Adams Theatre

The Adams in Dorchester was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project, but no one filled out the form. There is an undated photo of the exterior. Judging from an old 1920s car in the photo, it may have been taken in 1941 when most of the other photos in the project were made. Attractions on the marquee are: “Pursued”, “Susie Steps Out”, and coming next “Trail Street”. Do those 3 movies date from 1941? The entrance was in the center, with commercial space on either side. The building was one story high, but the facade had a false front which extended upward. There was a triangular marquee. The Adams sat on the west side of Adams Street a short distance to the north of the intersection with Gallivan Boulevard. Many times in the 1960s, when driving north in the early evening on Granite Avenue from East Milton and stopping at the traffic lights at Gallivan Blvd, I could see the Adams Theatre straight ahead across the intersection. The cheerful pink and white marquee was very inviting, but I never went into it. I believe that it was constructed in the late-1930s and had about 900 – 1000 seats, all on one floor.

Thank you, Billy, for looking up the year that those 3 movies were released. The MGM Report photo was therefore snapped in 1948.

Claire- what you describe was known as “Dish Night”. Movie theaters which participated in this incentive usually held one “Dish Night” per week. Do you remember anything about what the Adams Theater looked like on the inside?

The matchbook picture shows that the Adams was a Streamline Modern style theater. I found a Facebook comment by a user from Dorchester who says she remembers seeing the Adams Theatre built and seeing it torn down, though she doesn’t say what years those were. She also remembers seeing “Now, Voyager” and “Gone With the Wind” at the Adams. My guess would be that the house was probably built in the late 1930s, and certainly no later than 1940.

Growing up on Adam St next to the Cosgroves milk plant we only went to the Adams a few times because it was a long walk to the other end of the Neponset section. If my memory treats me right I believe the Adams was built and opened in the early 40’s. It was a four wall cement block theatre. Wide and medium deep. Big screen. Very clean and well kept. Not overly decorated but pleasant enough and not ornate like the Fields Corner or a dump like the Dot. Admission was 15cents for matinees and 25 cents nites. Had dish night like the Dot one night a week. My mother used to go. Dish nite at the Dot was Mondays so the Adams must have been on a different night. Was a 2nd run like the Fields Corner.