Chelsea Theatre
375 Broadway,
Chelsea,
MA
02150
375 Broadway,
Chelsea,
MA
02150
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Of all of the theatres in Chelsea, this had the shortest life and yet is the only one that wasn’t completely demolished. There are some small visual signs of its existence like windows cut into the rear of the building well after it was built, no windows on the third floor on the Fourth St. side showing where the theater existed within the building complex, and some rusting hulks on the roof that were part of the ventilation system for the projector that wasn’t completely removed until the late 2000s.
The Theatre Historical Society archive in Illinois has the MGM Theatre Report for the Chelsea Theatre. Listed at 375 Broadway, Built about 1910, is in Poor condition and has been showing MGM product for over 10 years. There were 800 seats on the main floor and 150 balcony seats; total: 950. There is an exterior photo dated March 1941. There was a narrow entrance in a business block, with a rain canopy but no marquee.
Ah, Broadway was the main street name! And I think he called it “Marget’s Strand.” I know that earlier, before Prohibition, he must have run a tavern also with his name, because I recall as a kid seeing photos of him in front of the swinging doors. howard.
Philip J. Marget, my grandfather, owned the Strand Theater in the 1920-40’s as I recall.I recall coming to the movie-house on Saturdays, to watch westerns. He lived on a hill in the city, i have forgotten the name, and also owned a block of stores on that same Main Street.He moved out of Chelsea to Brookline in the late 1920’s.
According to the Mass District Police Chief’s annual reports the theater was originally licensed by one Isador Wintman from 1916/17 until at least 1919/20(most current available online edition)…sometime later it must have been bought.
Wintman appears to simply be a banker and real estate owner in Chelsea, Wintman owned the building that the theatre itself occupies.
Bob- it’s Marget, at least that’s the way it’s spelled in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac. At that time, the only movie theater in Chelsea which Marget Theatre Circuit controlled was the Strand.
Owned by Margret Theater Circuit.
More info and more photos always welcome.
“hidden in plain sight” is best I can describe this theatre… no known photos found yet. It’s on the 2nd floor of a mixed use office/retail/residential building on the corner of Fourth Street and Broadway.
A 1953 map showing it’s location: View link
Photo on the cover of the book has it in it on the left, if zoomed in closer you can make it out on the left several building down: View link