From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
By the early 1970’s the Woonsocket Opera House was a sadly-neglected, unused movie theater—the New Park Theater. The last movie had been shown in 1963, and by the end of the decade vandals had done their part in wrecking the interior. The exterior of the building, although still impressive and imposing, showed signs of decay. The marquee fronting North Main Street was in danger of collapsing.
In 1970 the city took over the theater in lieu of back taxes. By 1972 the vacant and accessible building was a public hazard. Police were frequently called to the building to evict intruders. The fire department feared a conflagration and neighboring businesses were fearful of the dangers posed by the vacant building. This was a far cry from the building’s former splendor as the centerpiece of the bustling Monument Square area.
The decaying building still proudly bore its name “Woonsocket Opera House” on its upper facade. Built in 1888, the building opened in the same year that Woonsocket became a city. It was a symbol of Woonsocket’s cultural hopes. In spite of the dreams of the Opera House’s builders, Woonsocket never became a leading stop for major theatrical groups. The really big shows and really big stars played elsewhere. The Woonsocket Opera House became the stage for traveling repertory companies and secondary road companies. For two decades it was Woonsocket’s only theater to offer legitimate stage attractions. In 1913, now called the New Park Theater, the Opera House attracted vaudeville shows. By 1915 the Opera House was Woonsocket’s leading movie theater with occasional stage shows, usually local productions. It remained a movie theater until its closing. In 1941 the theater was extensively remodeled and in 1942 new owner Arthur I. Darman brought vaudeville back to its stage for the brief reprise of vaudeville during World War II.
After World War II the Opera House suffered the fate of most American downtown theaters. Inability to compete with television and drive-in movies, population moves to the suburbs, and the general decline of movies as the prime form of American entertainment permanently closed the New Park Theater in 1963.
In June, 1972 Mayor John A. Cummings called for the demolition of the structure because of the hazards it posed. Bids were sought to raze the Opera House. The Woonsocket Historical Society, under the leadership of President Phyllis Thomas, sought to stay the demolition, proposing instead that the building be preserved and rehabilitated as a cultural center for Woonsocket.
Mrs. Thomas and Martin Crowley, Woonsocket High School history teacher, appealed to the City Council to postpone demolition. They asked for time to restore the Opera House. City Council members agreed with the sentiments of Councilman Gerard J. Bouley: “The building has been around for 84 years; a few more years won’t hurt.”
Demolition was postponed. With this new breath of life, full-scale restoration plans began. Community support for the efforts was evidenced when 22 community groups pledged to support restoration efforts. In 1973 the Opera House was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. That same year National Guardsmen and military reservists joined others in a “Clean up the Opera House Day.” In January, 1974, noted Woonsocket liturgical composer C. Alexander Peloquin presented a concert of sacred music in Saint Ann’s Church for the benefit of the restoration fund drive. The Woonsocket Opera House Society was formed to oversee the plans for and actual restoration of the building.
In August, 1975 the City Council voted to transfer the property to the Opera House Society, although lack of a clear title held up this transfer.
As hopes for the building’s salvation grew, disaster struck. In the early morning hours of September 22, 1975, a fire of suspicious origin roared through the Opera House. The building was destroyed as well as the top two floors of the adjacent Brown-Carroll Building. An 85-year-old resident of the Colonial Apartments, Mrs. Anne E. Tavnon, died in the blaze. The fears of area residents and business and public safety officials were realized; the hopes of the Woonsocket Opera House Society were dashed. An editorial in The Woonsocket Call summed up the entire Opera House story of the seventies. The editorial writer called not only the blaze but the entire Opera House episode tragic:
“It is a tragic ending for one of the city’s best-known landmarks….It is tragic, too, that those who felt so strongly that it could be renovated and refurbished…were not given a chance to implement these plans.”
Here’s a bit about the emergence of the Leroy and the Strand, and their rivalry, as taken from Susan Marie Boucher’s book The History of Pawtucket 1635-1976:
“With the opening of the Strand Theatre in 1921, and also the Leroy, a new concept was born in the entertainment world of Pawtucket. The Strand opened with a nine-piece orchestra providing the musical background, and voice and instrumental performances were given at each program. Carrying the insignia of Paramount Pictures, it ran the best shows in town.
