed as "James Tucker" which may be James A. Tuck of Boston. In between 1930 and 1935, the structure was converted to a movie theatre. In an amazing example of longevity of ownership, the Sears retained the theatre until 1977 when they sold it to the present owner, Arthur Chandler."

Follow the link to read more.

"The Great Entertainment" hosted by Frank Avruch used the Wollaston Theatre as his backdrop when he intro'd and spoke about the movie that was playing..I believe on Channel 56 or maybe Channel 5.

And according to this page, the theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Ron, I walked by the Wollaston yesterday. Nothing's going on. Doors are locked, no boards or signs in the windows....but the poster for "Catch Me If You Can" is still up, believe it or not!

I worked at this site in 1953. Managers name was McDermott. Nice neighborhood theater. I think it was an ATC house.

Even though the name of the theater on this website is spelled different, I think the photos are of this theater.

When the Wollaston first opened, it was home to the Al Lurtringer stock company on stage. I went there occasionally in the 1940s and 1950s, it was a well-patronized Nabe in those days. Sometime in the 1960s there was a live booking- "Vaudeville Revue" starring George Jessell and Tiny Tim. Also, occasional "Amateur Nights" on stage,plus lots of 2nd-run films. It closed in March 2003. It's a short easy walk from Wollaston Station on the Red Line. Parking in the area is a real problem. There used to be a huge free lot across from the theatre's south sidewall, but it's full of buildings now. Too much development there ! I, too, think that it once was an ATC house. The Regent Theatre was nearby, on the east side of Hancock Street, half way between Wollaston Theatre and the North Quincy High School. It closed in the mmid- or late- 1950s and the building was converted to commercial use. The Quintree Drive-in was on Quincy Avenue halfway up the hill as you head south from the shipyard. Quirk Chevrolet is there now. The screen was about where their buildings are, and you parked on the slope between Quincy Avenue and the screen. Saw a few flicks there as a kid.

Here are a few more facts about the Wollaston, from notes written by the late J. Paul Chavanne: Architect was Edwin H. McEwan. It opened on Sept 5, 1927, with 2 movies and a singer on stage. It had a 2-manual Wicks organ which is still there. The name of the stock company which was in residence there was Al Luttringer's stock company. There were about 1100 seats, all on one floor.

Great comments Ron....if you have any other comments on the Regent, Quintree, Strand or any other Quincy area theaters could you post to their sites? I'm quite interested in getting some info on these theaters but have not had any responses to my listings yet. Thanks!!

One of the members above mentions a theatre on Washington Street which he thought was named Publix. This is the Lincoln Theatre, orginally the Casino, and dating to WW I years. It was on the right side of Washington St., halfway between Southern Artery and the Fore River Bridge. It was a typical Nabe, but I never went there as a kid, as it was too far. But all the kids in Quincy Point loved it. I think it closed around 1960 or so. For an overview of Quincy theatres see the Quincy Patriot-Ledger of April 30, 1962 which ran a long historical/nostalgic type of article. There was a theatre on the 2nd floor of the building on the west side of Hancock Street opposite Cottage Avenue, the building whose 2nd floor is faced with white brick. It later was Remick's Dept. Store for many years. I think the theatre up there was called the Music Hall, but it was long before my time. The Wollaston is the last survivor of all of the Quincy theatres.

"Lost Memory" 's posting of Sept 20 2005 is definitely the Wollaston Theatre, even though the name is not spelled correctly. The man in the photo is the owner, Arthur Chandler.

I grew up in the Wollaston Beach area and in the late '40s and early '50s I attended "The Wolly" many Saturday afternoons. It was only a quarter for a double feature. Some of my friends (but not me!) used to nick an apple or two from Louie the Gyp's fruit stand next door on the way into the theater. Later, as a teenager, the theaters in Quincy Square (the Strand et al) and the Quintree held more appeal, but now and then I still patronized the Wolly on Friday nights.

