The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Columbia Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The entrance featured a large centered boxoffice with a double door on each side. There were poster cases on either side of the entrance and the marquee above. An upright for the overhead el structure sits just to the north of the marquee. The Report states that the Columbia is on Washington St., that it has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was built in 1890 (close); is in Poor condition, and has 1000 seats on the main floor, and 700 in the balcony, total: 1,700 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for this theatre (when it was the Laffmovie) has an exterior photo which is undated. (A hint of the date is that the movie “Desert Fury”, in Technicolor, is playing right next door at the Paramount). The Laffmovie has a flashy half-circle marquee which I remember circa-1950. It has space for 4 rows of black letters on a white background. The attractions are Walt Disney Cartoon Carnival, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Little (unreadable). Unfortunately, no one filled out the form and there is no information.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Kenmore Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was a semi-circle marquee with 3 rows of black letters on a white background. Movie was “The Baker’s Wife” with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, with the notation “Now Playing 3rd Year in NY”. On the roof was a huge sign which read “Theatre KENMORE Theatre”. To the left of the entrance was one store, which has a “To Let” sign in the window. The Report states that the Kenmore is on Beacon St., that it has been a MGM customer for 2 years, that it was built in 1939, is in Good condition, and has 636 on the main floor and 60 balcony seats, total: 696 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fine Arts Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. There was a narrow entrance with one pair of doors (maybe 3) with poster cases on either side and a small marquee above.There was a fire escape just above the marquee. The Report states that the theatre is on Norway St., that it features “foreign pictures”, that it is not a MGM customer, that it was built in 1920 (actually, later), that it’s in Good condition, and has about 750 seats, all on one floor.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fenway Theatre has an exterior photo dated April 1941. There was a long elaborate rectangular marquee with the name in big letters in the center. Attractions are Humphrey Bogart in “The Wagons Roll at Night” plus “Las Vegas Nights”. There must have been a pool hall upstairs because the word “Billiards” is posted in 2 windows over the marquee. The Report states that the Fenway is at 136 Mass. Ave., that it is not a MGM customer; that it’s in Good condition; and has the following seating: Orchestra- 822, Balcony- 490, Loges- 61; total: 1,373 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Majestic has an exterior photo dated May 1941. There is an elaborate 3-sided marquee on the north half of the facade advertising Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”. The theatre’s name is not on this marquee. The Report states that the Majestic is a “Road Show House”, that it is not showing MGM product, that it is in Poor condition (hard to believe of a Shubert-owned house), and that it has the following seating: Orchestra- 597, Balcony- 439, Gallery- 440, Boxes- 112, total: 1,588 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Trans Lux Theatre on Washington St. in Boston has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The theatre had a very bright, garish rectangular marquee with 4 lines of black letters on a white background on its front and sides. Attractions were: John Wayne in “A Man Betrayed” and Pat O'Brien and Cesar Romero in “Public Enemy’s Wife”. There were large garish poster boards on each side of the entrance. The Report states that the Trans Lux is not showing MGM product; that it’s over 15 years old; is in Good condition; and has 390 orchestra seats and 309 balcony seats, total: 699 seats (that figure seems too low).
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Telepix Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There is a rather fancy doorway with a double door set in it. Above is a small rain canopy with “Park Square Building” on it. Above the canopy is a small vertical sign but it’s not readable. There is nothing about this entrance which suggests there’s a cinema inside. The Report states that the Telepix is a Newsreel theatre; that it’s on St. James Avenue, that it has been showing MGM product for 2 years; that it was built in 1939, is in Good condition, and has 500 seats, all on one floor. On the Report is written “Nice little house”.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Stuart Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was a fairly small marquee with “Stuart” on the front outlined in bulbs. On the sides were 2 lines of black letters on a white background. Attraction was “I Met a Murderer” (they should have added “Inside”). Just above the marquee is a very fancy long carved stonework panel, in the center of which is a large head of a “muse” looking out at Washington St. There is a centered boxoffice just under the marquee. In the right distance, across the street, is an Albiani’s restaurant on the site of the Washington Theatre. The Report states that the Stuart is not showing MGM product; that it was built in 1905 (close); that it’s in Poor condition; and has 457 seats, all on one floor.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand on Huntington Avenue has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The theatre had both a marquee and a vertical sign. On the front of the marquee, underneath the name, are 3 lines of dark letters on a white background reading: Double Feature Program / Selected Short Subjects/ “Goodwill Award” – Thurs. Nites . There are 2 large vertical poster cases right out on the sidewalk, near the curb, and these appear to be supporting the outer edge of the marquee. To the right of the Strand’s entrance, in the next building, is the Strand Fruit Co. store. The Report states that the Strand has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was built around 1900 (incorrect); that it’s in Fair condition; that it’s a “Nabe” (Neighborhood house); and has 513 seats on the main floor and 425 balcony seats, total: 938 seats.
