We can both thank user jmed, whose collection this is, posted earlier on the Durfee page and the links page. Mr. Bentley, I hope you keep us updated on progress at the Capitol. It would be thrilling if this theatre could eventually become another Zeiterion or PPAC.
No, Douglas. You are wrong on this. The Emery was built as the Emery and then became the Carlton. The one that became Shepard’s Tea Room was the Casino, between Washington Street and Westminster Street. The Casino had only one name. It was across the street from the Scenic that became the Rialto. Also, you are confusing the Rialto and the Carlton. The Scenic that became the Rialto was NOT in the block between Washington and Fountain but in the block between Washington and Westminster! The last theatre and marquee on Mathewson was the Carlton, not the Rialto, though part of the Rialto’s facade still exists. The Carlton never became Shepard’s Tea Room. How could it? It became a parking lot. It was on the other side of the street and a block away! It was the Casino that became Shepard’s Tea Room. The Casino ceased operation sometime in the early 1920s at the latest. If you read Roger Brett’s Temples of Illusion, about the history of Providence theatres, it will clear this up for you. It even has a map with a guide to theatre names. This excellent book is available at the Providence Public Library. You are confusing two of the Mathewson Street blocks and the names of the former theatres on them, even though you have been to all of them, except probably the very old Casino. Finally, the Empire no longer existed in 1950, as you say. It had closed in 1948.
You have some fascinating memories here, sir! Thank you for posting your recollections.
Regarding the Carlton Theatre: it existed until 1953. Providence Journal advertisements that I checked have verified this. I myself remember seeing Angelo and Peter Pan here when a child. I saw Peter Pan there in 1953 when I was 11. The site is now a parking lot in the block between Fountain Street and Washington Street. The theatre on Mathewson Street between Washington Street and Westminster Street that was razed in the 1940s and that you went to was probably the Rialto, across from Shepard’s Tea Room. The front part still exists! There is a link to a picture I posted on the Rialto page. Shepard’s Tea Room replaced a much older theatre called the Casino that survived only into the 1920s. I would be very much interested in what (else) you have to say about the Empire, about the Bijou (“the sink”), the Capitol, the Metropolitan, and any other Providence theatres. Can you post more information on those pages? They are ALL on Cinema Treasures.
Here are two pictures of the Olympia. FIRST PICTURE – nice old postcard SECOND PICTURE – poor quality image from 1941, as described by Ron Salters above.
Next to the Globe Theatre can be seen the Premier in this old postcard that probably dates back to the last years of the first decade of the 1900s, not long after the theatre was built,
No. I would surmise that it is the end of the first decade of the 1900s. A lot of similar postcards seem to date from that era. I’ll cross-post the link to the Premier page.
The Rustic is now open for the 2006 season and showing first-run movies, including The Da Vinci Code. Aren’t first-run drive-ins pretty unusual? There is a first-run movie and a second recent feature on each of the three screens.
That second-floor windowed area was a sort of lounge, I believe, behind the projection booth, and I think that is where the rest rooms were…unless memory fails. Gee, I just noticed I am the person who originally posted this theatre.
No, I intended from to mean not “taken from the Union Trust Building,” but “showing Westminster Street from the Union Trust Building” on. Perhaps badly phrased.
Here is apost World War I postcard of the E.F. Albee Theatre and businesses on Westminster Street. Grace Church is seen on the near left. (Expand for clearer image.)
The Rialto was closed in the period of 1935-36. Most of the building was torn down and the remaining front part was converted to shops and offices.
We can both thank user jmed, whose collection this is, posted earlier on the Durfee page and the links page. Mr. Bentley, I hope you keep us updated on progress at the Capitol. It would be thrilling if this theatre could eventually become another Zeiterion or PPAC.
An impressive collection of rare photos of historic Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of historic Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of historic Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of historic Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of historic Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here. These are what have been lost!
An impressive collection of rare photos of the Bijou (post theatre years) and other Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of the Capitol and other Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
An impressive collection of rare photos of the Academy and other Fall River theatres can be seen by clicking here.
A fantastic collection of images that fill a void! I am so grateful. Many thanks indeed.
No, Douglas. You are wrong on this. The Emery was built as the Emery and then became the Carlton. The one that became Shepard’s Tea Room was the Casino, between Washington Street and Westminster Street. The Casino had only one name. It was across the street from the Scenic that became the Rialto. Also, you are confusing the Rialto and the Carlton. The Scenic that became the Rialto was NOT in the block between Washington and Fountain but in the block between Washington and Westminster! The last theatre and marquee on Mathewson was the Carlton, not the Rialto, though part of the Rialto’s facade still exists. The Carlton never became Shepard’s Tea Room. How could it? It became a parking lot. It was on the other side of the street and a block away! It was the Casino that became Shepard’s Tea Room. The Casino ceased operation sometime in the early 1920s at the latest. If you read Roger Brett’s Temples of Illusion, about the history of Providence theatres, it will clear this up for you. It even has a map with a guide to theatre names. This excellent book is available at the Providence Public Library. You are confusing two of the Mathewson Street blocks and the names of the former theatres on them, even though you have been to all of them, except probably the very old Casino. Finally, the Empire no longer existed in 1950, as you say. It had closed in 1948.
You have some fascinating memories here, sir! Thank you for posting your recollections.
Regarding the Carlton Theatre: it existed until 1953. Providence Journal advertisements that I checked have verified this. I myself remember seeing Angelo and Peter Pan here when a child. I saw Peter Pan there in 1953 when I was 11. The site is now a parking lot in the block between Fountain Street and Washington Street. The theatre on Mathewson Street between Washington Street and Westminster Street that was razed in the 1940s and that you went to was probably the Rialto, across from Shepard’s Tea Room. The front part still exists! There is a link to a picture I posted on the Rialto page. Shepard’s Tea Room replaced a much older theatre called the Casino that survived only into the 1920s. I would be very much interested in what (else) you have to say about the Empire, about the Bijou (“the sink”), the Capitol, the Metropolitan, and any other Providence theatres. Can you post more information on those pages? They are ALL on Cinema Treasures.
Here are two pictures of the Olympia.
FIRST PICTURE – nice old postcard
SECOND PICTURE – poor quality image from 1941, as described by Ron Salters above.
jmed…These are incredibly good pictures. Many many thanks! I can’t wait to see links to pics of other Fall River theatres posted on their pages.
Next to the Globe Theatre can be seen the Premier in this old postcard that probably dates back to the last years of the first decade of the 1900s, not long after the theatre was built,
No. I would surmise that it is the end of the first decade of the 1900s. A lot of similar postcards seem to date from that era. I’ll cross-post the link to the Premier page.
Here’s an old postcard image of the Globe Theatre.
Here are a couple of photos of the Empire along with a few of the Durfee of Fall River.
jmed: Where is the link to the Durfee photos on your Photobucket site? Can you link it here? I’d really like to see those pictures.
The Rustic is now open for the 2006 season and showing first-run movies, including The Da Vinci Code. Aren’t first-run drive-ins pretty unusual? There is a first-run movie and a second recent feature on each of the three screens.
That second-floor windowed area was a sort of lounge, I believe, behind the projection booth, and I think that is where the rest rooms were…unless memory fails. Gee, I just noticed I am the person who originally posted this theatre.
Here is a postcard photo of the Hyannis Theatre from the 1920s.
No, I intended from to mean not “taken from the Union Trust Building,” but “showing Westminster Street from the Union Trust Building” on. Perhaps badly phrased.
Here is apost World War I postcard of the E.F. Albee Theatre and businesses on Westminster Street. Grace Church is seen on the near left. (Expand for clearer image.)