There is an interesting legend about the Wollaston Theater that I heard when I worked for Howard Johnson's (didn't we all, at one time or another?). In the late '20s a play by Eugene O'Neill (maybe "Long Day's Journey...") was to open in Boston but was banned. The producer's search for an alternate venue led to the Wollaston Theater, because it had a stage, as did most movie theaters back then, and was only a block or so from the NYNH&H railroad depot (now the Wollaston "T" station). Thus Boston theater patrons who might want to see a new O'Neill play (and who among them wouldn't?) could easily reach the theater. Located at the Wollaston depot was a drug store and soda fountain owned by one Howard Johnson. As the legend goes, the Bostonians who journeyed to exotic Wollaston were so taken by his ice cream that they spread its fame far and wide, thus paving the way for his expansion. Well, that's the legend - I can only verify the location of the depot and the original HoJo's. Maybe someone in the area could research it further...

The story is correct except that it wasn't at the Wollaston, it was at the Quincy Theatre in Quincy Center. Here's a Patriot Ledger article about the play and Howard Johnson.

I just found this site and am so excited to be able to log on and comment on the Wollaston Theater. I approached Arthur Chandler in the summer of 2002 about using his theater for my wedding. It took a lot of convincing but he finally allowed it. And we were married there November 2002. It was fantastic. I was more than dissapointed to learn it had closed. I know they could barely make ends meet. Since I was a little girl I loved that theater, my grandmother used to take me there. I too have a dream of restoring it and owning it someday. The theater is in disrepair, but it has great bones and is a historic building, so I believe the city can't rip it down unless it is condemned. I noticed on this site that there is a federal grant program to restore old theaters. Would anyone on this site be willing to help me try to convince Mr. Chandler that we should go forward with this? They are a sweet older couple, with no children, and most of the people working there did it for free or peanuts. I don't think they have anyone willing to help them out. I think the Wolly deserves a 2ns chance. ANYONE up for a challenge????

Marl

If he's willing to sell the property, there's a chance that the theatre can be revived. What do you think the chances for that happening are?

Arthur Chandler has always said 'no' emphatically to any offers to buy the theater so far. As some have mentioned, he is not easy to approach on the subject.

It's not a "help them out" situation. Reviving the theatre can only be done when the owner wants to do it. In this case, I'm afraid the owner hasn't shown good faith efforts.

Some recent photos of the (still-closed) Wollaston Theatre

Arthur Chandler and his wife are in their mid to late 70s now and may not want to be tied to the running of the theater any more. I pass through Wollaston Center on foot on my way to the Red Line on a regular basis, and I see them having breakfast at Barry's which is across the street from the Wolly. I believe they are there every morning.

There WERE repairs done to the inside of the Wolly, but continued leakage from the roof undid some of this work, which was painfully slow. For a long time there was scaffolding inside the theater.

I saw movies there from 1993 until it closed in 2003. The seats were roped off because Mr. Chandler didn't want to have to clean the whole 1100 seat theater when the audience was only 200. (I asked him about this.)

I did see the theater full one time in this period. I believe it was for the dollar night showing of Toy Story. It was quite a sight. The theater was full of kids.

The Theater initially closed because of flooding in the basement caused when the fill tap to the boiler was accidentally left on for several days.

I still haven’t seen “Catch Me If You Ca” or “Elf”. We used to go on dollar nights coming straight from the Red Line. We used to sneak in Crab Rangoons from Mascot Chef or a tin of cashews from CVS. We bought sodas in the theater, and sometimes had popcorn instead. It was a lot of fun. We see maybe 1-2 movies/year now. It was a big loss.

Before we knew Arthur Chandler’s name, we called him Mr. Brown, because his entire wardrobe is brown – brown slacks, brown plaid shirt, and brown cardigan.

The Thomas Crane Public Library's website "Quincy Historic and Architectural Survey" (a wonderful but poorly maintained resource) has info on the Wolly at http://ci.quincy.ma.us/tcpl/htm/house9.htm

I am glad I am not the only person who misses Wollaston Theatre. The closing of the theatre was a huge loss to the area. Hopefully repairs will be completed. The owner could add to the proftis by renting the theatre out to theatre groups. You would think the city politians would work to get it reopened.