“Vaudeville acts, ‘direct form the Palace.’ could also be seen at the Strand. The Leroy and the Strand, both large and opulent houses, were rivals for quite some time. After the advent of the ‘talkies,’ the Leroy laid claim to the coveted title of being number one—-the best in Pawtucket and one of the largest theatres in all of New England.”
Here’s a bit about the emergence of the Leroy and the Strand, and their rivalry, as taken from Susan Marie Boucher’s book The History of Pawtucket 1635-1976:
“With the opening of the Strand Theatre in 1921, and also the Leroy, a new concept was born in the entertainment world of Pawtucket. The Strand opened with a nine-piece orchestra providing the musical background, and voice and instrumental performances were given at each program. Carrying the insignia of Paramount Pictures, it ran the best shows in town.
“Vaudeville acts, ‘direct form the Palace.’ could also be seen at the Strand. The Leroy and the Strand, both large and opulent houses, were rivals for quite some time. After the advent of the ‘talkies,’ the Leroy laid claim to the coveted title of being number one—-the best in Pawtucket and one of the largest theatres in all of New England.”
This is the first-run movie theatre I generally go to for the Hollywood releases that catch my fancy. It’s not much different from the other one in Warwick, but it has the advantage of being side-by-side with Warwick Mall itself and its food court if you are feeling peckish.
There are movie patrons, I’m sure, who confuse this theatre with the similarly named Showcase Cinemas Warwick Mall. I’ve come here for years, and must have seen most of the new Martin Scorsese films here as they come out, even The Last Temptation of Christ, which had its area premiere here in 1988. For a multiplex there isn’t much to complain about, except the utter sameness. I also don’t like the smaller auditoriums here that have an emergency exit under the screen with a glaring exit light catching your eye all the time. And come to think of it, I don’t like commercials, slide-shows, and about twenty trailers before each movie. Well, not too many complaints.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
Yes, Sarah Bernhardt. The year is unclear, but it is mentioned in the book by Mathias P. Harpin, Trumpets of Jericho, about this Pawtuxet Valley town:
“Father Bourgeois brought Bernhardt to Jericho. Her agent came first to see if the theater was worthy of the great star’s talents. Father Bourgeois escorted her through the theater.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennnial History, 1888-1988:
The second playhouse [after the Laurier] to open during the 1920’s was the Stadium Theatre at Monument Square. The most palatial theatre ever erected in Woonsocket, it was formally dedicated on September 26, 1926, when the movie Padlocked, starring Noah Beery and Lois Moran, was shown.
One of the most eleborately furnished and decorated playhouses in New England, the Stadium had an auditorium 120 feet long and 90 feet wide, with a seating capacity of 1,000. Its foyer, 80 feet long and 20 feet wide, was artistically designed with an arched and vaulted ceiling and an ornamental fireplace flanked by recessed fountains. The theater was equipped with a concert organ.
Speakers at the dedication of the Stadium included Mayor Adelard L. Soucy, former U.S. Congressman Ambrose Kennedy, and Arthur I. Darman. Mr. Darman was president and treasurer of the Stadium Realty Corporation which owned the new building housing the theater.
The first lessee of the Stadium Theatre was Publix Theatres, controlled by the Players-Lasky Corporation, which operated nearly 100 theaters in New England at the time. In April, 1933, the theater was leased for $24,000 per year to Stadium Theatre, Incorporated, upon condition that it present only first-class motion pictures, vaudeville, legitimate drama, and concerts.
The Aidco Corporation, headed by Arthur I. Darman, took over operation of the Stadium Theatre in 1956. The playhouse was extensively rennovated and a grand reopening was held August 24, 1956. Despite stiff competition afforded by drive-in theaters and home television, the Stadium survived.
