Campus Cinema
17 Columbia Street,
South Kingstown,
RI
02879
17 Columbia Street,
South Kingstown,
RI
02879
1 person
favorited this theater
The Campus Cinema, so named due to its proximity to URI, in Wakefield is currently closed and empty. Despite a major renovation in 1998 that fixed up the building and added a third screen it closed down in July 2003 because of a 70% decrease in business due to the Entertainment Cinemas South Kingstown 8 opening minutes down the road.
The Campus Cinema was converted into condominiums in 2004.
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
A very attractive framed photograph of this theatre in 1942, when it was known as the Community Theatre, can be seen in the lobby of Pi Patel’s nearby Narragansett Theater.
Any updated info on this? Drove by it recently and it didn’t look like Condos. In fact it didn’t look any different at all!!
There is an organization called “Project Venue” in the South Kingstown Senior High School that is searching for a place to hold local shows, music talent, poetry, and such, and I remember that this building was brought up for a possible place. The building doesn’t seem to be changing into condos (I believe there was a zoning problem). The only problem was that this building seems to be an expensive place to buy/rent and run. I would love to see it stick around, and be used. If the town, state, or someone rich bought it, and rented it to be used by locals, that would be awesome. I believe my dad went to shows there when he went to URI
If anyone has any information on who to contact regarding this building would be greatly appreciated.
Here is a photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00080/00080196.jpg
I didn’t post the above comment.
This is a 1986 photo of a Campus Cinema in Wakefield, RI.
From Boxoffice magazine, February 4, 1956:
“In the most extensive cooperation promotion ever seen in this area, 14 Providence and nearby houses used record-breaking newspaper advertising space in heralding the joint premiere of "The Day the World Ended” and “Phantom from 10,000 Leagues.” Virtually taking over the amusement pages of the local press for several days, the following houses united in the ad: Elmwood, Hope, Uptown, Liberty, Castle, all in this city; Community, Centredale; Strand, Pawtucket; Union, Attleboro; Hollywood, East Providence; Palace, Cranston; Community, Wakefield; Park, Auburn; Palace, Arctic and Stadium, Woonsocket. A brief checkup of local houses indicated that opening days were solid."
This theatre was part of the September 1923 6th Paramount Week. In this advertisement from the (Providence) Evening Tribune, September 1, 1923, we see a fascinating list of Rhode Island area theatres, many long-gone and long-forgoten, or even unheard of, as well as what they were showing during that week. At that time it was known as the Opera House, Wakefield, not to be confused with the Opera House, Peacedale…also a participant in that Paramount Week. CLICK HERE and move text to see all theatres.
Item in Providence News, July 22, 1922:
“The Three X Club of Wakefield will hold a week end hop in the Wakefield Opera House tonight, which will be preceded by moving pictures featuring Bebe Daniels in ‘Nancy from Nowhere’ and Conway Tearle in ‘Marooned Hearts.’ Miller’s new jazz orchestra will furnish music for the pictures and dancing. The hall has been tastefully decorated with tri-colored garlands and fancy Japanese lanterns for the occasion, and many electric fans are to be in operation around the hall.”