RKO Albee Theatre
320 Westminster Street,
Providence,
RI
02903
320 Westminster Street,
Providence,
RI
02903
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 56 comments
I have been interested for many years in learning about the Fairlawn Theater in Pawtucket. Would there be info in the book on the Fairlawn? I am particularly interested to learn when it opened and, if possible, what was the opening feature?
Gerald, where did you find a copy of Temples of Illusions? I’ve had a search running on eBay for a few months now and no hits yet. Amazon.com has it listed but no copies.
A few months ago I came across a copy at the Rhode Island reading room at the Pawtucket library. I was told by the librarian helper that it was the ONLY copy that she knew existed. You are so correct though, it is a MUST read for anyone interested in the origins of local theater for the Providence area. Heck, it even mentions White Tower!!
There was one particular photo that I found disturbing. I don’t know if it was Mr. Fay but the photo showed the owner of a theater standing in the rubble of once was his theater. I can just imagine what this guy was feeling at the time.
There is another website called Art In Ruins that deals with Providence buildings for the most part. I’ve written to them in the past to see if they could add a theater category to their mix. No replies yet.
Twenty-seven great photos of the Albee, inside and out, can be found by going to the Providence Public Library website www.provlib.org
and following these sequential steps:
1) Click “Electronic resources"
2) Click "Electronic resources from home"
3) Scroll down and click "Images of Rhode Island"
4) Click "Providence Public Library R.I. Image Collection"
5) Type in "Albee” in the left-hand column.
6) Click “Quick pix search” at top of column. The pictures should come up. The process can be used for other theatres and other topics as well.
Great find! I look forward to your future postings. ML
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac gives the following data about the E. F. Albee Theatre (as it was then named): Harry W. Grull, general manager; Foster Lardner, manager; seating capacity, 2300; proscenium opening, 38x38 feet; footlights to back wall, 38 feet; between side walls, 78 feet; height to gridiron, 60 feet.
The Providence Evening Bulletin of June 30, 1937 reported that the Empire (later the second “Bijou”), RKO Albee, and Carlton were closing for various periods of time for “overhauling.” They all re-opened before long.
Good Morning Gerald, Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know abut the Columbus, could have easily overlooked it in my searches since I was concentrating on the larger ads in the Journal! I grew up in Pawtucket and when I’m driving home to see family, I often gaze to the right at the old Johnson’s Hummocks. I saw the obit of the head chef, Rufus Mauricio in the Journal not long ago. I almost waited on Rockefeller campaigning in Providence but he changed restaurants at the last minute. I waited on Miss Rhode Island at Camille’s. I remember the host there was named Stanley. He named a drink after himself that he was always pushing: The Stanley Steamer. Not much in the memory department regarding the Fife & Drum.
The only other possibility might have been the Columbus Theatre/Studio Cinema twin up on Broadway. At that time, before going into porno, they showed mostly first and second-run art product but could easily have thrown in a double bill like that. Small world, I used to go to Camille’s and Johnson’s Hummocks during those years and even…hmmmm!…the Fife and Drum on Weybosset Street.
Gerald, Thanks for the help. I was a waiter at Camille’s on Bradford at the time. As far as I can recall and what I’ve been able to get from the Social Security Administration, I worked there just the month of October. (As soon as I could afford a cheap car I split, working conditions weren’t as pleasant as at Johnson’s Hummocks where I’d worked before.) I saw another film on break, Interlude, at the Albee. I’ve been able to learn from the Providence Journal that it opened 9/25/68, ran until 10/20/68. According to Yahoo.maps, the Art was more than two miles from Camille’s and the Avon was a mile and a half. I wasn’t into buses or taxis so I don’t think I would have hiked that far. Might have talked myself into a drink(s) at the Fife & Drum instead. I’ll definitely get around to more microfilm searching at the Providence Public Library. I’m in CT so I don’t get there often. I do know for a fact that the two Guiness films were shown in March of 68 at at theatre in Greenwich Village, Bleeker Street Cinema, I think. That gave me a bunch of hope even though out of my time. Who knows, could have been some other city. I used to go to Baltimore racetracks when I was in the Navy, saw some flicks nights. A lot of time possibilites with a film that came out in 1951! Gotta run! Thanks again!
A program like that MIGHT have played the Avon Cinema on Thayer Street (the films definitely played there individually in first-run) or the Art Cinema on Broad Street. Both theatres are listed on Cinema Treasures. I cannot confirm, however, where in fact the program was shown in the time-frame you mention. You might be able to check the Providence Journal microfilm for movie ads around that time.