From Preliminary Survey Report – Town of West Warwick, 1987:
MAJESTIC BLOCK (1901): Dominating Arctic Square from its prominent site within the “V” formed by Washington and Main Streets, the Majestic Block is a large, 5-story, brick and concrete block, triangular-plan structure. The first bulding on this site, erected in the late 19th Century and known as Joseph Archambault’s Block, burned on November 3, 1900. Its replacement, built by Archambault and called the Majestic Hotel, contained a movie theatre in the heart of the building, with rooms on the exterior walls, a bowling aley in the basement, and a bar and drug store at street level. The largest commercial building in Arctic and the commercial and urban focus of this small central business district for many years, the Majestic Block was renovated in the mid-1980s. […and subsequently torn down.]
Gladys W. Brayton wrote of the origins of the Palace Theatre on the website of the Cranston Historical Society, even though the theatre is geographically just over the border in Providence:
In 1916 Abraham A. Spitz, a veteran theater man and owner of a number of theaters in Providence and elsewhere, opened the Palace Theater at 1520 Broad Street. His manager for twenty-two years was Charles H. Steadman who had supervised the building of the theater. It has a seating capacity of 1000. His license was but $25 at the time, but by the end of year was changed to $1 for each performance. The price of the seats went up a bit, too. Reserved seats in the balcony were fifteen cents.
The Edgewood Library Civic Club gave a play there soon after it was
opened. Occasionally concerts and entertainments took place there. On Saturday mornings a children’s program was offered with three chaperones in attendance. The popular “Wizard of Oz” was featured at one of these sessions.
In 1920 the Palace offered its patrons a special feature, a midnight who at which the elections returns were given, for there were no televisions in those days to keep up to date on the news.
The current vacant lot to the left of what was the Star Theatre is where Odd Fellows Hall used to be. To the right of the Star building today is the Greenwich Hotel, formerly Updike Hotel. The Main Street location is near the intersection with Church Street and across from legendary Jigger’s Diner.
Gladys W. Brayton wrote of the Auburn Theatre origins, on the website of the Cranston Historical Society:
…Town Councilman Alfred Barolet built the Auburn Theater on Park Avenue near the corner of Elmwood Avenue. In February of 1913 he was showing “Motion Pictures and Illustrated Songs.” Admission was five cents, reserved seats ten cents. Pictures changed three times a week and the current program consisted of “The Ranks,” “The Burning Brand,” and the “The Vengeance of Fate.”
The same year the Edgewood Theater was advertised to open at Firemen’s Hall, but due to a misunderstanding of insurance laws this project fell through.
Mr. Barolet, being a public spirited man, allowed use of his theater on off nights for benefits of various kinds, including such affairs for the Fire Companies of the city. It was advertised as “The Small Theater with the Big Features,” In 1915 it was showing “The Political Feud” (two reels), “Giddy, Gay and Ticklish” (a Keystone production), “Two Kisses,” “The Old Maid” and “Mabel’s Flirtation.” On Saturdays it featured “Tess of the Storm Country” with Mary Pickford as the star.
The building that was the original Star Theatre of East Greenwich still exists. The Star was located next to Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street. Odd Fellows Hall had been completed in 1878. It was a building with stores at the ground level and a social hall on the second floor. Over the decades , as a community hall, Odd Fellows Hall was used for theatrical performances, concerts, lectures. As the “East Greenwich Opera House” in 1902 and 1903 it presented first class drama, minstrels and vaudevilles. The life of the hall continued until 1946 when a fire that broke out on April 15 completely destroyed the building. A photo of the place in flames, in a 1991 issue of The Packet, a periodical about East Greenwich history, shows what is identified as the Star Theatre next door. The Star Theatre building was not affected by the fire and survives to this day. There are apartments as well as a ground-level Chinese restaurant called Taste of China in the three-floor structure. Here is a photo of the place now.
The co-hit is advertised as “Willed for Ransom,” which is a mistake. What they meant was World for Ransom, which was directed (uncredited) by Cranston-born director Robert Aldrich of later What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? & The Longest Yard fame.
And for you Laurier fans, here is a history of the theatre from Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
To meet Jazz Age demands for additional public entertainment centers, two new theaters and a new ballroom were erected in Woonsocket in the 1920’s. The first of the new playhouses to be opened was the Laurier Theatre, located on Cumberland Street near Social Corner. Named in honor of Sir Wildred Laurier, the first French-Canadian to be elected Premier of Canada, the theater was established to promote French culture in the city.
