The Rustic’s days may be numbered. From an article in today’s Valley Breeze about extending a water main along Route 146 to encourage economic development - “someone was interested in buying the Rustic Drive-In to build stores, but with no water access, they pulled out.” https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/gateway-to-rhode-island-leaders-approve-tax-study-related-to-route-146/article_bb2e1d64-c511-11ee-8638-97fa4752504b.html
It opened as Westacres Auto Theatre in 1942, and was renamed Rustic Drive-In in 1951. The Boro was in North Attleborough, now Guitar Center and the vacant Christmas Tree Shops - https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11435
Looks like the Park is closed again. Shows have been canceled without notice going back to August 2023 and are not being rescheduled. Plans for the City of Cranston to buy the theater and turn it into a community center fell through, and owners will not say if the theater is permanently closed. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/12-responds-owner-says-park-theatre-will-pay-back-ticketholders/
This theater is closing January 24, 2024, to be converted to indoor pickleball courts. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/east-bay/middletowns-island-cinemas-10-to-close/
It’s for sale again. https://turnto10.com/news/local/historic-park-theater-cranston-rhode-island-listed-for-sale-performing-arts-center-september-30-2023
Being torn down today - https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/historic-fall-river-building-to-be-torn-down-after-fire/. The article says the building was sold a year ago for $10k to an owner who wanted to restore it as a theater.
The building burned last night. The article says it was vacant but most recently housed a casket manufacturer. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/fire-rips-through-fall-river-building/
The Park Theatre may be in danger again. The owners are behind $35,000 in taxes. The mayor just floated the idea of buying the theatre to use as a community center; he was shot down by the City Council and has reversed course. The theatre’s website shows the next four shows as postponed, but there are two more later in October that are not.
https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/cranston-mayor-reverses-course-on-plan-to-buy-park-theatre/
The West Newton was sold to a developer in July. I heard today that the plan is to close within the next year, and it will be torn down for a new condominium development.
Great article in today’s Providence Journal about the theatre’s reopening under new ownership - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/theater/2022/11/18/how-cranston-rhode-island-park-theatre-bounced-back-to-stage-its-latest-revival/69611998007/
Closed again (hopefully only temporarily) due to roof and equipment damage from Monday’s massive rain storm. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/taking-it-day-by-day-cranstons-historic-park-theatre-shutters-after-roof-leak/
There may finally be a buyer - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/09/21/former-cranston-councilman-says-he-has-deal-buy-park-theatre/5801276001/
The auction was postponed, and the City of Cranston is helping find a buyer, with the condition that it remain a performing arts venue. https://turnto10.com/news/local/park-theatre-in-cranston-auction-postponed-for-now
The building is being auctioned tomorrow - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/04/28/park-theatre-cranston-auctioned-thursday/4872394001/
Closed temporarily as of November 1, 2020 with plans to reopen in 2021. Just announced today they will not be reopening. https://www.facebook.com/SouthKingstownCinemas/
The theater has not reopened since closing due to the COVID pandemic in March 2020. They just announced they are closed for good; they are not renewing the lease when it is up in April - https://www.wpri.com/business-news/showcase-cinemas-at-warwick-mall-will-not-reopen/
Demolished this week - https://www.golocalprov.com/news/photo-end-of-an-era-east-providence-cinemas-demolished?fbclid=IwAR1ujtlT2FPg4H1CTYMlo6iLx_IYNPMHOHYpGph3E9OrboRQ4lTIM2-2RYs
Apparently they haven’t reopened, and the theater is now boarded up and padlocked. https://www.golocalprov.com/news/east-providence-cinemas-boarded-up-and-padlocked?fbclid=IwAR1EmST3XSHfrHk0-XNMdQy5n0Yj3fLCTKUfmuXo3qRRfR-oo8X7scYA1EQ
The theater was shut down Saturday by the City when the $9,250 check to renew their licenses bounced. They reopened today after paying with a cashier’s check.
