Comments from Gerald A. DeLuca

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Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about RKO Albee Theatre on Jun 19, 2005 at 8:38 am

Twenty-seven great photos of the Albee, inside and out, can be found by going to the Providence Public Library website www.provlib.org
and following these sequential steps:
1) Click “Electronic resources"
2) Click "Electronic resources from home"
3) Scroll down and click "Images of Rhode Island"
4) Click "Providence Public Library R.I. Image Collection"
5) Type in "Albee” in the left-hand column.
6) Click “Quick pix search” at top of column. The pictures should come up. The process can be used for other theatres and other topics as well.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Bullock's Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 8:41 pm

Bullock’s was the first motion picture theatre in Providence…and probably in the state of Rhode Island.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Empire Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 8:32 pm

Here is a photo of Keith’s Theatre back in the early decades of the 20th Century.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Colonial Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 8:27 pm

Thanks. There are two photos of the Colonial on the Cinema Tour website. www.cinematour.com

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Providence Opera House on Jun 18, 2005 at 5:14 pm

TWO MORE PICTURES:
ONE: NARRANGASETT HOTEL NEXT TO OPERA HOUSE The Opera House would be destroyed in 1931 to provide parking facilities for the Narragansett Hotel.
TWO: POSTCARD VIEW OF DORRANCE STREET, not Eddy Street as printed on the card. On the left we see the Opera House with the Narragansett Hotel to the right of it.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Strand Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 4:42 pm

The place has just been converted inside to DIESEL…“mega club, lounge, event space.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Capitol Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 3:24 pm

Here is a photo of the stage area of the Colonial from 1916 or earlier. The theatre was supposed to possess one of the finest stages in the city. In 1915 Colonial ads boasted “The Home of Refined Burlesque.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Cable Car Cinema & Cafe on Jun 18, 2005 at 3:04 pm

For the record: across Power Street from the little Cable Car Cinema “block,” on the same side of South Main Street, used to stand the Talma Theatre. The Talma was not a movie house, to my knowledge, but was used by The Players, a Providence theatre group, from 1909 until 1932, when they moved to the Barker Playhouse, converted from an old church, on Benefit and Transit Streets. The Talma was torn down and the spot is a parking lot. I believe the Talma may have been called the Lyceum at one time. The Barker Playhouse remains.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Providence Opera House on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:44 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“…it must be remembered that the Providence Opera House was put up in 90 days, at a time [1871] when there were not the facilities now used for rapid yet durable operations.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Strand Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:40 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“The new Strand Theatre on Washington Street, fast approaching completion, is a credit to the builders and an ornament to the city.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Empire Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:38 pm

The original Westminster Theatre (Westminster Musée? 1888?) was torn down in 1915 and a new one replaced it.
re: The New Westminster…
From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“The Westminster Theatre is coming down right away, and in its stead will be erected a fireproof combination business block, of fine architecture, and a commodoous and right-up-to-the-mark theatre. June 1 will see the work begun, and under contract the house must be ready to open in 90 days. This may seem great haste, but then it must be remembered that the Providence Opera House was put up in 90 days, at a time when there were not the facilities now used for rapid and yet durable business operations.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Casino Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:25 pm

The Casino’s location later became the famed Shepard’s Tea Room, associated with the department store of the same name. It was where shoppers, especially women, liked to have lunch after doing a heavy bit of shopping at the downtown stores like Shepard’s, Cherry & Webb, Gladdings, The Outlet Company, and others and maybe before a movie at one of the many “temples of illusion” that dotted the city.

I remember as a child being brought here by by sister. Chicken croquettes were a very popular menu item. I never knew, until recently, that this had been a former movie theatre.


From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in Olneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Fays Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:17 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Rialto Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:17 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Gaiety Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:16 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Olympic Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:16 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Bijou Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:16 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Carlton Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:15 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Hippodrome on Jun 18, 2005 at 2:14 pm

From “The Board of Trade Journal” of April, 1915:
“Too many theatres? Nothing of the sort! The Emery is turning away people at every performance. The "Hip,” with its very large auditorium, is packed to the doors. The Bijou and Nickel can’t accomodate those seeking to see “the movies,” neither can the Gaiety, the Scenic, the Union or the Casino. Out in OLneyville Spitz & Nathanson’s new theatre has all it can attend to."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Modern Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 12:42 pm

Here is a photo of the Modern from 1916 or earlier. The theatre was on a part of Westminster Street that no longer exists. That section was converted to steps and a walkway that went up to a new plaza in front of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The Diocese of Providence Auditorium was built at the end of that former section of the street. The street then resumes. The photo shows Westminster Street at the beginning of its incline. To the left of the theatre is Empire Street. It is at that very intersection that the first Empire Theatre used to exist until in the 1910s it was demolished to make way for an extension of Empire Street out to Weybosset and Broad. I used to come by this theatre in the late 1950s by bus. noting that it was closed and wondering about it. At that time the theatre was named (Westminster) Playhouse.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Bijou Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 12:13 pm

Here are three photos of the Bijou over the years:
1910
1915
1950

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Majestic Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 10:36 am

I neglected to add that this part of Arctic in West Warwick was also referred to at one time as “Jericho.” I don’t believe it still is.
West Warwick has the sad distinction of being the location of the devastating Station Night Club fire on February 21, 2003.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Majestic Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 10:26 am

Here is a photo of the Majestic from around 1911. The Majestic Theatre and the Majestic Hotel shared the same business block. The building was in existence until just a few years ago when it was subsequently demolished. A little park takes its place, I believe. I did visit the inside briefly. It was on the second floor and had a flat dance-hall style floor with some balcony-type “stadium” seating. The theatre may have even occupied a larger part of the building at one time. The steps went up from the street on the right and not from the street on the left where you see the “Majestic” sign.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Star Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 9:51 am

An article in the Providence Journal in November of 1905 refers to a Mr. Charles Allen who was planning a new theatre on Mathewson Street. He was said to be the proprietor of the “burned Star Theatre.” Could it have been this place? I thought it came later. Had it been used for local neighborhood theatrical productions as well as newly emerging moving pictures? I had always heard it burned after a film caught fire. Was there another Star Theatre in Providence? I wish I had taken pictures of the exterior of this barn-like structure with the flag-banner-like motif carved at the top of the front entrance reached by several cement steps. I used to drive by it often on the way to Twin Oaks Restaurant. Alas.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca commented about Trans-Lux Theatre on Jun 18, 2005 at 9:30 am

Does anyone remember a D.C. movie theatre that in the 1940s and later was called the “Little Cinema” or “Little Theatre”? I’ve seen references to it but could not find it on Cinema Treasures. It was an art house. I’d like to know the address and/or other names for this place.