The first attraction to be presented at the Laurier was the opera “Carmen” on April 19, 1920. Directed by Professor Chambord Giguere, it featured a cast composed mainly of French-Canadian talent from the city. Nearly every seat was filled for the performance. The Laurier Theatre was operated by the Social Amusement Company, and was the site of the first New England appearance of the celebrated Paul Whiteman and his Palais Royal Orchestra on May 14, 1922. A capacity audience of 1,200 people attended the performance sponsored by LaRoe’s Music Store.
For a time, top vaudeville acts and several of Canada’s most popular stock companies and comedians were featured at the Laurier, but eventually it fell upon lean years and was converted into a second-run movie house. The theater was badly damaged in the flood of the Social district in August, 1955, and was razed three years later.
The second playhouse to open during the 1920s was the Stadium Theatre at Monument Square.
Tragic end of the Woonsocket Opera House.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
By the early 1970’s the Woonsocket Opera House was a sadly-neglected, unused movie theater—the New Park Theater. The last movie had been shown in 1963, and by the end of the decade vandals had done their part in wrecking the interior. The exterior of the building, although still impressive and imposing, showed signs of decay. The marquee fronting North Main Street was in danger of collapsing.
In 1970 the city took over the theater in lieu of back taxes. By 1972 the vacant and accessible building was a public hazard. Police were frequently called to the building to evict intruders. The fire department feared a conflagration and neighboring businesses were fearful of the dangers posed by the vacant building. This was a far cry from the building’s former splendor as the centerpiece of the bustling Monument Square area.
The decaying building still proudly bore its name “Woonsocket Opera House” on its upper facade. Built in 1888, the building opened in the same year that Woonsocket became a city. It was a symbol of Woonsocket’s cultural hopes. In spite of the dreams of the Opera House’s builders, Woonsocket never became a leading stop for major theatrical groups. The really big shows and really big stars played elsewhere. The Woonsocket Opera House became the stage for traveling repertory companies and secondary road companies. For two decades it was Woonsocket’s only theater to offer legitimate stage attractions. In 1913, now called the New Park Theater, the Opera House attracted vaudeville shows. By 1915 the Opera House was Woonsocket’s leading movie theater with occasional stage shows, usually local productions. It remained a movie theater until its closing. In 1941 the theater was extensively remodeled and in 1942 new owner Arthur I. Darman brought vaudeville back to its stage for the brief reprise of vaudeville during World War II.
After World War II the Opera House suffered the fate of most American downtown theaters. Inability to compete with television and drive-in movies, population moves to the suburbs, and the general decline of movies as the prime form of American entertainment permanently closed the New Park Theater in 1963.
In June, 1972 Mayor John A. Cummings called for the demolition of the structure because of the hazards it posed. Bids were sought to raze the Opera House. The Woonsocket Historical Society, under the leadership of President Phyllis Thomas, sought to stay the demolition, proposing instead that the building be preserved and rehabilitated as a cultural center for Woonsocket.
Mrs. Thomas and Martin Crowley, Woonsocket High School history teacher, appealed to the City Council to postpone demolition. They asked for time to restore the Opera House. City Council members agreed with the sentiments of Councilman Gerard J. Bouley: “The building has been around for 84 years; a few more years won’t hurt.”
Demolition was postponed. With this new breath of life, full-scale restoration plans began. Community support for the efforts was evidenced when 22 community groups pledged to support restoration efforts. In 1973 the Opera House was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. That same year National Guardsmen and military reservists joined others in a “Clean up the Opera House Day.” In January, 1974, noted Woonsocket liturgical composer C. Alexander Peloquin presented a concert of sacred music in Saint Ann’s Church for the benefit of the restoration fund drive. The Woonsocket Opera House Society was formed to oversee the plans for and actual restoration of the building.
In August, 1975 the City Council voted to transfer the property to the Opera House Society, although lack of a clear title held up this transfer.
