Ron, is there any way of scanning those MGM report form photos you refer to? And where might that material be available? I never visited the Durfee, though I had ample opportunities to do so and drove by it a number of times. I missed Lillian Gish when she came here in the 1970s (much to my everlasting regret) and I have never been able to see a photo of the place.
You’ve got me on that one, Al. The CT-powers-that-be seem to have a grudge against that theatre. Whatever else it was, it was also a cinema treasure. Keep trying.
Re: James Woods. Correct. When he was in town, he would actually work in the store. That must have startled a few people coming in to rent films. Apponaug, I believe.
I believe it is doing well, judging by the times I’ve been. And there is a popular IMAX right across from the entrance to this theatre. The mall is a huge success, from the looks of it. There were some sporadic problems in the mall itself with rowdy youngsters, but nothing major. People from the suburbs do come here.
When actor Anthony Quinn lived in Bristol, he used to come here. I once bumped into him and his kids/grandkids. They were going to IMAX, I believe, and I overheard Quinn say something about Nordstrom. Quinn used to hang out with Mayor Buddy Cianci, who is now serving a prison term on racketeering charges. But he did turn the city around. There are lots of popular restaurants in and around the mall. It is adjacent to the Waterfire events. A new GTech building is going up across. The whole area is hopping.
This theatre has been closed for decades and hasn’t shgown movies in nearly 30 years. A local cultural organization has purchased it with plans to use it for community activities. Still needs lots of work. See postings above for September 8, 2005. When it was an art house (1958 to early 1970s) the runs were open-ended. They sometimes did special film series (Bergman comes to mind.)
Lonesome Cowboys, which I actually saw there, is not porno. It was an Andy Warhol factory film co-directed by Paul Morrissey, with Joe Dallessandro. Raunchy, yes. Porno, no. A very bad film.
This theatre, despite its generic qualities like all the rest, is where I see most of the new Hollywood movies of interest to me. It is a 12 minute drive from my house. They also currently have $3.50-for-seniors Wednesdays as do a number of the National Amusements theatres in the area, with the notable exception of Providence Place 16.
Actually, the marquee in the above photo, upon close examination of the postcard, announces the film Personal Property with Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor. That would place the image at around 1937.
The Warwick Musical Theatre began its life as a large tent and then later became the large rectangular building I linked to above. Here is an image from a postcard pictured for sale on eBay right now.
I recall it vaguely as being a kind of very large circus tent and with a center stage and seating on all or at least three sides. It was very basic and unadorned, like an instant building. Only minimal props were used for productions, I think. Performers ran up and down aisles to enter or exit the stage area. I believe patrons generally dressed casually. I honestly don’t remember very many details at all. I should have gone more often. There has to be a Warwick Historical Society that might have programs, photos, etc. The Providence Public Library has a card catalog by topics of Providence Journal articles. I’m sure those could be a big help, since I have used them to research the history of old RI movie theatres and with good results. The WMT was certainly a major summer attraction in that city and drew people from all over Rhode Island and beyond.
Yes, the Warwick Musical Theatre was in Warwick, Rhode Island, a number of miles from this Warwick Cinema. I believe I was there only once, for the musical show Annie Get Your Gun, with Howard Keel, back in the 1960s. I will look at the website you refer to.
To “lifeistrulybeautiful”:
No, those tickets sound like they might be for the Warwick Musical Theatre, at 522 Quaker Lane. It was a large seasonal structure and presented musicals and popular performers during the summer for many decades. The place no longer exists. Try Googling “Warwick Musical Theatre” for whatever information or photos you can find. I found this picture.
This old postcard image shows the entrance to the Imperial Theatre around the year 1907. The poster on the left is for vaudevillians Baker and Lynn. The shoe-shine parlor on the right charges 5¢ for ladies and gents. The windows above the entrance are for residential apartments, and the start of the theatre’s famous (infamous?) jungle of fire escapes can be seen. This is a rare and remarkable photo of a historic theatre of Providence.
