Here’s a much older photo of the Old Howard, also from teh Bostonian Society collection. The photo is described here. Unfortunately, the date given is non-specific: “ca. 1890-1910”.
Ken, could the seating reduction be the result of stricter fire laws that might have forced closing of a balcony? The Cocoanut Grove fire happened in 1942.
I believe that the Radisson Hotel (originally Howard Johnson’s 57 Park Plaza) and the Stuart Street Playhouse (originally Sack Cinema 57) now stand on, or at least near, the former site of the Cocoanut Grove.
Here’s a photo of the marquee as the Trans-Lux. The photo was taken in 1943 and is described here. The marquee advertises Bob Hope and Betty Grable in “Give Me a Sailor”, plus Roger Pryor and Rochelle Hudson in “The Officer and the Lady”.
A 1958 photo, described here, as the Mayflower Theatre. The marquee advertises the film “Sayonara”. Down the street, the RKO Keith’s (now the Opera House) is showing “My Man Godfrey”.
A great 1955 photo of the Center Theatre, described here. The marquee has an E.M. Loew’s logo in front, and advertises “Call Northside 777” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends”.
Yet another Publix Theatre photo, this one from 1954 and described here. The marquee advertises Randolph Scott in “A Stranger With A Gun”, and Abbott and Costello in “Africa Screams”. I believe the side of the marquee facing the street has an “E.M. Loew’s” logo on top.
The marquee advertises Deborah Kerr, David Niven, and Jean Seaberg in “Bonjour Tristesse”. I do not know why there is a huge, blank sign-board above the marquee, and below the “Astor Theatre” neon sign. It was always blank when I saw this theatre in the 1970s, too.
A picture postcard of the Tremont Theatre, from some time between 1907 and 1915, described here.
A large sign above the building reads “KLAW & ERLANGER’S ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE”.
A picture postcard of the Majestic, from some time between 1907 and 1912, described here.
Here’s a much older photo of the Old Howard, also from teh Bostonian Society collection. The photo is described here. Unfortunately, the date given is non-specific: “ca. 1890-1910”.
And here’s a 1934 photo, and the accompanying description. The vertical sign is more visible in this photo than the marquee or the building façade.
A 1947 photo of the Olympia and the next-door Rialto. The photo is described here.
A 1945 photo of the Casino, described here.
Ken, could the seating reduction be the result of stricter fire laws that might have forced closing of a balcony? The Cocoanut Grove fire happened in 1942.
The Bostonian Society Library server was briefly down. It should be working now.
I thought it was a group of airplanes flying in military formation…
The Boston Music Hall’s former organ now resides in the Methuen Memorial Music Hall which was built especially for that purpose.
I believe that the Radisson Hotel (originally Howard Johnson’s 57 Park Plaza) and the Stuart Street Playhouse (originally Sack Cinema 57) now stand on, or at least near, the former site of the Cocoanut Grove.
In this 1958 photo (described here), the theatre marquee has been changed to “BOSTON CINERAMA” and advertises “Search for Paradise”.
Here’s a photo of the marquee as the Trans-Lux. The photo was taken in 1943 and is described here. The marquee advertises Bob Hope and Betty Grable in “Give Me a Sailor”, plus Roger Pryor and Rochelle Hudson in “The Officer and the Lady”.
Here’s a 1949 photo of the Paramount and surrounding businesses. The photo is described here.
A 1958 photo, described here, as the Mayflower Theatre. The marquee advertises the film “Sayonara”. Down the street, the RKO Keith’s (now the Opera House) is showing “My Man Godfrey”.
Another Center Theater photo, from 1948, described here. A double bill of “The Plainsman” and “The Virginian” with Gary Cooper.
Further down the street you can also see the Stuart Theatre’s marquee.
A great 1955 photo of the Center Theatre, described here. The marquee has an E.M. Loew’s logo in front, and advertises “Call Northside 777” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends”.
Another 1947 Victory Theatre photo, described here. The marquee advertises “Call of the Jungle” and “Dynamite”.
The same theatre in 1947, but this time the vertical sign and marquee read “VICTORY” instead of “Gayety” or “Publix”. Photo is described here.
Yet another Publix Theatre photo, this one from 1954 and described here. The marquee advertises Randolph Scott in “A Stranger With A Gun”, and Abbott and Costello in “Africa Screams”. I believe the side of the marquee facing the street has an “E.M. Loew’s” logo on top.
And in this 1945 photo, described here, the theatre’s marquee says BEACON, not Beacon Hill. It’s too blurry to see what film the marquee advertises.
The Astor marquee is just barely visible at the right of this 1948 photo, described here. The building’s façade has not yet been “modernized”.
Another photo of the Astor, from 1958. You can see the whole façade better in this one. The photo is described here.
The marquee advertises Deborah Kerr, David Niven, and Jean Seaberg in “Bonjour Tristesse”. I do not know why there is a huge, blank sign-board above the marquee, and below the “Astor Theatre” neon sign. It was always blank when I saw this theatre in the 1970s, too.
A 1958 photo of the first Beacon Hill Theatre. The photo is described here.
The marquee advertises
NEVER ANYTHING LIKE IT
BRIGITTE BARDOT
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN
with Bardot’s name in much, much larger letters than the other two lines.
Above the marquee, a banner advertises an upcoming World Premiere of “The Goddess” with Kim Stanley and Lloyd Bridges.
And in this 1943 photo (described here), the Majestic marquee advertises Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”, with “CONT SHOWS” and “POP PRICES”.
Banners are also strung over Tremont Street to advertise the movie. One of them says “ORIGINAL UNCUT VERSION”.