Strand Theater
1363 Pleasant Street,
Fall River,
MA
02720
1363 Pleasant Street,
Fall River,
MA
02720
2 people
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Additional Info
Architects: George S. Darling, Joseph M. Darling, William C. Riseman, Abraham Woolf
Firms: J.M. Darling & Son, William Riseman Associates
Functions: Furniture Showroom
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Cinema I
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A hidden gem far from the downtown district on Pleasant Street in the Flint section of Fall River. The Strand Theatre was opened on March 13, 1918 with J. Warren Kerrigan in “The Turn of a Card”. It was designed by architectural firm J.M. Darling & Son. Seating was provided for 1,564 in orchestra and balcony levels. In 1948 it was remodelled to the plans of architectural firm William Riseman Associates. The interior was gutted and the balcony removed, giving a reduced seating capacity of 1,080. It was closed for renovations in 1967 and re-opened as Cinema 1 with Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate”.
It was a very family-friendly movie house that always offered 10 -count them - 10 Warner Brothers ‘Looney Tunes’ cartoons before the double feature. It had lower admission prices than the downtown palaces; even lower than the rather rowdy Plaza Theatre on North Main Street. It was closed in 1980.
Contributed by
Jim Isadore
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
The Strand is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1200 seats and open daily.
Of the 10 Fall River movie theaters listed in the 1927 FDY, the only one I couldn’t find here in Cinema Treasures is the Globe (500 seats, open daily).
As of 2010 it appears to be still standing as a furniture store. A long lobby leads to an auditorium way out back behind the neighboring retail buildings. Looks rather long and narrow – not much of a stage house on it – that may have been removed during the 1948 remodeling.
The Strand was one of several Fall River theaters originally designed by the local architectural firm of J.M. Darling & Son (Joseph M. Darling and George S. Darling.)
Here is some additional information on the Strand. It closed for renovations in 1967, an later reopened as the Cinema I. The first movie that played there after it reopened was The Graduate. Right after it closed completely years later, another theater with the name Cinema I opened on South Main Street. It was very small, showed mostly adult movies, and was only in business a short time.
The google photos in 2019 show the building still standing, but appears vacant (although in good shape)
Opened on March 13, 1918 with J. Warren Kerrigan in “The Turn Of A Card” (unknown if extras added) supported by performances by the Strand Symphony Orchestra and the Strand Fotoplayer Organ throughout the show.
Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as Cinema I on February 9th, 1968 with “The Graduate”
Closed in 1980
Another Cinema I opened at 415 South Main on August 16th, 1980 and closed on May 12th, 1985.