Cinerama Theatre
811 Hope Street,
Providence,
RI
02906
811 Hope Street,
Providence,
RI
02906
11 people
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Showing 1 - 25 of 63 comments
A (work-in-progress) chronology of Providence’s 70mm presentations has been published. The Cinerama gets several mentions in the article.
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Cinerama’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.
The Hope Theatre first opened on or about November 4, 1927.
The Hope (Cinerama) Theatre was two miles from the Strand in Pawtucket and 1 ½ miles from the Avon in Providence.
The 70mm release of “Gone With the Wind” did not play there. It played at the Four Seasons (now East Providence 10) in East Providence. I saw it there. I thought it was an abomination for the way it cropped and vandalized the original movie’s aspect ratio. “This is Cinerama” played there beginning August 9, 1961. I submitted a comment on that somewhere below. Check it out.
I worked there in various capacities from 1968-79 and don’t recall either.
Does anyone recall (or willing to research) if the 70mm re-releases of “Gone With The Wind” (1967-68) and/or “This Is Cinerama” (1973) played here?
Robert,
I ran the theatre in the late 70’s and worked there from 1969. When I started, it was Lockwood & Gordon which must have been a successor to Louis and Gordon. It was purchased by SBC Theatres around ‘71 or so and remained in their hands until it was sold and torn down.
Just wondered if you knew Doug Amos or Jack O'Sullivan from your L&G days.
I was manager of the Hope Theater during Summer of 1955 and previously managed the Cameo Theater (Summer 1954) in South Weymouth, MA for Louis & Gordon Theaters Co of Boston. I was Assistant Manager of the Avon Cinema during the early 1950’s, also owned by Louis & Gordon. The Hope was a very busy, quality 2nd run movie house with a strong neigborhood following in those days.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater when it was the Hope. It’s Card # 545. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Address is 811 Hope, condition is Good. It was not showing MGM films, and it had 934 seats.
Even though this article was well past the glory days, here is a box office story of a promo we ran at this theatre: http://www.boxoffice.com/the_vault/issue_page?issue_id=1978-8-21&page_no=31#page_start
Quite the pics of the old interior! As someone who worked every position in the then Cinerama, I remember going up over the old back stage fake box seats (just out of view of the proscenium) and viewing the original ceiling. The screen was pulled way forward for Cinerama to get the width, which explains the seat reduction from 1100-756.
Also, the inner foyer doors were removed for the remodel, although the box-office was still in the small space on the right of the lobby. At the end of the inner foyer (l&r) were the rest rooms. Ladies on the left, men to the right.
Although far from a palace, it’s a shame that the old girl is gone.
to dickneeds111- “Boston (Cinerama) is an empty parking lot”. No. The parking lot is next to the theater. The Boston Cinerama (ex- RKO Keith Boston Theatre) still exists in the rear of the large building at Washington & Essex streets. It’s been closed up for many years.
This page has the theatre as previously operated by Cinerama. This theatre was never operated by the Cinerama company. When it was renamed and reopened in 1961, it was owned by Lockwood and Gordon Enterprises. L& G was sold to SBC Management (a division of Sonderling Broadcasting) in the mid-sixties.
Having been to the Cinerama in Providence only once(Ice Station Zebra) and also having been to 3strip/70mm Cinerama theatres such as Boston, Wash. D.C.(Warner and Uptown, Baltimore(Mayfair), San Diego(also a lockwood /Gordon, Seattle(Before remodel), San Francisco,and Rotterdam, Holland.I rate the Providence as my 3rd favorite. San diego #1, Boston#2, Seattle #4, Uptown #5 Rotterdam #6, Seattle #7 and the god awful Mayfair in Baltimore#99 with the Golden Gate in San Francisco as # 98. I rate these as picture & sound quality, Comfortable Seating, and Cleanliness. The only ones left as Cinemas are Seattle, Rotterdam And San Francisco(Legitimate stage). I,m sorry the Uptown in D.C. is still a cinema and the Warner in D.C. is a stage theatre. Boston is an empty parking lot.
To Gerald – The last day was indeed March 19, 1983. We did the Rocky Horror Picture show there, ending a 4+ year run. It was at midnight, so technically I guess it was March 20.
I kept track of all the casting so I had the date.
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From Boxoffice magazine, August 21, 1961:
Sellout Audience at Opening of Cinerama in Providence
PROVIDENCE, RI – A sellout audience, together with a number of dignitaries, attended the gala opening of the new Cinerama Theatre, formerly the Hope Theatre, on the night of August 9, when the Lowell Thomas-Merian C. Cooper release “This is Cinerama,” was presented.
Among the first-nighters were Gov. and Mrs. John A. Notte, Jr., Catholic Bishop McVinney and Joan Zeller, “Miss Rhode Island,” who was official hostess for the occasion.
Two bands provided music for the program, searchlights probed the sky and radio and television personalities were on hand to give added importance to the event.
The new Cinerama Theatre here is the second of its kind in New England, the other one being located in Boston. A third is scheduled to be opened in Hartford, Conn., according to reports here.
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."
Notice in Boxoffice Magazine from August 14, 1961 issue on the reopening of the Hope Theatre as the Cinerama, featuring the three-projector wide screen system:
“The new Cinerama Theatre, formerly the Hope on Hope Street, was opened August 9 after extensive renovations to convert it for exhibition of Cinerama productions, the first theatre in Rhode Island to be so equipped. The boxoffice had been selling reserved seats for the opening well in advance. Matinee prices are $1.25 and $1.49 and admission charges for evening performances are $1.75 and $2.00.”
lizzebeth1
I worked for Doug for years and never knew of this award. Nowhere during that time did I see any indication of technical awards.
I would assume that Jerry Lewis received this award in the 60’s when he was building his chain of twin cinemas that did not play R or X rated films. Assuming that this award ended when L&G did.
Nick
Dear Nick Ritota and Abrunner,
I didn’t expect you guys to be so quick! Sadly no, I am not Jack’s daughter or related to anyone in the US. I am an educator in Sydney Australia. Hi.
I am reseraching the Award’s history since c.1966 when Doug Amos is said to have handed out this “Gordon Light” award for technical achievement in the cinema industry. I found reference to it in an old issue of Boxoffice Magazine.
How much technical innovation for instance was honored by Doug Amos or anyone in L&G, or the Art Cinema, or SBC Management?
(Ha. This is getting complicated.) Do any of you recall Jerry Lewis getting the award?
Nick, as I noted in the intro, the Cinerama was closed in 1983. I believe the Turkish movie Yol was the last picture I myself saw here, on March 19, 1983, before the theatre ceased operation not long thereafter.
The Dulgarians took the Avon around 1975. I beleive the Castle was sold in the early 80’s. Not sure what year we dropped the Art since it’s X rated format was always problematic with the city of Providence.
Cinerama was closed around 1981 after I had moved on to other SBC properties.
Abrunner
Jacks daughter was Jackie (JackieO on the one post above). I would love to chat with her as well since her dad and i were so close.
Lockwood & Gordon operated the Hope Theatre as early as 1955 along with the Avon, Castle,and Westminster Playhouse downtown. Worked at the Hope Theatre and the Westminster Playhouse.
To:lizziebeth…Are you Jack O'Sullivan’s daughter? If so, I would like to hear from you regarding him. As far as I can remember I don’t recall a “Golden Light” award.
P.S. L&G later ran the Art Cinema starting around 1957 , but I don’t recall when they shut down operations there as I was long gone from Rhode Island.