Cinema Italia [in Johnston]continued to entertain the Italian American community until February of 1974, at which time the strip of stores was razed and the property sold. Undaunted, [Rolando] Petrella moved his cinema operation to the Hillside Cinema on Waterman Avenue in North Providence, offering Italian films during the same time slots as his defunct Cinema Italia.“ —from "The Voices of Italy” by Alfred R. Crudale.
“A gala celebration on February 11, 1967, marked the opening of the Italy Cinema at 910 Atwood Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island. The theater, which began showing films prior to the Second World War, occupied the second floor of a strip of stores known as Ferri’s Block. Rolando Petrella, in 1971, leased the theater and one of the store fronts directly beneath it. On the first floor, he established an Italian pastry shop and renamed the theater Cinema Italia. Each Sunday at 3:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M., Cinema Italia offered the latest films from Italy as well as Italian classics…Cinema Italia continued to entertain the Italian American community until February of 1974, at which time the strip of stores was razed and the property sold. Undaunted, Petrella moved his cinema operation to the Hillside Cinema on Waterman Avenue in North Providence, offering Italian films during the same time slots as his defunct Cinema Italia.” —from “The Voices of Italy” by Alfred R. Crudale.
Theatre demolished October 2025.
Theatre demolished October 2025.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Demolished.
Cinema Italia [in Johnston]continued to entertain the Italian American community until February of 1974, at which time the strip of stores was razed and the property sold. Undaunted, [Rolando] Petrella moved his cinema operation to the Hillside Cinema on Waterman Avenue in North Providence, offering Italian films during the same time slots as his defunct Cinema Italia.“ —from "The Voices of Italy” by Alfred R. Crudale.
“A gala celebration on February 11, 1967, marked the opening of the Italy Cinema at 910 Atwood Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island. The theater, which began showing films prior to the Second World War, occupied the second floor of a strip of stores known as Ferri’s Block. Rolando Petrella, in 1971, leased the theater and one of the store fronts directly beneath it. On the first floor, he established an Italian pastry shop and renamed the theater Cinema Italia. Each Sunday at 3:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M., Cinema Italia offered the latest films from Italy as well as Italian classics…Cinema Italia continued to entertain the Italian American community until February of 1974, at which time the strip of stores was razed and the property sold. Undaunted, Petrella moved his cinema operation to the Hillside Cinema on Waterman Avenue in North Providence, offering Italian films during the same time slots as his defunct Cinema Italia.” —from “The Voices of Italy” by Alfred R. Crudale.
Always loved that cinema, even though I can no longer visit these days because of how far away I live.
“Force of Evil” across the square at Loew’s State, I believe.
1950s publicity cards.
See photo of film Workers picketing “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1921)
A major lost film.
A now-lost film from 1929.
First interior of the Bijou I have ever seen.
“The Moon is Blue” was a 1953 film.
The Naked Eye. 1956?
Circa 1943.
A very good Italian neo-realist film, “Il sole sorge ancora.”
A very good Italian neo-realist film, “Il sole sorge ancora.”
A 1952 Italian film, with Sophia Loren.
A 1941 Italian film.