Lyric Theatre
West Broad Street,
Stonington,
CT
06379
West Broad Street,
Stonington,
CT
06379
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Princess Theatre
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A long-demolished theatre in the center of Westerly/Pawcatuck. The Princess Theatre was opened in 1910. It was renamed Lyric Theatre around 1920.
More information would be appreciated on this and other Westerly/Pawcatuck theatres like the Central Theatre and the United Theatre. Only the United Theatre remains, though long-shuttered.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
In the 1916 Westerly city directory there is listed a Princess Theatre at West Broad Street on the bridge. “On the bridge” was also given for references to the Lyric. The Lyric and Princess must have been the same place.
In July of 1917 the Princess at West Broad Street “on the bridge” was showing films. In the 1920s the Lyric (West Broad Sreet, “on the bridge”) is advertised in the Westerly Sun; there is no longer a Princess being advertised. The Princess had been renamed the Lyric. The Lyric and the Central, on the other hand, were separate theatres. They were both advertising in the Sun in 1925 along with the New Opera House, formerly Bliven Opera House.
One of the films shown in July of 1917 was The Rainbow with Dorothy Bernard.
Westerly, Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, Connecticut (part of Stonington) border on each other, separated by the Pawcatuck River. I’m coming to the conclusion that the Lyric, at West Broad Street (“on the bridge,” as directories indicate) places it…and the Central as well, geographically on the Connecticut side. Westerly has Broad Street, no West Broad Street. When you cross to Pawcatuck, it becomes West Broad. “Westerly” is generic rather than true geographical reality. The Westerly city directories of the time add the symbol “PA,” which means Pawcatuck, in referring to these theatres. This might have implications for the listing information.
Without any real certainty I might surmise that that Lyric/Princess Theatre located “on the bridge” between Pawcatuck, Connecticut and Westerly, RI, was this building on the left in the postcard photo. (Expand for better resolution.) Perhaps the second floor was used as the theatre. That was certainly true of similar small early movie theatres in the region. If true, then the theatre was not demolished but closed and converted. Does anyone know???
The theatre was closed and the Central theatre opened. The building is still there today
Pete – which building is it?
from Boxoffice Magazine, April 23, 1938:
Four Westerly and Mystic Houses Will Be Renovated
WESTERLY, R.I. – Jack Findlay, owner and operator of the Central, United and Lyric Theatres here and the Strand, Mystic, Conn., is renovating all four houses. Work on the Central, which will double its present seating capacity, is in progress. At the same time two new rectifiers and two lamps are being installed in the United and new carpet laid. The 400-seat Lyric, closed for many years, will soon begin complete renovation, while next in line the Strand will be entirely modernized. Findlay plans to operate the three Westerly houses full time first-run."
This theatre was part of the September 1923 6th Paramount Week. In this advertisement from the (Providence) Evening Tribune, September 1, 1923, we see a fascinating list of Rhode Island area theatres, many long-gone and long-forgoten, or even unheard of, as well as what they were showing during that week. This is listed as the Lyric, Westerly. They were showing the William S. Hart western Wagon Tracks. CLICK HERE and move image to see all theatres.
This theatre was first known as the Princess, in the 1910s. By the start of the 1920s, it was renamed the Lyric. The building is still there.