Dudley Theatre
2202 Washington Street,
Roxbury,
MA
02119
2202 Washington Street,
Roxbury,
MA
02119
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The Dudley Theatre was a large neighborhood movie house near the Dudley “el” station in the Roxbury section of Boston. Like most of the movie houses in Roxbury, it was run at one time by M & P Theatres, a Paramount affiliate. Further information welcomed.
Contributed by
Ron Salters
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
I have been told by Bill Leach, who grew up in Roxbury in the 1940s and 1950s, that the Dudley Theatre was located at about 2220 Washington Street, just north of the Dudley Station. It was on the right side of the street as you faced north toward downtown Boston.
The Dudley Street Opera House, which is mentioned in the posting above of May 28, 2008, was located at 111-113 Dudley Street. It was on the southeast corner of Dudley and Washington streets, just south of the Dudley elevated railway station. It was apparently built in the 1870s and had 700-800 seats. I believe that it was an “upstairs house”, with the auditorium one flight above the street. It lasted to the 1950s and maybe past 1960. But by that time, it had been a meeting hall and dance hall for many years, and no longer a theater.
The Dudley Th. was listed at 2202 Washington St. in a Boston Business Directory, Issue 85, which I think is 1921. Found it on Google Books.
In the street directory section of the 1918 Boston Register and Business Directory, Issue 83, the Dudley Th. was listed at 2202 Washington Street, on the east side, with the Orienta Theatre at 2154 Wash. and the Roxbury Th. at 2174 Wash.
Standing at the Ferdinand Blue Store, the Dudley Theatre was a short way north on the right, opposite the start of Ruggles st. It’s a parking lot now.
Here’s the Dudley, 1931:
View link
The Dudley Theater was a good deal larger than the nearby Roxbury Theatre which also shows on the 1931 map.
Added a photo. The movie on the marquee was released in 1950.
Nice photo. In back, above the signs for Mores Shoes and Blairs, can be seen the back of the auditorium with “Dudley” painted on it.
And above the “S” in “Mores” can be seen what looks like the M&P logo painted on the rear wall.