Park Theatre

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have;1941, 1943 and 1950 editions as being located in Auburn. It’s seating capacity is listed as 1,200.

Here are two recent photos of the Park as it undergoes de-triplexing, reconstruction, expansion, and refurbishing. The original proscenium re-appears after decades.
PEEKING FROM FRONT
PEEKING FROM REAR

The Park Theatre opened on November 17, 1924. The Providence Journal reported:
“Completion of the new Park Theatre at the junction of Pontiac and Park Avenues in Auburn marks the latest development in an efort to establish the civic center of Cranston at this point. (…)
"Park Theatre, Inc., of which A. A. Spitz is president and general manager, owns the building and will operate the theatre. (…)
"The main building which house the theatre and three stores…rises to a height of two storeys…the theatre itself has no balcony. (…)
"The auditorium of the theatre, which has a seating capacity of 988, is approximately 100 feet long. (…)
"Old ivory, gold, brown and blue are the colors used for the inerior decoration. (…)
"One of the features of the equipment is a large two-manual Moller p[ipe organ…. The stage is large enough for vaudeville and legitimate performances… For the present motion pictures will be shown, but in the future vaudeville acts may be given also.
"Plans for the building were prepared by William R. Walker & Sons, incollaboration with E. H. Bigney, the contractor and builder.”

The theatre opened with the Frank Borzage film Secrets with Norma Talmadge and the Hal Roach comedy The Battling Orioles.

I remember going here many times as a kid. I remember those weekend kiddie matinees and in the late 1960’s/early 70’s seeing a double bill of the first PLANET OF THE APES sequel and I believe THE FLIM FLAM MAN with George C. Scott and Michael Sarazan here.

Last time I was there was the mid 1980s when I caught THE KARATE KID.

I remember it way back as a single screen theatre with a very wide auditorium when I started going here regularly in the 1960s. Although the Park rarely had foreign-language or art-house fare, in July of 1963 I saw a double bill here of Bolognini’s “Bell'Antonio” starring Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale playing with Jules Dassin’s “The Law,” also with Mastroianni and featuring Gina Lollobrigida. “Bell'Antonio” was shown dubbed in English. “The Law” was in French with English subtitles. The same program day/dated with the Seekonk ‘Art’ Drive-In on Rte. 6 in nearby Massachusetts. Very odd bit of programming for both venues except that Mastroianni had recently received a great deal of popular acceptance in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and “8½.” “Adults Only!” the Journal ad proclaimed.

Work on the place seemed to have come to a halt last time I went by. I’ve been to this theatre hundreds of times, both as a single screen place and when it became a triplex.