Comments from rsalters (Ron Salters)

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rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Saxon Theatre on May 21, 2007 at 10:32 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Lyric/Saxon in Fitchburg MA has 2 photos, one as the Lyric and one as the Saxon. There is only one photo date, August 14, 1946. It seems likely that the Lyric photo was taken at the same time as the other MGM photos in Fitchburg: May 1941, and the Saxon photographed in 1946, but I’m not sure of that. The theatre entrance was located at the left side of a 3-story commercial building. The Lyric had a triangular marquee, and it appears that the same marquee was adapted for the Saxon. In both photos, Loddy’s Pharmacy is to the right of the theatre entrance. Movies playing at the Lyric are : “ (unreadable)” and what looks like “Wyoming” (was there a film with that title?). Movies at the Saxon are" “He Walked by Night” and “Parole Inc.” There is no further information on the MGM Report. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Lyric is listed as part of the E.M. Loew circuit of Boston, but also part of the Fred Lieberman Proven Pictures circuit. It seems likely that one of these circuits gave it over to the other in 1942. According to a post by “Winchendon” on March 17, 2006 on the page for the Fitchburg Theatre, the Lyric/Saxon was located next to the Fitchburg Theatre on Main Street. It had a balcony and stage (he attended concerts there), and was closed after about 1968 and eventually demolished. The theatre name, Saxon, was used in Boston by the Ben Sack theatre company, so one wonders if the Saxon in Fitchburg was also a Ben Sack house.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Strand Theatre on May 20, 2007 at 9:59 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand in Fitchburg has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The photo is of very poor quality. The entrance was in the middle of a commercial block. There is a triangle marquee above, but it’s not possible to read the attractions posted. The Report states that the Strand is on Daniels St., and has been showing MGM product for 10 years; was built about 1925 and is in Fair condition, with 589 seats downstairs and 204 in the balcony, total: 793. It’s listed as a “Neighborhood” theatre.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Cumings Theatre on May 20, 2007 at 9:49 am

This theatre was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. Although the Report is headed “Cummings Theatre”, the photo, taken May 1941, on the Report shows the signage on the marquee reading in big letters “Cumings Theatre”, with one “m”. The name is displayed as “Cumings” both on the front and on the sides of the marquee. It seems likely that if the company which made the marquee was mistaken, the theatre management would have had them correct the spelling of the name. Does anyone know for sure what the correct spelling of the name was ? The photo shows an ornamental facade, quite handsome, and a rectangular marquee, with a vertical sign above. On the side of the marquee is posted “The Home of Greater Entertainment”. Across the street from the theatre was a green area with trees. The Report states that the theatre is at 25 Blossom St. in Fitchburg, that it has been playing MGM product for 10 years; that it was built about 1920 and is in Fair condition. The seating was listed as 411 on the main floor, 543 in the balcony,and 32 in the loges, total: 986. But someone crossed that out and typed in “Total: 936”. Competing theatres were listed as Lyric, Universal, Shea’s, Fitchburg and Strand. The 1940 population of Fitchburg was 41,800.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Star Theater on May 19, 2007 at 11:26 am

Lost- we need a knowledgable Lawrenceite at this point! There is no Star Theatre listed among the 1941 MGM Reports, but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a Star Theatre there at some point. Or that some other theatre could have been renamed the Star. Broadway is the main street in Lawrence and several theatres were located on it. Most of the Lawrence theatres here in CT were located on Broadway.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Fitchburg Theatre on May 19, 2007 at 11:14 am

The Fitchburg Theatre is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as being run by the Maine and New Hampshire Theatres of Boston. That same circuit also ran the Shea’s Theatre in Fitchburg.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Star Theater on May 19, 2007 at 10:25 am

Lost- a link to that photo was posted on March 9 2007 to the page for the Central Theatre, 11 Oak Street, in Lawrence (CT 10483). As far as I could tell at the time, that photo matches an old 1941 MGM Report photo for the Central Theatre.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Wang Theatre on May 7, 2007 at 10:46 am

Both ! New theatre seats today are wider and bigger than old ones, and often are set at a greater “pitch” between rows. In 1990, I attended a LHAT luncheon in the foyer of the Wang, and at that time, the main floor was being rebuilt. All seats had been removed and the floor was being reconstructed. I believe that’s when they added the ring of loges around the perimeter of the orchestra floor. (The old Met had a ring of mezzanine loges but not a corresponding ring of loges down below). One variable they have today in seating is that they can add 2 or 3 rows of extra seats down front in the orchestra pit. I don’t know if the 3,600-plus total includes those extra seats.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Wang Theatre on May 6, 2007 at 10:06 am

