Central Square Theatre
573 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge,
MA
02139
573 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge,
MA
02139
1 person
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A long-ago demolished movie theatre in Central Square, Cambridge. This is not to be confused with the petite Central Square Cinemas which came much later. Information about this lost theatre would be appreciated.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
They’re currently renovating one of the stores on Mass Ave (between Central Kitchen and the Blockbuster Video) and have uncovered what must’ve been an external wall at one point. And on this wall is a trulye awesome ghost ad for one of the Central Square Theatres.
I’m not sure which of the three theaters in Central Square was part of the M&P circuit, though.
Anyway, if you’re in the area go see the ghost ad while you can, as I’m sure it won’t be part of the new store’s interior design. I really hope they cover it over again as it must’ve been before, and not tear it down. It’s actually affixed to the brick and not in a frame.
(Yes, I meant trulye. I’m apparently channelling the ghost of Samuel Pepys here.)
The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Central Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA as being operated by M.& P. Theaters of Boston
Yes, it’s this theatre. Nathan Gordon built it, then most of his theatres eventually ended up in Paramount/Publix, then Mullin and Pinanski (M&P).
Thank you for the clarification and identification! Great to know this indeed was advertising the theater at the corner of Mass Ave and Norfolk.
This 1930 map shows the “CENTRAL SQ. THEATRE”. Look near the left edge of the map, on the right (east) side of Massachusetts Avenue, just above (north of) Norfolk Street.
Another Central Square Theater (this time spelled “-er”) will open next spring at 450 Massachusetts Avenue. It will be home to the Nora Theatre Company and the Underground Railway Theater company.
This one is for live performance, not movies, and it’s on the opposite side of Mass. Ave. from the previous two Central Square theatres. But it will be nice to see the name ‘Central Square’ used once again for a theater.
A June 14, 1927 piece in the Harvard Crimson reported the showing of screen tests at the Central Square Theatre for Harvard students with Hollywood aspirations.
Old B&W of the Central Square Theatre taken some time during the mid 50's
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Two more photos of the Central Square.
1. View link
2. View link