Here is a postcard image of the exterior of the Boston Theatre in 1911. On the program was Sarah Bernhardt performing from L'Aiglon, Jeanne d'Arc, and Camille.
A 1940s or late 1930s postcard view of Westminster Street. The marquee for the Empire Theatre can be spotted on the right, across from the Shepard’s clock that is between Cherry & Webb and Boston Store. Expand for better view.
This is a closer view.
This photo shows Weybosset Street and Loew’s State in the 1940s. On the left, with the blue roof, appears to be the rear of the building block which contained the Empire Theatre. Its front was a block over on Westminster Street.
This postcard of Weybosset Street shows Loew’s State Theatre in the 1940s. The building on the left with the blue roof appears to be the rear of the former Empire Theatre (Keith’s, Victory) which had its entrance on Westminster Street.
Ron, is there any way of scanning those MGM report form photos you refer to? And where might that material be available? I never visited the Durfee, though I had ample opportunities to do so and drove by it a number of times. I missed Lillian Gish when she came here in the 1970s (much to my everlasting regret) and I have never been able to see a photo of the place.
You’ve got me on that one, Al. The CT-powers-that-be seem to have a grudge against that theatre. Whatever else it was, it was also a cinema treasure. Keep trying.
That was an interim period before the Paris went hardcore. Gay on one screen, straight on the other, I believe.
Re: James Woods. Correct. When he was in town, he would actually work in the store. That must have startled a few people coming in to rent films. Apponaug, I believe.
Yes, two bowling-alley style auditoriums resulted. Puny screens compared to the original. Demolished. Now a Shaw’s Market.
I believe it is still operating seasonally, and was something like $17 for a carload last year.
I believe it is doing well, judging by the times I’ve been. And there is a popular IMAX right across from the entrance to this theatre. The mall is a huge success, from the looks of it. There were some sporadic problems in the mall itself with rowdy youngsters, but nothing major. People from the suburbs do come here.
When actor Anthony Quinn lived in Bristol, he used to come here. I once bumped into him and his kids/grandkids. They were going to IMAX, I believe, and I overheard Quinn say something about Nordstrom. Quinn used to hang out with Mayor Buddy Cianci, who is now serving a prison term on racketeering charges. But he did turn the city around. There are lots of popular restaurants in and around the mall. It is adjacent to the Waterfire events. A new GTech building is going up across. The whole area is hopping.
The Strand now is Lupo’s.
This theatre has been closed for decades and hasn’t shgown movies in nearly 30 years. A local cultural organization has purchased it with plans to use it for community activities. Still needs lots of work. See postings above for September 8, 2005. When it was an art house (1958 to early 1970s) the runs were open-ended. They sometimes did special film series (Bergman comes to mind.)
Lonesome Cowboys, which I actually saw there, is not porno. It was an Andy Warhol factory film co-directed by Paul Morrissey, with Joe Dallessandro. Raunchy, yes. Porno, no. A very bad film.
The do get some first-run films, generally of the off-beat type. Currently playing is a first run of Stay Until Tomorrow, made by local filmmaker Laura Colella. I plan to see it tonight. They showed the documentary Why We Fight as a Providence first-run. The French Film Festival, run here by Brown University, is a nice annual event. They are hosting part of the Latino Film Festival starring Friday. In the café they always have walls covered with posters of films that are presumably coming attractions. Some of them in fact never come. Entertainment Weekly last year named this one of the top ten theatres in the nation. But it does have a haphazard aura…part of its slovenly charm.
This theatre, despite its generic qualities like all the rest, is where I see most of the new Hollywood movies of interest to me. It is a 12 minute drive from my house. They also currently have $3.50-for-seniors Wednesdays as do a number of the National Amusements theatres in the area, with the notable exception of Providence Place 16.
A market has taken its place.
