The Fenway was an art house in the early 1960s. In April of 1963 I saw the French SUNDAYS AND CYBELE here and Antonioni’s IL GRIDO in June. Also in June of 1963 the theatre was used for an early version of the Boston Film Festival. I remember seeing the Brazilian THE GIVEN WORD. In November of 1963 there were programs of nudies like BABES IN THE WOODS and KIPLING’S WOMEN. The place went from art fare to nudie/exploitation flicks.
One of the only times I went to this theatre was in 1958 to see a showing of the French-made THE CASE OF DR. LAURENT. It was dubbed in English here. The film, which starred the great Jean Gabin, achieved some exploitation because it featured the actual birth of a baby. The theatre was called the Mayflower then too.
I believe the only time I visited this theatre was in March of 1958 for a double bill of the Spanish-made THE MIRACLE OF MARCELINO, dubbed in English, shown with the cute French featurette THE RED BALLOON. It was a packed matinee.
The Orpheum was called the Music Hall in the 19th Century and was the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra until it moved to its new concert hall at the corner of Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue in Back Bay, namely Symphony Hall.
No to Warren. The Gaiety (also spelled Gayety, including on the side of the building) is across the street and became the Publix for a few decades. It is still there in very decrepit shape and is suppposed to be demolished, from what I’ve heard.
Yes to Charles. It was called the Pagoda for a time (showing Chinese action films.) As for the other names, I don’t have any information.
Not to my knowledge. I used to go there from time to time decades ago. They were next to the Stuart. I have an ad in front of me from November, 1963 when they were showing PROMISES! PROMISES! with Jayne Mansfield.
It’s interesting to see that foreign films played there from time to time as well, i.e.: WILD STRAWBERRIES, BELLE DE JOUR, A MAN AND A WOMAN, SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, MALIZIA, ALL SCREWED UP, LAST TANGO IN PARIS. Not what you normally associate with the Uptown.
I don’t believe the U.S. release of AIDA was of a subtitled print at all. While indeed sung in Italian, there were sporadic bits of “summarizing” English narration for each episode and no subtitles provided. The 1982 re-issue (same version) at the Guild was with reserved performances, but not reserved seats. The original opera was heavily truncated, with startling jumps, even within arias, where music was cut out. In his review for the New York Times for the 1954 opening, Bosley Crother referred to the then virtualy unknown Sophia Loren as “a handsome woman”!!!
No, definitely not. The Palace was further up on the opposite side of the street…about 500 feet away. I’ve been to both theatres: the Palace when it showed films in the 1970s and 1980s and the former Majestic in the 1990s when the auditorium was open. I believe it may have been used for local theatre productions for a time. I’d like to find out where the Gem Theatre, listed as 1231 Main Street in directories, was located in relation to those two places.
The theatre screened movies even before 1969 as stated in the description. In April, 1961 Federico Fellini’s then-sensational LA DOLCE VITA began its New York run at this theatre.
As I response to an email I sent the Bijou regarding the above concern of mine, I received this response:
Mr. DeLuca,
Since becoming a nonprofit and with the resultant management change we have made many changes. I understand the importance of having the correct equipment and we purchased a 1:33 aspect ratio lens several months ago. Recent films shown at the Bijou including Modern Times and The Animation Show have all used the lens, as did The Boy with the Green Hair. This film was the children’s matinee title for the past two Saturdays and has finished its run. The new matinee film for the next two Saturdays is The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.
I hope this puts your concerns to rest, that we have dealt with the matter accordingly.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Newton
General Manager
Bijou Community Cinema
Phone/fax 508-757-5311 www.bijoucinema.org
Last year at the Bijou I had a very bad experience with the post-war German film series. The projectionist had to choose between cutting off heads or cutting off subtitles. So he cut off heads. I went into the projection booth to speak to him. He understood the problem but said he could do nothing about it because the theatre did not own the correct lenses or aperture plates for a proper screening. I asked for a refund and left. This is an extremely important issue…showing the image as it was meant to be seen, not arbitrarily cropped. The theatre would have trouble showing the current “My Architect” properly as well, because that is also a 1:1.33 Academy ratio film.
In its heyday the Rainbo ran four nights a week, and continuously on Sunday from 2 to 11 P.M. The top admission was 25 cents for adults and 11 cents for kids at Sunday matinees.
The address for the Warwick Cinema was 780 Post Road, as stated in a 1977 newspaper ad.
The Fenway was an art house in the early 1960s. In April of 1963 I saw the French SUNDAYS AND CYBELE here and Antonioni’s IL GRIDO in June. Also in June of 1963 the theatre was used for an early version of the Boston Film Festival. I remember seeing the Brazilian THE GIVEN WORD. In November of 1963 there were programs of nudies like BABES IN THE WOODS and KIPLING’S WOMEN. The place went from art fare to nudie/exploitation flicks.
