Yes, I know Via Rasella. Partisans set off a bomb there in March, 1944, killing a number of German soldiers. In reprisal the Nazis rounded up and shot ten Italians (randomly picked, plus any Jews around) for every German. The story is told in the 1962 Italian film “Dieci italiani per un tedesco” and in the 1973 Richard Burton/Marcello Mastroianni film “Massacre in Rome” (“Rappresaglia.”) I don’t think Rossellini shot the round-up sequence for “Open City” there, but it was based on that and other similar Gestapo atrocities.
The unlucky Italians were taken to and shot near the catacombs on the outskirts of Rome at a place called the Fosse Ardeatine, the Ardeatine Caves. Then the Germans blew up the caves hoping to hide the massacre. I have visited the beautiful memorial at the caves. I think President George W. Bush was taken there on a visit to Rome.
When I visited Rome recently I went to the Allied cemetery for fallen British/British Empire soldiers. It is located inside the Aurelian Wall between Testaccio and Porta San Paolo. Lovely peaceful place, well-maintained, as is the Fosse Ardeatine site.
Here is a photo that shows the Cinema Barberini in relationship to Bernini’s Triton fountain in Piazza del Tritone. I took it in April of 2001 when leading a group of students around Rome. The Barberini was only caught accidentally in the shot. It is to the left of the photo, behind the M (for Metro) sign. View link
Here it is again in an earlier shot, probably taken in the 1950s, where the Johnston Theatre sign can be seen, not yet replaced by “Italy Cinema.” Another Saint Rocco’s parade. Thornton Spa was named after the village of Thornton, which straddled the border of Johnston and Cranston at Atwood Avenue and Plainfield Street. View link
Here’s a photo of the Johnston Theatre when it was called Italy Cinema in the early 1970s. It was taken during a Saint Rocco’s Feast parade associated with Saint Rocco’s Church across the street from the former theatre. The theatre was located on the second floor of the building block, a wooden structure known as Ferri’s Block. The name “Johnston Theatre” can be seen behind the newer Italy Cinema sign. View link
Hardbop (love that name!)
Yes, there were other Jerry Lewis Cinemas also in Middletown (later Starcase Cinemas), Cumberland, Westerly. Are you sure about North Kingstown? I don’t remember one. Where would that have been located?
Bill,
Yes, and I presume others can’t find it either. I recently went to see “Amore in città ” here during my trip to Rome, and I was the only person in the audience! At another film there were about twenty. The entrance never should have been put on that back street but rather on the main street where the Mondadori Bookstore is and where the entrance to the original Cinema Trevi was. A million people a day probably walk down that street! They do, however, publish a nice descriptive calendar and are listed in the papers. They must attract a good faithful little audience for many of their shows.
Here is a recent photo of the Cinema Farnese. It is currently shuttered, and a sign on the front tells of the conflicting interests of developers who wasnt to convert it to ther uses and those who want to maintain this now historic venue as an entertainment site. The Rome newspaper still lists the theatre daily with the phrase “prossima riapertura” or “soon to re-open.” But it doesn’t seem so. View link
Here are some recent shots of the exterior and interior of the Sala Trevi…a cinema built in the middle of Roman archeological ruins. View link View link View link View link
Ron, a lovely parking lot replaced this most beautiful of theatres! Nothing has replaced the parking lot.
The theatre had TWO balconies. Memory: In early 1954 as a child of 12, I sat in the second balcony watching an odd double bill of “Hondo” (in 3-D) with John Wayne and “Volcano” with Anna Magnani.
Here is a photo from the summer of 2004.
View link
Here’s a photo of the marquee.
View link
Yes, I know Via Rasella. Partisans set off a bomb there in March, 1944, killing a number of German soldiers. In reprisal the Nazis rounded up and shot ten Italians (randomly picked, plus any Jews around) for every German. The story is told in the 1962 Italian film “Dieci italiani per un tedesco” and in the 1973 Richard Burton/Marcello Mastroianni film “Massacre in Rome” (“Rappresaglia.”) I don’t think Rossellini shot the round-up sequence for “Open City” there, but it was based on that and other similar Gestapo atrocities.
