Revival of Chaplin’s 1931 City Lights at the Metropolitan.
From Boxoffice Magazine, December 2, 1950:
“The recent presentation of Charlie Chaplin’s "City Lights” at the Metropolitan not ony resulted in Bradford F. Swan, critic on the Journal-Bulletin, devoting practically the entire column praising the film and its artistry, but it also made the In Perspective column, which is alternately written by leading staff writers and has met with such widespread acclaim that the choicest bits have been published in book form."
From Boxoffice Magazine, December 2, 1950:
“Employees of the Avon Cinema had plenty of cause to be thankful on Thanksgiving. Charles R. Darby, manager, presented every employee a big plump turkey! Recently Darby scored with plenty of well-planned publicity on his twin bill of "The King’s Jester” and “Pagliacci.” The city has a large Italian population and Darby arranged a quiz program on a local radio station offering guest tickets. “The Red Shoes,” which ran for eight weeks at the Avon some time ago, has been scheduled for a return engagement."
An article on the Union Theatre, contrasting the old marquee with the new and offering additional photos along with the story, can be found in Boxoffice Magazine, January 7, 1950. Page 33. http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_010750
Report on demolition of Empire Theatre (long known as the Bijou). Boxoffice Magazine, January 7, 1950:
[b]WRECKING CREW TEARS DOWN EMPIRE AT PROVIDENCE
“PROVIDENCE[/b] -The oldest theatre in this city started falling under tha hammers and crowbars of a wrecker, as the Empire, long a landmark, passed into memory. Abe Spitz, who took over operation of the house in 1900, could not furnish the exact date in 1870 when the house opened, but he mentioned that it and the old Providence Opera House, which long since passed into oblivion, were at one time the only two theatres in the city.
“Opened originally as the Westminster, it featured old-time burlesque and ‘traveling musicals, minstrels and the like.’ When Spitz took over at the turn of the century, he named the house the Bijou.
“‘Cheri’ was one of the last musical revues to play the Bijou. That was in March 1930.
“Shortly after that Spitz converted it into a second-run house and changed the name to the Empire. It was under this title that the theatre operated until about six months ago when it was shuttered for good.
“Advertising recently appeared in local newspapers offering ‘over 1000 seats,’ from which generations of theatregoers had watched melodramas, burlesque, and films. The seats were snapped up by local sports arenas and the Salvation Army.”
Judging by the info presented above, the theatre was still in existence in the mid 1950s and had installed CinemaScope. Anyone have any more precise information about when it ceased operation?
Kenster,
Yes, I would be very interested in your posting the contents of that letter. That would be an important historical documentation of the place. Goodness knows there is precious little that survives, no significant period photos of the inside or out.
No, Bruce, there aren’t, except for the Patriot Cinemas on Newport Avenue, near the line with Pawtucket. The historic Hollywood Theatre on Taunton Avenue was demolished two years ago. It should have been saved and restored as a cultural center like the Stadium in Woonsocket and the Park in Cranston. Alas not enough people cared. And it would have cost millions.
Nick, as I noted in the intro, the Cinerama was closed in 1983. I believe the Turkish movie Yol was the last picture I myself saw here, on March 19, 1983, before the theatre ceased operation not long thereafter.
In the book Fifty Great American Silent Films 1912-1920, by Anthony Slide and Edward Wagenknecht, it states that the film Traffic in Souls, about white slave trade, opened here in 1914.
Ken,
No, it was never known as Bomes Theatre, It was a theatre in the Bomes mini-chain, which included the Hollywood in East Providence and the Palace in Jamestown. The fact that the Bomes name is carved at the top of the theatre facade only indicates that it was part of that ownership. The other two also had the name Bomes carved in front. It was never named Bomes Theatre, from its beginning to the present. The Hollywood in East Providence was the Hollywood from begining to end, though newspaper articles incorrectly referred to it as the “Bomes” Theatre. The Art Cinema had only two names: the Liberty and then the Art Cinema. Patrons went to the Liberty, then to the Art. All the newspaper ads (I have checked them from the 1920s to the 1960s) list it as the Liberty and then the Art, never Bomnes. If they refurbish it now and call it Bomes Theatre, well then that is a different story.
