Paris Cinema
841 Boylston Street,
Boston,
MA
02215
841 Boylston Street,
Boston,
MA
02215
7 people
favorited this theater
A popular first run art house across from Prudential Center from its opening on February 6, 1964 and up to the 1990’s. At a certain point as a single screen theatre it could not effectively compete with the Boston area multiplexes and was closed in 1993, and gutted.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 41 comments)
Assuming King’s dates are mostly correct, one thing I found striking was that new theatre construction in central Boston suddenly stopped with the Paramount in 1932, and didn’t get going again until the mid-1960s with the Paris, Charles, and Cheri.
During that three-decade interval, the only new movie theatres that opened were a few newsreel houses carved out of existing buildings between 1936 and 1940 (South Station, Telepix, the second Old South).
The first Kenmore may have been an exception, but I don’t know much about it and King mentions it only briefly; in any event, it was on the far fringe of the city center.
I pleasantly remember seeing “The Graduate” at the Paris sometime in late 1967 or early 1968. The audience loved the film. I got the impression that the height of the auditorium was relatively low and I believe there was no balcony. Yet, the screen was a good size width-wise and the sound system seemed decent. It was a perfect location in the Back Bay, with huge pedestrian traffic going by it all day and night. Having the Prudential Center across the street was an asset. If a cinema like that cannot succeed in today’s market, it tells you that either the quality of the films has gone down or that Hollywood is catering more to a youth audience — and I firmly believe that both instances are true. I am now 55 years old, and I remember the days when you could see beautifully photographed movies in 70mm on big screens. The smaller cinemas and 35mm formats of today are big steps down in quality.
Dennis, it is true that the Paris had no balcony but it did have a rear section that was stadium seating, if I recall correctly. I do not believe the Paris had 70mm capability, though I could be corrected on that. 35mm has long been the standard for theatrical exhibition from its commercial use in the early 20th Century up until now. The phrase “35mm formats of today” doesn’t make sense.
I think I misread the intent of your comment, which was that 35mm is used pretty much exclusively today to the exclusion of 70mm presentations, and in shoebox cinemas.
I saw one of Woody Allen’s mid-1990s movies there. I think it was Manhattan Murder Mystery.
The Charles, The 57 and The Cheri were the auditoriums that I remember having 70 mm capacity. Charles was The Deer Hunter & The Rose. 57 was The Doors and The Exorcist. Cheri was Edward Scissorhands. Paris I remember for being the cinema for Woody Allen movies and the Last Temtation of Christ. The latter film had protesters that were saying the our father and hail mary prayers in a protest circle. One person told me I was going to the place below because I was vewing the film
I also viewed “The Graduate” in 67' it was a Sack theatre with large picture windows showing the lobby to those on the street, very nice blue carpeting and of course the ‘new age’ formica candy counter, I’m partial to glass block, all in all I liked the theatre as with any single screen house!
According to a Globe article discussing its imminent closing, this theatre had 600 seats
O.K.
Member the “star trek” wall at the Paris? It was a thick, enlarged mesh of bony ovals. Not jagged but molded and smooth. I don’t what art movement to align it with (suburban wet bar rococo?) but it definitely came from the late 60’s/early 70’s. It was behind the snack counter. I’d love a photo!!!