Fairlawn Theatre
561 Smithfield Avenue,
Pawtucket,
RI
02860
561 Smithfield Avenue,
Pawtucket,
RI
02860
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pussycat Theatres
Previous Names: Town & Country Cinema, Starcase Pawtucket, Roxy Theatre, Pussycat Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Fairlawn Theatre opened in 1940. It was known for a time as the Town and Country Cinema, was a neighborhood theatre in the Fairlawn district for many decades. It was torn down in the 1980’s.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 24 comments)
In the 1940s, I am told, the Pawtucket Fairlawn was owned by Dorothy Fisher and run by her son Harry Fisher.
Yes, I knew Mr. Fisher from frequenting the Fairlawn. He lived in a lovely house on Cobble Hill Road that was known as “Cobblehurst.” I always thought it would be great to live in a house like that!! Thanks again for the info. (I didn’t know that his mother was the owner.)
The Fairlawn Theatre in Pawtucket is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Run by Joseph Levenson, the circuit controlled 12 theatres at the time, including the Coolidge Corner in Brookline MA and the South Station Theatre in Boston.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, November 6, 1954:
“The Fairlawn in adjacent Pawtucket, showing "The French Line,” advised patrons it would be omitted at the Saturday matinee, which is largely made up of juveniles."
[Note: that movie feature Jane Russell in a skimpy costume.]
For the record “JOHN AND MARY” was not family fare as mentioned above it carried an R -rating in its day.Today it might be PG.
In Geralds post of 8/22/05 I never saw a projectionist in a suit and tie at work,naybe it was different back them.
Operators of various theatres in the Pawtucket-Lincoln-Valley Falls area in 1951, gave their opinions on ways to combat the effects of TV on their theatres. Written as a report for the Pawtucket Times, the results were also reported in Boxoffice magazine in the issue of January 27, 1951:
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Construction of the Fairlawn Theatre in 1940.
Boxoffice magazine reported in its April 24, 1940 issue:
“Another new theatre in Pawtucket looms, with the city zoning board meeting Wednesday to consider granting of construction permit for neighborhood house in the Fairlawn section of the city. Certificates of business incorporation were granted by the secretary of state’s office to Currie & Harmon, Inc., to carry on theatrical business in the state. Incorporators are Earl H. Mason and Alfred J. Joslin of Pawtucket and Cecelia A. Gilgannon of Lonsdale, R.I.”
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Fairlawn. It’s Card # 534. There is an exterior photo taken April 1941. It’s on Smithfield Avenue. Condition is Excellent. It was built in 1940 and shows MGM product. 800 seats.
There is a comment in here (written in 2004) that the theater closed in 1982. However, we performed the Rocky Horror Picture Show there from December 9, 1983 thru February 4, 1984. An 8 week run. Rough audience some nights, but that was Rocky back then.
I remember both side sections were torn out by then. There was only a center section remaining. I think some rows from the front may have been torn out also. It gave us a lot of space to perform.
The owner was George Mittsmenn. Very nice guy to us.