As the Howard Athenaeum, the theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information. Ticket prices range from 10 cents to 50 cents. The seating capacity is given as 2,100 — this seems high, and may have included several hundred standing spaces (large numbers of standees were routinely admitted to theatres in those days). The house had both gas and electric illumination. The orchestra consisted of just 2 musicians — how can that be? It was a popular variety theatre at the time. As the “Howard Theatre”, it was also the subject of a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form. There is an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was no marquee. There were 3 granite steps leading up to 3 double doors. Above the center door was a sign reading “Old Howard”; on each side of the doors were ancient poster boards with “Howard Athenaeum” at the tops. In the photo, there is a Granny-type climbing the steps. Perhaps she was the bookeeper! The Report states that the house is not a MGM customer; that it was built in 1850 (actually, 1846); that it’s in Poor condition; and has 1,500 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Orpheum in Boston has an exterior photo taken in 1941. It was Loew’s Orpheum at that time. The photo shows the Washington St. entrance. Attractions on the compact marquee, in white letters on a dark background, are: Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in “Penny Serenade” plus “The Trial of Mary Dugan”. The underside of the marquee is studded with bulbs and just above the doors is an additional board with 2 lines of white letters on a dark background with the titles of the movies posted. The Report states that the theatre has been presenting MGM product for 25 years, that it’s in Good condition; and has 1659 orchestra seats; 1048 balcony seats, and 220 seats in the loges; total: 2,927 seats.
CitiBank only paid for “naming rights” for a specific number of years. The 2 theatres are run by a non-profit corporation which needed the money. I don’t know what the current ownership facts are, but some years back the Wang Theatre was owned by the New England Medical Center, while the Shubert was owned by the Shubert Organization in NY and leased to the performing arts center.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Casino Theatre on Hanover St. has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre had an old-fashioned 1920-era marquee. Despite the fact that the Report oddly omits that the Casino is a Burlesque house, it’s obvious from the photo— the two poster cases on each side of the entrance have large photos of semi-undressed strip-tease dancers. Some local wise-guys are milling about at the entrance. The Report states that the Casino is not a MGM customer; that it was built in 1910, that it’s in Fair condition; and has 800 orchestra seats and 500 balcony seats; total: 1,300 seats (not including second balcony and boxes). There is no mention of Burlesque shows in the Casino’s report.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Center Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre was named the Globe at that time. When the photo was taken the theatre was presenting Burlesque shows on stage. Fairly large lit signs had been attached to the top of each side of the marquee reading “Glorified Burlesque”. The names of various performers were posted on the marquee itself, and from the bottom edges of the marquee were hung elaborate cloth banners reading “Glorified Traveling Burlesque”. I don’t know if they also presented movies between stage shows; I suspect that they probably did. The Report states that the Globe is on Burlesque; that it does not present MGM films; that it was built before 1910, and is in Fair condition; and has 1,457 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Publix has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre was named “Gayety” then. Movies posted on the fancy, glittering multi-bulbed marquee are Alice Faye and Betty Grable in “Tin Pan Alley”, plus “The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date”. Above the marquee is a sign which reads “All Seats 10 cents & 15 cents”. Some time between the taking of the photo and the completion of the report, the theatre switched to a live Burlesque show policy. I don’t know if they also showed films (probably). The Report states that the theatre is on Burlesque; that it does not show MGM product; that it’s in Poor condition; and has 570 seats on the main floor and 400 balcony seats; total: 970 seats (not including the 2nd balcony and the boxes.)
It will be interesting to see how the theatre name appears in newspaper ads and posters during the next several weeks. The “CitiWang” name was on the lower marquee as of Nov. 30th but now they have wrapped blue plastic with the new name around the top of the upper marquee. And I don’t associate the bright blue color with the staid Wang Theatre ! Ugh !
The link posted above by Lost Memory on Oct 28 2005 is of this theatre. The old photo is of the same building as in the 1941 MGM Report; however, by 1941, the theatre had a new glitzy marquee; also the vacant lot to the right of the theatre in Lost’s old photo has a structure on it in 1941.
