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Mayfair Theatre
334 Broad Street,
Cumberland,
RI
02864
334 Broad Street,
Cumberland,
RI
02864
1 person
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Showing 1 - 25 of 29 comments
Previous names were also Valley Falls Theatre,, Capitol Theatre according to news pieces between 1915 and 1931.
No theaters were listed at either Cumberland or Valley Falls in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, but the 1926 FDY lists a 500-seat Strand at Valley Falls.
Shea’s Theatre first opened on Monday, November 15, 1915.
Just uploaded an ad that shows the Roosevelt name in use in September 1938.
From the FILM Exchange badge: “Balcony for colored?” Even in Rhode Island…sigh…
THEATRE WHEN CALLED THE ROOSEVELT, 1941
I used to collect tickets for the summer matinees at the Lincoln from 1948-50. Mr. Harmon was the manager. My grandfather had the candy store connected to the theater when it was the Roosevelt in the early 40,s.
Joseph Shea’s intention to build a movie theater on Broad Street in Valley Falls was announced in the April 10, 1915, issue of The New York Clipper. The plans were by Providence architect John F. O'Malley, who later designed the Leroy Theatre in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Shea’s Theatre became the Strand on January 1, 1919, according to the above article.
A 1919 Providence News article reported on certain Central Falls and Valley Falls theatres violating the state prohibition on Sunday film exhibition. READ ARTICLE HERE
1,300 textile workers/strikers meet at Strand Theatre, Valley Falls, in February 1922.
PROVIDENCE NEWS
Thanks Gerald,interesting.
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:
View link
Item in Boxoffice magazine, May 3, 1941:
“Charles Tobey of the Roosevelt in Valley Falls, R.I. was in the district.”
[That is, he was in Boston, probably doing summer bookings with distributors. Not earth-shaking, but we also know from this that the theatre was called the Roosevelt at this time.]
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, February 2, 1957:
“The Lincoln Theatre building in Valley Falls has been sold by the PHC Company of Pawtucket to Robert W. Jalbert of North Providence. The structure, a showplace in the lower Cumberland Valley community when it was built 40 years ago, was sold for $19,000.”
[Note: that means the theatre was probably built around 1917.]
Judging by the info presented above, the theatre was still in existence in the mid 1950s and had installed CinemaScope. Anyone have any more precise information about when it ceased operation?
I wonder when the name “Lincoln” began. It was also called that on February 1, 1950 when the bill was She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Jigsaw, according to a rare Providence Journal ad.
The co-hit is advertised as “Willed for Ransom,” which is a mistake. What they meant was World for Ransom, which was directed (uncredited) by Cranston-born director Robert Aldrich of later What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? & The Longest Yard fame.
Here is a newspaper ad for the Lincoln Theater which was the last name for the theater at this location.
What I find rather amusing is the mention of Liberace’s first movie. The clipping was from 1956.
View link
The John Street Theatre of Valley Falls, mentioned in an above comment, has now been posted.
Gerald, these two gents live at the Forand Manor on Washington St. in Central Falls. My mother plays cards there every Saturday with Stanley. They had a Bazaar today and that is how I was able to talk with them. However, I could only speak with them for about 10 minutes due to the social setting of the Bazaar. I may set it up to talk some more with these two wonderful, alert gentlemen. They were as excited to talk about their youth as I was to listen.
Yes, my error, I did mean the Imperial Theater across from the Leroy, not Strand.
They were also able to confirm the location of the Casino Theater on Broad St. Central Falls.
I am trying to scan a better picture I have of the Imperial Theater that predates the Leroy so the Leroy does NOT appear in the photo.
I will try and get the Imperial Theater added tomorrow.
I find this detective work so very, very exciting. I am so happy I found this website!!
A treasure trove. Sound like great old gentlemen. You must still mean the Imperial across from the Leroy, though.
Webmaster, alternate names for this theatre are now confirmed as Shea Theater and Roosevelt Theater.
Gerald, I am so very excited to tell you this. I actually met two people today that attended that theater when it was the Shea. They recalled all the names of the theater throughout the years.
I had so much fun talking with these gents because……..they were two brothers named Stanley and Matt, age 90 and 91 respectively.
I was able to confirm other information concerning my thoughts about the Imperial Theater across from the Strand in Pawtucket and the location of the Casino Theater in Central Falls.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that both remembered the Mayfair as Shea Theater before it was the Roosevelt.
I can now add the Imperial Theater later this weekend.
I just returned from the Cumberland Public Library and I came across an interesting tidbit.
In a 1919 Pawtucket City Directory, there is a section at the back of the book titled ‘out of towners’ advertisement.
Lo and behold, there is a Strand Theater listed. No address but states the corner of Broad and Chambers street. That is the exact location of the present day Sovereign Bank where my mother saw movies at the Roosevelt.
Here’s another interesting note. There is a John St. Theater listed at 72 John Street.
John Street is one street parallel to Chambers and also deposits onto Broad St. I drove by the locale and it appears to be property that was once a vacant lot and bought by the house adjacent.
Anyone have any info on this particular theater listed in a 1919 City Directory?