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Wollaston Theatre on Beale St. in Quincy has a facade photo taken in April 1941. There was a vertical blade sign above the marquee. Attractions, in white letters on a black background, were "Strawberry Blonde" and "Play Girl". Attached to the bottom edge of the marquee was a cloth banner stating that Blue Orchid Dinnerware was available with admission tickets. ("Dish Night") To the immediate right of the theatre's one-story entrance block was a building with at least 2 or 3 stories. That building has been gone for awhile. The Report states that the Wollaston has been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that the Condition is Good; and that it has 1259 seats, all on one floor.

Wollaston has always been a vibrant little shopping district, with some well maintained shops and good delicatessans. It is a safe and pleasant neighborhood with a convenient subway station. I went to the Wollaston Theatre several times as a kid, as I lived in nearby Milton. I vividly remember going here about 1957 (while six years of age) to see Disney's "Old Yeller" and all the seats were taken except for the first two rows. Quite a good memory, don't you think? I also liked seeing The Beatles in "Help!" about 1966, a year after it was first released downtown. It would be nice for this cinema to reopen in some fashion. Places like this in older neighborhoods deserve some kind of tax abatement or preservation funds, as they are assets to the community that help to keep the streets from being deserted at night.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989

Wollaston Theatre (added 1989 - Building - #89001315)
14 Beale St., Quincy
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: McEwan,E.H.
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Community Planning And Development
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

I disagree slightly with ScottNorwood. There isn't a big chandelier, but many small ones.

I was in Quincy 2 weeks ago and there were 2 storefronts of the 4 open. I went to the right (to the auditorium, the building is shaped like an "L") and saw a broomstick handle propping the door open. Looks like there was a wafery wood substance on the whole exterior of the door. The door opened (it was Sunday and nobody was around the adjacent parking lot or stores across the street). It was cold and dark. There was water damage in the ceiling and from what I could see with my strong bicycle light, there were 4 mini-chandeliers. I didn't see the seats roped off, but it looked like there were many intact, in 3 sections. Couldn't see the booth but there didn't look like there was a balcony. No ornate items at all. The space between the first row and the pit was about 20-25 feet. The pit was probably an orchestra pit and was about 5 feet deep and full of debris. The screen was still intact, albeit with a few rips in it.

Doesn't sound at all good that the door was open and unlocked and you were able to just walk in unnoticed. Is the owner totally abandoning this property?

Well, it was propped, but the door was closed. I replaced the stick against the door from the inside, not to alert anyone.

I'm glad you were able to look around, but if you were able to wander in like that, so could someone else with less benign intentions. I do not want to open my morning paper and learn that the place has burned down.

The owner may have been in another room and planning on leaving by the exit found propped open, or maybe had stepped out for a coffee and wanted to come back via the side door. Either way, thanks for relaying the imformation on the condition inside. Someday, somone will buy the place and convert it to a restaurant, or something similar.

My friends and I lived for Sat mornings to call the answering machine at the "New"Wollaston theatre
to find out what was playing for the matinee,I sent my brother a photo from a link on this site and he immediately remembered this - The film "Spartacus is showing and during the scene where the Romans ask the assembled slaves "Which one is Spartacus"? the whole theatre of preadolescent (mostly) boys stood as one and shouted "I am Spartacus",,"I am Spartacus"...good times...!

shoeshoe14 was correct in his observations- there is no balcony in the Wollaston Th. There is an orchestra pit, with a small organ console in it. The projection booth is high up on the rear wall. While I don't think I saw "Spartacus" at the Wollaston, I did see other movies there in the 1940s-50s and the theatre was very well patronized and popular.

It's a shame that the theater is closed. I blogged about it here.

http://analisfirstamendment.blogspot.com/2007/03/wollaston-theatre-local-treasure.html

My blog post was picked up by Universal Hub here.
http://www.universalhub.com/node/7956

Saw "Jurassic Park" here as a kid, more than likely 3rd or 4th run. Not particularly impressive - could be nice if restored, it seems. But I gather this odds are firmly stacked against that right now?

