PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
This old postcard of Weybosset Street shows part of the Gaiety Theatre. Better photos of the theatre exist, although this one shows nicely the context of the street it was on.
Time-line for name-changes for this theatre as listed in the Providence Public Library topical card catalog:
1878-1888 Low’s Opera House
1888-1898 Keith’s Gaiety Opera House
1898-1911 Keith’s New Theatre
1912-1919 Keith’s Theatre
1920-1936 Victory Theatre
1936-1949 Empire Theatre
Construction of the Bijou as reported in “Board of Trade Journal,” March, 1908:
“The two story wooden building located at the corner of Westminster and Orange Streets is being remodelled for the Archie L. Sheppard Amusement Company, and when finished will be known as the ‘Bijou Theatre.’ Plans have been prepared by William R. Walker & Son and provide for a new iron front to be finished in white and gold. A stage will be erected and the second floor removed, the roof being supported by trusses.”
Actually this theatre was named “Cranston Auto Theatre” when it opened and “Cranston Drive-In” in successive years. It opened on July 29, 1948 amid great hoopla. The Providence Journal the next day reported that film and civic VIPs had attended the opening. Cranston and state police controlling traffic later estimated that 700 cars were admitted (the theatre capacity was then 700 cars) and that almost an equal number had been turned away. Myer Stanzler, president of the Columbia Amusement Company, owners of the theatre which cost $60,000, said that the capacity would be increased to 800. Thirty-one years later, on November 2, 1979, a Journal article reported that the drive-in had closed for good the night before and that ground-breaking had begun for a 91,000 square-foot shopping complex.
I remember walking around the interior of a theatre in Laconia the weekend I was on a camping trip nearby in May of 1973. I don’t remember what it was being used for then, perhaps a shop, but a friend who summered in Laconia took me inside. I don’t know if it was this place. Was there any other theatre in Laconia?
This is a photo of the Keith’s Theatre which became the Victory. There is another picture (postcard) of this theatre which became the Victory in my April 15 posting above.
The theatre first opened as the Imperial in 1902. At the start it was primarily a a theatrical venue before switching to movies. In the end it was considered a “scratch house” because of its cheapness and by then its shabbiness (although it was a theatre of remarkable character beneath all that.)
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
PROVIDENCE THEATRES: “TEMPLES OF ILLUSION"
A book called "Temples of Illusion,” by Roger Brett, was published in 1976. It is Mr. Brett’s detailed history of all the old downtown area theatres of Providence from 1871 to 1950. It includes numerous rare photos, a list of theatres with name changes, and a map to show exactly where they all were. The book is an invaluable resource and is owned by many libraries in the R.I. CLAN system. I found a copy for sale online and will use it as a reference for future postings.
Here is a nice old postcard of the Bijou that appears on the Providence Public Library “Images of R.I.” site.
Here is an aerial photo of this drive-in. I’m not sure when it was taken, probably the 1950s before so much development took place in that area.
This old postcard of Weybosset Street shows part of the Gaiety Theatre. Better photos of the theatre exist, although this one shows nicely the context of the street it was on.
Time-line for name-changes for this theatre as listed in the Providence Public Library topical card catalog:
1903-1912 Imperial
1913-1919 Colonial
1919-1922 Mayflower
1923-1931 Capitol
1932-1958 E.M. Loew’s Capitol
Time-line for name-changes for this theatre as listed in the Providence Public Library topical card catalog:
1878-1888 Low’s Opera House
1888-1898 Keith’s Gaiety Opera House
1898-1911 Keith’s New Theatre
1912-1919 Keith’s Theatre
1920-1936 Victory Theatre
1936-1949 Empire Theatre
Construction of the Bijou as reported in “Board of Trade Journal,” March, 1908:
“The two story wooden building located at the corner of Westminster and Orange Streets is being remodelled for the Archie L. Sheppard Amusement Company, and when finished will be known as the ‘Bijou Theatre.’ Plans have been prepared by William R. Walker & Son and provide for a new iron front to be finished in white and gold. A stage will be erected and the second floor removed, the roof being supported by trusses.”
Actually this theatre was named “Cranston Auto Theatre” when it opened and “Cranston Drive-In” in successive years. It opened on July 29, 1948 amid great hoopla. The Providence Journal the next day reported that film and civic VIPs had attended the opening. Cranston and state police controlling traffic later estimated that 700 cars were admitted (the theatre capacity was then 700 cars) and that almost an equal number had been turned away. Myer Stanzler, president of the Columbia Amusement Company, owners of the theatre which cost $60,000, said that the capacity would be increased to 800. Thirty-one years later, on November 2, 1979, a Journal article reported that the drive-in had closed for good the night before and that ground-breaking had begun for a 91,000 square-foot shopping complex.
I remember walking around the interior of a theatre in Laconia the weekend I was on a camping trip nearby in May of 1973. I don’t remember what it was being used for then, perhaps a shop, but a friend who summered in Laconia took me inside. I don’t know if it was this place. Was there any other theatre in Laconia?
Here is a photo of the strand from 1940.
Here are two photos of the Park/Opera House.
PHOTO FROM 1952
PHOTO FROM 1930
One source says the Park’s last film shown was in 1963.
Here is a nice old postcard of the Nickel along with Grace Church and the to-and-fro of Westminster Street.
Here is another old photograph of the Colonial.
Here is another photo of the Bijou in Newport, taken in 1908.
Here is a postcard of the Emery, which later became the Carlton.
Here is a nice photo of the Opera House.
This is a photo of the Keith’s Theatre which became the Victory. There is another picture (postcard) of this theatre which became the Victory in my April 15 posting above.
It was in 1919 that the Scenic became the Rialto.
The theatre first opened as the Imperial in 1902. At the start it was primarily a a theatrical venue before switching to movies. In the end it was considered a “scratch house” because of its cheapness and by then its shabbiness (although it was a theatre of remarkable character beneath all that.)