Here is a 1945 photo (expand for better resolution) of the Hollywood Theatre. The marquee announces Fred MacMurray in Where Do We Go From Here? and the co-feature One Body Too Many. The Hollywood Theatre was built across from the town hall on Taunton Avenue. By the late 1920s movies were so popular that Saturday movies had outgrown the Town Hall Council Chamber where they were being shown in this part of town. In the Riverside neighborhood, a few miles away, the Lyric Theatre was already operating.
Here is a photo dating to 1946 when the Gilbert Stuart was called the Lyric. The movie poster in the left case is for Blonde Alibi. A blurb accompanying this photo in the “Images of America” volume East Providence says that the theatre opened on Maple Avenue circa 1920, was operated by Edith Chase who accompanied silent movies on the piano. The blurb states too that in 1928 this was the second theatre in the state to have sound movies after Fays in Providence. (I think the Majestic was the first.)
Pather Panchali made an overwhelming impression on me when I first saw it at the Avon in Providence in 1959, and I was still in high school! I kept going back. It is still one of my favorite films of all time. I understand it played the Fifth Avenue for six months or more.
The Bergman anecdote is hilarious.
RobertR, great collection of photos! I always wanted to see the inside of the stratospheric original booth…now a ghost booth. I saw movies in the ‘40s, '50s, and early '60s at what was then the Uptown, and I remember that beam of light descending like a ray of sunlight bursting through the ceiling.
I’m puzzled. Shouldn’t it in fact be spelled Dumbarton, with an “m,” after Dumbarton Oaks? It was the estate of a Washington music lover where the conference took place that would give birth to the United Nations. Igor Stravinsky composed a piece of music to honor the event , the Concerto in E Flat for 15 Instruments, subtitled “Dumbarton Oaks.” I have a recording.
Also, that remodeling and spiffing up of the theatre interior was done in 1993 by National Amusements (Showcase Cinemas), I am almost certain, when they took over the place for a time. The first movie I saw there after it was revamped was Dave with Kevin Kline. They wanted to create a comfy second run venue at reduced admission prices. They did the same when they acquired and re-opened the long-dormant Apple Valley Cinemas in Smithfield: new seats, low prices, second run. Showcase/National Amusements still runs Apple Valley Cinemas, but it was turned into first run by the end of the 1990s. On that re-opening day at Apple Valley under the second-run, low-prices policy, the admission was 50 cents! I went.
Yes, when they completely re-did the interior about 10-15 years ago (by “luxurious ambience,” I meant new seats, carpeting, etc.), it looked quite spiffy and still is OK from that point of view, even if the shoe-box auditoriums were and are cramped. All the early auditoriums were chopped into two or more. My complaints lie with the presentation, not with comfort of seats, general cleanliness, bathroom facilities, or the like. It has more comfortable surroundings now than, say, the Park in Cranston ever had after it was triplexed…to cite another bargain theatre.
In the mid-1960s, when the place was built as the Four Seasons, with two screens, I believe, perhaps more, one of the auditoriums was nice and large and wide and is where they occasonally did 70mm shows. I remember seeing films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Great RaceThe Sand Pebbles, the 70mm Gone With the Wind. I remember the top-notch projection and sound. People from Providence would go out of their way to drive the half-hour it took to get here for the first run films, many of which weren’t playing elsewhere. I believe this was one of the suburban theatres, with lots of free parking, that sounded the death-knell for downtown Providence movie palaces, still in place at the time the Four Seasons opened. Now, whenever I go there (which isn’t real often), I think of its days of better presentation. I do think that has gone down.
And, while I’m at it, I also think of the characterful old single-screener, just up Newport Avenue in Pawtucket’s Darlington section, the Darlton. When that went, it broke my heart.
I agree, Ron. It’s hideous. I didn’t post the pic for adulation, just as a document. I remember it as looking better in the 1960s-1970s when it was the Four Seasons, although I can’t imagine exactly how. Most of the auditoriums are cramped, have bad sound, exit-lights that shine onto the screen, imperfect projection at times (bad focus for the entire duration of The Interpreter which I saw there last week.) That’s the minus side. On the plus side: admission is $1.99 at all times, and they do give you the penny change.