The MGM Theatre and Photograph Report for the Strand Theatre on Elm St. in Southbridge has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The entrance was on the right side of a 2-story building with a shop to the left. There was a glittering marquee with the movies posted in black letters on a white background: Lucille Ball in “A Girl, A Guy and a Gob”, plus “Border Vigilantes” . The Report states that the Strand has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old, is in Good condition, and has 1,586 seats. There were no other competing theatres in Southbridge and the 1940 population was 16,800.
The expression “RKO Vaudeville” means that the vaude acts were booked through the RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) office (ex-Keith’s); the RKO movie studio was a different arm of the same company. Most of the theatres in Massachusetts which still presented some live Vaude, like the Fitchburg Th. in 1932, would have booked it through RKO.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Royal Th. in Worcester has a facade photo taken in May 1941. There is an elaborate 1920-style entrance in the middle of a commercial block. Beneath the marquee is a centered box-office with double doors on each side. The name “Royal” is on the front of the marquee and there appears to be some sort of emblem directly above the name. The Report states that the Royal is on Main St. in Worcester; that it has been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; is in Poor condition, and has 780 seats, all on one floor.
There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for this theatre with a facade photo taken in March 1941. Someone typed “Walden” as the theatre name, then crossed it out and wrote in a name which I cannot read; it’s not “Images”, but looks something like “Gacomis”. Did this theatre have another name before it was named “Images” ? The photo shows a narrow entrance in a 2-story business block. There is an arch over the entrance, poster cases on either side and a vertical sign above, but no marquee. The Report states that the theatre is on Spring St. in Williamstown MA, that the theatre has been a MGM customer for 10 years; that it’s over 10 years old; that it’s in Good condition; and has 492 seats, all apparently on one floor. It says that there are no competing theatres in town, and that the 1940 population of Williamstown was 4,294.
A report on local TV news tonight stated flatly that the “30-year-old” theatre would be torn down and replaced with an up-to-date new concert hall. A photo was shown of the Berklee’s auditorium ( The theatre may have been used by the music school for 30 years but it is, of course, much older.)
There is a sequence in one of the old “Seinfeld” shows in which the character of Elaine attempts to save 3 seats in a busy Manhatten cinema prior to a Saturday night screening. The gag was milked for all it was worth!
Congrats ! Do I hear 20,000 ?? I love the site ! Happy holidays to all!
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Columbia Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The entrance featured a large centered boxoffice with a double door on each side. There were poster cases on either side of the entrance and the marquee above. An upright for the overhead el structure sits just to the north of the marquee. The Report states that the Columbia is on Washington St., that it has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was built in 1890 (close); is in Poor condition, and has 1000 seats on the main floor, and 700 in the balcony, total: 1,700 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for this theatre (when it was the Laffmovie) has an exterior photo which is undated. (A hint of the date is that the movie “Desert Fury”, in Technicolor, is playing right next door at the Paramount). The Laffmovie has a flashy half-circle marquee which I remember circa-1950. It has space for 4 rows of black letters on a white background. The attractions are Walt Disney Cartoon Carnival, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Little (unreadable). Unfortunately, no one filled out the form and there is no information.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Kenmore Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was a semi-circle marquee with 3 rows of black letters on a white background. Movie was “The Baker’s Wife” with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, with the notation “Now Playing 3rd Year in NY”. On the roof was a huge sign which read “Theatre KENMORE Theatre”. To the left of the entrance was one store, which has a “To Let” sign in the window. The Report states that the Kenmore is on Beacon St., that it has been a MGM customer for 2 years, that it was built in 1939, is in Good condition, and has 636 on the main floor and 60 balcony seats, total: 696 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fine Arts Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. There was a narrow entrance with one pair of doors (maybe 3) with poster cases on either side and a small marquee above.There was a fire escape just above the marquee. The Report states that the theatre is on Norway St., that it features “foreign pictures”, that it is not a MGM customer, that it was built in 1920 (actually, later), that it’s in Good condition, and has about 750 seats, all on one floor.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Fenway Theatre has an exterior photo dated April 1941. There was a long elaborate rectangular marquee with the name in big letters in the center. Attractions are Humphrey Bogart in “The Wagons Roll at Night” plus “Las Vegas Nights”. There must have been a pool hall upstairs because the word “Billiards” is posted in 2 windows over the marquee. The Report states that the Fenway is at 136 Mass. Ave., that it is not a MGM customer; that it’s in Good condition; and has the following seating: Orchestra- 822, Balcony- 490, Loges- 61; total: 1,373 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Majestic has an exterior photo dated May 1941. There is an elaborate 3-sided marquee on the north half of the facade advertising Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”. The theatre’s name is not on this marquee. The Report states that the Majestic is a “Road Show House”, that it is not showing MGM product, that it is in Poor condition (hard to believe of a Shubert-owned house), and that it has the following seating: Orchestra- 597, Balcony- 439, Gallery- 440, Boxes- 112, total: 1,588 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Trans Lux Theatre on Washington St. in Boston has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The theatre had a very bright, garish rectangular marquee with 4 lines of black letters on a white background on its front and sides. Attractions were: John Wayne in “A Man Betrayed” and Pat O'Brien and Cesar Romero in “Public Enemy’s Wife”. There were large garish poster boards on each side of the entrance. The Report states that the Trans Lux is not showing MGM product; that it’s over 15 years old; is in Good condition; and has 390 orchestra seats and 309 balcony seats, total: 699 seats (that figure seems too low).
