Bellevue Theatre
536 Dexter Street,
Central Falls,
RI
02863
536 Dexter Street,
Central Falls,
RI
02863
2 people
favorited this theater
The Bellevue Theatre was opened on September 2, 1913. It was still open in 1957. A long-defunct neighborhood theatre in Central Falls, Rhode Island.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 35 comments)
Item in Boxoffice magazine, October 9, 1954:
“Melvin Safner of the Safner circuit has taken over the Bellevue Theatre, Central Falls, R.I. on a long term lease. This theatre has been operated for many years by the late Phil Marget and now makes the second house in that city to be operated by the Safners, who have the Lafayette Theatre there.”
Operators of various theatres in the Pawtucket-Lincoln-Valley Falls area in 1951, gave their opinions on ways to combat the effects of TV on their theatres. Written as a report for the Pawtucket Times, the results were also reported in Boxoffice magazine in the issue of January 27, 1951:
View link
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. CLICK HERE and move image to see all theatres.
“Scratch house”
Reminiscence of the Bellevue Theatre by Lester C. Boyd as noted in the Providence Journal of September 26, 1985:
“Speaking of Central Falls, some readers may recall that a few weeks ago I reminisced in this space about the Bellevue Theater. The other day Norman Shorrock, who was one of the gang that used to walk from Saylesville to Central Falls on Saturday afternoons to go to the Bellevue, dropped in the office to remind me that our name for the theater was ‘The Scratch House,’ the implication being that you were likely to encounter creatures that would set you to scratching. I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true.”
Announcements of what’s playing at Pawtucket and Central Falls movie theatres in November, 1921:
LISTINGS IN PROVIDENCE NEWS
A 1919 Providence News article reported on certain Central Falls and Valley Falls theatres violating the state prohibition on Sunday film exhibition. READ ARTICLE HERE
I don’t think this should be listed as demolished. It is still there in all street views and satellite views.
I kind of think this could be a different building, perhaps constructed on the same plot after the Bellevue was demolished. And an 800 seating capacity seems very high. My first trip to The Bellevue (pronounced bell-view) presented me with a super show: Cartoon, Newsreel, 2-reel serial (Prince Valiant!) and a double-feature. I came away from that experience a died-in-the-wool movie fan.
This was my Grand-Uncle Walter’s theatre during the early 1900’s. Thanks to all for posting historical links and photos.
The theatre opened as the Central around September 2, 1913.