Comments from Ron Newman

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Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Studio 35 Cinema on May 23, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Ahh, that is different from where I live now (MA), where the two types of alcohol license are ‘beer and wine only’ or ‘full’. My local theatre, the Somerville, sells beer and wine (and maybe cider, I’m not sure about that)

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about New Hudson Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 7:09 pm

In the Google Cache for this page, I find all of these old comments. I do not understand why CinemaTreasures decided to delete them:

Here is a photo of the Hudson, taken during the summer of 2006:
View link
posted by monika on Mar 29, 2008 at 2:50pm

When was this last used as a movie theatre? I do not remember any ads for a theatre with this name when I lived in Columbus (1968-75).
posted by Ron Newman on Mar 29, 2008 at 9:15pm

Ron,
I have no idea. I lived in Columbus for a few years and it was never in use and looked as if it hadn’t been in use for quite some time. There were wooden crosses and a church services sign on the building at that time, which can be seen in the photo I liked above. The only information I have been able to get for this theatre is it’s name, though that is from no lack of trying.
posted by monika on Mar 31, 2008 at 8:35am

I went to a film there in the late ‘60’s. A real barn of a room…long and narrow. Nothing to get excited about…actually a rather dull place.
posted by MarkL on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:47am

As of February 2009, this building is still there and just as derelect as in the photo in the link above. Hasn’t been torn down yet.
posted by ZookieFreddie on Feb 22, 2009 at 8:52pm

The Hudson hasnt been used as a theater since at least the mid 70s. Even when used as a church the building looked derelict and abandoned. Its situated on a narrow lot hemmed in between a used parking lot and a house with little, if any, parking. (might be a few spaces behind the bldg) I suspect that’s why no one has bought and redeveloped the property. A real eyesore. The only activity there is from a bus stop in front of the building.
posted by TJ on Mar 5, 2009 at 10:43am

I meant it was next to a used car lot, not a parking lot. LOL.
posted by TJ on Mar 5, 2009 at 10:45am

The Hudson did have a decent sized marquee when I first moved to Columbus in 1982. The theatre was never operated as a movie theatre from 1982 on. So, given MarkL’s comment, it most likely closed sometime between 1965 and 1982.

I’m not sure, but I believe the marquee fell off the building in the mid-80’s.
posted by dn on May 24, 2009 at 11:09am

The theater looks even worse since I posted on here. Now there is a beat up couch sitting in the outside lobby area near the sidewalk. The front of the theater is filthy. What an eyesore! I know the theater hasn’t been open since the mid to late 70’s at least.
posted by TJ on May 25, 2009 at 4:46pm

According to Phil Sheridan, in Those Wonderful Downtown Theaters, The Hudson opened in 1931.

It was a neighborhood theaters for most of its life but showed exploitation and porn in the late 60s-early 70s.

I don’t know when it closed.

posted by DAKCMH on Jul 21, 2009 at 6:30pm

the auditors website shows husdson amusement co. in 1957 (not saying thats when it opened), starray corp in 1970, 1976 WEST TOWN STREET BETHLEHEM. now owned by “working for jesus” since 2001.
posted by retroguy on Feb 23, 2010 at 3:11pm

I dug a little deeper into those county records. (Thanks, Retroguy.)

First, the address listed above can not be correct. In Columbus, even numbers are on the north side of the street, and odd on the south. The Hudson is on the south side. The county site lists the address as 367 Hudson Street.

The property was first developed in 1920. The first indication of a theatre was in 1944, when the Ohio National Bank took over the property. A notation from 1948 indicates a “theatre”.

No real definite data, there, but something to check in the newspaper archives.
posted by MarkL on Feb 23, 2010 at 4:47pm

this theater is always being spray painted. good news someone also paints over it with blue soon after. i drove past one day last summer and saw the guy painting over the graffiti with the front door to the theater open.
posted by retroguy on Feb 23, 2010 at 6:15pm

my grandpa said he had been in the theater and remembered eating spaghetti next door after roller skating.
posted by retroguy on Feb 23, 2010 at 6:18pm

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Star Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 6:48 pm

A popular second-hand consignment clothing store, Poor Little Rich Girl, will soon move in with Grand, sharing their retail space. The store recently closed its location in Davis Square.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Assembly Square Cinemas on May 23, 2010 at 6:44 pm

Still sitting empty, more than three years after it closed.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Central Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 6:33 pm

A Sports Illustrated article from 1990 about Boston Rock Gym, back when they were still in the Central Theatre and the whole concept was still quite novel. It says that this was the first indoor rock-climbing gym east of the Rockies.