Abrunner,
You can post on the Westminster Playhouse page by clicking this following link which will take you there and then posting as you have done with the Art Cinema: /theaters/6596/
This link will take you to the Capitol Theatre: /theaters/6395/
Abrunner & Ritota,
Again, I request that you post or copy and re-post some of your comments on the Westminster Playhouse on its own page, listed under Modern Theatre: /theaters/6596/
Abrunner,
Thanks for the compliment, but I never wrote a book on Providence film theatres. I refer a lot on these pages though to Roger Brett’s splendid work on that subject, Temples of Illusion.
The small cinema in that Park Square building in Boston was not the Trans-Lux but the Telepix, later renamed the Park Square Cinema. The Trans-Lux was downtown on Washington Street. Both have pages in Cinema Treasures.
Abrunner,
Very fascinating comments. You should repost them on the Modern Theatre/Westminster Playhouse page: /theaters/6596/
When Bread Love and Dreams played there it was alone on a single bill. I have the Providence Journal newspaper ad, but perhaps it was paired in a later run? On that solo run it was a move-over from the Avon where it had played for “four record-breaking weeks.” The times were 2:10, 4:00, 5:55, 7:45, 9:35 in that ad I have.
Revival of Chaplin’s 1931 City Lights at the Metropolitan.
From Boxoffice Magazine, December 2, 1950:
“The recent presentation of Charlie Chaplin’s "City Lights” at the Metropolitan not ony resulted in Bradford F. Swan, critic on the Journal-Bulletin, devoting practically the entire column praising the film and its artistry, but it also made the In Perspective column, which is alternately written by leading staff writers and has met with such widespread acclaim that the choicest bits have been published in book form."
From Boxoffice Magazine, December 2, 1950:
“Employees of the Avon Cinema had plenty of cause to be thankful on Thanksgiving. Charles R. Darby, manager, presented every employee a big plump turkey! Recently Darby scored with plenty of well-planned publicity on his twin bill of "The King’s Jester” and “Pagliacci.” The city has a large Italian population and Darby arranged a quiz program on a local radio station offering guest tickets. “The Red Shoes,” which ran for eight weeks at the Avon some time ago, has been scheduled for a return engagement."
A small article on the 1950 opening of the Somerset Drive-In appeared in Boxoffice Magazine on July 8, 1950. Go to page 106.
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_070850-2
An article on the Union Theatre, contrasting the old marquee with the new and offering additional photos along with the story, can be found in Boxoffice Magazine, January 7, 1950. Page 33.
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_010750
Report on demolition of Empire Theatre (long known as the Bijou). Boxoffice Magazine, January 7, 1950:
[b]WRECKING CREW TEARS DOWN EMPIRE AT PROVIDENCE
“PROVIDENCE[/b] -The oldest theatre in this city started falling under tha hammers and crowbars of a wrecker, as the Empire, long a landmark, passed into memory. Abe Spitz, who took over operation of the house in 1900, could not furnish the exact date in 1870 when the house opened, but he mentioned that it and the old Providence Opera House, which long since passed into oblivion, were at one time the only two theatres in the city.
“Opened originally as the Westminster, it featured old-time burlesque and ‘traveling musicals, minstrels and the like.’ When Spitz took over at the turn of the century, he named the house the Bijou.
“‘Cheri’ was one of the last musical revues to play the Bijou. That was in March 1930.
“Shortly after that Spitz converted it into a second-run house and changed the name to the Empire. It was under this title that the theatre operated until about six months ago when it was shuttered for good.
“Advertising recently appeared in local newspapers offering ‘over 1000 seats,’ from which generations of theatregoers had watched melodramas, burlesque, and films. The seats were snapped up by local sports arenas and the Salvation Army.”
