CORRECTION. Fays was never known as the Hippodrome. Union yes. Hippodrome, no. The Hippodrome was located on Fountain Street between Mathewson and Union and was a large theatre used for grandiose theatrics and later for films during the silent era. The Providence Journal building now occupies the space that used to be the Hippodrome. The Hippodrome needs to be posted on Cinema Treasures, and I’ll add it. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
Also, it seems that Fays was not generally written with an apostrophe before the “s.”
In fact before the Capitol was the Colonial, it had been the Imperial and the Shubert. The sequence was Imperial – Shubert – Colonial – Capitol. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
The Rialto was on the west side of Mathewson Street between Washington and Westminster, exactly one block from the Emery/Carlton. It was formerly known as the Scenic…and I believe the “Scenic Temple” if I remember old newspaper ads correctly. This was not the same as the Casino as I had hypothesized above, which was in fact diagonally across the street. The façade of the Rialto is still there, and if one looks at the top, one can make out the outline caused by removed lettering. It is very faint but I believe it does say Rialto Theatre.
I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me. I also took this photo of what is left of the Scenic/Rialto.
Roger Katz, there were TWO theatres named Victory at different times. (1) Low’s – Keith’s – Victory – Empire. This was located at 260 Westminster Street at Union Street and is the theatre in this posting. (2) Modern -Playhouse – Victory. This is the theatre at 440 Westminster Street. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me. There were also THREE Empire Theatres at different times.
This theatre also became known as the Victory. There were two theatres named the Victory at different times. (1) Low’s – Keith’s -Victory – Empire. This was located on Westminster Street at Union Street. (2) Modern -Playhouse – Victory. This is the theatre of this posting at 440 Westminster Street. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
I have a copy of that same Showbill too! It’s in my “Rocco” file. It remains one of the towering masterpieces of world cinema. Unfortunately it was severely shortened for U.S. release. It has since been redistributed, uncut. When Visconti attended an event in his honor in New York a few decades ago and they showed “Rocco,” he was (justifiably) pissed that it was the mutilated version on display.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac gave the seating capacity as 980 and listed Peter E. Murphy as the then manager.
Error noted: this theatre was NOT in Cranston but in Providence, just on the Providence side of the city line with Cranston. The PJ Almanac lists it under Providence and 1526 Broad Street comes out as Providence when you map it. So the city should be changed to Providence.
A 1925 PJ Almanac gives these dimensions for the Modern: seating capacity, 1400; proscenium opening, 38x28 feet; footlights to back wall, 31 feet; between side walls, 110 feet, height to gridioron, 57 feet.
The theatre was previously known (circa the 1920s) as Emery’s Majestic. Down on Mathewson Street was the Emery Theatre which later became the Carlton. Emery’s Majestic is listed in the 1925 Providence Journal Almanac as having a seating capacity of 2500. Other data: proscenium opening, 40x36 feet; footlights to back wall, 33 feet; between side walls, 80 feet; height to gridiron, 60 feet.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac gives the seating capacity of the Victory as 1950 seats. Other data: proscenium opening, 32x32 feet; footlights to back wall, 35 feet; between side walls, 80 feet; height to gridiron, 42 feet.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac lists the Emery Theatre (which became the Carlton) as having a seating capacity of 1786. Dimenions: proscenium opening, 38x20 feet, footlights to back wall, 32 feet; between side walls, 75 feet; height to gridiron, 56 feet.
This Emery Theatre should not be confused with Emery’s Majestic (later the Majestic), a couple of blocks away on Washington Street.
If you drove in and parked your car there alongside a speaker on June 1st of 1950, you and your companions could have seen “Task Force” playing with “Headin' for Heaven.”
The Rialto opened in 1902, I don’t know under what name. According to the Providence Journal Almanac from 1935, the seating capacity of the Rialto was 1448.
I doubt that this place became the Mathewson Street Church, since I now realize that it was built in the 1800s. There was a Casino Theatre at 126 Mathewson Street in the 19-teens. Could this have been that? I don’t have a street number yet for the Rialto.
Anyway this Rialto Theatre was one of a group opened or owned by Edward M. Fay. (The legendary Fay’s Theatre, a vaudeville heaven with film clouds on Union Street, was named after him.)
