Central Theatre
11 Oak Street,
Lawrence,
MA
01841
11 Oak Street,
Lawrence,
MA
01841
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 14 comments
demolished on 5/14/18
The Central Theatre was on Oak Street, not Broadway. The street-view picture is correct. The building in the picture matches exactly the building in a 1941 photo of the Central Theatre in Lawrence. there were several theatres on Broadway, but the Central was not one of them.
My Uncle owned this theatre and it was on BROADWAY and the picture is incorrect.
Mirelys V. I think most all of us on CT have thought that about the old Hometown theatre no matter where Home is.
If I had the money to fix it up and reopen it i would do it. I’m not from lawrence but I was practically raised here. There is so much potential in this little city and I believe the abandoned places like these should be fixed so the new generations can enjoy them.
The photo link posted above on March 9 by ken mc matches the 1941 photo of the Central Theatre, even to the little jog in the center of the roof line above the entrance. Lancerfan, for an explanation of the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project, see under the Warner Theatre in Worcester.
I forgot to mention they did find some old theater things inside when they were clearing it out, but I am not sure what they did with them. They were looking to see if it could be named a historical site, but they need more information on it. I will continue to look.
Thank You for the picture. I believe this is probably the Central Theater in Lawrence when it was abandoned. I was looking for a picture of what it looked back when it was an operating theater – inside pictures too if poossible, but I don’t think there are any. It looks very different now on the outside. There is no Marquee and the front entrance is a flagstone. The church has done a nice job. Thanks Again.
This is an abandoned theater in Lawrence, but I can’t say that it’s the Central. It’s certainly not either of the other two Lawrence theaters listed on CT:
http://tinyurl.com/34v693
Ron Salters, Where can I find ther MGM Photograph and Reports form with the picture you mentioned? I tried to look it up on the web and cannot find it there nor on the bookstore web sites.
Thanks
Lancerfan
Does anyone have a picture of this theater? It is now a church and the congregation would like to restore the building and a picture would help.
“The last of the single screen theatres in Lawrence, MA.” And yes, is this theatre still standing? It would be nice to think that the folks of Lawrence have saved this one after losing all of the many theatres in their community.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Central Theatre in Lawrence has a facade photo taken in 1941. There was a 2-sided triangle-style marquee with 3 lines of black letters on a white background. At the apex of the triangle was a logo “Val Jean”. The Report states that the Central was on Oak Street, that it had been playing MGM product for 1 year; that it was built in 1939; that it was in “New” condition; and that it had 600 seats all on one floor.
Is it still standing? What is it used for now?