As hopes for the building’s salvation grew, disaster struck. In the early morning hours of September 22, 1975, a fire of suspicious origin roared through the Opera House. The building was destroyed as well as the top two floors of the adjacent Brown-Carroll Building. An 85-year-old resident of the Colonial Apartments, Mrs. Anne E. Tavnon, died in the blaze. The fears of area residents and business and public safety officials were realized; the hopes of the Woonsocket Opera House Society were dashed. An editorial in The Woonsocket Call summed up the entire Opera House story of the seventies. The editorial writer called not only the blaze but the entire Opera House episode tragic:
“It is a tragic ending for one of the city’s best-known landmarks….It is tragic, too, that those who felt so strongly that it could be renovated and refurbished…were not given a chance to implement these plans.”
Here’s a bit about the emergence of the Leroy and the Strand, and their rivalry, as taken from Susan Marie Boucher’s book The History of Pawtucket 1635-1976:
“With the opening of the Strand Theatre in 1921, and also the Leroy, a new concept was born in the entertainment world of Pawtucket. The Strand opened with a nine-piece orchestra providing the musical background, and voice and instrumental performances were given at each program. Carrying the insignia of Paramount Pictures, it ran the best shows in town.
“Vaudeville acts, ‘direct form the Palace.’ could also be seen at the Strand. The Leroy and the Strand, both large and opulent houses, were rivals for quite some time. After the advent of the ‘talkies,’ the Leroy laid claim to the coveted title of being number one—-the best in Pawtucket and one of the largest theatres in all of New England.”
Here’s a bit about the emergence of the Leroy and the Strand, and their rivalry, as taken from Susan Marie Boucher’s book The History of Pawtucket 1635-1976:
“With the opening of the Strand Theatre in 1921, and also the Leroy, a new concept was born in the entertainment world of Pawtucket. The Strand opened with a nine-piece orchestra providing the musical background, and voice and instrumental performances were given at each program. Carrying the insignia of Paramount Pictures, it ran the best shows in town.
“Vaudeville acts, ‘direct form the Palace.’ could also be seen at the Strand. The Leroy and the Strand, both large and opulent houses, were rivals for quite some time. After the advent of the ‘talkies,’ the Leroy laid claim to the coveted title of being number one—-the best in Pawtucket and one of the largest theatres in all of New England.”
I believe the first film shown here when the theatre opened in 1964 was One Man’s Way with Don Murray, a biography of Norman Vincent Peale.
This is the first-run movie theatre I generally go to for the Hollywood releases that catch my fancy. It’s not much different from the other one in Warwick, but it has the advantage of being side-by-side with Warwick Mall itself and its food court if you are feeling peckish.
There are movie patrons, I’m sure, who confuse this theatre with the similarly named Showcase Cinemas Warwick Mall. I’ve come here for years, and must have seen most of the new Martin Scorsese films here as they come out, even The Last Temptation of Christ, which had its area premiere here in 1988. For a multiplex there isn’t much to complain about, except the utter sameness. I also don’t like the smaller auditoriums here that have an emergency exit under the screen with a glaring exit light catching your eye all the time. And come to think of it, I don’t like commercials, slide-shows, and about twenty trailers before each movie. Well, not too many complaints.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
Sarah Bernhardt once performed here!
Yes, Sarah Bernhardt. The year is unclear, but it is mentioned in the book by Mathias P. Harpin, Trumpets of Jericho, about this Pawtuxet Valley town:
“Father Bourgeois brought Bernhardt to Jericho. Her agent came first to see if the theater was worthy of the great star’s talents. Father Bourgeois escorted her through the theater.
‘Marvelous Marvelous! Simply marvelous!’ exclaimed the woman who had the world at her feet in the roles of Camille, La Tosca, Cléopâtre and l'Aiglon."
I’ve searched hell and high Blackstone water, but there doesn’t seem to be one miserable photo of the Olympia Theatre anywhere!
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
World War II years at Woonsocket theatres
Throughout the war years, local movie houses supplied war-weary citizens with much-needed entertainment. At that time the city boasted six theaters: the New Park and the Stadium at Monument Square, the Bijou on lower Main Street, the Olympia and the Rialto in the Market Square area, and the Laurier in the Social district.
Movies not only boosted patriotism and morale, but they also were instrumental in raising millions of dollars in war bonds. Theatergoers were constantly reminded on newsreels and by screen actors that there was “a war on.”
