Madison Theatre
292 Centre Street,
Jamaica Plain,
MA
02130
292 Centre Street,
Jamaica Plain,
MA
02130
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The Madison was a small neighborhood theatre on Center St., facing Bickford St. They had the best popcorn. A lady named Mary was the ticket seller, Dutchie Bauer was the “head usher”, but I don’t remember the owner’s name. Apparently they used Sulpha-Napthol to clean the “restrooms” because when one was standing at the popcorn machine the smell permeated the area. The smell of the popcorn was a more pleasant aroma. Wednesday was “Dish Night” where you paid an extra amount, maybe 25-30 cents and got one piece of a set of dishes until you collected a whole set including serving bowls, platters and sugar bowl & creamer; and every now & then someone would drop their dish or whatever piece was given that week. Plus you got to see a double feature, newsreel and previews of coming attractions. Saturday was the day for Westerns, Serials & cartoons. If you were lucky enough to cash in some soda bottles for 2 cents apiece you could cull together enough money to go the movies. The floor was sticky and if you could sneak a big pickle from Solari’s next door into the theatre you could smell them too.
This theatre doesn’t come up when you search Boston. I can’t figure out how to edit it to list it under Boston.
I was just told that the Madison burned in about 1956-57. For some reason, the property has never been built on since.
The street directory section of the 1918 Boston Register and Business Directory, Issue 83, says: “Supreme Theatre moving pictures, 292 Centre St” JP (near Chestnut Ave).
The Madison was once called the “Supreme” Theatre, and is listed under that name at 292 Centre St. in JP in a Boston business director, Issue 85, which I think is 1921. Found it on Google Books.
AugutusMax – I doubt if you ever went to the Jamaica theatre. The movies shown there were regular run films and were not Catholic conservative films “blasted” at us. Lady of Fatima was most likely shown when it was released but would have run a regular cycle at the Jamaica, Sun thru Tues or Weds thru Sat. Different films would then begin a new cycle.
I don’t know what part of Jamaica Plain you were from but in the 1940s-50s, none of the families on Danforth St had much money. It was a short street and I knew everyone who lived there. The majority were renters and some lived a hand to mouth existence, just barely getting by.
AugustusMax – do you remember who “Dutchie” of Dutchie’s Palace was? Why did the local kids call it by that name?
The Madison also was referred to as Dutchie’s Palace. It was pretty good in that there was more of a variety then the Jamaica. How many time did you want to see the Catholic conservative, Miracle of the Lady of Fatima and like fare that that was blasted at you on Sundays atthe Jamaica. I guess if you came from Danforth St you must of had some money in your kick. Anyways got my first kissie face at the Madison..
MarkB – I don’t scan the MGM Report photos here in CT because my copies are xeroxes of xeroxes and are very poor. Also, I am wary that someone may hold a copyright on these reports. Someone did scan one of these photos for a theater in Fall River or New Bedford and you can hardly see it.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Madison Theatre in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston has an exterior photo dated 1941.
Can we get a scan of that photo?
The Madison theatre was located in what was commonly referred to as lower Centre St in Jamaica Plain. It was a small neighborhood theatre and was situated between Chestnut Ave. and Estrella St and was directly across from the old Plant Shoe Factory.
I went to the movies mostly at the Jamaica Theatre, further up Centre St. I didn’t go to the Madison for a number of reasons. At various times it was nicknamed “The Madhouse” and “The Spitbox”. Those descriptions being some of the reasons I went to the Jamaica. At times, the Madison would run all cartoons with no feature film and on those days, I’d go there with my friends … safety in numbers !!
I don’t know when the Madison closed or what went there in its place. The Plant Shoe Factory burned to the ground in 1976 during one of the biggest fires in Boston’s history.
As I think back, the best way to describe the Madison patrons would be to liken it to the days of the old West, wild and crazy.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Madison Theatre in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston has an exterior photo dated 1941. The entrance was in the center of a one-story commercial building. There was a big arched sunburst over the entrace, and a rectangular Deco-style marquee with “Madison” in large letters on the front. Movie was “Flight Command”. There are shops on either side of the entrance. The Report states that the Madison is at 292 Center St., that it has been playing MGM films for over 10 years; that it was built in 1900, is in Fair condition and has 450 seats. In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook there is no Madison Th. listed but there is a Supreme Theatre in J.P. with 600 seats — it’s probably this one. There was no apparent trace of any movie theatres along Center St. when I worked in J.P. in the early 1970s.