This is a recent view of the Wollaston marquee.

That's so sad to see. Is there any news about this theatre, or any signs posted on or around it by the owner?

Does the theater's entry on the Historic Register protect it from destruction as a theater?

I spoke with the Mayor recently about preservation and he was at least sympathetic about the cause. I'm in favor of some sort of community intervention to force the issue to preserve this gem for Wollaston and the greater Quincy and Boston communities.

A new mayor, Koch, was elected on Nov. 6th. I understand that he is also supportive of the reopening of the Wollaston Th.

What does he plan to do to make this happen?

This is 3rd-hand hearsay, but I was told that during the fall campaign he stated, or wrote, that he favored the theatre becoming a local performing-arts facility.

In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. Dec 15 2007, there is an article "Can Theater Make a Comeback?" by John P. Kelly which mentions Quincy Mayor-elect Tom Koch's campaign pledge to restore the Wollaston Theatre (the "Wolly") into a local performing arts theatre. An obstacle to this plan is "the theater's biggest devotee: owner Arthur Chandler". Chandler, 79, is quoted as saying "I plan to do things my way until I retire". He has applied for Federal grants to repair the building. The reporter made a tour of the theatre and found a notice on the ticket office which seems to indicate that "Catch Me if You Can" was the last movie to play there, in March 2003. He found a heap of popcorn still in the popper, plus mice-chewed Raisenet packages. Also, no heat, crumbling plaster, worn carpeting, fallen ceiling tiles. He says that the screen measures 18' X 39". Mr. Chandler has received a letter from Mayor-elect Koch but has not yet replied to it, but said that he would meet with Koch "when the time comes". The article also has a large photo of the Wolly's marquee with the title of the article cleverly posted on it. The sub-head of the article reads "Koch's vision of a restored 'Wolly' as a cultural center holds nostalgic appeal for many, but its owner has other ideas." That about sums the situation up.

Thanks, Ron. Here's a link to the article.

One question not asked: Is the building's condition now so poor that the city could justify taking it by eminent domain?

The owner-operator of the Wollaston Th., Arthur Chandler, passed away in Quincy on April 23rd, age 77.

Does he have children? Who does the ownership of the theatre revert to now?

Arthur Chandler's widow Yvonne is the co-owner of the Wollaston Th. According to the obit in the Patriot Ledger, they have no children.

Can you link to the obit, or is it only in the paper edition? How old is Yvonne?

http://www.legacy.com/SouthOfBoston-Ledger/DeathNotices.asp?Page=SearchResults&DateRange=Today&Product=0

I googled on "Arthur Chandler Quincy"

Yvonne Chandler is 79. It appears they did not have any children. I spoke to her about 5 years ago - she seemed to think she know me. I was left the impression that her memory was not very good. In fact she said something about her memory not being what it used to be.

And, if she's reading this page? The lady just became a widow and now she has to read that?

Let's be considerate and hold off talking about the owner's death, inheritance, and so forth, for a little while.

Howard, I totally agree. This circling of vultures is unseemly.

Sometime in the recent past, probably the 1980s, the owner of the Wollaston Theater (perhaps Mr. Chandler) stated, in effect, "Ratings be damned!" and announced that henceforth he would not enforce the policy that prohibited persons under 18 (or whatever the age is) from viewing "R" rated films. I think there was a notice to that effect posted outside the theater. It caused something of a tempest in the local teapot, although the owner was only stating outright what many other theater owners had been doing tacitly. If it was in fact Mr Chandler, then I admire him for his bold assault on the latter-day Puritanism of the rating system, and it should be remembered as part of his legacy. Perhaps someone else knows more about this, and can confirm, deny, or elucidate the story.

My apologies. I did not intend to be a 'circling vulture' in any way. Just trying to get some idea what the next chapter of this theatre's history is likely to be.

I think the real question is whether she's going to want to deal with this issue at all.