These same movie houses were also used for bond rallies which included live stage acts. One such rally was held at the Stadium Theatre on June 13, 1944. Billed as the Fifth War Loan, the spectacle included a local war hero, Captain John T. Godfrey, and Woonsocket’s young Eileen Farrell, who music critics claimed was on the verge of a “brilliant operatic career.”
The most impressive of these bond rallies was that of September 9, 1943. This “Salute to Our Heroes” dinner was sponsored by the local theater managers headed by Benjamin Greenberg.
1950-1960
Those seeking an evening, or even an afternoon, at the movies had their choice of six movie theaters in 1950. The Olympia, Rialto, Bijou, and Stadium on Main Street; the New Park on North Main Street; and the Laurier on Cumberland Street. Most of these had matinees as well as evening performances, and all featured two movies—the double feature.
Competition for customers, plus the beginnings of competition by television, led theater owners to add inducements to their movie billings. At the Olympia, viewers could play “Honey” for cash prizes, while the New Park featured Silver Dollar Nights. At the Laurier, management appealed to the distaff side by offering china and silverware as gifts. Those who sought family entertainmnet could travel to the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence to enjoy the Ice Capades for a price ranging from $1.25 to $3.80.
From Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennnial History, 1888-1988:
The second playhouse [after the Laurier] to open during the 1920’s was the Stadium Theatre at Monument Square. The most palatial theatre ever erected in Woonsocket, it was formally dedicated on September 26, 1926, when the movie Padlocked, starring Noah Beery and Lois Moran, was shown.
One of the most eleborately furnished and decorated playhouses in New England, the Stadium had an auditorium 120 feet long and 90 feet wide, with a seating capacity of 1,000. Its foyer, 80 feet long and 20 feet wide, was artistically designed with an arched and vaulted ceiling and an ornamental fireplace flanked by recessed fountains. The theater was equipped with a concert organ.
Speakers at the dedication of the Stadium included Mayor Adelard L. Soucy, former U.S. Congressman Ambrose Kennedy, and Arthur I. Darman. Mr. Darman was president and treasurer of the Stadium Realty Corporation which owned the new building housing the theater.
The first lessee of the Stadium Theatre was Publix Theatres, controlled by the Players-Lasky Corporation, which operated nearly 100 theaters in New England at the time. In April, 1933, the theater was leased for $24,000 per year to Stadium Theatre, Incorporated, upon condition that it present only first-class motion pictures, vaudeville, legitimate drama, and concerts.
The Aidco Corporation, headed by Arthur I. Darman, took over operation of the Stadium Theatre in 1956. The playhouse was extensively rennovated and a grand reopening was held August 24, 1956. Despite stiff competition afforded by drive-in theaters and home television, the Stadium survived.
Opened: September 20, 1888.
Destroyed by fire: September 22, 1975.
Age: 87 years, 2 days.
From Preliminary Survey Report – Town of West Warwick, 1987:
MAJESTIC BLOCK (1901): Dominating Arctic Square from its prominent site within the “V” formed by Washington and Main Streets, the Majestic Block is a large, 5-story, brick and concrete block, triangular-plan structure. The first bulding on this site, erected in the late 19th Century and known as Joseph Archambault’s Block, burned on November 3, 1900. Its replacement, built by Archambault and called the Majestic Hotel, contained a movie theatre in the heart of the building, with rooms on the exterior walls, a bowling aley in the basement, and a bar and drug store at street level. The largest commercial building in Arctic and the commercial and urban focus of this small central business district for many years, the Majestic Block was renovated in the mid-1980s. […and subsequently torn down.]
Gladys W. Brayton wrote of the origins of the Palace Theatre on the website of the Cranston Historical Society, even though the theatre is geographically just over the border in Providence:
In 1916 Abraham A. Spitz, a veteran theater man and owner of a number of theaters in Providence and elsewhere, opened the Palace Theater at 1520 Broad Street. His manager for twenty-two years was Charles H. Steadman who had supervised the building of the theater. It has a seating capacity of 1000. His license was but $25 at the time, but by the end of year was changed to $1 for each performance. The price of the seats went up a bit, too. Reserved seats in the balcony were fifteen cents.
