The Keith Memorial/Savoy/Opera House had a corridor on the other side of Mason Street leading to a second entrance (and marquee) on Tremont Street. This was demolished in the 1980s or early 90s to make way for the Parkside condominium building on Tremont.
Today’s Loews Boston Common multiplex cinema now stands on the former site of the Tremont/Astor Theatre.
The marquee has been beautifully relit, and brings a welcome touch of neon to a formerly dreary part of Washington Street. But the entrance is still boarded up, and where the marquee should be announcing current and upcoming shows, it instead just says
RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL & TOWERS
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE AWARD WINNER
This page describes a Captain Beefheart show at the Fenway Theatre in 1972. It must have been one of the last events held there before Berklee bought it and began gutting it for renovation.
The Berkshire Opera Company did not keep the Mahaiwe. They have sold it to the new non-profit Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center organization: http://www.mahaiwe.org/
There used to be many other movie theaters in Somerville. This is the only one still operating.
To learn about the others, visit the “Lost Theatres of Somerville” exhibit at the Somerville Museum, or the exhibit’s web site at http://www.losttheatres.org/ .
After it closed, it became a Conran’s Furniture store for awhile. When that closed, Waterstone’s moved in. And after Waterstone’s closed, a worthless dot-com called “idealab!” occupied it for awhile. That’s now gone as well, and this beautiful building stands empty, perhaps awaiting a better economy.
During the time that it was the Sack Savoy Theater, it was divided into two screens. This division was undone when it became the Opera House.
There was originally a corridor leading to a second entrance on Tremont Street, but this was demolished about 10 years ago to make way for condominiums.
Restoration of this theater has been delayed for several years by NIMBY philistine neighbors who live in ugly condominium towers behind the theater. They don’t want to lose access to the (worthless, narrow) street that separates the theater from their buildings.
The Keith Memorial/Savoy/Opera House had a corridor on the other side of Mason Street leading to a second entrance (and marquee) on Tremont Street. This was demolished in the 1980s or early 90s to make way for the Parkside condominium building on Tremont.
Today’s Loews Boston Common multiplex cinema now stands on the former site of the Tremont/Astor Theatre.
The marquee has been beautifully relit, and brings a welcome touch of neon to a formerly dreary part of Washington Street. But the entrance is still boarded up, and where the marquee should be announcing current and upcoming shows, it instead just says
RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL & TOWERS
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE AWARD WINNER
The Coolidge now has a small video screening room in addition to the two cinema screens.
An article about the theatre, written in its “idealab!” days….
View link
The correct URL is now http://www.zeiterion.org/
This page describes a Captain Beefheart show at the Fenway Theatre in 1972. It must have been one of the last events held there before Berklee bought it and began gutting it for renovation.
URL is http://www.berkleebpc.com/ . (I thought I had included that when I submitted this theatre yesterday).
http://www.berkleebpc.com/history.html has some history of the theatre, and a couple of old photos.
The interior is now thoroughly modern, as shown in this photo and this one .
The web site is now at http://boston.cc.com/orpheum.asp , and includes some history and photos.
“The Lion King” reopens this house in July, 2004 (not May).
Until then, the status should be “Restoring”, not “Closed”.
There is currently a “Retail Space For Lease” sign on the front door.
Still owned by Emerson College, but now renamed “Cutler Majestic Theatre” after donors Ted and Joan Benard-Cutler.
The Berkshire Opera Company did not keep the Mahaiwe. They have sold it to the new non-profit Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center organization: http://www.mahaiwe.org/
The Strand’s web site has moved to
http://www.StrandTheatreBoston.com/
There used to be many other movie theaters in Somerville. This is the only one still operating.
To learn about the others, visit the “Lost Theatres of Somerville” exhibit at the Somerville Museum, or the exhibit’s web site at http://www.losttheatres.org/ .
Drexel also runs the Grandview Theatre in the Columbus suburb of Grandview Heights (which someone should add to this site).
After it closed, it became a Conran’s Furniture store for awhile. When that closed, Waterstone’s moved in. And after Waterstone’s closed, a worthless dot-com called “idealab!” occupied it for awhile. That’s now gone as well, and this beautiful building stands empty, perhaps awaiting a better economy.
A small correction: the Capitol Theater is not in “Arlington’s downtown”, but rather in East Arlington.
Another old theatre, the Regent, is located in the center of town. The Regent presents concerts and Indian cinema.
URL: http://www.oldfilm.org/alamotheatre/index.htm
Now owned by Landmark and renamed the NuWilshire Theatre: View link
A Landmark Theatre, the chain’s very first one.
URL: View link and View link
The Berkshire Opera company’s URL is: http://www.berkshireopera.org/
Their plans are quite ambitious, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they still show some films during the off-season.
The future of this theater is very much up in the air. The current “renovation” is to the facade only.
The theater’s URL is: http://www.maj.org/
Restoration work is ongoing. The theater will close again for several months next year to facilitate this work.
The Majestic has been so successful that Emerson College is now moving all of its campus to the neighborhood surrounding the theatre.
During the time that it was the Sack Savoy Theater, it was divided into two screens. This division was undone when it became the Opera House.
There was originally a corridor leading to a second entrance on Tremont Street, but this was demolished about 10 years ago to make way for condominiums.
Restoration of this theater has been delayed for several years by NIMBY philistine neighbors who live in ugly condominium towers behind the theater. They don’t want to lose access to the (worthless, narrow) street that separates the theater from their buildings.