A 1928 newspaper article wrote that James C. Thornton of West Warwick had resigned as manager of the Rialto Theatre in Providence to become manager of the Palace Theatre in Arctic, where sound pictures would soon be shown. Mr. Thornton was a native of Riverpoint in West Warwick (same family that Thornton’s Theatre was named after?) and had previously run the Gem in Arctic. Mr. Thornton had been with the Fay interests in Providence and it was at the Majestic Theatre in Providence that sound pictures were shown the first time in the United States, according to the article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times of October 8, 1928.
A 1928 newspaper article wrote that James C. Thornton of West Warwick had resigned as manager of the Rialto Theatre in Providence to become manager of the Palace Theatre in Arctic, where sound pictures would soon be shown. Mr. Thornton was a native of Riverpoint in West Warwick (same family that Thornton’s Theatre was named after?) and had previously run the Gem in Arctic. Mr. Thornton had been with the Fay interests in Providence and it was at the Majestic Theatre in Providence that sound pictures were shown the first time in the United States, according to the article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times of October 8, 1928.
Here is the residence located where the Star Theatre used to be. It is adjacent to the Natick Bridge over the Pawtuxet River and close to a waterfall. (Another R.I. theatre near a waterfall is the Assembly Theatre in Burrillville.) It is now an 8-unit apartment building. The address is 610 Providence Street. Looking at the building, one can tell by its shape and size that it was some kind of social hall at one time, and the Star Theatre may have been one of its temporary functions. Apart from the clear city directory reference, there is no other evidence I could find about the place as a cinema, no newspaper ads, nothing. But a small village cinema of this type, perhaps part-time in nature, may have relied on window flyers and leaflets to publicize shows, much as did the Myrtle Theatre in the village of Thornton in Johnston.
The ads I found for Thornton’s went from 1901, when they were Thornton’s Opera House and doing live theatre. It may have existed in the late 19th Century, but that remains to be checked. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918.
The Gem and the Majestic shared ads in the WWI era, two columns, one for each theatre. The ads I found for the Majestic went from 1916-1927. I found none for 1928 and 1929. There was an ad for a live entertainment program in 1930. Then pretty much nothing. That gives a rough idea of when the theatre operated, or rather, when it advertised in the newspaper. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918. The Palace didn’t open until 1921.
I have found newspaper ads for all these theatres. The Gem and the Majestic shared ads in the WWI era, two columns, one for each theatre. The ads I found for the Gem went from 1915 to 1948. I found no ads for 1950 or later. That gives a rough idea of when the theatre operated. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918.
The single-level Palace Theatre opened on Monday, October 17, 1921. An article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times wrote that the theatre promised to be the home of “exclusive hig-class Paramount photoplays.” A $12,000 Pope-Jones concert organ was installed at the theatre. The interior color scheme consisted of grays and creams. The front and main lobby were spacious and in harmony with the auditorium. A vertical marquee flashed “Palace” intermittently to the movie fans of this and surrounding neighborhood. The first film shown was Footlights with Elsie Ferguson. “Direct from Providence.” Wow!
In the “Images of America” series volume Watch Hill: By River and By Sea by Brigid Rooney Smith, the above postcard is reproduced with the following explanation:
“The landmark Crown Theater, located kitty-corner across Bay Street from the carousel, was constructed in 1912. Over the next 39 years, it would change its name to the Ninigret Theater until its ignominious conversion into a grocery market in 1951. Jane Hoxie Maxson of Wakefield recounts her mother’s tale of the evening that Douglas Fairbanks Jr. sat in a seat near her at the Crown.”
The Fairbanks story is not surprising since Watch Hill was a favorite R.I. summer resort alternative to Newport.
Also in the book is a photo of some kids at Watch Hill Cove during the early 1900s. Smith notes that young Peter Hoxie, seen in the photo, would go on to be a fire-fighter for Watch Hill and a piano player for the silent movies at the Crown Theater on Bay Street.
Here is a 1945 photo (expand for better resolution) of the Hollywood Theatre. The marquee announces Fred MacMurray in Where Do We Go From Here? and the co-feature One Body Too Many. The Hollywood Theatre was built across from the town hall on Taunton Avenue. By the late 1920s movies were so popular that Saturday movies had outgrown the Town Hall Council Chamber where they were being shown in this part of town. In the Riverside neighborhood, a few miles away, the Lyric Theatre was already operating.