Does anyone recall a revival of The Lavender Hill Mob (with Alec Guiness) at a Providence Theatre in 1968, possibly the fall? The Man in the White Suit might have been been shown with it!
When I used to go to the downtown theaters in the sixties, it was usually for a late morning or early afternoon show, and the balcony would be closed. I didn’t remember the two balconies at the Albee until I saw your photos.
Gerald, I think maybe I received this one twice, which is OK because I wanted to mention that the closest I’ve seen to these dear theaters are the Broadway theaters in NYC, which I visit as often as I am able. The Walter Kerr Theater is in my opinion the most beautiful and is very remindful of the Albee. Of course, these are not movie theaters.
These photos are wonderful. Yes, I miss this place too and all the other theaters (well, not the Bijou or Capitol) that I enjoyed so much in downtown Prov. I will be able to experience the Majestic next week though, when I am traveling to RI to visit friends, and we have tickets to the Trinity Rep play on Friday night. I’m not sure we really appreciated the beauty of these places, and we never dreamed things would change so much. From the 1923 photo I’ve tried to recall what is now in the place of those stores next to the theater where the people are lined up, but I can recall only “fly-by-night” shops with reputedly “hot” stuff.
And a photo of the B.F. Keith Albee in 1923 as folks line up to see vaudeville acts and movies.
This photograph shows the auditorium of the RKO Albee. The “marble divider” or railing you mentioned, Marialivia, can be vaguely made out to the left and right of where the people are standing. The dizzying view of the two balconies and “dome” is impressive. God, do I miss this place!
RIGHT turn, that’s what I meant. Now you know why I end up in Woonsocket when I mean to go to Bristol! Actually, I can picture that right turn into the theater itself, and I can recall that behind the last row of seats there was a beautiful marble “divider.” The place was indeed magnificent. Yes, the Columbus is wonderful. I attended a Christmas Concert at the end of 2003, I believe, by the Narragansett Bay Chorus, which was wonderful and especially so because of its setting. I do hope they continue to make a “go” of this endeavor. I met the man who now owns it, and he is very enthusiastic about it. I believe in the 70s sometime, the RI High School Drama Festivals were held there — not every year but once or twice.
When the owner originally tore down this theatre, what was his reason for doing so? Was he planning to replace it with some development that financially fell through?
A right turn, not left.
The Columbus on Broadway is stunningly beautiful. Though they have stopped showing movies regularly, they have occasional film programs, the R.I. Film Festival in August. The presentation of Keaton’s silent “The General” a year ago with live orchestra was stupendous.
Oh Yes, now I see what you mean. The narrow part of the theater (lobby) would have been at front, and then it would have widened where a left turn took you into the theater itself. It seemed to me, being a lifelong movie addict, that my world was leaving me, little by little, as these gorgeous theaters went the way of the wrecking ball. Of course, the parking was always awful in downtown Providence (and is worse than ever now), but we always managed to find a spot. I took my son to see “Mary Poppins” at the Majestic in about 1964, and even then the line was around the block. I seek out these few little theaters that are still left, but they are SO few I’m having a hard time. The Avon is still doing well though, even with its legendary poor sound system!
Marialivia, the theatre was behind. The narrow part was just the entrance. See my comment above. I too loved it. It was an absolute disgrace that it perished. Providence today could easily support another such theatre with additional Broadway shows and top-drawer entertainers.
Alas, too late.
Even in its days as a flourishing movie theater, once in awhile it did present special events, such as the Ballet Russe and the American Ballet Theater, as well as an opera now and then I believe. The seats in the mezzanine were absolutely unbeatable. This theater was gloriously beautiful — marble everywhere, etc. It was positioned on Westminster Street immediately to the right of Grace Church. It’s hard to believe that the narrow parking lot could have housed what seemed to be a mammoth theater!!
Great early photos! In later decades the ticket booth was located to the right of the entrance, near the sidewalk. You then walked up a slightly inclined external foyer to get to the doors which brought you to the lobby. I believe there was a fireplace at one end of the lobby. It was not a huge lobby but very cozy and pleasant. You then turned right to get to the doors to the auditorium. The building was L-shaped. In later years the theatre was acquired by a local impresario (B.F. Dario?) and various shows and acts were brought in. I remember seeing Joan Collins here. A group of ROTC cadets from Providence College stormed out from that show because of some anti-Vietnam war songs.
Here are some more interesting photos of the Albee.
View link
View link
View link
And here is a shot I found of the R.K.O. Albee with its two balconies.
View link