Hollywood Theatre

164 Taunton Avenue,
East Providence, RI 02914

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Additional Info

Architects: Oresto DiSaia

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News About This Theater

Hollywood Theatre

The Hollywood Theatre opened on April 6, 1931 with Richard Dix in “Cimarron”. It was operated by the Momes family. It was closed in late-1960. It was a medium size second run theatre. Last used for storage, it was demolished in August 2008.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 36 comments)

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 16, 2010 at 8:59 am

Item in Boxoffice Magazine, March 17, 1956:

“The Hollywood, East Providence, and Liberty, Elmwood neighborhood house, both Bomes' operations, by running the same attractions at both houses, have "upped” their newspaper advertising to such a degree that it compares favorably on many occasions with some downtown first runs. Both houses are featuring Saturday afternoon kiddy parties with a variety of kid films, refreshments, souvenirs, prizes and stage entertainment."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 21, 2010 at 7:43 am

From Boxoffice magazine, February 4, 1956:

“In the most extensive cooperation promotion ever seen in this area, 14 Providence and nearby houses used record-breaking newspaper advertising space in heralding the joint premiere of "The Day the World Ended” and “Phantom from 10,000 Leagues.” Virtually taking over the amusement pages of the local press for several days, the following houses united in the ad: Elmwood, Hope, Uptown, Liberty, Castle, all in this city; Community, Centredale; Strand, Pawtucket; Union, Attleboro; Hollywood, East Providence; Palace, Cranston; Community, Wakefield; Park, Auburn; Palace, Arctic and Stadium, Woonsocket. A brief checkup of local houses indicated that opening days were solid."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 21, 2010 at 8:36 am

Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 10, 1950:

As a tribute to veterans of all wars, the management of the Hollywood Theatre in East Providence invited all veterans to be their guests at a special showing of “When Willie Comes Marching Home” and “Captain Carey, U.S.A.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 24, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Studios sue Milton and Edward Bomes for false reporting of boxoffice receipts at their Liberty Theatre in Providence and Hollywood Theatre in East Providence.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, October 25, 1952:
View link

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 25, 2010 at 12:54 pm

20th Anniversary!
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, April 14, 1951:

“The Hollywood in East Providence recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. It opened in 1931 with "Cimarron.”"

[So the theatre existed as a functioning venue for less than 30 years, having ceased regular operation around the end of 1960. Nor was it around during the silent era, as I had thought.]

Barbara27
Barbara27 on June 7, 2015 at 8:54 pm

Thank you Mr. DeLuca for your interesting comments about my grandfather and dad’s movie theaters…..it was a wonderful time to be i. The movie business and they loved every minute of it.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 7, 2015 at 10:23 pm

Barbara 27: Thank you, Barbara. Do you have any photos of the Hollywood Theatre? Inside or out would be very appreciated.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 18, 2018 at 8:16 am

To those who keep posting, even in my name, as in the overview, that this place was once called the “Bomes Theatre,” you are wrong. It was only called the Hollywood from day one. Bomes was the family that owned the place, along with the Liberty in Providence and the Palace/Jamestown in Jamestown. They were all Bomes theatres, owned by the Bomes family. But nobody ever said “Let’s see what’s playing at the Bomes Theatre. There was never a newspaper ad telling us what was playing at the "Bomes Theatre.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on May 19, 2023 at 5:33 am

The Hollywood opened on April 6, 1951. There is a piece with photos, exterior and interior, in The Providence Journal April 5, 1931.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 3, 2023 at 4:21 am

An opening day ad for the Hollywood Theatre posted to the photo page by Gerald DeLuca names the architect of the house as Oresto DiSaia.

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