The Chandlers seemed to have a nice life together. It's going to be tough for her to soldier on alone.

If a relative of mine passed away, I'd hate to see such comments blogged anywhere on the Internet!

Anybody who wants to see the theater reopened is free to directly lobby government authorities to see if they can make an offer.

Blogging about someone's loss of her husband....once the news was posted, really seems cruel.

It's been a well publicized issue with City Hall for decades.

Here's an article about the whole issue:

http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x792858604

Has anybody seen a realty sign on the building?

Regarding Mr. Chandler's refusal to enforce ratings, I don't think it was done out of some noble response to the absurdity of the ratings system. I remember that he adopted this policy in the mid 80s after becoming increasingly frustrated by insubordinate teens who would cuss him out and threaten violence when refused admission to a film. In fact, part of his policy was to charge higher admission to teenagers because he actually wanted to discourage them from coming to the theater. This policy was covered in one of the local newspapers around the time it was introduced. (Maybe, the Herald? I remember an accompanying picture of Mr. Chandler throwing his hands in the air. "What else could I do?")

I am sorry to learn of Mr. Chandler's passing. His theater provided me with some of my most cherished film experiences in the 70s and 80s and I hope that there is some way it can be restored to its former semi-glory. Sticky floors and $.10 coffee!

There is no realty sign that I have noticed. The four store fronts that are part of the theatre building continue to have tenants, including Quincy Lock, which just moved in recently from around the corner.

It's interesting how a small, simple building begins to look so much better through the perspective of time with it's charming marquee and location in a downtown neighborhood, and the fact that most of it's peers have been torn down throughout New England.

I wish the neighborhood movie theatres in my area were still in existance. I'm sure Wollaston appreciates the place much more now than in the past.

Anyone hear any recent news on the theater?

I walk by it once per week or so and would love to see it restored.

I have heard on the gossip grapevine that at least one party has expressed interest in taking over the Wolly and restoring it as a perf. arts center. I don't know how accurate or well-founded that news is.

For a look inside the Wollaston, made about one month before Arthur died, check out our "A Tale of Two Cinemas":

http://www.castparty.com/cinemas.html

That is a depressing video in light of both the state of the theater and Arthur Chandler's passing.

I like the way the video constantly cuts back and forth between the Coolidge Corner and the Wollaston, illustrating the contrast between one of the few old theaters which has managed to remain viable, and the great majority of old theaters which have ended up on history's trash heap.

November 2, 2008

The Wollaston Theater has come up for sale, following the passing of its owner, Arthur Chandler. Built in 1927, the theater has been in serious disrepair for years.

I have begun an email campaign asking the city of Quincy to purchase the property to keep it from becoming another condo complex in the city. The renovation would be a perfect project for the kids at the city's Voc-Tech school. Once restored it could be used for all types of community based activities- high school theater, dance recitals, community theater, and family movie house.

Please join me in emailing Quincy's mayor, Tom Koch, requesting the city's intervention to SAVE WOLLASTON THEATER.
Thanks!

The video that Justin posted is just outright sad! I grew up in Wollaston, and couldn't even begin to count the number of times I went to "Buck night" at the "Wolly". It didn't even matter what was playing! I can remember when "Jurassic Park" finally made it to the Wolly (Nearly a year after it's original release, IIRC), the lines was almost down to CVS.

I saw the for sale signs. I hope someone resurrects it, because it was a wonderful part of the community.

The video was sad. Mr. Chandler looked older than I remembered.

RE: the posting above of Nov. 2 - I have heard that Quincy Mayor Koch has been in favor of preserving the Wollaston Th. and doing something with it, but, as always, it is a question of $$$$$$$.

Justin, I just watched your excellent piece. Although i've never set foot inside the Wollaston theater, I always HATE to see community theaters fall from grace as this one did. Here's hoping that the city of Quincy can figure out a way to restore this wonderful little theater to it's former glory!

Well....hate to get TOO political here, but maybe, just maybe, if we'd get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, there'd be more money for such things as the renovation of some of the graceful old movie palaces that used to dot the United States landscape overall, including the Wollaston Theatre.