Here is a photo dating to 1946 when the Gilbert Stuart was called the Lyric. The movie poster in the left case is for Blonde Alibi. A blurb accompanying this photo in the “Images of America” volume East Providence says that the theatre opened on Maple Avenue circa 1920, was operated by Edith Chase who accompanied silent movies on the piano. The blurb states too that in 1928 this was the second theatre in the state to have sound movies after Fays in Providence. (I think the Majestic was the first.)
Pather Panchali made an overwhelming impression on me when I first saw it at the Avon in Providence in 1959, and I was still in high school! I kept going back. It is still one of my favorite films of all time. I understand it played the Fifth Avenue for six months or more.
The Bergman anecdote is hilarious.
RobertR, great collection of photos! I always wanted to see the inside of the stratospheric original booth…now a ghost booth. I saw movies in the ‘40s, '50s, and early '60s at what was then the Uptown, and I remember that beam of light descending like a ray of sunlight bursting through the ceiling.
Here is a photo of the Lonsdale Drive-In marquee…in ruin. This is the north screen entrance on Lonsdale Avenue.
Someone sent me this postcard with a cool 1988 photo of the Englert.
No…correct the first time…15 instruments…confusingly labeled recording. Decent music.
Sorry, that was Stravinsky’s Concerto in E Flat for string orchestra that was subtitled “Dumbarton Oaks.”
I’m puzzled. Shouldn’t it in fact be spelled Dumbarton, with an “m,” after Dumbarton Oaks? It was the estate of a Washington music lover where the conference took place that would give birth to the United Nations. Igor Stravinsky composed a piece of music to honor the event , the Concerto in E Flat for 15 Instruments, subtitled “Dumbarton Oaks.” I have a recording.
rivjr, Thanks. The Little Theatre has now been posted. Perhaps you could add some information there as well.
Also, that remodeling and spiffing up of the theatre interior was done in 1993 by National Amusements (Showcase Cinemas), I am almost certain, when they took over the place for a time. The first movie I saw there after it was revamped was Dave with Kevin Kline. They wanted to create a comfy second run venue at reduced admission prices. They did the same when they acquired and re-opened the long-dormant Apple Valley Cinemas in Smithfield: new seats, low prices, second run. Showcase/National Amusements still runs Apple Valley Cinemas, but it was turned into first run by the end of the 1990s. On that re-opening day at Apple Valley under the second-run, low-prices policy, the admission was 50 cents! I went.
Yes, when they completely re-did the interior about 10-15 years ago (by “luxurious ambience,” I meant new seats, carpeting, etc.), it looked quite spiffy and still is OK from that point of view, even if the shoe-box auditoriums were and are cramped. All the early auditoriums were chopped into two or more. My complaints lie with the presentation, not with comfort of seats, general cleanliness, bathroom facilities, or the like. It has more comfortable surroundings now than, say, the Park in Cranston ever had after it was triplexed…to cite another bargain theatre.
In the mid-1960s, when the place was built as the Four Seasons, with two screens, I believe, perhaps more, one of the auditoriums was nice and large and wide and is where they occasonally did 70mm shows. I remember seeing films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Great Race The Sand Pebbles, the 70mm Gone With the Wind. I remember the top-notch projection and sound. People from Providence would go out of their way to drive the half-hour it took to get here for the first run films, many of which weren’t playing elsewhere. I believe this was one of the suburban theatres, with lots of free parking, that sounded the death-knell for downtown Providence movie palaces, still in place at the time the Four Seasons opened. Now, whenever I go there (which isn’t real often), I think of its days of better presentation. I do think that has gone down.
And, while I’m at it, I also think of the characterful old single-screener, just up Newport Avenue in Pawtucket’s Darlington section, the Darlton. When that went, it broke my heart.
I agree, Ron. It’s hideous. I didn’t post the pic for adulation, just as a document. I remember it as looking better in the 1960s-1970s when it was the Four Seasons, although I can’t imagine exactly how. Most of the auditoriums are cramped, have bad sound, exit-lights that shine onto the screen, imperfect projection at times (bad focus for the entire duration of The Interpreter which I saw there last week.) That’s the minus side. On the plus side: admission is $1.99 at all times, and they do give you the penny change.
Here is a rainy day photo of the Patriot Cinema 10.
