Well, I’d love to see FEI take over and reopen the Gaiety, or the Modern, or the Paramount, or the RKO Boston, or the Broadway in Southie (if it’s still standing) ….
Since last Friday, the Boston Globe’s movie listings for the Capitol and the Somerville sport a spiffy new F.E.I. THEATRES logo. Until now, the two theatres haven’t really advertised themselves as a chain.
Since last Friday, the Boston Globe’s movie listings for the Somerville and the Capitol in Arlington sport a spiffy new F.E.I. THEATRES logo. Right now these are the only two theatres in this ‘chain’, but perhaps they’re planning to acquire or build more?
Yes, I remember it, though I never went there. It lasted only a year or so in the late 1970s. It was on the north side of Boylston Street, across from the Prudential Center.
Before that, when it was a porn house showing Deep Throat, it was called the Pru Cinema. I don’t know what (if any) history it had before Deep Throat.
The Orpheum, Wang Center, and many other Boston theatres past and present are listed on this site. Massachusetts library card holders have free access to the Boston Globe and Boston Herald archives since 1979, which is a great help in doing research. Unfortunately, the online database has only articles and not advertisements.
The Exeter Street Theatre showed its last movie on Sunday, July 15, 1984, according to a Boston Globe article published three days later. The Globe article did not give the name of that movie.
According to several Globe and Herald articles I’ve found in the archives, the Publix closed as a movie theatre in 1983 (not 1980 as stated in a comment above). It was never a porn theatre; in its final few years, it shows kung-fu exploitation films.
Also, it was apparently called the ‘Victory’ between 1945 and 1949, when it became the Publix.
No theatre has ever been at this location since the Boston Five building was built, so the status should surely be “Closed/Demolished”. Another question is whether this theatre every showed movies, or was it only a live theatre?
One of the postings above says that the theatre was doomed once the building’s office space was closed. So why did the landlord close the offices, knowing that was the likely outcome?
Well, I’d love to see FEI take over and reopen the Gaiety, or the Modern, or the Paramount, or the RKO Boston, or the Broadway in Southie (if it’s still standing) ….
I do not remember the Esquire’s exact address, but it was on the north side of East Broad Street, just west of Eastmoor Boulevard.
Since last Friday, the Boston Globe’s movie listings for the Capitol and the Somerville sport a spiffy new F.E.I. THEATRES logo. Until now, the two theatres haven’t really advertised themselves as a chain.
Since last Friday, the Boston Globe’s movie listings for the Somerville and the Capitol in Arlington sport a spiffy new F.E.I. THEATRES logo. Right now these are the only two theatres in this ‘chain’, but perhaps they’re planning to acquire or build more?
From the web site:
“All screenings are private and by film company invitation only.”
I don’t think this is the kind of venue that belongs on cinematreasures.org .
40 seats? Is this actually open to the public, or just used by the industry?
The building is still vacant with ‘For Lease’ signs on the front doors.
I believe it has now been empty for four years!
The second balcony remained closed for years after Emerson bought it, but I believe it reopened after restoration was finished in 2003.
Yes, I remember it, though I never went there. It lasted only a year or so in the late 1970s. It was on the north side of Boylston Street, across from the Prudential Center.
Before that, when it was a porn house showing Deep Throat, it was called the Pru Cinema. I don’t know what (if any) history it had before Deep Throat.
Yes, Sack built it. Sack later changed its name to ‘USACinemas’ and a few years afterwards was gobbled up by Loews.
The Orpheum, Wang Center, and many other Boston theatres past and present are listed on this site. Massachusetts library card holders have free access to the Boston Globe and Boston Herald archives since 1979, which is a great help in doing research. Unfortunately, the online database has only articles and not advertisements.
What is the current status of this project? Has it reopened yet?
What was the building’s previous use before it was (so briefly) a cinema?
The status should be changed to “Closed”. Is it still standing, and has anyone else moved in?
The Exeter Street Theatre showed its last movie on Sunday, July 15, 1984, according to a Boston Globe article published three days later. The Globe article did not give the name of that movie.
According to several Globe and Herald articles I’ve found in the archives, the Publix closed as a movie theatre in 1983 (not 1980 as stated in a comment above). It was never a porn theatre; in its final few years, it shows kung-fu exploitation films.
Also, it was apparently called the ‘Victory’ between 1945 and 1949, when it became the Publix.
Don’t Latinos go to movies too? This theatre already has a Spanish name (Beautiful House), so why shouldn’t it show Spanish-language movies?
Does this work include restoring it to a single auditorium?
No theatre has ever been at this location since the Boston Five building was built, so the status should surely be “Closed/Demolished”. Another question is whether this theatre every showed movies, or was it only a live theatre?
in NYC there was also the Helen Hayes Theatre, but it wasn’t originally named for her.
Is ‘Aztlan’ the name of another theater in this area?
If someone knows the exact address of this, I’ll be glad to wander over and report on what’s now in that space.
The current building which is now the Borders store, and used to be the Boston Five, was built in 1973.
What is the latest year of city directory that lists a theatre here?
Does anyone have an address? What is now on this site?
One of the postings above says that the theatre was doomed once the building’s office space was closed. So why did the landlord close the offices, knowing that was the likely outcome?