Queen Anne Cinema

The Queen Anne Shopping Plaza was announced in 1965 at the confluence of Washington Street (Route 53) and Pond Street. It was anchored by a J.M. Field’s Discount Department Store. A tiny 200-seat theater was added to the Plaza on December 28, 1968 opening with “Gone with the Wind.” Patrons had to walk upstairs to reach the auditorium.

The theatre was a failure closing on March 4, 1971 with “The Twelve Chairs” - apparently all they needed to seat their patrons. On May 2, 1972, a new operator took on the venue as Cinema Norwell and programmed porno chic era X-rated titles (advertisements saying, “Call for title”) leading to backlash and closure.

Cinemette Theatres relaunched the venue as the Norwell Cinema on May 16, 1973 also with X-rated features. It began with “The Cheerleaders” but instead of cheers it received boos and protests. So they bowed to the pressure and programmed family titles to no response. Cinemette closed quickly on February 13, 1974 with “Robin Hood” citing lack of patronage after conforming to the community’s wishes.

The operators of the Loring Hall and Cameo Theatres - later called Patriot Cinemas - took on the venue as the Queen Anne Cinema reopening it on May 7, 1975 as a sub-run, dollar discount house opening with - once again - “Gone with the Wind”. J.M. Field’s went out of business closing in 1978 but the Cinema continued onward. The venue finally found its audience able to make it to the end of its 20-year leasing period.

Along the way, it installed a silver screen and increased to first-run pricing hoping that 1983’s 3D films would pave the way to patronage. It did not. Patriot Cinemas closed permanently with “Bull Durham” on July 28, 1988. 40 people showed up. Queen Anne Cleaners and Brooks Drugs were also at end of lease and bolted. Patriot opened the Harborlight Theatre in that Mall likely offering folks jobs there.

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