The Rustic’s days may be numbered. From an article in today’s Valley Breeze about extending a water main along Route 146 to encourage economic development - “someone was interested in buying the Rustic Drive-In to build stores, but with no water access, they pulled out.” https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/gateway-to-rhode-island-leaders-approve-tax-study-related-to-route-146/article_bb2e1d64-c511-11ee-8638-97fa4752504b.html
It opened as Westacres Auto Theatre in 1942, and was renamed Rustic Drive-In in 1951. The Boro was in North Attleborough, now Guitar Center and the vacant Christmas Tree Shops - https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11435
Looks like the Park is closed again. Shows have been canceled without notice going back to August 2023 and are not being rescheduled. Plans for the City of Cranston to buy the theater and turn it into a community center fell through, and owners will not say if the theater is permanently closed. https://www.wpri.com/target-12/12-responds-owner-says-park-theatre-will-pay-back-ticketholders/
This theater is closing January 24, 2024, to be converted to indoor pickleball courts. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/east-bay/middletowns-island-cinemas-10-to-close/
It’s for sale again. https://turnto10.com/news/local/historic-park-theater-cranston-rhode-island-listed-for-sale-performing-arts-center-september-30-2023
Being torn down today - https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/historic-fall-river-building-to-be-torn-down-after-fire/. The article says the building was sold a year ago for $10k to an owner who wanted to restore it as a theater.
The building burned last night. The article says it was vacant but most recently housed a casket manufacturer. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/fire-rips-through-fall-river-building/
The Park Theatre may be in danger again. The owners are behind $35,000 in taxes. The mayor just floated the idea of buying the theatre to use as a community center; he was shot down by the City Council and has reversed course. The theatre’s website shows the next four shows as postponed, but there are two more later in October that are not. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/cranston-mayor-reverses-course-on-plan-to-buy-park-theatre/
Closer view, with a For Sale sign on the building - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pawtucketlibrary/32234004648/in/album-72157702646785301/
Photo of the Pastime in 1919: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pawtucketlibrary/44289071420/in/album-72157702646785301/
The West Newton was sold to a developer in July. I heard today that the plan is to close within the next year, and it will be torn down for a new condominium development.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/19/business/end-an-era-west-newton-cinema/
The Community is in danger of closing again. Still competition from Showcase and the high cost of getting movies to show.
Great article in today’s Providence Journal about the theatre’s reopening under new ownership - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/theater/2022/11/18/how-cranston-rhode-island-park-theatre-bounced-back-to-stage-its-latest-revival/69611998007/
Closed again (hopefully only temporarily) due to roof and equipment damage from Monday’s massive rain storm. https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/taking-it-day-by-day-cranstons-historic-park-theatre-shutters-after-roof-leak/
Auction tomorrow - http://www.auctionsri.com/scripts/qryfeature-details.asp?pkv=43055
There may finally be a buyer - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/09/21/former-cranston-councilman-says-he-has-deal-buy-park-theatre/5801276001/
The auction was postponed, and the City of Cranston is helping find a buyer, with the condition that it remain a performing arts venue. https://turnto10.com/news/local/park-theatre-in-cranston-auction-postponed-for-now
The building is being auctioned tomorrow - https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/04/28/park-theatre-cranston-auctioned-thursday/4872394001/
Closed temporarily as of November 1, 2020 with plans to reopen in 2021. Just announced today they will not be reopening. https://www.facebook.com/SouthKingstownCinemas/
The theater has not reopened since closing due to the COVID pandemic in March 2020. They just announced they are closed for good; they are not renewing the lease when it is up in April - https://www.wpri.com/business-news/showcase-cinemas-at-warwick-mall-will-not-reopen/
Closed after last night’s last shows.
Demolished this week - https://www.golocalprov.com/news/photo-end-of-an-era-east-providence-cinemas-demolished?fbclid=IwAR1ujtlT2FPg4H1CTYMlo6iLx_IYNPMHOHYpGph3E9OrboRQ4lTIM2-2RYs
The building is fenced off with DEMO spray painted on the front.
Apparently they haven’t reopened, and the theater is now boarded up and padlocked. https://www.golocalprov.com/news/east-providence-cinemas-boarded-up-and-padlocked?fbclid=IwAR1EmST3XSHfrHk0-XNMdQy5n0Yj3fLCTKUfmuXo3qRRfR-oo8X7scYA1EQ
The theater was shut down Saturday by the City when the $9,250 check to renew their licenses bounced. They reopened today after paying with a cashier’s check.
https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20200121/east-providence-cinema-shut-down-due-to-bad-check-allowed-to-reopen