Orson Welles Cinema
1001 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge,
MA
02138
1001 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge,
MA
02138
14 people
favorited this theater
Opened as the Esquire Theatre on February 14, 1964. Later the name was changed to the Orson Welles Cinema. Over the years two small additional screening rooms were added that were separate from the larger main auditorium.
The theatre specialized in first run art and independent films, and had some occasional revival series. In the mid-1980s there was a fire in the theatre, and it was shuttered after that and the space put to other commercial use.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 120 comments)
This site wasn’t taking comments yesterday, so a day or so late on this. But, May 24th represented the 25th Anniversary of the fire that ultimately destroyed the Orson Welles Cinema. Talks continued about re-opening the place, but it was not to be.
A sad 25th Anniversary. But, the memories continue.
How I wish that the Orson Welles Cinema and most of the other Repertory Movie Houses were still in existence! (sigh).
I’m grateful for the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brattle Theatre, both of which I hold yearly memberships to, but…
Somerville Theatre will be doing some repertory programming this summer: View link
I saw the programs on the website for the Somerville Theatre’s Classic/repertory programming for this summer, Ron. Thanks.
Great reading about that wonderful cinema – I studied at the Orson Welles Film School 72 & 73 (off the top of my head memory) Any other students remember those years –?– love 2 hear from others in that raggle-taggle gathering :) My avatar pix still resembles those Cambridge days :) Great courses there.
The Orson Welles Cinema…..ahhhhh, yes! Memory lane! I didn’t go to film school, but I remember frequenting the Orson Welles quite a bit as a student, and for many years after that, especially when I lived right around the corner from that cinema! I saw many a great movie at the Orson Welles Cinema, including my all time favorite, West Side Story. Those days were grand…and…gone…for.ever! (sniff, sniff).
There IS still one ongoing and STILL ACTIVE vestige of the Orson Welles Cinema – the long running Boston Science Fiction Film Marathon which has been held on President’s Day Weekend every February since 1976 (the first 11 were held at the Orson Welles)! This year’s 37th edition will be held February 19-20, 2012 at the Somerville Theater. Info: http://www.bostonsci-fi.com/ Messageboard: http://sf.theboard.net/
marcthorny, would it be possible to get copies of the newsletter? I’d be happy to pay for duplicating or scanning.
Someone is working on a documentary history of the Orson Welles Cinema. I read about just a few days ago but now cannot find the article. There was a color photo showing the actor Jon Lithgow sitting with the director. Jon Lithgow was quoted as saying something to the effect that his first paid job in the entertainment industry was at the Welles when he was a student. I think that this article was in the Boston Herald.
I am actually the Production Manager of the documentary you’re talking about on the Orson Welles. It was actually Tommy Lee Jones that we interviewed here’s the article: http://bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/20220427inside_track_headline.
If any of you have a strong affiliation with the theater please get in touch with me. We are currently looking to interview people who worked at the theater, went to the film school, etc. Please email me at and tell me about your connection to the Orson Welles Cinema!
Thanks,
Lauren