Granada Theatre

The address for the Granada Theater was:
21 Pleasant St
Malden, MA 02148

What is now on this site?

It's sad to see how many Boston-area suburban towns are now entirely without movie theatres. Waltham, Lexington, Belmont, Arlington, and (of course) Somerville should consider themselves damn lucky.

Doing some research at the local library a couple of years ago on the former Cinema 1 & 2 in Medford Square, I came across some articles about and photographs of the Granada. After the fire Ian mentioned in his initial description, the entrance was cinderblocked. The theatre was a knock-out - the auditorium, the lobby... stunning design within both; its closing and subsequent demolition totaled a true loss. Presently the space is occupied by in some, or perhaps total, portion by offices, all or at least part of are associated with the Malden Public Schools.

There was also - don't remember the name of it - a movie theatre in Everett which operated at least into the late '70s, and perhaps most likely into the early '80s. Does anyone remember the name of it or have any info as to what became of the building which housed it? (What I wouldn't give to get my hands on one of those ads which used to run in The Boston Globe through the early '80s and, once a film entered second-run, listed alphabetically - by city and town, I think - in list format, as opposed to the more common block listings, the theatres where that particular film was then showing in. Most of them were community theatres and I'd love to do the research and find out what became of the ones which closed... which, of course, would be most of them... )

That was the Park Theatre in Everett. I never got there before it closed. In its last years someone tried to revive it as a live stage, but I don't know how long that lasted, or whether the building is still standing today.

If you live in the Boston area, you should be able to get to a library that has the Boston Globe on microfilm, and just pick some random Friday or Saturday with lots of movie ads.

Thanks for that info, Ron. I live in New York but I head back to Boston every few months to visit family who still live in the area. When I have time during one of those trips home, I'll stop by one of the local libraries and see what I can find.

From the Boston Globe archives, December 7, 1980:

Youths throwing rocks and bottles injured three policemen and damaged theaters in Malden and Danvers last night at midnight showings of "The Song Remains the Same," a movie featuring the rock group Led Zeppelin.

At the Granada Theater in Malden, youths caused some $5000 damage as they slashed theater seats and the movie screen and tore radiators out of the floor. Police Sgt. John McCallan said: "They just went wacky. They wanted to raise some hell, and they sure did."

Malden Police called in help from the Metropolitan Police, Medford, Melrose, Everett and State Police departments to empty the theater and break up the groups of roving youngsters. Four of the theatergoers were arrested on charges including being idle and disorderly and assault and battery on a police officer.

Earlier Friday, it was announced that the Led Zeppelin band was breaking up because of the death of the group's drummer, John Bonham. Sgt. McCallan said it was unclear whether the news had prompted the rioting, but pointed out that similar disturbances have erupted in other towns which have held midnight showings of rock movies.

A Boston Globe survey of sub-run theatres, published on September 16, 1982, said that the Granada was a 99-cent theatre at the time. This was the lowest admission price of all the houses listed.

Do you still have access to that article, Ron? What were the other theatres listed?

The other theatres listed in that article (with their current status):

Wellesley Community Playhouse (closed)

Fresh Pond Cinema I & II, Cambridge (later closed for years, then rebuilt and reopened as first-run Entertainment Cinemas 1-10, now Loews Fresh Pond)

North Reading Cinemas 1-2-3 (no idea)

Dedham Cinema 1 & 2 (this is probably the current Dedham Community Theatre)

Somerville Theater (still gloriously open, now with 5 screens)

Regent Cinema, Arlington (still open, but now primarily as a live stage)

Captiol Theater, Arlington (still open, now with 6 screens)

Medford Square 1-2-3 (sadly closed and demolished)

King's Plaza, West Peabody (no idea)

Loring Hall, Hingham (still open)

Cameo Theater, South Weymouth (still open)

Studio Cinema, Belmont (still open)

Brookline Cinema (closed)

Warwick Cinema 1&2, Marblehead (closed)

Westgate Mall, Brockton (no idea)

Cabot Street Cinema, Beverly (still open)