Yes, it now has slightly over 3,600 seats; when it originally opened, the Met was reputed to have a total of 4,407 seats.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Egyptian Theater on May 4, 2007 at 11:14 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Egyptian has an exterior photo dated April 1941. The theatre had an elaborate rectangular marquee with some sort of crest at the top and lots of what were probably “chase” lights. On the front, under the name, is posted “Friday Nights – Hollywood Party”. On either side of the entrance are very elaborate poster frames. To the left is the Puritan restaurant. The Report states that the Egyptian is at 326 Washington St. in Brighton, that it has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s less than 15 years old (as of 1941), is in Fair condition, has 2,054 seats, and is a “Neighborhood” house.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about E.M. Loew's Casino Theatre on May 4, 2007 at 11:03 am

The Casino in Falmouth Heights is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the E.M. Loew circuit of Boston.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Buzzards Bay Theater on May 2, 2007 at 10:53 am

Correction to the posting above of March 6th- the operator of the Buzzards Bay Theatre in 1942 was “Cape Theatres” / Clarence Robbins. The odd thing is that in order to be listed in the Motion Picture Almanac at that time, a theatre circuit needed to have a minimum of 5 theatres. Cape Theatres had only one theatre, the Buzzards Bay, yet it managed to get itself listed.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Colonial Theatre on May 2, 2007 at 10:11 am

Yes, the first 3 photos are of the Colonial exterior circa 1960s. The fourth photo is not the Colonial – possibly it’s the south facade of the Met/Wang ?? Not sure of that.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Tibbits Opera House on May 1, 2007 at 10:51 am

The Tibbets Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow managers. It’s listed as “Tibbet’s Opera House”. The seating capacity is given as 823, and admission prices were 25 cents to 75 cents. John T. Jackson was the Mgr. The house had both gas and electric illumination; the proscenium opening was 30 feet square. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 7 in the house orchestra. Hotels for showfolk in Coldwater were the Southern Michigan, Arlington, Brunswick and the Ward House. Newspapers were the Times, Republican, Courier, Sun and Star. The local railroad was the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. The 1892 population of Coldwater was 7,000.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about New Oriental Theatre on May 1, 2007 at 10:31 am

There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand Theatre in Canton with an exterior photo dated March 1941. The theatre entrance was the second bay from the right end of a one-story brick business block. The theatre had a fancy boxy marquee with “Strand” in big neon-outline letters on the front and lots of other neon zigs and zags. Attraction was Fredric March in “Victory”. Beyond the building to the right were some trees and an Esso gas station. The Report states that the Strand has been a MGM customer for 5 years; that it was built about 1915, was in Fair condition and had 500 seats. Nearest competition was the State Theatre in Stoughton. The 1940 population of Canton was 6,300. The Strand was taken over around 1978 by exhibitor/showman Fred McLennan, who is also a cinema/theatre/nostalgia historian. He installed an organ, and decorated the house with artifacts and equipment from the Oriental in Mattapan and other theatres. The seating was reduced and the theatre was renamed the “Oriental”. It was a popular single-screen theatre for a number of years and was an attraction for visiting enthusiasts (like those who frequent the Cinema Treasures website!) I understand that there is a set of 12 photos made around 1980 of this theatre in the collection of the Philadelphia Athenaeum. Some time after closure, the theatre was gutted out and turned into commercial space.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Falmouth Theater on Apr 30, 2007 at 11:11 am

The Falmouth Theatre is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the M&P Theatres circuit (Mullin & Pinanski, a Paramount affiliate, at 60 Scollay Square in Boston). The Elizabeth Theatre in Falmouth was also part of M&P at that time.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 30, 2007 at 10:40 am

