Circle Cinemas
399 Chestnut Hill Avenue,
Brookline,
MA
02146
9 people favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: National Amusements, Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: W. Chester Browne, J. Frederick Krokyn
Firms: Krokyn & Browne
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Circle Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Aug 28, 2008 — Curtain will close on two cinemas
Located in Brookline in the west of Boston. The Circle Theatre was opened on October 12, 1940 with Ronald Colman in “Lucky Partners” & Pat O'Brien in “Flowing Gold”. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Mullins & Pinansky (M. & P. Theatres). The façade of the theatre sported two marquees, one on each side of the front of the building, although only the one on the right-hand side covered the entrance. Seating in the auditorium was provided in orchestra and balcony levels. Many films (a majority of which were Paramount releases) played the Circle Theatre exclusively in the 1960’s and 1970’s, including “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Rosemary’s Baby”, “Paint Your Wagon”, “Love Story” (which ran for 26 weeks), “Chinatown” and “Three Days of the Condor”. I remember the print advertisements for the Circle Theatre always included the name of the theatre using the same font as the logo for the film then playing there.
After the theatre was twinned in 1976 and renamed Circle Cinemas (additional screens were added in 1965). It became an unremarkable Showcase multiplex and the Circle Cinemas no longer played films exclusively.
It was closed by National Amusements Inc. on September 7, 2008. Demolition of the building began in January 2016.
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Recent comments (view all 114 comments)
Have been double checking on this. Word is, the theater was purchased a few weeks ago. Just added a photo of the marquee, taken yesterday … “Now Hiring” the “Showcase Superlux and Davios Cucina.”
I suspect the recent re-wording on the main marquee is in relation to the new movie theatre opening in Chestnut Hill. Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the Circle Cinemas site still appears to be proceeding: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2013/05/city_to_host_public_meeting_to.html
One of the “Now Hiring” messages posted on the Circle’s marquee last month was for “Davio’s Cucina”.According to today’s Boston Herald, Davio’s Cucina opened yesterday in Chestnut Hill. It’s a 250-seat upscale eatery and is located right next to the new National Amusement’s Showcase SuperLux theater, and was opened in partnership with National Amusements. So, Davio’s is Not located in the Circle building.
Hello everyone, I’m writing here to announce a new project commemorating the Circle Cinema before the theater, and its iconic CIRCLE sign, meet the wrecking ball later this year. We are collecting memories, photos, and opinions of the sign (positive, negative, indifferent). Please connect with us either through our Facebook page, facebook.com/longlivecirclecinema, where you can read more about our project by clicking on “About,” or through email, .
We are also looking to interview folks with stories to tell. The Brighton Allston Historical Society has agreed to be the repository for whatever we collect.
Thank you!
Is there some way the sign could be saved rather than wrecked with the building?
We would love to see the sign saved. We have had some preliminary conversations with some interested parties, and right now the biggest challenge is to find a suitable home for the sign.
As of September 2014, the Circle Cinema building is still standing.
Demolition began yesterday.
http://www.universalhub.com/2016/they-started-tearing-down-old-circle-cinema-today
opened October 11th, 1940
clipping Circle theatre opening Sat, Oct 12, 1940 – 12 · The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) · Newspapers.com