Took the advice above and sent an email to Mayor Koch. He actually replied and stated the Mayor's office is currently working with a potential buyer to preserve/restore the theatre. Anyone hear the same or have any details?

Yes, I heard a few weeks ago that there was a potential buyer, but I have no details.

I found out that the theater is under agreement for sale and I will be following up. I wrote an update on my blog.

http://analisfirstamendment.blogspot.com/2008/11/wollaston-theatre-update.html

I last saw Arthur Chandler in our shop in South Boston, Major Theatre Equipment. He was in to buy carbons for his his arc projector, it must have been around 2002, prior to that he would come in on a regular basis. I was sorry to hear of his passing he was a nice guy. The equipment in the Wolly goes way back, I know we replaced the screen years ago. The projector is carbon arc and I have no idea what type of sound system is in there.
Arthur had told me that the boiler needed to be replaced and that he was working on the roof the last time I saw him.
I grew up in North Quincy and would really hate to see the Wolly go the way of the wrecking ball. We have been involved in dozens of renovations on old theatres, the ones that seem to be doing the best are the ones that are set up to show movies as well as do live performances. Most of the old Vaudeville type theatres had fully functional stages with overhead rigging. As time passed and many of them were converted to movie theatres, They would build a frame in the proscenium opening and install a projection screen and some side maskings, all of the old rigging and many times the scenery would be falling down behind the screens.
If the Wolly could be renovated as a multi-use space, I think it would do very well.

Second act for Wollaston?

"According to a broker handling the property, a group of individuals and organizations involved in the arts has signed a purchase and sale agreement with the estate of Arthur Chandler. Chandler, who died in April, had owned the theater since 1979 and operated it until its closing in 2003."

Thanks for the link. Great news, local community arts related folks are the potential buyers for a change. It should be noted that the posted Boston Globe link also includes a recent picture. A bit deceiving that an 1100 seat theatre exists behind that small facade. But the article claims the sale includes several storefronts, so the auditorium and such must run sideways behind them all. Instead of straight back and up. Since no large auditorium building is visible behind the facade. Only a chimney.

You can tell from the ornamentation within the brickwork over the storefronts, that it was likely all built as one. Thanks again.

David- the Wollaston Th. auditorium does run sideways. From the street you enter the lobby and walk straight ahead to the foyer at the rear of the orchestra floor, then you turn right to face the stage and screen. There is no balcony, but there is a fairly high ceiling. There is also an elevated brick stage-house; it's down to the right of the photo.

As of today, January 29, 2009, the sale is still pending. I wrote a short update on my blog.

http://analisfirstamendment.blogspot.com/2009/01/take-3-wollaston-theatre-news.html

According to a front-page article in the Quincy Patriot Ledger for Feb. 26, 2009, a real estate development firm called Street-Works Development Group of New York has made an offer to the Wolly's owner, Mrs. Chandler, and this offer was acceptable. Street-Works has projects in Quincy center and they were approached by Mayor Koch with the suggestion that they get involved with the theater. Street-Works is evaluating the condition of the building. Mrs. Chandler's attorney says that a deal is "very close".

I'm crossing my fingers this will work out.

If anyone is looking for a couple exterior photos of the theater you can check my blog, "Quincy Daily Photo" and search the label "movie theaters": http://quincydailyphoto.blogspot.com/search/label/Movie%20theaters

Also there is more information about the Wollaston Theater in a database called the "Quincy MA Historical and Architectural Survey" which you can get to at the Thomas Crane Public Library website: http://thomascranelibrary.org/htm/487.htm

The year given for this photo is 1983.

The Wollaston Theater has been sold:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/06/the_wolly_downtown_quincy_landmark_may_get_a_makeover.html

Here's more on the latest restoration efforts:

http://www.wollastontheater.com/

I wish the members of "Save the Wolly" all the best of luck in their endeavors and work in renovating this cool-sounding movie theatre.

