Lyric Theatre
5 Miller Street,
Warren,
RI
02885
5 Miller Street,
Warren,
RI
02885
1 person
favorited this theater
The Lyric Theatre in Warren closed many decades ago. The building became an antique store. Today it operates as a gift store.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
The ticket lady was Emily Janetto – I knew her well. In the fifties, seats were 35 cents downstairs,and Les Miserables sat in the balcony on hard seats for aquarter and rained Good and Plenty candy down on those below. Theatre was owned by Lon Vail in those days.
The last movie bills placed outside were for ‘In Harm’s WAy’ and an Elvis film called ‘Frankie and Johnny’ – so that dates its closing. The posters turned to shreds but remained there for months.
Monster movies were on Sunday afternoons. The curtain man was Curly Costa.
My mother remembered going there for silents and remembered the organist.
My brother dreamed of being the kid behind the curtain when he grew up. The kid would peep out at the projection booth, then open the curtain, just before showtime. IN those day,s you got a newsreel, cartoons, a serial (guy always falling out fo a plane and next week, into a hayloft), the feature, and would finish up with a 3 Stooges episode. You got your money’s worth then.
The theater had two aisles, hence two small side sections. My mother wouldn’t allow us to sit anywhere but in that side section AND in the row which led to the side door (fires).
I also remember the very peculiar odor in the ladies room. You had to be desperate to use that horrible toilet. I remember the big mirror over the grungy sink, too.
Roz in Florida,
With your reference to the posters of In Harm’s Way and Frankie and Johnny, the theatre must have closed in or around 1966.
I think “IN HARM’S WAY” came out in 1965.Don’t know about “FRANKIE and JOHNNY”.
Frankie and Johnny was released to the US on March 31, 1966.
In Harm’s Way on April 6th, 1965.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 12, 1961:
Joseph J. Modleski buys Rhode Island Theatres
WARREN. R.I. —-Joseph J. Modleski has purchased two Rhode Island Theatres, the Lyric in Warren and the Pastime in Bristol, effective as of June 1. Modleski has been operating both of the situations on lease the last two years from the estate of Lon Vail.
Prior to leasing the Lyric and Pastime, Modleski had served as manager pf the Lyric for Vail until the latter’s death. Modleski broke into motion picture exhibition in August 1920 as an usher at the Lyric Theatre. He told BOXOFFICE that he plans to make alterations at both of the theatres.
In September 1926, this theatre was part of the eleven-theatre Celebrate Paramount Week.
Newspaper ad.
In September 1922 this theatre was part of Rhode Island’s Paramount Week. Click to see the ad in Providence News, September 1, 1922, which contains a list of all participating theatres as well as the films shown that week.
PART ONE OF AD
PART TWO OF AD
I remember Joe as being pretty strict about no talking during movies. He would patrol the aisles looking for chatting.