The unlucky Italians were taken to and shot near the catacombs on the outskirts of Rome at a place called the Fosse Ardeatine, the Ardeatine Caves. Then the Germans blew up the caves hoping to hide the massacre. I have visited the beautiful memorial at the caves. I think President George W. Bush was taken there on a visit to Rome.
When I visited Rome recently I went to the Allied cemetery for fallen British/British Empire soldiers. It is located inside the Aurelian Wall between Testaccio and Porta San Paolo. Lovely peaceful place, well-maintained, as is the Fosse Ardeatine site.
This more recent photo was taken this month.
View link
Here is a photo that shows the Cinema Barberini in relationship to Bernini’s Triton fountain in Piazza del Tritone. I took it in April of 2001 when leading a group of students around Rome. The Barberini was only caught accidentally in the shot. It is to the left of the photo, behind the M (for Metro) sign.
View link
And here is a shot I found of the R.K.O. Albee with its two balconies.
View link
…and an interior shot.
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Here’s a 1948 photo of the Leroy. On screen is “The Snake Pit."
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Here’s an exterior view of Criterion Cinemas taken a few months ago.
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Here’s an exterior view of Criterion Cinemas taken a few months ago.
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Here are a couple of photos of the Colonial taken during the summer of 2004.
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Here’s a photo of the Bijou marquee and entrance area taken a while back.
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Here’s a photo of the Palace Theatre in its current incarnation as a church.
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Here’s a recent photo:
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Here’s a photo of the Ritz taken in January, 2004.
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Here are three recent photos of the former Strand.
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Here it is again in an earlier shot, probably taken in the 1950s, where the Johnston Theatre sign can be seen, not yet replaced by “Italy Cinema.” Another Saint Rocco’s parade. Thornton Spa was named after the village of Thornton, which straddled the border of Johnston and Cranston at Atwood Avenue and Plainfield Street.
View link
Here’s a photo of the Johnston Theatre when it was called Italy Cinema in the early 1970s. It was taken during a Saint Rocco’s Feast parade associated with Saint Rocco’s Church across the street from the former theatre. The theatre was located on the second floor of the building block, a wooden structure known as Ferri’s Block. The name “Johnston Theatre” can be seen behind the newer Italy Cinema sign.
View link
Hardbop (love that name!)
Yes, there were other Jerry Lewis Cinemas also in Middletown (later Starcase Cinemas), Cumberland, Westerly. Are you sure about North Kingstown? I don’t remember one. Where would that have been located?
Bill,
Yes, and I presume others can’t find it either. I recently went to see “Amore in città ” here during my trip to Rome, and I was the only person in the audience! At another film there were about twenty. The entrance never should have been put on that back street but rather on the main street where the Mondadori Bookstore is and where the entrance to the original Cinema Trevi was. A million people a day probably walk down that street! They do, however, publish a nice descriptive calendar and are listed in the papers. They must attract a good faithful little audience for many of their shows.
Bill-
Yes, a few more as I dig through my photos.
Here is a recent photo of the Cinema Farnese. It is currently shuttered, and a sign on the front tells of the conflicting interests of developers who wasnt to convert it to ther uses and those who want to maintain this now historic venue as an entertainment site. The Rome newspaper still lists the theatre daily with the phrase “prossima riapertura” or “soon to re-open.” But it doesn’t seem so.
View link
Here are some recent shots of the exterior and interior of the Sala Trevi…a cinema built in the middle of Roman archeological ruins.
View link
View link
View link
View link
Here’s a photo of the interior in 1988.
View link
Ron, a lovely parking lot replaced this most beautiful of theatres! Nothing has replaced the parking lot.
The theatre had TWO balconies. Memory: In early 1954 as a child of 12, I sat in the second balcony watching an odd double bill of “Hondo” (in 3-D) with John Wayne and “Volcano” with Anna Magnani.