Lawrence once had a theatre called the Lawrence Opera House. It had over 1600 seats and a huge stage, and was presented touring shows and concerts. The auditorium and stage were upstairs on the second floor; on the ground floor was the entrance and foyer for a Boston and Maine Railroad passenger station which was located directly in back of the rear stage wall. This station was secondary to the main Lawrence rail station which was located on the Boston to Portland main railroad line. I don’t know if the Lawrence Opera House ever showed movies – it may have. I don’t know what street it was on.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Allston Theatre on Apr 30, 2007 at 10:30 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Allston has an exterior photo dated April 1941. It was an imposing building with an attractive classical facade. There was a long, fancy, rectangular marquee with a vertical blade sign above. The attraction posted is “Boom Town”. The Report states that the Allston has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old (in 1941), and, surprisingly, in “Poor” condition. There were 681 seats on the orchestra floor and 445 in the balcony, total: 1,126 seats. In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, the Allston Theatre is listed as having 1400 seats and being open 7 days per week. The Allston is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as being part of M&P Theatres of Boston, a Paramount affiliate. M&P also ran the Capitol Theatre in Allston.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 29, 2007 at 10:56 am

In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, the Strand in Westfield is listed as having 1400 seats and being open 7 days per week. They also list a Rialto Theatre in Westfield with 600 seats and open 7 days. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Strand in Westfield is listed as part of Western Mass. Theatres (Nathan Goldstein) of Springfield.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Town Hall on Apr 29, 2007 at 10:20 am

Oxford is located to the southwest of Worcester. The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Town Hall in Oxford has an exterior photo dated May 1941. It was an imposing brick building at least 3 stories high with gothic windows above and a center entrance. There appear to be small poster boards on each side of the entrance. The Report states that the Town Hall is on Main St., that it has been a MGM customer for over 6 years; that it’s over 15 years old; in Poor condition, and serves a Rural clientel. Seating was given as 450 on the main floor and 100 in the balcony, but someone crossed out those figures and wrote in “Total 400”. Competing theatres are the Liberty and State in nearby Webster, and the 1940 population of Oxford was 4,600.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 28, 2007 at 10:45 am

Hank- I have seen hundreds of photos of movie theatres in Massachusetts and there’s no doubt that Lawrence had some of the finest looking (on the exterior at least) theatres in the state. Really outstanding buildings.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Lexington Opera House on Apr 28, 2007 at 10:17 am

The Lexington Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow producers. The seating capacity is given as 1500; Charles Scott was the manager. The house had both electric and gas illumination and the auditorium was on the ground floor. The proscenium was 33 feet wide x 34 feet high, and the stage was 42 feet deep. Hotels for show folk in Lexington were the Phoenix, Palace, Leland and Reed. Local newspapers were the Leader, Herald and Argonaut. The 1897 population of Lexington KY was 30,000.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 27, 2007 at 10:43 am

There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand in Lawrence with a facade photo dated 1941. The theatre was a free-standing rectangular building 3 stories high with a massive cornice at the top of the facade. There was a large rectangular marquee with the name “Strand” on the front and “10 Cents” on either side of the name. Below is posted “New Show Every Sun., Mon., Wed., Fri.”. so the Strand was a true “nabe” with low admission and 4 changes of program per week. The Report states that the theatre was not a MGM customer, that it was built around 1915; that it was in Fair condition, and has 800 seats. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Strand was listed under Charles Morse theatres of Boston.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Modern Theatre on Apr 27, 2007 at 10:35 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Modern Theatre in Lawrence has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre had an imposing classical facade with a huge arched window above the marquee and elaborate poster cases on either side of the entrance. There was a large 3-sided marquee with a big “M” on the front. Attractions were “Mr and Mrs Smith” and “Sign of the Wolf”. The Report states that the Modern has been presenting MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old and in Good condition, and has 1,070 seats. It’s listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac under the Warner Bros. theatre circuit.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Broadway Theatre on Apr 27, 2007 at 10:28 am

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Broadway has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre had a heavy classical facade with a very fancy rectangular marquee with “Broadway” on the front. There was a large arched window above the marquee. The Report states that the Broadway is on Broadway in Lawrence, that it has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was over 15 years old (in 1941) and in Good condition. It had 685 seats on the main floor and 519 in the balcony, total: 1,204 seats. The Broadway is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as being controlled by the Warner Brothers theatre circuit, along with the Palace, Modern and Warner theatres in Lawrence.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Children's matinee recollections on Apr 26, 2007 at 10:39 am

There are very detailed and amusing accounts of typical Saturday “kiddie matinees” in the 1940s here in CT under Rialto Theatre, Lowell MA, and Dorchester Theatre, Boston MA.