Strand Theatre
12 Chestnut Street,
Quincy,
MA
02169
12 Chestnut Street,
Quincy,
MA
02169
2 people
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The Strand Theatre was located in downtown Quincy. It was demolished in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s. Any information would be appreciated.
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mb848
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Strand in Quincy is listed as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Headed by Joseph Levenson, the circuit also ran the Alhambra (Art) and Quincy (Capitol) theatres in Quincy, as well as the Coolidge Corner and Brookline theatres in Brookline and the South Station Theatre in Boston. Plus 6 others.
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1803 style “F” was installed in the Strand Theater in Quincy, MA on 11/28/1927. Status: sold.
Drezniak was the local new wave/pop band that held two performances there before the owners tried to bring the Plasmatics. The promoter was Jack Hoffman, Abbie Hoffman’s brother. That was the last events held at the Strand. That owner, Tony Delpidio’s (sp?) brother or cousin today owns niteclub The Roxy in the Boston Theatre District. I also know that a Eugene O'Neill play was blacklisted there in the early days.
To sedgwick- the “blacklisted” or banned Eugene O'Neill play was “Strange Interlude” and, after being “Banned in Boston” (at the Hollis Street Theatre near the Shubert and Wang) it played in Quincy at the Quincy Theatre (later the Capitol), a short walk from the Strand.
One Sunday morning sometme in the 1960s, Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston held an ecumenical church service in the Strand. I think it may have been the first time I heard the word “ecumenical”. The Cardinal was a promoter of interfaith activities. The theater was probably chosen becasue it was “neutral ground”, and he may have sponsored similar meetings at other Boston-area movie theaters.
I used to work in the Granite Trust building, as a short-order cook at the Howard Johnsons restaurant located on the ground floor (his first “real” restaurant, it even had a liquor license). At least I think it was in the bank building, or maybe next door – it was a long time ago. Anyway, we would have a tidal flow of customers based on the schedule of movies at the Strand. Often after work I would go over to the Strand to watch a film, never thinking that a short-order cook brings with him all the semi-delightful fragrances of the greasy kitchen. I hope I didn’t offend any of you…
Denis- without actually going to look at the building, I’m 99% certain that the Howard Johnson’s was located in the Granite Trust building, but in a wing that stretched back from the tower itself in the front. I went there often at lunch time on Saturdays circa- late 1950s. It was right across Chestnut Street from the Strand.
Parts from the Strand’s Wurlitzer organ have been incorporated into the “Mighty Wurlitzer” now being installed in the Hanover Theatre in Worcester.
The old building right next to the Strand, on its left, was recently demolished. So now there is one big lot there waiting for “development”.
In the Street View photo, the Stand was located in the parking lot on the right side of the street, behind the hedges and fence.