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Telepix Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There is a rather fancy doorway with a double door set in it. Above is a small rain canopy with “Park Square Building” on it. Above the canopy is a small vertical sign but it’s not readable. There is nothing about this entrance which suggests there’s a cinema inside. The Report states that the Telepix is a Newsreel theatre; that it’s on St. James Avenue, that it has been showing MGM product for 2 years; that it was built in 1939, is in Good condition, and has 500 seats, all on one floor. On the Report is written “Nice little house”.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Stuart Theatre has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was a fairly small marquee with “Stuart” on the front outlined in bulbs. On the sides were 2 lines of black letters on a white background. Attraction was “I Met a Murderer” (they should have added “Inside”). Just above the marquee is a very fancy long carved stonework panel, in the center of which is a large head of a “muse” looking out at Washington St. There is a centered boxoffice just under the marquee. In the right distance, across the street, is an Albiani’s restaurant on the site of the Washington Theatre. The Report states that the Stuart is not showing MGM product; that it was built in 1905 (close); that it’s in Poor condition; and has 457 seats, all on one floor.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand on Huntington Avenue has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The theatre had both a marquee and a vertical sign. On the front of the marquee, underneath the name, are 3 lines of dark letters on a white background reading: Double Feature Program / Selected Short Subjects/ “Goodwill Award” – Thurs. Nites . There are 2 large vertical poster cases right out on the sidewalk, near the curb, and these appear to be supporting the outer edge of the marquee. To the right of the Strand’s entrance, in the next building, is the Strand Fruit Co. store. The Report states that the Strand has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was built around 1900 (incorrect); that it’s in Fair condition; that it’s a “Nabe” (Neighborhood house); and has 513 seats on the main floor and 425 balcony seats, total: 938 seats.
As the Howard Athenaeum, the theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information. Ticket prices range from 10 cents to 50 cents. The seating capacity is given as 2,100 — this seems high, and may have included several hundred standing spaces (large numbers of standees were routinely admitted to theatres in those days). The house had both gas and electric illumination. The orchestra consisted of just 2 musicians — how can that be? It was a popular variety theatre at the time. As the “Howard Theatre”, it was also the subject of a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form. There is an exterior photo taken in May 1941. There was no marquee. There were 3 granite steps leading up to 3 double doors. Above the center door was a sign reading “Old Howard”; on each side of the doors were ancient poster boards with “Howard Athenaeum” at the tops. In the photo, there is a Granny-type climbing the steps. Perhaps she was the bookeeper! The Report states that the house is not a MGM customer; that it was built in 1850 (actually, 1846); that it’s in Poor condition; and has 1,500 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Orpheum in Boston has an exterior photo taken in 1941. It was Loew’s Orpheum at that time. The photo shows the Washington St. entrance. Attractions on the compact marquee, in white letters on a dark background, are: Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in “Penny Serenade” plus “The Trial of Mary Dugan”. The underside of the marquee is studded with bulbs and just above the doors is an additional board with 2 lines of white letters on a dark background with the titles of the movies posted. The Report states that the theatre has been presenting MGM product for 25 years, that it’s in Good condition; and has 1659 orchestra seats; 1048 balcony seats, and 220 seats in the loges; total: 2,927 seats.