Here is an introductory note to Edward M. Fay from the the R.I. Historical Society’s Fay theatre records: “Edward M. Fay (3/14/1875-2/12/1964) spent his life involved with the entertainment industry, as violinist, conductor, vaudeville impresario, poet, and motion picture theater owner. He owned at least six different theaters between 1928 and 1971, and was called by the Providence Journal the "dean of Rhode Island entertainment” (April 22, 1947). He was the son of James T. and Mary Jane (Stuart) Fay and he married Katherine A. Lahiff in 1913."
I hope to peruse records of those theatres and add information at later dates and clear up some mysteries.
Here is a photo of the Savoy, circa 1911. Its address was 28 North Main Street, which would have placed it near or at the site of the later Durfee Theatre.
The 1948 Providence Journal Almanac has a note on the theatre which says, “Owned by Royal Theatre, Inc. and leased by E.M. Loew’s of Boston; has been operated at infrequent intervals with no possibility of it being opened; seating capacity 1500; Lawson Daniels, manager of the Olympia Theatre, has charge of this theatre for Mr. Loew.”
In fact the theatre had not been open for well over a decade before this notice, judging by the newspaper ads I scoured. The Olympia Theatre referred to was on the other side of Olneyville Square.
Today the spot where the ill-fated Royal once stood is Grasso’s Gulf Service Station.
This is an introductory note to Edward M. Fay from the the R.I. Historical Society’s Fay theatre records: “Edward M. Fay (3/14/1875-2/12/1964) spent his life involved with the entertainment industry, as violinist, conductor, vaudeville impresario, poet, and motion picture theater owner. He owned at least six different theaters between 1928 and 1971, and was called by the Providence Journal the "dean of Rhode Island entertainment” (April 22, 1947). He was the son of James T. and Mary Jane (Stuart) Fay and he married Katherine A. Lahiff in 1913."
Their website gives a summary of the collection. I myself intend to pursue research on this subject there and hopefully be able to post additional precise information (and photos!!!) later.
On February 1, 1930 the “New Strand” was showing the Marion Davies film “Marianne.” Earlier newspaper ads showed the Strand in existence under that name in 1918.
According to a 1918 city directory, a theatre at 41 Main Street was called “Smith’s Theatre.” Smith’s must have become the Rialto. And with an address of 41 Main Street, it must have been across from the Nickel/Strand/Olympia which was 40 Main Street. It seems the Rialto ceased operating by the end of the 1950s.
In June of 1950 one program for the Rialto was the thriller “The Window” with young Bobby Driscoll, paired with the Gene Autry western “Riders in the Sky.”
On April 30 of 1918 there was an explosion of a film magazine on the second balcony of the Savoy Theatre. According to newspaper reports there was considerable panic among members of the audience who rushed for the exits. The only person known to be hurt was Stephen Rose, the film projectionist, who sufered burns on his hands. Several women fainted or became hysterical when a burst of flames enveloped the upper part of the balcony. A portion of the front and side of the booth was torn away. There was some damage to the ceiling of the balcony. One woman jumped from the second balcony to the floor of the theater! The explosions and screams attracted persons outside who ran to the scene but were met with crowds attempting to exit. Theatre employees attached lines of hose and contained the fire without the aid of local firemen.
The above incident, whose description is paraphrased from a contemporary news report, suggests an example of a fire started with highly-flammable nitrate film, the industry standard for many decades until safety acetate-based film was introduced. A similar fire in a theatre in Washington, DC in the 1920s caused a number of deaths, but no one besides the projectionist was hurt here. The scene reminds us of the nitrate film fire in the Italian movie “Cinema Paradiso” where the projectionist Alfredo is burned and loses his eyesight.
One of the programs at the beginning of its last decade was the June 1950 pairing of “Love Happy” featuring the Marx Brothers and Marilyn Monroe alongside “Beauty on Parade” with Ruth Warrick.
CORRECTION. Fays was never known as the Hippodrome. Union yes. Hippodrome, no. The Hippodrome was located on Fountain Street between Mathewson and Union and was a large theatre used for grandiose theatrics and later for films during the silent era. The Providence Journal building now occupies the space that used to be the Hippodrome. The Hippodrome needs to be posted on Cinema Treasures, and I’ll add it. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
Also, it seems that Fays was not generally written with an apostrophe before the “s.”
