Is seven screens really considered a ‘megaplex’ these days?
This plan sounds like it has serious flaws (why do you need a parking garage at all?), but the combination of a multi-screen cinema and a restored historic theatre can work. I recommend taking a look at the Somerville Theatre for a successful example of this.
Also, the 1971 list is not complete, as it does not include the State, Mayflower, Pilgrim, or West End. It also does not include the RKO Boston/Cinerama, but that might have been closed for subdivision by 1971. (And it doesn’t include the Cheri because that was still open in June 2001.)
An Aldo Shoe store is listed in the Boston phone book at 413 Washington Street. The store itself has no street number posted, nor do its neighbors. It is long and narrow, with a canopy-style sign over the sidewalk that looks like it may have once been a marquee. At the back of the store, an EXIT sign leads to a long flight of stairs. Perhaps these go up to the theatre, but I wasn’t able to explore.
A separate sign above the store now advertises The Corner Mall (next door), but I’m pretty sure it used to advertise the Orpheum, even long after this entrance had been converted to retail use.
This Boston Phoenix article shows a photo of the Orson Welles, whose marquee advertises “Gone With the Wind”, “The Producers”, “Hi Mom”, and “Une Partie De Plaisir”.
I found this Boston Phoenix article from June 2001, entitled “Muffled screens: Is it curtains for the movie theaters of Boston?”. It’s about the imminent opening of Loews Boston Common, and the disappearance of Boston’s other theatres, and the many theatre chain bankruptcies occurring around that time. It correctly predicted that Boston would eventually be left with just two movie theatres — Loews Boston Common and General Cinema Fenway 13.
This sidebar lists Boston movie theatres that existed in June 1971, and what is in those locations today. The list doesn’t quite appear to be complete; it omits the Mayflower (Modern), Pilgrim, and State, at least. (It also omits the RKO Boston/Cinerama, but that might have been closed by 1971 and not yet converted into the Essex.)
The Orpheum is listed in the 1966 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc., but not in the 1967 annual report. This leads me to believe that Loew’s divested this theatre considerably earlier than the 1972 date given by King.
“In the Back Bay area of Boston, Loews acquired the Abbey I and Abbey II Twin Cinemas, two highly successful theatres adjoining the Charles River Campus of Boston University, in a prime growth area. As the neighborhood changes from brownstones townhouses [sic] to upper-income, high rise apartments, so the opportunities for modernization and for quality film exhibition increase.”
The 1971 annual report of Loews Corporation says that “Among the openings scheduled by next spring are: A 1200-seat luxury theatre in Danvers, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.” That refers to spring of 1972, so I think the 1969 date in the description above is wrong.
The report does not say whether the new theatre would be a single-screen or a twin.
The Loew’s Natick theatre is mentioned in the 1967 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc. The report contains an artist’s rendering of the future theatre, with this caption:
“Loew’s first twin-theatre, with a combined seating capacity of 2,000, will be constructed in Natick, Massachusetts, adjacent to New England’s most beautiful shopping mall. Acres of free parking will be provided; Led by Route 9 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, an excellent network of roads services the area.”
Another page of the report lists the Natick theatre as “Open 1968”, but I don’t know if they met that deadline. It does appear that this was a twin from the very beginning, contrary to the description above.
Loew’s Morse Road and Loew’s Arlington are mentioned in the 1966 annual report and the 1967 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc. The 1966 report says that both theatres were expected to open around Christmas of 1966, and it has a photo of the exterior of the Arlington theatre.
“The accent is on luxury, comfort, color and modernity in all of Loew’s new Theatres. Each provides acres of free parking, rocking-chair seats, giant 60~foot screen, stereo sound, all-weather air conditioning, art gallery and attractive concession services.
“Each new Loew’s Theatre features an Art Gallery, in which the works of outstanding local artists are displayed. These galleries attract great interest.”
Assuming King’s dates are mostly correct, one thing I found striking was that new theatre construction in central Boston suddenly stopped with the Paramount in 1932, and didn’t get going again until the mid-1960s with the Paris, Charles, and Cheri.
During that three-decade interval, the only new movie theatres that opened were a few newsreel houses carved out of existing buildings between 1936 and 1940 (South Station, Telepix, the second Old South).
The first Kenmore may have been an exception, but I don’t know much about it and King mentions it only briefly; in any event, it was on the far fringe of the city center.
Loew’s bought this theatre in October 1966, according to the company’s 1966 annual report.
From the 1965 Annual Report of Loew’s Theatres: “Loew’s new Theatre in Rochester opened in July, 1965.”
I guess this was a replacement for the theatre listed here. Was it erected on the same site? Is it still standing or operating today?
Will the main theatre be used for movies, live shows, or both?
Is seven screens really considered a ‘megaplex’ these days?
This plan sounds like it has serious flaws (why do you need a parking garage at all?), but the combination of a multi-screen cinema and a restored historic theatre can work. I recommend taking a look at the Somerville Theatre for a successful example of this.
If you mean this chandelier, the Loews press release says it formerly hung in Boston’s Cheri theatre, not Copley Place.