The Quincy Patriot Ledger of July 1st covered this story. The developer working in Quincy Center, Street-Works LLC, set up an entity called Wollaston Theatre Development Associates to purchase the theater. The deal apparently went through because this info was gleaned from the Norfolk Country Registry of Deeds. The article says that "The overall plan is to revive the theater as a place that can host movie screenings, concerts and stage performances." The new Wollaston Theatre Foundation will lead the restoration effort. The purchase price, down payment and mortgage amount are also listed at the Registry.

A couple of times recently I have seen the architect of the Wollaston listed as one "James Tuck" or "James Tucker". Whereas the architect listed at Theatre Historical Society and on the national register is Edwin McEwan. Who is James Tucker?? Some theaters had 2 architects- one who designed the building, and the other who designed the theatre inside. Perhaps that was the case here.

The "Patriot Ledger Archives" column in the Quincy Patriot Ledger yesterday reprinted a small ad for the Wollaston Th. from the Ledger of Sept. 17, 1934. "last time today" were "Murder in the Private Car" and "Let's Talk it Over". Starts Sunday for 4 days: Shirley Temple in "Baby, Take a Bow" plus "Most Precious Thing in Life". There were Matinees at 1:45PM and Evening shows at 7PM, with last complete show at 915PM. Only on Sundays were there continuous shows, beginning at 2PM. When I lived in Quincy in the 1940s and 1950s,there were continuous shows at all the theaters. You entered the theater whenever you wanted. 2-plus hours later when some familiar scenes appeared, you said "This is where I came in" and left. Today, most people prefer to be seated at the beginning of the movie.

I was just at the theatre the other day and it has contact information listed as an email address for Key Realty.

Given the information from the posts above, esp. the more recent ones, I'll try to see what I can learn.

I love this building. Its gorgeous and I can't wait to see it restored. Here is a shot from the inside I took at some point over the past year.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3792976205_8edfe15541_o.jpg

This article appeared in today's Patriot Ledger. One has to wonder what's going on with Streetworks. I hope things don't take an ugly turn over the course of the next year.

I'll see what I can learn over the next two weeks about the project and about StreetWorks LLC.

One of my earliest memories is the rainy afternoon that I saw a Christmas/Santa Movie at the Wollaston Theater. Myself, Mom and my 5 yr old sister, Eileen. I was 3 and a half at the time. The movie was about how Santa Claus got kidnapped by an evil (gang) or some wierd crook(?) and there were "not going to be any presents this year", as Santa had said on the previews/commercials for that movie.

I only (really) remember one small scene of the movie. Santa, with his head tilted forward, was listening to this giant 'Ear' type machine. Through the big Ear-contraption, Santa could hear all of the children from around the world, if they were good (or not) and exactly what the children wanted for toys, on that particular Christmas. It is strange what visions 'stick in your mind' to become actual (real) memories. Like an old black and white polaroid in your head that you can 'pull out' and revisit, time and time again.
The other memory seems much smaller and insignificant. Though, I knew, at the actual time, it was huge. Now, when I look back, however, I realize that it was one of those 'defining moments' that actually mold a person, somehow. I remember standing out by the front curb (was it Billings Road?) at Beale St. My Dad had just dropped off my Mom, Eileen and I across the street, quickly, in traffic. He rushed back, in the VW Beetle, to Beach St. (home) to closely moniter the old black and white TV, which they both had been watching with full attention, earlier.
I had made it over the curb, even remembered that one tiny scene in the movie. I do not recall anything else about that day. The significance of it. I do remember that the way I saw things, from then forward, were always a little bit different. Some how everything was different after that day. My little world changed that afternoon. That day that I learned that even Santa, himself, could get kidnapped and that Mommies and Daddies actually CAN cry (and sometimes do cry). My world was a bit colder. A little sadder. Things were not quite the same after that November afternoon in 1963.