Satuit Playhouse, Scituate (demolished, but replaced last year by the new Mill Wharf Cinemas 1&2 at the same location)

Strand Theater, Ipswich (no idea)

Surf 1&2, Swampscott (no idea)

Milton Cinema (closed)

Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge (now a 5-screen Loews first-run)

West Newton Cinemas (still open)

Randolph Cinemas 1&2 (no idea; probably replaced by or expanded into the current Randolph Showcase megaplex)

Pembroke Cinemas 1&2 (no idea)

Allston Cinemas (closed and demolished)

Queen Anne Cinema, Norwell (no idea)

Thanks for posting that information, Ron - and thank you for giving the time it took to post it. I'll do whatever research I can from here in NYC (i.e., Google), then hopefully have a morning or afternoon to spare in one of the Boston or Cambridge Public Library branches when I'm next in the area. Again, thank you...

I saw "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Risky Business" at the Granada, I was about 14 or 15 at the time. I remember the lobby being fairly small and the walls lined with arcade games like Pac Man and pinball machines. When I saw "Fast Times", there were a few kids rollerskating up and down the isles in the cinema itself, nobody stopped them! It was all kids for customers and the place showed it. There was bubble gum stuck to things, sticky floors and someone did something to some of the toilet seats in the ladies room, the seats would not stay down, as soon as you put the seat down it sprang right back up again.

In regards the the Kings Plaza in West Peabody, was that the drive-in that played X rated films? I have heard stories about a drive-in that showed X films from some of the people at my job (non-theater/movies) but I can't remember the name. Currently I'm on a lay-off (go back 3/1) and will ask about it then.

The Granada Theatre opened in 1929 and had a seating capacity of 2,239. It first closed in 1976 as a single screen cinema and was put up for sale. Obviously the new owners converted it into a triplex.

Grande Theatre was closed sometimes in the early 80's to Mid-80's. I remembered I watched "Friday the 13th" horror movie at Granada Threatre sometimes in the 1981 or 1982 for 99 cents or a dollar. Grande Theatre was about 5-10 minutes drive from my house.

Grande Theatre had two screens. One is upstair (on second floor) and one is on first floor. Sometimes in the 1970's. They added two more screens (2 upstair and 2 on the floor floor). I think the 2 new ones are smaller than the others. It lasts for a few years. I beleive the theatre was closed sometimes in the mid 80's

Wollaston Theater in Quincy, MA looks just like the old Granada Theater. On Tuesdays they even have 1 dollar admission. I think it is taken over by the historical society so it won't be destroyed.

I was in 4th grade when it closed down. I remember walking to the square with a bunch of friends to go drool over Matthew Broderick in Biloxi Blues, but the theater was closed. Just like that. No one told us that it was going to be closed. It was just that sudden. Then it was a trek on the bus to Revere or on the train to Somerville. Ahhh, those where the days.

Scott, are you saying that the Granada was also called the Grande?

Kimee, the Wollaston Theatre did indeed have Tuesday dollar nights, but it have been closed for the past couple of years due to the extremely poor condition of the building. I wish a historical society would take it over, but I've not hear of any such plans.

My mistake. It is Granada Theatre.

Thanks for the remembrances, babyg525, Kimee, and Scott. Can one of you confirm what presently occupies the land where the Granada once stood? The research I've done indicates that it at least in part serves as the home for some (if not all) of the Malden Public Schools administrative offices, but what I've found seems somewhat inconclusive. I trust what Ian wrote in his initial description above, but I seem to remember that the Granada building was gutted for the aforementioned offices; maybe what I remember from that afternoon at the library two years ago and what the reality is are two different things...

A couple of quick updates on theaters mentioned above: The North Reading Cinemas started life as the "New Meadows Cinemas." It had two screens. It later became the "North Reading Cinema." Starting with the two screens it had, it later added a third one upstairs in an existing store room. It was called "The Screening Room." It has long since closed, but the building still exists as office space called "North Park".

The Surf in Swampscott is gone, replaced with condos.

