A Facebook friend of mine wrote about walking to the Olympia with family members from up on Hartford Avenue. He said, “There were 6 of us siblings that would go together. For 25 cents each we would see the a cartoon at the beginning, then the Newsreel, two feature movies and then another couple of cartoons and then we would collect a piece of dinnerware until my mother had enough for our family of 13."
Craigie, are you sure you are not thinking of the Casino in Narragansett? I don’t think the Matunuck Theatre-by-the-Sea would show Disney films in the 1970s. Plus they didn’t have 35mm projection. For the special series in 1968 they set up 16mm projectors. (See my comment above.)
It had previously, in the 1920s, also been known as the Empire. Empire, Bijou, Westminster and Victory were names given to several Providence theatres over the decades, changing back and forth almost helter-skelter over the decades. Very confusing! Took me a long time to sort them all out.
A personal recollection of Woonsocket theatres, especially the Laurier, during the Depression years and after, can be found in the 2017 book “Woonsocket Born: Memories of Growing Up During the Great Depression and World War II,” by Alex C. Papianou. It is available for borrowing through the Ocean State Library System. The Laurier Theatre is humorously discussed on pages 46-48.
Warwick Cinema years: 1964-1983. Razed 1995. The Sound of Music ran here for 86 weeks, 1965-1966 in 70mm.
1908 circa.
A Facebook friend of mine wrote about walking to the Olympia with family members from up on Hartford Avenue. He said, “There were 6 of us siblings that would go together. For 25 cents each we would see the a cartoon at the beginning, then the Newsreel, two feature movies and then another couple of cartoons and then we would collect a piece of dinnerware until my mother had enough for our family of 13."
Jane Pickens.
December 3, 1922.
Truer words were never spoken.
A block from Mussolini Street!
Full view.
Craigie, are you sure you are not thinking of the Casino in Narragansett? I don’t think the Matunuck Theatre-by-the-Sea would show Disney films in the 1970s. Plus they didn’t have 35mm projection. For the special series in 1968 they set up 16mm projectors. (See my comment above.)
November 25, 1939.
1925, approximately. The Biltmore has been completed. The Industrial National Bank is not there yet on Exchange Place.
It had previously, in the 1920s, also been known as the Empire. Empire, Bijou, Westminster and Victory were names given to several Providence theatres over the decades, changing back and forth almost helter-skelter over the decades. Very confusing! Took me a long time to sort them all out.
That’s spelled Hartford Avenue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Pickens_Langley
1940s.
Johnston Theatre in background, seen from Amoco station.
The vertical marquee “Scenic” is visible on the right.
Roadshow engagement: two shows daily, reserved seats!
Two Providence art houses in October, 1962: The Art Cinema on Broad Street, the Avon Cinema on Thayer Street.
Marquee advises people to visit the nearby Olympia Theatre.
This theatre appears to be almost identical to Woonsocket’s Stadium Theatre, which fortunately has been preserved and is in current use.
The year is 1943.
Keith’s Theatre entranceway arch on right side.
A personal recollection of Woonsocket theatres, especially the Laurier, during the Depression years and after, can be found in the 2017 book “Woonsocket Born: Memories of Growing Up During the Great Depression and World War II,” by Alex C. Papianou. It is available for borrowing through the Ocean State Library System. The Laurier Theatre is humorously discussed on pages 46-48.