The current location of Anthology is not listed on this site. Can someone who is familiar with it please add it?
No, this theatre has been demolished. You are thinking of the B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre, which was built next door to replace this one.
See the Opera House listing for more information.
Anthology does not seem to be listed here at CinemaTreasures. Someone want to add it?
Also, the 1971 list is not complete, as it does not include the State, Mayflower, Pilgrim, or West End. It also does not include the RKO Boston/Cinerama, but that might have been closed for subdivision by 1971. (And it doesn’t include the Cheri because that was still open in June 2001.)
No idea, never heard of it. That 84 Beacon Street address today belongs to the Bull & Finch (aka Cheers) !
Did this marathon perhaps begin with a Year Zero?
An Aldo Shoe store is listed in the Boston phone book at 413 Washington Street. The store itself has no street number posted, nor do its neighbors. It is long and narrow, with a canopy-style sign over the sidewalk that looks like it may have once been a marquee. At the back of the store, an EXIT sign leads to a long flight of stairs. Perhaps these go up to the theatre, but I wasn’t able to explore.
A separate sign above the store now advertises The Corner Mall (next door), but I’m pretty sure it used to advertise the Orpheum, even long after this entrance had been converted to retail use.
This Boston Phoenix article shows a photo of the Central, whose marquee advertises “King of Hearts” (of course) and “Give Her the Moon”.
This Boston Phoenix article shows a photo of the Orson Welles, whose marquee advertises “Gone With the Wind”, “The Producers”, “Hi Mom”, and “Une Partie De Plaisir”.
This Boston Phoenix article shows a photo of the Pru Cinema.
I got the address from this sidebar, which listed Boston’s movie theatres of 1971, and what happened to them.
I found this Boston Phoenix article from June 2001, entitled “Muffled screens: Is it curtains for the movie theaters of Boston?”. It’s about the imminent opening of Loews Boston Common, and the disappearance of Boston’s other theatres, and the many theatre chain bankruptcies occurring around that time. It correctly predicted that Boston would eventually be left with just two movie theatres — Loews Boston Common and General Cinema Fenway 13.
This sidebar lists Boston movie theatres that existed in June 1971, and what is in those locations today. The list doesn’t quite appear to be complete; it omits the Mayflower (Modern), Pilgrim, and State, at least. (It also omits the RKO Boston/Cinerama, but that might have been closed by 1971 and not yet converted into the Essex.)
This list of old theatres says the Kenmore Square was at 654 Beacon, rather than 660.
The Orpheum is listed in the 1966 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc., but not in the 1967 annual report. This leads me to believe that Loew’s divested this theatre considerably earlier than the 1972 date given by King.
The 1971 annual report of Loews Corporation says:
“In the Back Bay area of Boston, Loews acquired the Abbey I and Abbey II Twin Cinemas, two highly successful theatres adjoining the Charles River Campus of Boston University, in a prime growth area. As the neighborhood changes from brownstones townhouses [sic] to upper-income, high rise apartments, so the opportunities for modernization and for quality film exhibition increase.”
The 1971 annual report of Loews Corporation says that “Among the openings scheduled by next spring are: A 1200-seat luxury theatre in Danvers, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.” That refers to spring of 1972, so I think the 1969 date in the description above is wrong.
The report does not say whether the new theatre would be a single-screen or a twin.
The Loew’s Natick theatre is mentioned in the 1967 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc. The report contains an artist’s rendering of the future theatre, with this caption:
“Loew’s first twin-theatre, with a combined seating capacity of 2,000, will be constructed in Natick, Massachusetts, adjacent to New England’s most beautiful shopping mall. Acres of free parking will be provided; Led by Route 9 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, an excellent network of roads services the area.”
Another page of the report lists the Natick theatre as “Open 1968”, but I don’t know if they met that deadline. It does appear that this was a twin from the very beginning, contrary to the description above.
Loew’s Morse Road and Loew’s Arlington are mentioned in the 1966 annual report and the 1967 annual report of Loew’s Theatres, Inc. The 1966 report says that both theatres were expected to open around Christmas of 1966, and it has a photo of the exterior of the Arlington theatre.
“The accent is on luxury, comfort, color and modernity in all of Loew’s new Theatres. Each provides acres of free parking, rocking-chair seats, giant 60~foot screen, stereo sound, all-weather air conditioning, art gallery and attractive concession services.
“Each new Loew’s Theatre features an Art Gallery, in which the works of outstanding local artists are displayed. These galleries attract great interest.”
Who was this theatre named for? I looked through all of the comments but did not find this information.
Assuming King’s dates are mostly correct, one thing I found striking was that new theatre construction in central Boston suddenly stopped with the Paramount in 1932, and didn’t get going again until the mid-1960s with the Paris, Charles, and Cheri.
During that three-decade interval, the only new movie theatres that opened were a few newsreel houses carved out of existing buildings between 1936 and 1940 (South Station, Telepix, the second Old South).
The first Kenmore may have been an exception, but I don’t know much about it and King mentions it only briefly; in any event, it was on the far fringe of the city center.
And it still looks the same today, even though one former cinema is now the Stuart Street Playhouse while the other is a golf school.