In fact before the Capitol was the Colonial, it had been the Imperial and the Shubert. The sequence was Imperial – Shubert – Colonial – Capitol. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
The Rialto was on the west side of Mathewson Street between Washington and Westminster, exactly one block from the Emery/Carlton. It was formerly known as the Scenic…and I believe the “Scenic Temple” if I remember old newspaper ads correctly. This was not the same as the Casino as I had hypothesized above, which was in fact diagonally across the street. The façade of the Rialto is still there, and if one looks at the top, one can make out the outline caused by removed lettering. It is very faint but I believe it does say Rialto Theatre.
I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me. I also took this photo of what is left of the Scenic/Rialto.
Roger Katz, there were TWO theatres named Victory at different times. (1) Low’s – Keith’s – Victory – Empire. This was located at 260 Westminster Street at Union Street and is the theatre in this posting. (2) Modern -Playhouse – Victory. This is the theatre at 440 Westminster Street. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me. There were also THREE Empire Theatres at different times.
This theatre also became known as the Victory. There were two theatres named the Victory at different times. (1) Low’s – Keith’s -Victory – Empire. This was located on Westminster Street at Union Street. (2) Modern -Playhouse – Victory. This is the theatre of this posting at 440 Westminster Street. I found a map of downtown Providence theatres (1871-1950) and their name changes in the files of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That clears up a great deal of confusion for me.
I have a copy of that same Showbill too! It’s in my “Rocco” file. It remains one of the towering masterpieces of world cinema. Unfortunately it was severely shortened for U.S. release. It has since been redistributed, uncut. When Visconti attended an event in his honor in New York a few decades ago and they showed “Rocco,” he was (justifiably) pissed that it was the mutilated version on display.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac gave the seating capacity as 980 and listed Peter E. Murphy as the then manager.
Error noted: this theatre was NOT in Cranston but in Providence, just on the Providence side of the city line with Cranston. The PJ Almanac lists it under Providence and 1526 Broad Street comes out as Providence when you map it. So the city should be changed to Providence.
A 1925 PJ Almanac gives these dimensions for the Modern: seating capacity, 1400; proscenium opening, 38x28 feet; footlights to back wall, 31 feet; between side walls, 110 feet, height to gridioron, 57 feet.
The theatre was previously known (circa the 1920s) as Emery’s Majestic. Down on Mathewson Street was the Emery Theatre which later became the Carlton. Emery’s Majestic is listed in the 1925 Providence Journal Almanac as having a seating capacity of 2500. Other data: proscenium opening, 40x36 feet; footlights to back wall, 33 feet; between side walls, 80 feet; height to gridiron, 60 feet.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac gives the seating capacity of the Victory as 1950 seats. Other data: proscenium opening, 32x32 feet; footlights to back wall, 35 feet; between side walls, 80 feet; height to gridiron, 42 feet.
The 1925 Providence Journal Almanac lists the Emery Theatre (which became the Carlton) as having a seating capacity of 1786. Dimenions: proscenium opening, 38x20 feet, footlights to back wall, 32 feet; between side walls, 75 feet; height to gridiron, 56 feet.
This Emery Theatre should not be confused with Emery’s Majestic (later the Majestic), a couple of blocks away on Washington Street.
Yes, bizarre…no matter how you folks spell it. Another bizarre one is the Climax Theatre in Milwaukee.
If you drove in and parked your car there alongside a speaker on June 1st of 1950, you and your companions could have seen “Task Force” playing with “Headin' for Heaven.”
The Rialto opened in 1902, I don’t know under what name. According to the Providence Journal Almanac from 1935, the seating capacity of the Rialto was 1448.
I doubt that this place became the Mathewson Street Church, since I now realize that it was built in the 1800s. There was a Casino Theatre at 126 Mathewson Street in the 19-teens. Could this have been that? I don’t have a street number yet for the Rialto.
Anyway this Rialto Theatre was one of a group opened or owned by Edward M. Fay. (The legendary Fay’s Theatre, a vaudeville heaven with film clouds on Union Street, was named after him.)