A 1928 newspaper article wrote that James C. Thornton of West Warwick had resigned as manager of the Rialto Theatre in Providence to become manager of the Palace Theatre in Arctic, where sound pictures would soon be shown. Mr. Thornton was a native of Riverpoint in West Warwick (same family that Thornton’s Theatre was named after?) and had previously run the Gem in Arctic. Mr. Thornton had been with the Fay interests in Providence and it was at the Majestic Theatre in Providence that sound pictures were shown the first time in the United States, according to the article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times of October 8, 1928.
A 1928 newspaper article wrote that James C. Thornton of West Warwick had resigned as manager of the Rialto Theatre in Providence to become manager of the Palace Theatre in Arctic, where sound pictures would soon be shown. Mr. Thornton was a native of Riverpoint in West Warwick (same family that Thornton’s Theatre was named after?) and had previously run the Gem in Arctic. Mr. Thornton had been with the Fay interests in Providence and it was at the Majestic Theatre in Providence that sound pictures were shown the first time in the United States, according to the article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times of October 8, 1928.
Here is the residence located where the Star Theatre used to be. It is adjacent to the Natick Bridge over the Pawtuxet River and close to a waterfall. (Another R.I. theatre near a waterfall is the Assembly Theatre in Burrillville.) It is now an 8-unit apartment building. The address is 610 Providence Street. Looking at the building, one can tell by its shape and size that it was some kind of social hall at one time, and the Star Theatre may have been one of its temporary functions. Apart from the clear city directory reference, there is no other evidence I could find about the place as a cinema, no newspaper ads, nothing. But a small village cinema of this type, perhaps part-time in nature, may have relied on window flyers and leaflets to publicize shows, much as did the Myrtle Theatre in the village of Thornton in Johnston.
Here’s a nice ad from January 30, 1926, for John Ford’s The Iron Horse.
The ads I found for Thornton’s went from 1901, when they were Thornton’s Opera House and doing live theatre. It may have existed in the late 19th Century, but that remains to be checked. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918.
The Gem and the Majestic shared ads in the WWI era, two columns, one for each theatre. The ads I found for the Majestic went from 1916-1927. I found none for 1928 and 1929. There was an ad for a live entertainment program in 1930. Then pretty much nothing. That gives a rough idea of when the theatre operated, or rather, when it advertised in the newspaper. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918. The Palace didn’t open until 1921.
I have found newspaper ads for all these theatres. The Gem and the Majestic shared ads in the WWI era, two columns, one for each theatre. The ads I found for the Gem went from 1915 to 1948. I found no ads for 1950 or later. That gives a rough idea of when the theatre operated. Here are local newspaper ads for the Gem, Majestic, and Thornton’s on March 14, 1918.
The Gem is said to have been in the St. Onge Block on Main Street.
The single-level Palace Theatre opened on Monday, October 17, 1921. An article in the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times wrote that the theatre promised to be the home of “exclusive hig-class Paramount photoplays.” A $12,000 Pope-Jones concert organ was installed at the theatre. The interior color scheme consisted of grays and creams. The front and main lobby were spacious and in harmony with the auditorium. A vertical marquee flashed “Palace” intermittently to the movie fans of this and surrounding neighborhood. The first film shown was Footlights with Elsie Ferguson. “Direct from Providence.” Wow!
Here is an ad announcing the opening day.
In the “Images of America” series volume Watch Hill: By River and By Sea by Brigid Rooney Smith, the above postcard is reproduced with the following explanation:
“The landmark Crown Theater, located kitty-corner across Bay Street from the carousel, was constructed in 1912. Over the next 39 years, it would change its name to the Ninigret Theater until its ignominious conversion into a grocery market in 1951. Jane Hoxie Maxson of Wakefield recounts her mother’s tale of the evening that Douglas Fairbanks Jr. sat in a seat near her at the Crown.”
The Fairbanks story is not surprising since Watch Hill was a favorite R.I. summer resort alternative to Newport.
Also in the book is a photo of some kids at Watch Hill Cove during the early 1900s. Smith notes that young Peter Hoxie, seen in the photo, would go on to be a fire-fighter for Watch Hill and a piano player for the silent movies at the Crown Theater on Bay Street.
The address of Patsy’s Hall/Peacedale Theatre is 516 High Street.