When the 1961 Luciano Salce film Il federale (The Fascist) opened at the Metropolitan, the audiences were so large that the normally closed third balcony had to be opened to meet the demand. This information is given on the Italian DVD for the movie. Il federale featured Ugo Tognazzi, Georges Wilson, and Stefania Sandrelli.
In 2000 the new owners of the theatre, Trainor Entertainment, refurbished the place a good deal before it reopened in June as the Limelight Cinemas. But by 2001, less than a year later, the theatre was forced to close because the lease was not renewed. It closed for good on April 22, 2001. Information on the place as well as some photos taken during the renovation can be seen HERE.
KatK,
Are you sure about the “invitation only” for the Frenzy premiere? Were there two events, one invitational and one public? I went for what was billed as the American premiere (not world premiere) at the Sack57 on June 20, 1972. I wrote about it in my diary. I had no problem buying a ticket for $10 that afternoon for the evening premiere. That was a high admission price at the time but it was a benefit of some sort, as I recall. The show began at 8:30 with Hitchcock introducing the film. He accepted a Paul Revere award from the sponsoring group. Amusingly, he commented, “I’d have trouble getting on the horse.”
Here is a vintage postcard, mailed in 1912, showing Bank Street with the Columbia Theatre on the left. At the bottom of the vertical marquee with the name “Columbia” are the words “moving pictures.”
Here is a report in the Harvard Crimson on the day of the informal opening of the University Theatre on October 30, 1926 to invited guests. The theatre would formally open the following day to the general public. The first film presentation was The Midnight Sun with Laura La Plante and Pat O'Malley. The online report has it weirdly as “The Mad in his Sun…Stirrings Laura La Planet.”! Uh huh, yeah.
A June 14, 1927 piece in the Harvard Crimson reported the showing of screen tests at the Central Square Theatre for Harvard students with Hollywood aspirations.
On April 27, 1921 the Harvard Crimson reported:
“The famous ‘East Lynne’ appears in photoplay form as the leading feature at the Park Theatre this week. In action and plot it closely follows the well-known theme of heroine and villain with the result that a true melodramatic production appears on the screen. Eva Novak in ‘Society Secrets’ is the other feature.”
Last time I was by a few weeks ago, construction seemed to be in progress, with a massive rear-of-stage area being readied. But there have been so many starts and stops here that I can only believe it when I see the final results.
Scott, what a fascinating recollection! I knew who King Odell was. We both had experience teaching Italian, he at Moses Brown, I at La Salle. And when I ran the Italian Film Society of RI at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, I believe he occasionally patronized our programs.
Here is a photo of the Empire’s antique ticket booth which I took in 2005.
This photo from the Library of Congress Flickr account looks like it might show the Dewey Theatre of this listing. Click “all sizes” to expand.
The Brattle Theatre is “back from the brink,” according to this Boston Globe article.
The program booklet for the American premiere of Antonioni’s Eclipse in December 1962 at the Little Carnegie.
The Italian film of Rossini’s comic opera Cenerentola (Cinderella) played here in 1953.
When the 1961 Luciano Salce film Il federale (The Fascist) opened at the Metropolitan, the audiences were so large that the normally closed third balcony had to be opened to meet the demand. This information is given on the Italian DVD for the movie. Il federale featured Ugo Tognazzi, Georges Wilson, and Stefania Sandrelli.
In 2000 the new owners of the theatre, Trainor Entertainment, refurbished the place a good deal before it reopened in June as the Limelight Cinemas. But by 2001, less than a year later, the theatre was forced to close because the lease was not renewed. It closed for good on April 22, 2001. Information on the place as well as some photos taken during the renovation can be seen HERE.
KatK,
Are you sure about the “invitation only” for the Frenzy premiere? Were there two events, one invitational and one public? I went for what was billed as the American premiere (not world premiere) at the Sack57 on June 20, 1972. I wrote about it in my diary. I had no problem buying a ticket for $10 that afternoon for the evening premiere. That was a high admission price at the time but it was a benefit of some sort, as I recall. The show began at 8:30 with Hitchcock introducing the film. He accepted a Paul Revere award from the sponsoring group. Amusingly, he commented, “I’d have trouble getting on the horse.”
Here is a vintage postcard, mailed in 1912, showing Bank Street with the Columbia Theatre on the left. At the bottom of the vertical marquee with the name “Columbia” are the words “moving pictures.”
…and the Harvard Crimson article on the opening of the Kendall.
Harvard Crimson article on the history of the theatre at the time of its closing in 1980.
Here is a 1925 Harvard Crimson piece on plans to build a theatre in Harvard Square. It would be completed in 1926 as the University Theatre.
Here is a report in the Harvard Crimson on the day of the informal opening of the University Theatre on October 30, 1926 to invited guests. The theatre would formally open the following day to the general public. The first film presentation was The Midnight Sun with Laura La Plante and Pat O'Malley. The online report has it weirdly as “The Mad in his Sun…Stirrings Laura La Planet.”! Uh huh, yeah.
A June 14, 1927 piece in the Harvard Crimson reported the showing of screen tests at the Central Square Theatre for Harvard students with Hollywood aspirations.
On April 27, 1921 the Harvard Crimson reported:
“The famous ‘East Lynne’ appears in photoplay form as the leading feature at the Park Theatre this week. In action and plot it closely follows the well-known theme of heroine and villain with the result that a true melodramatic production appears on the screen. Eva Novak in ‘Society Secrets’ is the other feature.”
In February 1938 the Henry King movie In Old Chicago, with Alice Faye, was playing at the Colonial Theatre. Here is a review from the Harvard Crimson.
A nice ARTICLE ON THE FULTON, WITH PHOTO appeared in today’s New York Times.
Yes, I am almost certain it did. I attended a number of 70mm showings here, including a couple mentioned in the first post.
Yes, it still exists as a mini-mall.
2004 PHOTO
Last time I was by a few weeks ago, construction seemed to be in progress, with a massive rear-of-stage area being readied. But there have been so many starts and stops here that I can only believe it when I see the final results.
The Italian film Mafioso, successfully revived not too long ago, had its original 1964 American premiere at the Rialto and the Murray Hill.
The Italian film Mafioso, successfully revived not too long ago, had its original 1964 American premiere at the Murray Hill and the Rialto.
I believe the name Hanover comes from the Hanover Insurance Group of Worcester which provided some substantial funding for the theatre’s restoration.
Here is MY PHOTO of the Capawock in 2003.
Here are two photos of the Strand from 2003:
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
Scott, what a fascinating recollection! I knew who King Odell was. We both had experience teaching Italian, he at Moses Brown, I at La Salle. And when I ran the Italian Film Society of RI at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, I believe he occasionally patronized our programs.
Here is a photo of the Empire’s antique ticket booth which I took in 2005.