CitiBank only paid for “naming rights” for a specific number of years. The 2 theatres are run by a non-profit corporation which needed the money. I don’t know what the current ownership facts are, but some years back the Wang Theatre was owned by the New England Medical Center, while the Shubert was owned by the Shubert Organization in NY and leased to the performing arts center.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Casino Theatre on Hanover St. has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre had an old-fashioned 1920-era marquee. Despite the fact that the Report oddly omits that the Casino is a Burlesque house, it’s obvious from the photo— the two poster cases on each side of the entrance have large photos of semi-undressed strip-tease dancers. Some local wise-guys are milling about at the entrance. The Report states that the Casino is not a MGM customer; that it was built in 1910, that it’s in Fair condition; and has 800 orchestra seats and 500 balcony seats; total: 1,300 seats (not including second balcony and boxes). There is no mention of Burlesque shows in the Casino’s report.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Center Theatre has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre was named the Globe at that time. When the photo was taken the theatre was presenting Burlesque shows on stage. Fairly large lit signs had been attached to the top of each side of the marquee reading “Glorified Burlesque”. The names of various performers were posted on the marquee itself, and from the bottom edges of the marquee were hung elaborate cloth banners reading “Glorified Traveling Burlesque”. I don’t know if they also presented movies between stage shows; I suspect that they probably did. The Report states that the Globe is on Burlesque; that it does not present MGM films; that it was built before 1910, and is in Fair condition; and has 1,457 seats.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Publix has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre was named “Gayety” then. Movies posted on the fancy, glittering multi-bulbed marquee are Alice Faye and Betty Grable in “Tin Pan Alley”, plus “The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date”. Above the marquee is a sign which reads “All Seats 10 cents & 15 cents”. Some time between the taking of the photo and the completion of the report, the theatre switched to a live Burlesque show policy. I don’t know if they also showed films (probably). The Report states that the theatre is on Burlesque; that it does not show MGM product; that it’s in Poor condition; and has 570 seats on the main floor and 400 balcony seats; total: 970 seats (not including the 2nd balcony and the boxes.)
It will be interesting to see how the theatre name appears in newspaper ads and posters during the next several weeks. The “CitiWang” name was on the lower marquee as of Nov. 30th but now they have wrapped blue plastic with the new name around the top of the upper marquee. And I don’t associate the bright blue color with the staid Wang Theatre ! Ugh !
The link posted above by Lost Memory on Oct 28 2005 is of this theatre. The old photo is of the same building as in the 1941 MGM Report; however, by 1941, the theatre had a new glitzy marquee; also the vacant lot to the right of the theatre in Lost’s old photo has a structure on it in 1941.
The MGM Theatre and Photograph Report for the Strand Theatre on Elm St. in Southbridge has an exterior photo taken in May 1941. The entrance was on the right side of a 2-story building with a shop to the left. There was a glittering marquee with the movies posted in black letters on a white background: Lucille Ball in “A Girl, A Guy and a Gob”, plus “Border Vigilantes” . The Report states that the Strand has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old, is in Good condition, and has 1,586 seats. There were no other competing theatres in Southbridge and the 1940 population was 16,800.
The expression “RKO Vaudeville” means that the vaude acts were booked through the RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) office (ex-Keith’s); the RKO movie studio was a different arm of the same company. Most of the theatres in Massachusetts which still presented some live Vaude, like the Fitchburg Th. in 1932, would have booked it through RKO.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Royal Th. in Worcester has a facade photo taken in May 1941. There is an elaborate 1920-style entrance in the middle of a commercial block. Beneath the marquee is a centered box-office with double doors on each side. The name “Royal” is on the front of the marquee and there appears to be some sort of emblem directly above the name. The Report states that the Royal is on Main St. in Worcester; that it has been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; is in Poor condition, and has 780 seats, all on one floor.
There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for this theatre with a facade photo taken in March 1941. Someone typed “Walden” as the theatre name, then crossed it out and wrote in a name which I cannot read; it’s not “Images”, but looks something like “Gacomis”. Did this theatre have another name before it was named “Images” ? The photo shows a narrow entrance in a 2-story business block. There is an arch over the entrance, poster cases on either side and a vertical sign above, but no marquee. The Report states that the theatre is on Spring St. in Williamstown MA, that the theatre has been a MGM customer for 10 years; that it’s over 10 years old; that it’s in Good condition; and has 492 seats, all apparently on one floor. It says that there are no competing theatres in town, and that the 1940 population of Williamstown was 4,294.
A report on local TV news tonight stated flatly that the “30-year-old” theatre would be torn down and replaced with an up-to-date new concert hall. A photo was shown of the Berklee’s auditorium ( The theatre may have been used by the music school for 30 years but it is, of course, much older.)
There is a sequence in one of the old “Seinfeld” shows in which the character of Elaine attempts to save 3 seats in a busy Manhatten cinema prior to a Saturday night screening. The gag was milked for all it was worth!