Horror movies at the Lonsdale were much scarier. Who knew what would crawl out of the Blackstone River, slit you open and then hide in the narrow aisles of Ann & Hope?
Lincoln Mall Cinema was my first destination with my first car, a 1966 Catalina. I went to see Jaws with two friends.
Why I remember this, I’ll never know.
The Lonsdale Twin, along the banks of the “beautiful” Blackstone River (which regularly flooded the drive-in) was open through the late 80’s at least. It is in the Lonsdale section of Lincoln, RI with entrances on Lonsdale Ave and on Grand Street (across the street from WGNG radio station). A central refreshment stand was the highlight, which sat along side a children’s playground (I split my head open on the slide when I was 9). It was kind of neat insomuch as if you were bored with your movie, you could turn around and watch the other screen. After the drive-in closed, they threw a flea market on the grounds for a while. The concession stand is long gone, but much of the tiled floor remained. I have pictures, if anyone is interested.
The remains of the drive in were torn down in 2004. It is now a wildlife preserve. You can’t fool with the Mighy Blackstone River!
Downtown Tiffin had three theaters in operation in 1928 catering to an eager public. Original builders Dan Kerwin and Alan Ritzler, completed in only nine months The Ritz Theatre was instantly dubbed “Tiffin’s quarter-million-dollar-movie-palace.†When it opened December 20, 1928, over 1,500 patrons packed the theatre to listen to the Ritz Quality Orchestra and greet this modern marvel.
Throughout the theatre, The Ritz boasts an Italian Renaissance design. Terra cotta and buff brick cover the street front facade. A terra cotta mask of the Greek goddess of drama, Melpomene, watches over the theatre. Inside the outer lobby, a floor of mosaic tile greets visitors. Fixtures of solid brass and black onyx and marble walls portend the richness awaiting inside.
The inner lobby quietly mimics the outside of an Italian villa, complete with stucco walls and subtle accents of teal and red. Two marble staircases lead the audience to the balcony where hand painted stencils of red, teal and yellow create the feeling of a trellis in an outdoor garden.
To complete the garden fantasy of the interior, four 10 X 30 foot high murals painted directly onto wet plaster dominate the main floor. The overgrown garden pictures, painted by local artist Lloyd Roberts and Horace Drew, feature statues that might have been found in a Greek garden. A curved proscenium envelopes the audience, bringing them closer to the performers on stage and lending an air of intimacy to this 1,260 seat theatre. Intricate plaster work, concrete forms, stone designs and scrolls are all hand-painted in the careful detail of Italian Renaissance. The mammoth 1,200 pound chandelier, made of 20,000 Czechoslovakian crystal pieces, hangs impressively from a dome of sky blue. Half of the original theatre light board was dedicated to the atmospheric lighting, alone. These original fixtures still light up the theatre today.
Of the four theaters in Tiffin of the 1920’s and 1930’s The Ritz is the only reminder of an era gone by. Renovated in 1998 to its almost original condition The Ritz Theatre allows us to look back to a time when the theaters themselves often stole the show.
Single screen, two carbon arc projectors are still in use. Seats 1260. It isn’t part of a chain now, nor was it when built. In the 50’s it was part of the Shine’s chain for a while.
Physical Address
30 South Washington Street
Tiffin, OH 44883
Nope, no Kurt in my family. I am the oldest of 5 kids, went to Notre Dame Elementary and HS till it closed in 1977. I went to school with two folks with your last name (David and Michael, both of CF, both of whom would be in the early to mid 40’s now). My father met my mother when he had a job at the Bowlaway as a pinsetter.
The Ritz is a true gem, and I’m lucky to be here. We still use the pair of 1940’s carbon arc projectors, though we don’t show film too often anymore with the new super-mega-giantplex in town. I do have to edit the comments on The Ritz.
Dear Gerald and Roland,
Thank you for your comments and research on the theatre’s of Pawtucket and Central Falls. I grew up on Clay Street in the 60’s and 70’s and remember many fond trips to the Holiday Cinema, the Leroy, Darlton…My last trip to the Leroy was to have seen Jethro Tull, but the performance was cancelled. My mother still lives in CF and I get back there at least once a year. My grandfather used to own Bill’s Bowlaway, which is now the Credit Union Central Falls parking lot. It’s sad to see what has happened to my hometown, and I can’t drive down Broad Street without feeling melancholy
Even as a kid, I always hoped to have the money to buy the Leroy or the Holiday with a friend of mine from Cross St and save it. I guess that stuck with me…as I am now the director of The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, OH, a restored 1928 movie palace. If you ever find yourself in Ohio stop on by and see what can happen to a theatre when people care.
Dear Gerald and Roland,
Thank you for your comments and research on the theatre’s of Pawtucket and Central Falls. I grew up on Clay Street in the 60’s and 70’s and remember many fond trips to the Holiday Cinema, the Leroy, Darlton…My last trip to the Leroy was to have seen Jethro Tull, but the performance was cancelled. My mother still lives in CF and I get back there at least once a year. My grandfather used to own Bill’s Bowlaway, which is now the Credit Union Central Falls parking lot. It’s sad to see what has happened to my hometown, and I can’t drive down Broad Street without feeling melancholy
Even as a kid, I always hoped to have the money to buy the Leroy or the Holiday with a friend of mine from Cross St and save it. I guess that stuck with me…as I am now the director of The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, OH, a restored 1928 movie palace. If you ever find yourself in Ohio stop on by and see what can happen to a theatre when people care.
Horror movies at the Lonsdale were much scarier. Who knew what would crawl out of the Blackstone River, slit you open and then hide in the narrow aisles of Ann & Hope?