The Dulgarian family runs it as a prestige venture and owns the entire block of real estate, indeed much other real estate in Providence. Even if it lost money, I’d hope they would continue the operation…although the College Hill Bookstore, at the corner of the Avon’s block, was shut down not too long ago because of declining business. Everyone hopes it is not an omen for the Avon. The theatre gets very decent though not huge audiences for most of its offerings and the owners are aware of the enormous good-will generated by this theatre…plus off-shoot business in the nearby shops and restaurants. The Avon is the oldest movie theatre in Providence that is still showing movies on a regular basis. It is one of the three single-screen movie theatres in Rhode Island that are still regularly showing movies: the other two are the Cable Car Cinema in Providence and the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport. Revival House in Westerly is not in the running, being essentially a café with a DVD-projection set-up.
Here are a couple more photos of this theatre:
As the CROWN THEATRE, around 1915. One can see nicely attired vacationers on Bay Street, an electric trolley, and the carousel.
As the NINIGRET THEATRE, after 1920. The poster on the left appears to be for a Charlie Chaplin film.
The theatre became Fiore’s Market in 1951.
Actually, the marquee in the above photo, upon close examination of the postcard, announces the film Personal Property with Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor. That would place the image at around 1937.
No, the Warwick Musical Theatre on Quaker Lane. Go to the Warwick Cinema page for a discussion of this.
The Warwick Musical Theatre began its life as a large tent and then later became the large rectangular building I linked to above. Here is an image from a postcard pictured for sale on eBay right now.
I recall it vaguely as being a kind of very large circus tent and with a center stage and seating on all or at least three sides. It was very basic and unadorned, like an instant building. Only minimal props were used for productions, I think. Performers ran up and down aisles to enter or exit the stage area. I believe patrons generally dressed casually. I honestly don’t remember very many details at all. I should have gone more often. There has to be a Warwick Historical Society that might have programs, photos, etc. The Providence Public Library has a card catalog by topics of Providence Journal articles. I’m sure those could be a big help, since I have used them to research the history of old RI movie theatres and with good results. The WMT was certainly a major summer attraction in that city and drew people from all over Rhode Island and beyond.
Yes, the Warwick Musical Theatre was in Warwick, Rhode Island, a number of miles from this Warwick Cinema. I believe I was there only once, for the musical show Annie Get Your Gun, with Howard Keel, back in the 1960s. I will look at the website you refer to.
To “lifeistrulybeautiful”:
No, those tickets sound like they might be for the Warwick Musical Theatre, at 522 Quaker Lane. It was a large seasonal structure and presented musicals and popular performers during the summer for many decades. The place no longer exists. Try Googling “Warwick Musical Theatre” for whatever information or photos you can find. I found this picture.
This old postcard image shows the entrance to the Imperial Theatre around the year 1907. The poster on the left is for vaudevillians Baker and Lynn. The shoe-shine parlor on the right charges 5¢ for ladies and gents. The windows above the entrance are for residential apartments, and the start of the theatre’s famous (infamous?) jungle of fire escapes can be seen. This is a rare and remarkable photo of a historic theatre of Providence.
Here is a postcard image of the exterior of the Boston Theatre in 1911. On the program was Sarah Bernhardt performing from L'Aiglon, Jeanne d'Arc, and Camille.
A 1940s or late 1930s postcard view of Westminster Street. The marquee for the Empire Theatre can be spotted on the right, across from the Shepard’s clock that is between Cherry & Webb and Boston Store. Expand for better view.
This is a closer view.
This photo shows Weybosset Street and Loew’s State in the 1940s. On the left, with the blue roof, appears to be the rear of the building block which contained the Empire Theatre. Its front was a block over on Westminster Street.
This postcard of Weybosset Street shows Loew’s State Theatre in the 1940s. The building on the left with the blue roof appears to be the rear of the former Empire Theatre (Keith’s, Victory) which had its entrance on Westminster Street.