Lyric Theatre

I remember Joe as being pretty strict about no talking during movies. He would patrol the aisles looking for chatting.

In September 1926, this theatre was part of the eleven-theatre Celebrate Paramount Week.
Newspaper ad.

Frankie and Johnny was released to the US on March 31, 1966.

In Harm’s Way on April 6th, 1965.

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.

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).

John Janetto’s aunt played that Lyric theater organ in the 1930’s Warren,RI
John , now(2007) the St,Mary’s cemetery caretaker may have more details,also, on the Lyric theater organ .John’s father Fred Janetto was the bugle insrructor for the Warren Indian Band # 1 -1940’s Warren,RI but that is another story .Stories and pictures available on the Loew’s State
Wurli Boston Mass Av and the Providence Loew’s State Wurli -contact me for details- dougvbrown files

I have many memories of the Lyric. Although I lived in Bristol I often went to this theater. My dad also worked on the projection equipment. The projectionist was Vincent “Red” Madeno who alternated between the Lyric and Pastime in Bristol.
The Lyric had a small balcony making is more deluxe than the cement block Pastime in Bristol. It also had a small Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ in the twenties played by Warrenite Ida Jannitto.
In the eighties I examined the theater and found the old hammered tin procenium arch hidden by suspended ceiling tiles. It was a pretty little house.
Thank goodness at least the outside was somewhat preserved.

Bob Evans
“Wurlinut”

060622- dougvbrown-files

Thanks Gerry Thats the LYRIC bldg thatI remember….the car there
is a 1935 Ford sedan and imbedded in the street a little forward of
that car(not shown) was a rubber cover strip traffic light trip,
that we would jump on to get Green, but to no avail………
To the left, beyond the iron railing fence and Elm tree is the
First Baptist Church,where my brother was married in 1948 this corner
lot(Main/Miller Sts) was the original location of Rhode Island College
that removed to Providence (pre 1775)and became BROWN UNIVERSITY with
a grant of money from the estate of Nicholas Brown (1790c)

The theater main entrance doors that opened outward were on each side of the
centered ticket booth right at the sidewalk—– I remember standing on
my tip toes, giving the lady my quarter ,and she with one hand slid the
ticket out and the other hand slid my dime change we always entered
the right hand door….a 10ft foyer.an inner double door..
the ticket taker who tore your ticket in half, before you had a
chance to read it……..
Outside Front right side 1st floor the window is frosted glass protected
with fancy iron grille the men’s room the other side front was Ladies Room
Looking close there is a narrow alley between the theater and bldg on the
corner Miller/Main Sts this alley space at the top is covered with a
sign that says THEATRE directly under the sign is open access to
alley for the Theater EXIT doors (2 doubledoors) which on hot summer nights
were left open for cooling and I sneaked in once……
This adjoining bldg had theater Billboards -Coming Attractions
at least 20 ft + on the Miller St wall toward Main St
More on LYRIC later-

060621- dougvbrown files-

The LYRIC was my hometown theater that I attended (Sat matinee ) 1933-thru-1943—-
I grew up with the movies of Mickey Rooney(Andy Hardy)-Gene Autry. -Lone Ranger- and Peter Lorre
as “Mr Moto” which we called the cliff hanger gang….

The theater owner, Alonzo “LON” VAIL and his at home & theater assistant known as “CURLEY,they lived next house to us on So. Water St……Sat matinee started at 2:30 pm but only after "Curley” stuck his head out from stage right and hand signaled the projection booth ….and then….
….house lights out….the MGM Lion roared on the closed red velvet curtain as it swept open
to reveal THE SILVER SCREEN

From Buildings of Rhode Island by William H. Jordy, 2004:

“The Lyric Theater’s handsome sheet-metal elevation is dominated by a huge blind arch patterned in lattice which once measured the width of its missing marquee. Prefabricated stampings of Ionic pilasters, panels, frets, and swags are elegantly positioned around this center. (As this is written, the front has been Queen Anne-ed in dark greens and maroon, although it seemed more ‘lyric’ when it was properly white and pastel. So avowedly scenographic in character, this is perhaps the loveliest small theatre facade in the state. How sad that movies have left it!”

This was taken a couple of years ago. I’m not sure that the theatre is still an antique store. When it was, though, actor Anthony Quinn, who live in nearby Bristol during his last years, used to visit to browse and make purchases.
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