Lincoln Mall Cinema was my first destination with my first car, a 1966 Catalina. I went to see Jaws with two friends.
Why I remember this, I’ll never know.
Here is a link to a story in The Woonsocket Call about the Lonsdal Drive in of today…
View link
The Lonsdale Twin, along the banks of the “beautiful” Blackstone River (which regularly flooded the drive-in) was open through the late 80’s at least. It is in the Lonsdale section of Lincoln, RI with entrances on Lonsdale Ave and on Grand Street (across the street from WGNG radio station). A central refreshment stand was the highlight, which sat along side a children’s playground (I split my head open on the slide when I was 9). It was kind of neat insomuch as if you were bored with your movie, you could turn around and watch the other screen. After the drive-in closed, they threw a flea market on the grounds for a while. The concession stand is long gone, but much of the tiled floor remained. I have pictures, if anyone is interested.
The remains of the drive in were torn down in 2004. It is now a wildlife preserve. You can’t fool with the Mighy Blackstone River!
Downtown Tiffin had three theaters in operation in 1928 catering to an eager public. Original builders Dan Kerwin and Alan Ritzler, completed in only nine months The Ritz Theatre was instantly dubbed “Tiffin’s quarter-million-dollar-movie-palace.†When it opened December 20, 1928, over 1,500 patrons packed the theatre to listen to the Ritz Quality Orchestra and greet this modern marvel.
Throughout the theatre, The Ritz boasts an Italian Renaissance design. Terra cotta and buff brick cover the street front facade. A terra cotta mask of the Greek goddess of drama, Melpomene, watches over the theatre. Inside the outer lobby, a floor of mosaic tile greets visitors. Fixtures of solid brass and black onyx and marble walls portend the richness awaiting inside.
The inner lobby quietly mimics the outside of an Italian villa, complete with stucco walls and subtle accents of teal and red. Two marble staircases lead the audience to the balcony where hand painted stencils of red, teal and yellow create the feeling of a trellis in an outdoor garden.
To complete the garden fantasy of the interior, four 10 X 30 foot high murals painted directly onto wet plaster dominate the main floor. The overgrown garden pictures, painted by local artist Lloyd Roberts and Horace Drew, feature statues that might have been found in a Greek garden. A curved proscenium envelopes the audience, bringing them closer to the performers on stage and lending an air of intimacy to this 1,260 seat theatre. Intricate plaster work, concrete forms, stone designs and scrolls are all hand-painted in the careful detail of Italian Renaissance. The mammoth 1,200 pound chandelier, made of 20,000 Czechoslovakian crystal pieces, hangs impressively from a dome of sky blue. Half of the original theatre light board was dedicated to the atmospheric lighting, alone. These original fixtures still light up the theatre today.
Of the four theaters in Tiffin of the 1920’s and 1930’s The Ritz is the only reminder of an era gone by. Renovated in 1998 to its almost original condition The Ritz Theatre allows us to look back to a time when the theaters themselves often stole the show.
Single screen, two carbon arc projectors are still in use. Seats 1260. It isn’t part of a chain now, nor was it when built. In the 50’s it was part of the Shine’s chain for a while.
Physical Address
30 South Washington Street
Tiffin, OH 44883
Phone 419-448-8544
website- http://www.ritztheatre.org
Nope, no Kurt in my family. I am the oldest of 5 kids, went to Notre Dame Elementary and HS till it closed in 1977. I went to school with two folks with your last name (David and Michael, both of CF, both of whom would be in the early to mid 40’s now). My father met my mother when he had a job at the Bowlaway as a pinsetter.
The Ritz is a true gem, and I’m lucky to be here. We still use the pair of 1940’s carbon arc projectors, though we don’t show film too often anymore with the new super-mega-giantplex in town. I do have to edit the comments on The Ritz.
Thanks for your reply!
Michael
Dear Gerald and Roland,
Thank you for your comments and research on the theatre’s of Pawtucket and Central Falls. I grew up on Clay Street in the 60’s and 70’s and remember many fond trips to the Holiday Cinema, the Leroy, Darlton…My last trip to the Leroy was to have seen Jethro Tull, but the performance was cancelled. My mother still lives in CF and I get back there at least once a year. My grandfather used to own Bill’s Bowlaway, which is now the Credit Union Central Falls parking lot. It’s sad to see what has happened to my hometown, and I can’t drive down Broad Street without feeling melancholy
Even as a kid, I always hoped to have the money to buy the Leroy or the Holiday with a friend of mine from Cross St and save it. I guess that stuck with me…as I am now the director of The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, OH, a restored 1928 movie palace. If you ever find yourself in Ohio stop on by and see what can happen to a theatre when people care.
Dear Gerald and Roland,
Thank you for your comments and research on the theatre’s of Pawtucket and Central Falls. I grew up on Clay Street in the 60’s and 70’s and remember many fond trips to the Holiday Cinema, the Leroy, Darlton…My last trip to the Leroy was to have seen Jethro Tull, but the performance was cancelled. My mother still lives in CF and I get back there at least once a year. My grandfather used to own Bill’s Bowlaway, which is now the Credit Union Central Falls parking lot. It’s sad to see what has happened to my hometown, and I can’t drive down Broad Street without feeling melancholy
Even as a kid, I always hoped to have the money to buy the Leroy or the Holiday with a friend of mine from Cross St and save it. I guess that stuck with me…as I am now the director of The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, OH, a restored 1928 movie palace. If you ever find yourself in Ohio stop on by and see what can happen to a theatre when people care.