If anyone recalls the name of the movie that was playing at the Wolly Theater, on November 22, 1963, please email me here or at mkilcommins@aol.com

I enjoyed reading the memories of that old theater. This magical place has touched so many lives, many hearts, and made many wonderful memories. I am 49, now, and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with my own children. Every annual trip back to Milton, I always find time to see that beautiful old theater in Wollaston.....

Michael Cummings, Jr.

One of my earliest memories is the rainy afternoon that I saw a Christmas/Santa Movie at the Wollaston Theater. Myself, Mom and my 5 yr old sister, Eileen. I was 3 and a half at the time. The movie was about how Santa Claus got kidnapped by an evil (gang) or some wierd crook(?) and there were "not going to be any presents this year", as Santa had said on the previews/for that movie.

I only (really) remember one small scene of the movie. Santa, with his head tilted forward, was listening to this giant 'Ear' type machine. Through the big Ear-contraption, Santa could hear all of the children from around the world, if they were good (or not) and exactly what the children wanted for, toys that particular Christmas. It is strange what visions 'stick in your mind' to become actual (real) memories. Like an old black and white polaroid in your head that you can 'pull out' and revisit, time and time again.

The other memory seems much smaller and insignificant. Though, I knew, at the actual time, it was huge. Now, when I look back, however, I realize that it was one of those 'defining moments' that actually mold a person, somehow. I remember standing out by the front curb (was it Billings Road?) at Beale St. My Dad had just dropped off my Mom, Eileen and I across the street, quickly, in traffic. He rushed back, in the VW Beetle, to Beach St. (home) to closely moniter the old black and white TV, which they both had been watching with full attention, earlier. (As I was told years later).

My memory was that Wollaston Square looked like a huge and scary and grey City (like when we would take the trains in to Filene's Basement, in Boston). I recall holding my Mom and Eileen by the hand and that, I had stopped right before the front of the marquee, while still in the street. My memory is of staring at the water running down the street, by the curb (which seemed about as high as a 2 foot wall). My Mom was gently tugging at my hand, which was warmly-clasped in hers. "Come on Mikey, up", Mom pleaded in a cracked voice. I did not budge even though Eileen pulled my other hand, again and again, while pleading; "Hurry, we're going to miss the start of the movie"! I knew I was not going to make it over that curb and the flowing rain water. Something was definetly wrong. Something very sad in my Mom's voice. I did not recognize her tone. I had never heard her voice like that, ever. A very deep uneasy feeling suddenly seized me. I tilted my head up to look at Mom. My Mom had water coming down from her eyes, like the water that flowed in the street, as if a thin stream, by the curb. Suddenly, like a wave on the beach, It hit me and only many years later I figured out. I had never seen tears in my Mom's blue eyes before that very afternoon. Mom's patient eyes were always a beautiful blue. Now they were reddish and sad. I had never seen my Mom with so much hurt and sadness. So much pain.

I had made it over the curb, even remembered that one tiny scene in the movie. I do not recall anything else about that day. The significance. I do remember that the way I saw things, from then forward, were always a little bit different. Some how everything was different after that day. My little world changed that afternoon. That day that I learned that even Santa, himself, could get kidnapped and that Mommies and Daddies actually CAN cry (and sometimes do cry). My world was a bit colder. A little more sad. Things were not quite the same after that November afternoon in 1963.

If anyone recalls the name of the movie that was playing at the Wolly Theater, on November 22, 1963, please email me here or at mkilcommins@aol.com

I enjoyed reading the memories of that old theater. This magical place has touched so many lives, many hearts, and made many wonderful memories. I am 49, now, and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with my own children. Every annual trip back to Milton, I always find time to see that beautiful old theater in Wollaston.....

Michael Cummings, Jr.

Michael Cummings Jr- I don't know what flick was playing at the Wollaston on Fri Nov 22, 1963 but it was not raining that day. It was a sunny, mild afternoon. I was on a bus from Fields Corner station to Quincy Center running down Hancock St. right past the Wollaston Th. and recall the news headlines: Patriot Ledger: "Kennedy Assassinated" and Boston Traveler: "JFK Slain". It was a shocking event, even for people who weren't particularly fans of the president.