I remember seeing Louis Malle’s “Murmur of the Heart” here in 1971 and thereafter beautiful re-issue prints of Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” “City Lights” and “The Great Dicatator”
My notes indicate I had the pleasure of visiting this cinema only twice: for Bo Widerberg’s “Adalen ‘31” in 1970 and a revival of Kinugasa’s 1926 silent “A Page of Madness” in 1973.
In December of 1972 this theater programmed “The Genesis Children,” a controversial movie about nude boys frolicking on a European beach. I believe that the cinema was programmed for a time in the 1980s by the late Richard Schwartz, who had also programmed the Thalia (uptown) and Thalia Soho with frequently-changing repertory double bills.
I didn’t attend too many movies here but I made a note of seeing “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” here in December, 1973. It was standard cookie-cutter Jerry Lewis cinema.
I believe this was the last operating theater in West Warwick. Now they are all gone, demolished. I used to come here from time to time, particularly in the 1970s and saw “Panic in Needle Park” and “Making It” here on a double bill in 1972, before it went into porno. West Warwick, by the way, is the town where in February 2003, The Station night club fire caused the death of about 100 people.
But all German, Italian, and Japanese film prints were confiscated and sequestered by the U.S. Government and housed at some army base during the war years. I know that some of the Italian film prints from that period are still preserved by the Library of Congress. I too truly doubt that any German films could have been shown at the Casino at that time.
The theater had character and I remember a slightly musty not-used-during-the-winter aroma the few times I went here. In the 1960s I saw Antonioni’s “Blow Up” here and in 1972 “The Cowboys” with John Wayne. Sad that these little local village cinemas across American have died in such large numbers.
I found a note that I saw the following western double bill here in September, 1972: Frank Perry’s “Doc” paired with William Witney’s “Arizona Raiders” from 1965.
I have an old Record-American ad here from November, 1963, at the time of the Kennedy assassination listing the Uptown as showing “Dream Wife” with Cary Grant and “Rampage” with Robert Mitchum. Coming attractions: “The Leopard” with Burt Lancaster and “For Love or Money” with Gig Young.
To br91975: No, that’s wrong. This theater wasn’t “on Broadway” between 48th and 49th. It was on 49th Street, north side, between 6th and 7th Avenue, just east of 7th Avenue, as their ads stated, and was previously known for many decades as the World, as detailed in Bryan Krefft’s description and history.
I was here yesterday to see that remarkable Italian film “I Am Not Scared.” What an unlikely little twin cinema in an unlikely place, an art house on a country road! Also currently in program is “Supersize Me” and the Korean gem “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring.” It’s a likable place with comfy seats, good sound and projection, memorabilia and posters, including one of Bertolucci’s “Stealing Beauty” in the men’s room.
The Columbus is now closed for regular movies but opened for special events: musical performances, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, special film programs, etc.
Yes, it is listed as the Narragansett Cinemas, but the signs on the front marquee and on the side of the building actually say Narragansett Theater. I checked my photos. Why are some theaters called theatres, while some theatres are theaters? I’ve always preferred -re but the more common spelling is -er. Anyway, moot point. We must call it “cinemas” because of how it publicizes itself. At any rate, the place has a bit of gray-shingled charm despite the sterility, for me, of the whole complex. I wish the theater/theatre/cinemas success.
The address is 3 Beach Street. In newspaper ads the theatre is referred to as “Narragansett Cinemas.” The lettering on the side of the theatre says “Narragansett Theatre.”
The Narragansett Theatre has been closed for a good while. I thought it had bitten the dust after the opening of the not-too-far-away Entertainment Cinemas multiplex in South Kingstown, but it re-opens today with “The Terminal” and two other features. Whether it is to remain open only for the summer tourist/beachgoer season or year-round remains to be seen. The three-screen Campus in nearby Wakefield is closed and up for sale, a victim of the Entertainment Cinemas. This three-screen theatre is located a few hundred feet from where the long-gone Casino Theatre was.
I believe the theatre was also called the Pier Cinema in its last days. In June of 1967 I saw THE WAR WAGON here. I have a photo I took that day showing the entrance to the theatre, the “Casino” sign, and a poster-window displaying a one-sheet of THE WAR WAGON. I believe it was the only time I visited the place, which seemed weather-beaten and moldy in a kind of almost charming summer-colony manner. The theatre did not survive another decade, if that. The three-screened Narragansett Theatre now stands a few hundred feet away in a complex of condominiums and small shops.
Roger, I checked it. The entrance to the porn emporium is through a newer door on the left SIDE of the former cinema auditorium. Videos and mags are sold from racks in the auditorium itself (the floor has been leveled.) There is also a storage area in what was the front of the auditorium, to the right of the sales counter. The former lobby area is where the booths are. The original entrance is sealed off. I couldn’t spot any indications of the former projection booth.
I remember seeing Louis Malle’s “Murmur of the Heart” here in 1971 and thereafter beautiful re-issue prints of Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” “City Lights” and “The Great Dicatator”
In 1974 I saw a Russian documentary here called “The Great Battle,” about the taking of Berlin in WWII.
My notes show that I saw Louis Malle’s unforgettable “Lacombe, Lucien” when in London (visiting from the U.S.) in July, 1974.