Here is an introductory note to Edward M. Fay from the the R.I. Historical Society’s Fay theatre records: “Edward M. Fay (3/14/1875-2/12/1964) spent his life involved with the entertainment industry, as violinist, conductor, vaudeville impresario, poet, and motion picture theater owner. He owned at least six different theaters between 1928 and 1971, and was called by the Providence Journal the "dean of Rhode Island entertainment” (April 22, 1947). He was the son of James T. and Mary Jane (Stuart) Fay and he married Katherine A. Lahiff in 1913."
I hope to peruse records of those theatres and add information at later dates and clear up some mysteries.
Here is a photo of the Savoy, circa 1911. Its address was 28 North Main Street, which would have placed it near or at the site of the later Durfee Theatre.
For many decades this theatre was known as the Uptown. That name can still be seen in the floor tiling at the entrance.
The exact date this drive-in opened was July 21, 1937…according to a 1948 Providence Journal Almanac entry.
The 1948 Providence Journal Almanac has a note on the theatre which says, “Owned by Royal Theatre, Inc. and leased by E.M. Loew’s of Boston; has been operated at infrequent intervals with no possibility of it being opened; seating capacity 1500; Lawson Daniels, manager of the Olympia Theatre, has charge of this theatre for Mr. Loew.”
In fact the theatre had not been open for well over a decade before this notice, judging by the newspaper ads I scoured. The Olympia Theatre referred to was on the other side of Olneyville Square.
Today the spot where the ill-fated Royal once stood is Grasso’s Gulf Service Station.
This is an introductory note to Edward M. Fay from the the R.I. Historical Society’s Fay theatre records: “Edward M. Fay (3/14/1875-2/12/1964) spent his life involved with the entertainment industry, as violinist, conductor, vaudeville impresario, poet, and motion picture theater owner. He owned at least six different theaters between 1928 and 1971, and was called by the Providence Journal the "dean of Rhode Island entertainment” (April 22, 1947). He was the son of James T. and Mary Jane (Stuart) Fay and he married Katherine A. Lahiff in 1913."
Their website gives a summary of the collection. I myself intend to pursue research on this subject there and hopefully be able to post additional precise information (and photos!!!) later.
On February 1, 1930 the “New Strand” was showing the Marion Davies film “Marianne.” Earlier newspaper ads showed the Strand in existence under that name in 1918.
According to a 1918 city directory, a theatre at 41 Main Street was called “Smith’s Theatre.” Smith’s must have become the Rialto. And with an address of 41 Main Street, it must have been across from the Nickel/Strand/Olympia which was 40 Main Street. It seems the Rialto ceased operating by the end of the 1950s.
In June of 1950 one program for the Rialto was the thriller “The Window” with young Bobby Driscoll, paired with the Gene Autry western “Riders in the Sky.”
The theatre must go back to the World War I era or earlier. I found a 1918 listing for the place.
On April 30 of 1918 there was an explosion of a film magazine on the second balcony of the Savoy Theatre. According to newspaper reports there was considerable panic among members of the audience who rushed for the exits. The only person known to be hurt was Stephen Rose, the film projectionist, who sufered burns on his hands. Several women fainted or became hysterical when a burst of flames enveloped the upper part of the balcony. A portion of the front and side of the booth was torn away. There was some damage to the ceiling of the balcony. One woman jumped from the second balcony to the floor of the theater! The explosions and screams attracted persons outside who ran to the scene but were met with crowds attempting to exit. Theatre employees attached lines of hose and contained the fire without the aid of local firemen.
The above incident, whose description is paraphrased from a contemporary news report, suggests an example of a fire started with highly-flammable nitrate film, the industry standard for many decades until safety acetate-based film was introduced. A similar fire in a theatre in Washington, DC in the 1920s caused a number of deaths, but no one besides the projectionist was hurt here. The scene reminds us of the nitrate film fire in the Italian movie “Cinema Paradiso” where the projectionist Alfredo is burned and loses his eyesight.
One of the programs at the beginning of its last decade was the June 1950 pairing of “Love Happy” featuring the Marx Brothers and Marilyn Monroe alongside “Beauty on Parade” with Ruth Warrick.