From the article: “The four-story building had been a performance theater until the 1950s; from the 35- by 17-foot floor, the four walls of the former fly loft, behind what was the stage, soar upward 40 feet. The three partners couldn’t have asked for a better set for the type of play they had in mind. They spent 2� months converting the structure. There are 17 separate climbing routes up the four brick sides; artificial hand- and footholds are screwed into the surface. Near the top of one is a plywood overhang covered with textured panels, for friction, and also fitted with handholds and footholdsâ€"for experienced climbers. Another wall has a 22-foot section that is kicked-back, or slightly inclined. Compared with the other three in the room, it looks like a downright easy ascent.”

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Studio 35 Cinema on May 23, 2010 at 6:19 pm

Only wine, no beer?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about New Hudson Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 6:11 pm

What happened to all of the comments here?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Eastland Cinema on May 23, 2010 at 6:05 pm

I recall Paint Your Wagon had a long run here, and was surprised many years later to learn that it was considered a box-office bomb.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Arlington Theater on May 23, 2010 at 5:59 pm

That’s the one I remember with that name, on 5th Avenue.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Central Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

Today at noon I attempted to visit the church, only to find the front door locked up tight. I have no idea whether the congregation actually exists, or celebrates the Sabbath on a day other than Sunday, or what.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Ball Square Theatre on May 23, 2010 at 8:11 am

Cambridge Lock appears to be in disarray and out of business. I don’t know what the future holds for this storefront. SoundBites expanded across the street rather than moving in here.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cross Street Orpheum on May 21, 2010 at 5:18 pm

Answering ken mc’s question above, this building now has 17 condos.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Central Theatre on May 21, 2010 at 5:17 pm

The current tenant of the second floor (where I think the theatre was located) appears to be a Portuguese-language church, Tabernáculo dos Pentecostais. I may try to stop in some Sunday morning when services are going on.

On the first floor is an empty storefront (at the corner), a painting company called First Nick, and a laundromat. An Italian social club is in the basement. The building has 16 apartments, 6 entered from Highland Ave. and 10 from Central Street.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Boston Opera House on May 16, 2010 at 6:14 pm

Just an office – there was never a theatre in this location.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on May 12, 2010 at 1:21 pm

Those errors make me wonder about the factual accuracy of other MGM theatre reports.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Strand Theatre on May 12, 2010 at 7:12 am

Thanks, Ron. I’ve now entered all of the known Somerville MA theatres onto this site. Can you look up the Broadway Theatre and Somerville Theatre in the MGM report, and enter their information onto the appropriate pages?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Teele Square Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 8:18 am

According to Guss’s website, the Teele Square opened on Monday, January 16, 1922, closed in 1967, and was demolished some time in the mid-1990s.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cross Street Orpheum on May 11, 2010 at 8:05 am

According to David Guss’s website Lost Theatres of Somerville, the Cross Street Orpheum opened on Monday, March 27, 1916.

I don’t yet know exactly when it closed. The Lost Theatres website has this 1941 photo where it is clearly open, and this 1945 photo where it appears to be closed and abandoned, which a blank marquee.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Central Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 7:57 am

According to David Guss’s website Lost Theatres of Somerville, the theatre opened in November 1921 and “operated for nearly forty years”.

I don’t yet know what exact year it closed. I don’t think it was still operating by the 70s (as the Description currently says).

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Capitol Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 7:48 am

The Capitol opened on Monday, March 7, 1927 and closed in 1963, according to David Guss’s website Lost Theatres of Somerville.

The ‘gangland shooting’ referred to in the description happened on October 30, 1965, after the theatre had already been closed for two years. It was torn down some time after that, but I don’t yet know exactly when.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Broadway Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 7:39 am

The Broadway opened on Monday, November 22, 1915, according to David Guss’s Lost Theatres of Somerville website.

The website refers to a Somerville Journal article titled “Theater Gone But Not Forgotten” published in the Somerville Journal on March 4, 1982, but I don’t yet know the exact closing date that year.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Ball Square Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 7:34 am

The Ball Square opened on April 9, 1923 and closed in 1956, according to David Guss’s Lost Theatres of Somerville website.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Fire damages Peterborough theater on May 6, 2010 at 1:14 pm

correct spelling is Peterborough

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Off The Wall Cinema on Apr 26, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Glad to see this on YouTube again — for a while it had disappeared due to a copyright takedown claim.

Which Off the Wall was this — Main Street or Pearl Street?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Critic thinks movie intermissions should be revived on Apr 19, 2010 at 9:04 pm

The last movie I remember seeing with a built-in intermission was “Gettysburg”.