Sadly, I just had my own Cinema Paradiso moment. I live ½ block from the long closed Seville Theater in East Boston — an atmospheric movie theater I frequented as a boy and young man. As I write this, it is being demolished to make way for luxury condos. I was curious to see whether there was anything left of the interior. When the bulldozer broke through the outer wall today I was first able to see the midnight blue ceiling that used to have twinkling stars studded throughout. The columns of a loge were clearly visible too as was the ramp type of balcony. In my youth I remember how all along the outside walls were replicas of mansions with enormous windows lit up from behind and classical statuary near the proscenium. It was sumptuous for a working class neighborhood. My mother always commented on how the lady’s room was very elegant and comfortable. Why is progress sometimes such an ugly word?
Sadly, I just had my own Cinema Paradiso moment. I live ½ block from the long closed Seville Theater in East Boston — an atmospheric movie theater I frequented as a boy and young man. As I write this, it is being demolished to make way for luxury condos. I was curious to see whether there was anything left of the interior. When the bulldozer broke through the outer wall today I was first able to see the midnight blue ceiling that used to have twinkling stars studded throughout. The columns of a loge were clearly visible too as was the ramp type of balcony. In my youth I remember how all along the outside walls were replicas of mansions with enormous windows lit up from behind and classical statuary near the proscenium. It was sumptuous for a working class neighborhood. My mother always commented on how the lady’s room was very elegant and comfortable. Why is progress sometimes such an ugly word?