The Edgewood Library Civic Club gave a play there soon after it was
opened. Occasionally concerts and entertainments took place there. On Saturday mornings a children’s program was offered with three chaperones in attendance. The popular “Wizard of Oz” was featured at one of these sessions.
In 1920 the Palace offered its patrons a special feature, a midnight who at which the elections returns were given, for there were no televisions in those days to keep up to date on the news.
The current vacant lot to the left of what was the Star Theatre is where Odd Fellows Hall used to be. To the right of the Star building today is the Greenwich Hotel, formerly Updike Hotel. The Main Street location is near the intersection with Church Street and across from legendary Jigger’s Diner.
Gladys W. Brayton wrote of the Auburn Theatre origins, on the website of the Cranston Historical Society:
…Town Councilman Alfred Barolet built the Auburn Theater on Park Avenue near the corner of Elmwood Avenue. In February of 1913 he was showing “Motion Pictures and Illustrated Songs.” Admission was five cents, reserved seats ten cents. Pictures changed three times a week and the current program consisted of “The Ranks,” “The Burning Brand,” and the “The Vengeance of Fate.”
The same year the Edgewood Theater was advertised to open at Firemen’s Hall, but due to a misunderstanding of insurance laws this project fell through.
Mr. Barolet, being a public spirited man, allowed use of his theater on off nights for benefits of various kinds, including such affairs for the Fire Companies of the city. It was advertised as “The Small Theater with the Big Features,” In 1915 it was showing “The Political Feud” (two reels), “Giddy, Gay and Ticklish” (a Keystone production), “Two Kisses,” “The Old Maid” and “Mabel’s Flirtation.” On Saturdays it featured “Tess of the Storm Country” with Mary Pickford as the star.
The building that was the original Star Theatre of East Greenwich still exists. The Star was located next to Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street. Odd Fellows Hall had been completed in 1878. It was a building with stores at the ground level and a social hall on the second floor. Over the decades , as a community hall, Odd Fellows Hall was used for theatrical performances, concerts, lectures. As the “East Greenwich Opera House” in 1902 and 1903 it presented first class drama, minstrels and vaudevilles. The life of the hall continued until 1946 when a fire that broke out on April 15 completely destroyed the building. A photo of the place in flames, in a 1991 issue of The Packet, a periodical about East Greenwich history, shows what is identified as the Star Theatre next door. The Star Theatre building was not affected by the fire and survives to this day. There are apartments as well as a ground-level Chinese restaurant called Taste of China in the three-floor structure. Here is a photo of the place now.
The co-hit is advertised as “Willed for Ransom,” which is a mistake. What they meant was World for Ransom, which was directed (uncredited) by Cranston-born director Robert Aldrich of later What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? & The Longest Yard fame.
And for you Laurier fans, here is a history of the theatre from Woonsocket, Rhode Island – A Centennial History, 1888-1988:
To meet Jazz Age demands for additional public entertainment centers, two new theaters and a new ballroom were erected in Woonsocket in the 1920’s. The first of the new playhouses to be opened was the Laurier Theatre, located on Cumberland Street near Social Corner. Named in honor of Sir Wildred Laurier, the first French-Canadian to be elected Premier of Canada, the theater was established to promote French culture in the city.
The first attraction to be presented at the Laurier was the opera “Carmen” on April 19, 1920. Directed by Professor Chambord Giguere, it featured a cast composed mainly of French-Canadian talent from the city. Nearly every seat was filled for the performance. The Laurier Theatre was operated by the Social Amusement Company, and was the site of the first New England appearance of the celebrated Paul Whiteman and his Palais Royal Orchestra on May 14, 1922. A capacity audience of 1,200 people attended the performance sponsored by LaRoe’s Music Store.
For a time, top vaudeville acts and several of Canada’s most popular stock companies and comedians were featured at the Laurier, but eventually it fell upon lean years and was converted into a second-run movie house. The theater was badly damaged in the flood of the Social district in August, 1955, and was razed three years later.
The second playhouse to open during the 1920s was the Stadium Theatre at Monument Square.
And here is the first decent photo I’ve found of the theatre front. Looks to be about 1952.
The Kent was demolished in 1995. The site is now a Centreville Bank with front parking area.