One of the only times I went to this theatre was in 1958 to see a showing of the French-made THE CASE OF DR. LAURENT. It was dubbed in English here. The film, which starred the great Jean Gabin, achieved some exploitation because it featured the actual birth of a baby. The theatre was called the Mayflower then too.
I believe the only time I visited this theatre was in March of 1958 for a double bill of the Spanish-made THE MIRACLE OF MARCELINO, dubbed in English, shown with the cute French featurette THE RED BALLOON. It was a packed matinee.
Much of the interior of the theatre, seating, projection booth, seemed intact in a visit a while ago.
The Orpheum was called the Music Hall in the 19th Century and was the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra until it moved to its new concert hall at the corner of Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue in Back Bay, namely Symphony Hall.
The theatre was built in 1890 as Lothrop’s Opera House. It was also called Lynch’s Pleasant Street Theatre, and the Fine Arts Theatre.
No to Warren. The Gaiety (also spelled Gayety, including on the side of the building) is across the street and became the Publix for a few decades. It is still there in very decrepit shape and is suppposed to be demolished, from what I’ve heard.
Yes to Charles. It was called the Pagoda for a time (showing Chinese action films.) As for the other names, I don’t have any information.
The address for the Midway Theatre was 830 Oakland Beach Road.
The address in a 1963 newspaper ad was given as 617 Washington Street.
Ads for attractions at this theatre always indicated “Opposite Parker House.”
Not to my knowledge. I used to go there from time to time decades ago. They were next to the Stuart. I have an ad in front of me from November, 1963 when they were showing PROMISES! PROMISES! with Jayne Mansfield.
The Brattle in Cambridge, Massachusetts uses rear-projection.
The theatre was used by the Associate Artists Opera Company for a November 1974 production of Antonio Salieri’s rarely-heard FALSTAFF.
Sorry, that was an error during entry. Boston, Massachusetts! Needs to be corrected.
It’s interesting to see that foreign films played there from time to time as well, i.e.: WILD STRAWBERRIES, BELLE DE JOUR, A MAN AND A WOMAN, SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, MALIZIA, ALL SCREWED UP, LAST TANGO IN PARIS. Not what you normally associate with the Uptown.
My suspicion is that the Gem and the Majestic were the same theatre. I’m not sure.
sorry, Crowther.
I don’t believe the U.S. release of AIDA was of a subtitled print at all. While indeed sung in Italian, there were sporadic bits of “summarizing” English narration for each episode and no subtitles provided. The 1982 re-issue (same version) at the Guild was with reserved performances, but not reserved seats. The original opera was heavily truncated, with startling jumps, even within arias, where music was cut out. In his review for the New York Times for the 1954 opening, Bosley Crother referred to the then virtualy unknown Sophia Loren as “a handsome woman”!!!
No, definitely not. The Palace was further up on the opposite side of the street…about 500 feet away. I’ve been to both theatres: the Palace when it showed films in the 1970s and 1980s and the former Majestic in the 1990s when the auditorium was open. I believe it may have been used for local theatre productions for a time. I’d like to find out where the Gem Theatre, listed as 1231 Main Street in directories, was located in relation to those two places.
The theatre screened movies even before 1969 as stated in the description. In April, 1961 Federico Fellini’s then-sensational LA DOLCE VITA began its New York run at this theatre.
As I response to an email I sent the Bijou regarding the above concern of mine, I received this response:
Mr. DeLuca,
Since becoming a nonprofit and with the resultant management change we have made many changes. I understand the importance of having the correct equipment and we purchased a 1:33 aspect ratio lens several months ago. Recent films shown at the Bijou including Modern Times and The Animation Show have all used the lens, as did The Boy with the Green Hair. This film was the children’s matinee title for the past two Saturdays and has finished its run. The new matinee film for the next two Saturdays is The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.
I hope this puts your concerns to rest, that we have dealt with the matter accordingly.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Newton
General Manager
Bijou Community Cinema
Phone/fax 508-757-5311
www.bijoucinema.org
Last year at the Bijou I had a very bad experience with the post-war German film series. The projectionist had to choose between cutting off heads or cutting off subtitles. So he cut off heads. I went into the projection booth to speak to him. He understood the problem but said he could do nothing about it because the theatre did not own the correct lenses or aperture plates for a proper screening. I asked for a refund and left. This is an extremely important issue…showing the image as it was meant to be seen, not arbitrarily cropped. The theatre would have trouble showing the current “My Architect” properly as well, because that is also a 1:1.33 Academy ratio film.
In its heyday the Rainbo ran four nights a week, and continuously on Sunday from 2 to 11 P.M. The top admission was 25 cents for adults and 11 cents for kids at Sunday matinees.
The address was 561 Smithfield Avenue.