The West Peabody Cinemas began as the "Jerry Lewis Theaters." The owners had big plans for it, and had hoped Jerry himself would come to the opening. He did not. It was part of a chain, advertised as one in which "a husband and wife could run the entire operation." The building later became the Jewish Community Center, and still later was leveled and is now part of the parking lot of the ajacent strip mall.

tO THE PERSON LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE park theatre IN everett i REFER YOU TO A COMMENT i SUBMITTED TO cINEMA tREASURES LISTED UNDER park theatre everett

Having been a projectionist at the Granada, I can tell you that it was a single screen "movie palace" until 1965, when it was closed for renovations and the house was split. A new screen was installed at the foot of what had been the balcony, projected from the original booth. At that time, the Century 35mm projectors were outfitted with 4-track magnetic stereo heads. The new screen had three Altec A-7s behind it, with eight surround speakers around the rest of the house.
The original house had a new booth built under the balcony, outfitted with new Century 35mm/70mm projectors and arc lamphouses. The projectors could run optical mono, 4-track 35mm magnetic or 6-track 70mm prints. There were 5 Altec A-7s behind the screen and 8 surround speakers throughout the house. When the lower house was split at the beginning of the 1980s, the 35mm/70mm projectors were sold to pay for the renovations.

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Granada on Pleasant St. in Malden has a facade photo taken in April 1941. The entrance had a big boxy multi-bulbed marquee with "Granada" in huge letters on its front. The Report states that the theatre had been showing MGM product for over 10 years, that it was over 15 years old; that it was in Good condition, and had seating of: main floor: 1402, Balcony: 829; total seats: 2231. The population of Malden in 1940 was 58,000. There are MGM Reports for 5 other theatres in Malden in 1941: Mystic, Auditorium, Capitol, Orpheum and Strand. Does anyone know if the Grenada was a true "atmospheric" design with a sky ceiling to go with its Spanish Baroque design? Atmospheric theatres were very few in the Greater Boston area.

This website is fascinating overall, and I truly enjoyed (with much sadness and nostalgia thrown in)this segment on the Granada Theater and those who contributed to it. The last two postings are particularly good; the projectionist gives a clear, precise rendering of what was going on. I left Malden and came to Washington, D.C. in 1957, but returned briefly in 1965 when I saw several movies (Failsafe, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, et al)when the theater was still a single screen. According to reports from those who saw films there after, another screen was added as the projectionist so ably points out, and then a third. Without a doubt, it was the finest theater in Malden; the others: the Orpheum, around the corner and across from the Public Library which played
the films just shown at the Granada at a "nice" price; the Mystic further up Pleasant Street which also showed second run films as well as older classics; ditto for the Auditorium a bit further up the street; and on the other side even further up, the Strand which usually showed first-run films which the Granada probably didn't want since they usually were not the "mega hits" (my opinon). I didn't know there was another theater (the Capitol, very tiny) in Suffolk Square until we moved across town to that area. As small and as old and smelly as it was, it still installed a wide CinemaScope screen albeit marred by a dent which occurred when unpacking it! Mr. Salters' posting is extremely informative, and as for his question, No, there was no atmospheric sky ceiling. If there had been, it would have been one more reason for me to gaze around this beautiful theater instead of watching the film, especially when it was shown on the big, wide screen with stereophonic sound. The boxy marquee Ron mentions was replaced in the mid fifties by a two-sided one with white background and black letters. About that time, also, the theater stopped using custom-made movie posters with 3-dimensional gold glitter letters in favor of the "standard" posters we're all familiar with. This theater was particularly impressive if one entered from the small side-street box office which led to the front side of the balcony section. From there, one could see the full house, orchestra, balcony and all the people engaged in watching a film. Good old days? Why not!

A footnote: I just saw the map which purports to show where the Granada stood. Actually, that would be the location of the Orpheum Theater at the junction of Pleasant, Main and Salem Streets. This at one time was my favorite theater (as a child) since it generally showed a double feature (some new, some old) with previews, cartoons,news, the whole works for a children's price of 12 cents plus penny candy; if you remember that, you're at least as old as I!