My notes indicate I had the pleasure of visiting this cinema only twice: for Bo Widerberg’s “Adalen ‘31” in 1970 and a revival of Kinugasa’s 1926 silent “A Page of Madness” in 1973.
Wakefield is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Does anyone else remember this place? I have a note that I saw “Slaughter Hotel” and “The Last House on the Left” here in December of 1972.
In December of 1972 this theater programmed “The Genesis Children,” a controversial movie about nude boys frolicking on a European beach. I believe that the cinema was programmed for a time in the 1980s by the late Richard Schwartz, who had also programmed the Thalia (uptown) and Thalia Soho with frequently-changing repertory double bills.
I didn’t attend too many movies here but I made a note of seeing “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” here in December, 1973. It was standard cookie-cutter Jerry Lewis cinema.
I believe this was the last operating theater in West Warwick. Now they are all gone, demolished. I used to come here from time to time, particularly in the 1970s and saw “Panic in Needle Park” and “Making It” here on a double bill in 1972, before it went into porno. West Warwick, by the way, is the town where in February 2003, The Station night club fire caused the death of about 100 people.
But all German, Italian, and Japanese film prints were confiscated and sequestered by the U.S. Government and housed at some army base during the war years. I know that some of the Italian film prints from that period are still preserved by the Library of Congress. I too truly doubt that any German films could have been shown at the Casino at that time.
The theater had character and I remember a slightly musty not-used-during-the-winter aroma the few times I went here. In the 1960s I saw Antonioni’s “Blow Up” here and in 1972 “The Cowboys” with John Wayne. Sad that these little local village cinemas across American have died in such large numbers.
I found a note that I saw the following western double bill here in September, 1972: Frank Perry’s “Doc” paired with William Witney’s “Arizona Raiders” from 1965.
I have an old Record-American ad here from November, 1963, at the time of the Kennedy assassination listing the Uptown as showing “Dream Wife” with Cary Grant and “Rampage” with Robert Mitchum. Coming attractions: “The Leopard” with Burt Lancaster and “For Love or Money” with Gig Young.
To br91975: No, that’s wrong. This theater wasn’t “on Broadway” between 48th and 49th. It was on 49th Street, north side, between 6th and 7th Avenue, just east of 7th Avenue, as their ads stated, and was previously known for many decades as the World, as detailed in Bryan Krefft’s description and history.
I was here yesterday to see that remarkable Italian film “I Am Not Scared.” What an unlikely little twin cinema in an unlikely place, an art house on a country road! Also currently in program is “Supersize Me” and the Korean gem “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring.” It’s a likable place with comfy seats, good sound and projection, memorabilia and posters, including one of Bertolucci’s “Stealing Beauty” in the men’s room.
Shouldn’t the Century and the Center listings be consolidated into one, since they are the same theatre?
Shouldn’t the Century and the Center listings be consolidated into one, since they are the same theatre?
The Columbus is now closed for regular movies but opened for special events: musical performances, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, special film programs, etc.
Yes, it is listed as the Narragansett Cinemas, but the signs on the front marquee and on the side of the building actually say Narragansett Theater. I checked my photos. Why are some theaters called theatres, while some theatres are theaters? I’ve always preferred -re but the more common spelling is -er. Anyway, moot point. We must call it “cinemas” because of how it publicizes itself. At any rate, the place has a bit of gray-shingled charm despite the sterility, for me, of the whole complex. I wish the theater/theatre/cinemas success.
The address is 3 Beach Street. In newspaper ads the theatre is referred to as “Narragansett Cinemas.” The lettering on the side of the theatre says “Narragansett Theatre.”
Wasn’t film critic Pauline Kael involved one time in the programming of the Telegraph Rep?
The Narragansett Theatre has been closed for a good while. I thought it had bitten the dust after the opening of the not-too-far-away Entertainment Cinemas multiplex in South Kingstown, but it re-opens today with “The Terminal” and two other features. Whether it is to remain open only for the summer tourist/beachgoer season or year-round remains to be seen. The three-screen Campus in nearby Wakefield is closed and up for sale, a victim of the Entertainment Cinemas. This three-screen theatre is located a few hundred feet from where the long-gone Casino Theatre was.
I believe the theatre was also called the Pier Cinema in its last days. In June of 1967 I saw THE WAR WAGON here. I have a photo I took that day showing the entrance to the theatre, the “Casino” sign, and a poster-window displaying a one-sheet of THE WAR WAGON. I believe it was the only time I visited the place, which seemed weather-beaten and moldy in a kind of almost charming summer-colony manner. The theatre did not survive another decade, if that. The three-screened Narragansett Theatre now stands a few hundred feet away in a complex of condominiums and small shops.
The placque on the front of the building says “Patsy’s Hall” and gives the year of completion as 1930.
Roger, I checked it. The entrance to the porn emporium is through a newer door on the left SIDE of the former cinema auditorium. Videos and mags are sold from racks in the auditorium itself (the floor has been leveled.) There is also a storage area in what was the front of the auditorium, to the right of the sales counter. The former lobby area is where the booths are. The original entrance is sealed off. I couldn’t spot any indications of the former projection booth.