Here is a report in the Harvard Crimson on the day of the informal opening of the University Theatre on October 30, 1926 to invited guests. The theatre would formally open the following day to the general public. The first film presentation was The Midnight Sun with Laura La Plante and Pat O'Malley. The online report has it weirdly as “The Mad in his Sun…Stirrings Laura La Planet.”! Uh huh, yeah.
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.
On April 27, 1921 the Harvard Crimson reported:
“The famous ‘East Lynne’ appears in photoplay form as the leading feature at the Park Theatre this week. In action and plot it closely follows the well-known theme of heroine and villain with the result that a true melodramatic production appears on the screen. Eva Novak in ‘Society Secrets’ is the other feature.”
Last time I was by a few weeks ago, construction seemed to be in progress, with a massive rear-of-stage area being readied. But there have been so many starts and stops here that I can only believe it when I see the final results.
Scott, what a fascinating recollection! I knew who King Odell was. We both had experience teaching Italian, he at Moses Brown, I at La Salle. And when I ran the Italian Film Society of RI at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, I believe he occasionally patronized our programs.
Here is a photo of the Empire’s antique ticket booth which I took in 2005.
A newspaper ad for April 24, 1949 shows that the Empire (New Empire, formerly Bijou) was showing a double bill of Shoe Shine and About Face. Shoe Shine, the Italian neorealist tragedy by Vittorio De Sica, was hardly a typical film for this flea-pit theatre. Its pairing with About Face, a 1942 B-film with William Tracy and Joe Sawyer, was certainly very weird. Two months later, in June of 1949, the theatre would have its last programs (see above) and then be closed and soon demolished.
Ming, as you have seen by now, my friend Douglas Brown confirmed (on the Carlton page) that William R. Walker & Sons also did the Carlton Theatre. I should have referred you to him in the first place since he has detailed historical knowledge about all of downtown Providence’s buildings. A year ago last June we walked together to all the sites of former theatres in that area and shared what we knew. I saw movies at the Carlton in the early 1950s, but never at the Rialto, which closed in the 1930s, before I was born. Be sure to post any additional findings of your own.
A week before the Central Square closed on April 1, 1980, I saw the last two films I would see there: revivals of To Be or Not to Be (1942) and Sunnyside Up (1929). They ran programs here in both 35mm and 16mm.
A Christmas Day newspaper ad in 1960 listed the films High Time and Young Jesse James with the reminder: “Attention, kids, there will be a matinee Monday.”
I wrote in my log about going to see at film at the “new” Lincoln Mall Cinemas in July 1975. So the place had to have opened in the summer of 1975. The first film I saw there, shortly after opening, was Jaws. I described the decor as being “bomb shelter” style.
Here is an entire PROGRAM BOOKLET for the end of 1928, listing current and coming attractions, both films and vaudeville acts, including Maurice Chevalier.
Harvard Crimson article on the history of the theatre at the time of its closing in 1980.
Here is a 1925 Harvard Crimson piece on plans to build a theatre in Harvard Square. It would be completed in 1926 as the University Theatre.
Here is a report in the Harvard Crimson on the day of the informal opening of the University Theatre on October 30, 1926 to invited guests. The theatre would formally open the following day to the general public. The first film presentation was The Midnight Sun with Laura La Plante and Pat O'Malley. The online report has it weirdly as “The Mad in his Sun…Stirrings Laura La Planet.”! Uh huh, yeah.
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.
On April 27, 1921 the Harvard Crimson reported:
“The famous ‘East Lynne’ appears in photoplay form as the leading feature at the Park Theatre this week. In action and plot it closely follows the well-known theme of heroine and villain with the result that a true melodramatic production appears on the screen. Eva Novak in ‘Society Secrets’ is the other feature.”
In February 1938 the Henry King movie In Old Chicago, with Alice Faye, was playing at the Colonial Theatre. Here is a review from the Harvard Crimson.
A nice ARTICLE ON THE FULTON, WITH PHOTO appeared in today’s New York Times.
Yes, I am almost certain it did. I attended a number of 70mm showings here, including a couple mentioned in the first post.
Yes, it still exists as a mini-mall.
2004 PHOTO
Last time I was by a few weeks ago, construction seemed to be in progress, with a massive rear-of-stage area being readied. But there have been so many starts and stops here that I can only believe it when I see the final results.
The Italian film Mafioso, successfully revived not too long ago, had its original 1964 American premiere at the Rialto and the Murray Hill.
The Italian film Mafioso, successfully revived not too long ago, had its original 1964 American premiere at the Murray Hill and the Rialto.
I believe the name Hanover comes from the Hanover Insurance Group of Worcester which provided some substantial funding for the theatre’s restoration.
Here is MY PHOTO of the Capawock in 2003.
Here are two photos of the Strand from 2003:
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
Scott, what a fascinating recollection! I knew who King Odell was. We both had experience teaching Italian, he at Moses Brown, I at La Salle. And when I ran the Italian Film Society of RI at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, I believe he occasionally patronized our programs.
Here is a photo of the Empire’s antique ticket booth which I took in 2005.
A newspaper ad for April 24, 1949 shows that the Empire (New Empire, formerly Bijou) was showing a double bill of Shoe Shine and About Face. Shoe Shine, the Italian neorealist tragedy by Vittorio De Sica, was hardly a typical film for this flea-pit theatre. Its pairing with About Face, a 1942 B-film with William Tracy and Joe Sawyer, was certainly very weird. Two months later, in June of 1949, the theatre would have its last programs (see above) and then be closed and soon demolished.
Here is a PHOTO of Thames Street, circa 1908, with the sign for the Star Theatre on the right.
Ming, as you have seen by now, my friend Douglas Brown confirmed (on the Carlton page) that William R. Walker & Sons also did the Carlton Theatre. I should have referred you to him in the first place since he has detailed historical knowledge about all of downtown Providence’s buildings. A year ago last June we walked together to all the sites of former theatres in that area and shared what we knew. I saw movies at the Carlton in the early 1950s, but never at the Rialto, which closed in the 1930s, before I was born. Be sure to post any additional findings of your own.
Ming, I don’t know. But Roger Brett’s book Temples of Illusion may contain that information. I don’t remember.
Here is a New York Times article on the current situation of the Regent/Slave No. 1 Theatre.
A week before the Central Square closed on April 1, 1980, I saw the last two films I would see there: revivals of To Be or Not to Be (1942) and Sunnyside Up (1929). They ran programs here in both 35mm and 16mm.
A Christmas Day newspaper ad in 1960 listed the films High Time and Young Jesse James with the reminder: “Attention, kids, there will be a matinee Monday.”
I wrote in my log about going to see at film at the “new” Lincoln Mall Cinemas in July 1975. So the place had to have opened in the summer of 1975. The first film I saw there, shortly after opening, was Jaws. I described the decor as being “bomb shelter” style.
Here is an entire PROGRAM BOOKLET for the end of 1928, listing current and coming attractions, both films and vaudeville acts, including Maurice Chevalier.