Reading the above, I have to wonder where the people of Malden go for entertainment now. Not only are there no movie theatres at all remaining in Malden, there are also none in any of the surrounding towns. (Stoneham's has been restored as a live stage; otherwise, all are gone now.)

Really enjoyed jtomasellos history of Malden Theatres...Just one additional note. Malden had still another theatre. The MAPLEWOOD located in Maplewood Square.. A bank now occupies that site. All the Malden theatres except the Capitol in Suffolk Square were owned and operated by Middlesex Amusements....

I'm 37 and lived in Malden in the Linden area until 1980 and moved to a street behind the library. I worked in the Granada theater from about 1980ish to....? don't remember. Maybe a year or two. The owner's name was Roland something or other.

I was too young to work but at that time we somehow made friends with the people working there and they got to know my family. Not the tightest ship at that time I'm sure you'd expect. We'd hang out there after hours and play indoor soccer matches up in the hall outside theater 1 upstairs.

My brothers being older and more daring used the tunnnels under there that ran throughout parts of malden square to "explore" the area. They have some stories and clearer memories I'm sure. I really do remember pretty clearly how the interior and a lot of the office area and storeage areas looked though.

Interesting fact, as you faced the concession counter if you looked to your right there were a bank of exit doors. Above them high on the wall were a shield and swords (it was a spansh baroque style theater after all). I think one of my brothers "liberated" them when things went south.

I had those on my bedroom wall into the mid nineties. I wonder what happened to them after that (i had stupidly painted them too). I'm sure there not somewhere in my moms house anymore but i'd like to think they are. Maybe I took them to my first apartment and then got rid of them. I don't remember but I sure do regret losing track of them.

I also sold papers at the little island on the inlet of pleasant street. It had that old wooden shack on it. You'd think I was talking about the 50's or something. lol. This was the early 80's. And I worked in the videa game room at the Granada bowling lanes. Boy I had some sweet jobe for a preteen. There was a chinese food restaurant that opened right next door to the theater and I became friends with the kid who's parent owned it. Eddie Yu was his name. I dated his sister Anna for a short spell. Memory lane here.....

It was a 99 cent theater when i worked there. The sign said 1 cent donation as well. lol. There were 3 theaters. I'm sure I inadvertantly ran it into the ground a little by selling both halves of the ripped ticket every now and than and keeping a buck. I was 12 after all and that was too tempting. My life of crime pretty much ended there so I guess I'm not that horrible of a person.

I was an usher at the Granada in the early-mid 70's. The ushers or the manager controlled the downstairs house lights (dimmer switch was on the wall just outside the auditorium). The beautifully lit curtains downstairs were gold and were the type that rise to open. The manager at the time was a Miss Buttrick. The Pleasant Street long lobby was absent all of those video games and pinball machines that were later added under new ownership in the 1980's.

A Hook & Hastings theater organ was installed in the Granada Theater in Malden in 1927.

The architectural historian, Douglass Shand Tucci, in his noted book about Boston-area architecture "Built in Boston, City and Suburb", mistakenly refers on page 216 to the Granada in Malden as the "Alhambra" Theatre.

I have picture postcards showing the Granada, 1930's, 1941, 1956; the Mystic, 1921, 1941, 1946; the Orphuem 1920s?; the Auditorium, 1915. I saw films at these theaters plus the Strand in the 40's and 50's

Can you scan them in and upload them?

Sure: Where do I send them. The "add a photo" link won't take anything. For some of the cards I looked up the dates in historic newspaper microfilms, matching the films on the marquee.

Best thing to do is upload them to a photo-sharing site such as Flickr, ImageShack, or PhotoBucket, then post a link to them here.

I am willing to upload postcards to a photo-sharing site, but only to one that does not share my address with advertisers that send unsolicited e-mails. I don't mind if they put links or ads on the photo page, but no unsolicited e-mails!

Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/qc9c3z