That Olneyville theatre mentioned by Christopher Ducharme was the Olympia. It has a page on CT with some rare photos.
Judging by the info presented above, the theatre was still in existence in the mid 1950s and had installed CinemaScope. Anyone have any more precise information about when it ceased operation?
William Ulrich,
Won’t you post the photo you have of the theatre by means of a link to a photo server? I would be very interested.
Hope/love/Rose,
Pics of the interior and exterior of the Capitol and other FR theatres can be seen on this page:
View link
Are there any photos that survive?
Are there any photos that survive?
Spinner,
Can’t any of the photos you have be posted here by linking to a photo server like Photobucket or Flickr? I would find them very interesting.
Roz in Florida,
With your reference to the posters of In Harm’s Way and Frankie and Johnny, the theatre must have closed in or around 1966.
Kenster,
Yes, I would be very interested in your posting the contents of that letter. That would be an important historical documentation of the place. Goodness knows there is precious little that survives, no significant period photos of the inside or out.
No, Bruce, there aren’t, except for the Patriot Cinemas on Newport Avenue, near the line with Pawtucket. The historic Hollywood Theatre on Taunton Avenue was demolished two years ago. It should have been saved and restored as a cultural center like the Stadium in Woonsocket and the Park in Cranston. Alas not enough people cared. And it would have cost millions.
Nick, as I noted in the intro, the Cinerama was closed in 1983. I believe the Turkish movie Yol was the last picture I myself saw here, on March 19, 1983, before the theatre ceased operation not long thereafter.
In the book Fifty Great American Silent Films 1912-1920, by Anthony Slide and Edward Wagenknecht, it states that the film Traffic in Souls, about white slave trade, opened here in 1914.
Ken,
No, it was never known as Bomes Theatre, It was a theatre in the Bomes mini-chain, which included the Hollywood in East Providence and the Palace in Jamestown. The fact that the Bomes name is carved at the top of the theatre facade only indicates that it was part of that ownership. The other two also had the name Bomes carved in front. It was never named Bomes Theatre, from its beginning to the present. The Hollywood in East Providence was the Hollywood from begining to end, though newspaper articles incorrectly referred to it as the “Bomes” Theatre. The Art Cinema had only two names: the Liberty and then the Art Cinema. Patrons went to the Liberty, then to the Art. All the newspaper ads (I have checked them from the 1920s to the 1960s) list it as the Liberty and then the Art, never Bomnes. If they refurbish it now and call it Bomes Theatre, well then that is a different story.
Joe,
That is an excellent piece you’ve posted a link to. I believe it contains the only known photos of Pawtucket’s Loew’s Capitol/Center Theatre.
Abrunner,
You can post on the Westminster Playhouse page by clicking this following link which will take you there and then posting as you have done with the Art Cinema:
/theaters/6596/
This link will take you to the Capitol Theatre:
/theaters/6395/
Abrunner & Ritota,
Again, I request that you post or copy and re-post some of your comments on the Westminster Playhouse on its own page, listed under Modern Theatre:
/theaters/6596/
A number of comments on and recollections of this theatre appear on the Art Cinema page
/theaters/6400/
Abrunner,
Thanks for the compliment, but I never wrote a book on Providence film theatres. I refer a lot on these pages though to Roger Brett’s splendid work on that subject, Temples of Illusion.
Abrunner,
More interesting memories!
The small cinema in that Park Square building in Boston was not the Trans-Lux but the Telepix, later renamed the Park Square Cinema. The Trans-Lux was downtown on Washington Street. Both have pages in Cinema Treasures.
Abrunner,
Very fascinating comments. You should repost them on the Modern Theatre/Westminster Playhouse page: /theaters/6596/
When Bread Love and Dreams played there it was alone on a single bill. I have the Providence Journal newspaper ad, but perhaps it was paired in a later run? On that solo run it was a move-over from the Avon where it had played for “four record-breaking weeks.” The times were 2:10, 4:00, 5:55, 7:45, 9:35 in that ad I have.