Pastime Theater
91 Bradford Street,
Bristol,
RI
02809
91 Bradford Street,
Bristol,
RI
02809
3 people
favorited this theater
The Pastime Theater began showing films in 1912. Fire destroyed the original building and a new one was built on that site that same year, 1934. The exterior remained largely unchanged, but little of the original interior had remained.
The Bristol Pastime Theater Foundation had sought funding to acquire the property, restore the exterior and renovate the interior to accomodate performing arts as well as cinema, but unfortunately, this never came to pass and the Pastime was torn down.
Contributed by
Gary Watros
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Another photo of the Pastime Theater can be seen here.
The 1949 Film Daily Yearbook listed the seating capacity as 600.
The Pastime Theatre was not the only one to have existed in this town. Another Bristol theatre is the long-forgotten Star Theatre that was on Hope Street next to the Rogers Free Library. It seems to have survived into the 1920s. An old postcard image can be linked to on the Star Theatre page. Information about the Star is most welcome.
The Pastime Theatre has been demolished. Today I saw the fenced-in vacant lot.
As a kid I would attend the ten cent matinees at the Pastime. My adopted “uncle” was the projectionist (one of two, actually). We each got a quarter for the afternoon. That bought popcorn and two candy bars or popcorn and a drink.
We’d see a cartoon, the feature, and either a serial or a Three Stooges or the like.
Good times, Good times.
The Pastime was one of the first theaters in RI to get Cinemascope.
Bob Evans
When the Pastime was one theater it did hold 600 people.
Bob Evans
This is another photo of the former Pastime Theater.
1983 Photo
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 12, 1961:
Joseph J. Modleski buys Rhode Island Theatres
WARREN. R.I. —-Joseph J. Modleski has purchased two Rhode Island Theatres, the Lyric in Warren and the Pastime in Bristol, effective as of June 1. Modleski has been operating both of the situations on lease the last two years from the estate of Lon Vail.
Prior to leasing the Lyric and Pastime, Modleski had served as manager pf the Lyric for Vail until the latter’s death. Modleski broke into motion picture exhibition in August 1920 as an usher at the Lyric Theatre. He told BOXOFFICE that he plans to make alterations at both of the theatres.
In September 1922 this theatre was part of Rhode Island’s Paramount Week. Click to see the ad in Providence News, September 1, 1922, which contains a list of all participating theatres as well as the films shown that week.
PART ONE OF AD
PART TWO OF AD