Hyannis Theater

A “Looking Back” feature in the June 27, 2013, issue of The Barnstable Patriot cites an item from the June 28, 1923, issue of the paper saying that the new Hyannis Theatre would open that day. The timing indicates that the Hyannis was probably the theater project mentioned in the April 28, 1923, issue of Exhibitors Herald, which said that a 1,000-seat house was being built for Hyannis Theatre, Inc., from plans by Boston architects J. Williams Beal Sons. The same firm later designed the house now known as The Boston University Theatre.

The theater is not demolished! It is still standing, now with retail on the ground floor. The upper floors are condominiums and my mother is moving into one right now. I am trying to get some memorabilia from the theater for her, but so far, no luck. There are a couple of photos floating around online, but not enough resolution to blow up and frame. But the condo is quite nice and the big wooden beams from the roof are exposed. It is her dream come true!

I also resided there during the early 50’s when I was manager of the Center and later on when I was projectionist at the Hyannis. I remember George when he came and replaced Paul Dion (Motorcycle Man)at the Center.
The Ice cream parlor when much earlier than this.

The second floor used to be an ice cream parlor. The entrance was on the side. Later is was used as a domitory for Interstate’s summer employees.

The last time I was there the space had been converted into retail and housed a variety of shops but all remains of the theater are gone as the interior of the building had been gutted.

The story about the hundred dollar bill was told to me by George Nelson who worked as a projectionist at the Center Theater for years until it burned down. A manager left a plastic trash container near the furnace and that started the fire as I was told. George had a room in the Hyannis theater and worked summers on the cape until he retired. He was appalled that the manager at the Hyannis Theater didn’t just let Liz and Mike go in for free.
One interesting story few know is that after they ran Sound of Music all summer in the tent where Cinema 28 was later built the mag optical print was sitting in the lobby of the Center Theater waiting to be shipped back and George noticed it. Seeing it was a mag optical print and as the Center Theater was the only theater on Cape Cod that could run stereo he took a couple of reels up to the booth and ran them. The district manager walked in and commented on who good it sounded. His words were, “You mean I have been listening to this all summer in optical when it could have sounded like this.” The district manager hearing how good it sounded booked it to run the following summer at the Center Theater.

Richard D. were you the manager when Liz Taylor attended. She has a hundred dollar bill there was trouble breaking it then she asked to sit in the balcony.

Ron & Gerald- I was Manager and projectionist at the Hyannis and Center during the 50’s. The Hyannis was the larger of the two and 960 on main floor and 90 in balcony seems about right. The Hyannis operated only in the summer and was located in the west end of town surrounded with shop, bars restaurants etc. but everything was closed during the winter. I remember seeing Mike Todd and Elizabeth Taylor attend a showing of the “Sun Also Rises” .
The Center was at the other end of town and is listed in Cinema Treasures. It was open all year. A smaller theater than the Hyannis, I would guess around 600 on Main Floor with about90 in Balcony.

The 1920s postcard shown above is the same building shown on the MGM Report in May 1941 supposedly of the Center Theatre in Hyannis. In that photo, the theatre name does not show on the marquee. Obviously, the MGM Report is incorrect (what a surprise).