Adams Theater
27 Park Street,
Adams,
MA
01220
27 Park Street,
Adams,
MA
01220
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1937 demolition photo as Atlas Theatre added. “The Atlas Theater on Park Street was demolished in 1937. (AKA Taylor’s per CinemaTour) It was originally built in the 1840’s and known as the Concert Hall. Horace Mann, the education reformer spoke there in 1854. The caption was written by Eugene Michalenko.”
The “Renovations” page of the theater’s web site says that the multi-purpose auditorium can now accommodate a maximum of 380 seats, which is a considerable reduction from the 960 it once provided as a movie house. Modern photos show that nothing remains of the theater’s 1937 interiors.
According to its official web site, the Adams Theater (using the “er” spelling of the T word) now operates under its original name as a performing arts center that is also equipped to show movies. The Adams opened on January 14, 1938 and operated as a movie house until 1967. The web site doesn’t mention the Topia Arts Center era, noting only that the current owners, Adams Theater LLC, took over the vacant property in May, 2021 and began presenting performances in the partly renovated space in 2023. Renovations and upgrades are ongoing, but the house is fairly active already.
Roger- Yes, I noticed on the Google map above that there is no Main St. The photo was taken in April 1941. The front appears to be one story-plus high, and there is a one-story shop to the left, and an older brick building at least 2 stories high to the right. I am guessing that the MGM agent photographed this theater, but somehow got the data about it confused. This theater would have been only 3 years old in 1941.
rsalters: There is no Main Street in Adams. There was a previous theatre called the Atlas Theatre on the site of the Adams Theatre prior to its construction 1938. The Photoplay Theatre down the street was at one time known as the Adams Opera House and thus may have also been called the Adams Theatre at one point as well.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Adams in Adams MA was just posted in THS Readerboard as a sample of the New England MGM collection at the THS archives. The Report has a photo dated April 1941. The theater is listed on Main Street. Built around 1920, and showing MGM product for over 10 years as of 1941. 980 seats, all on the main floor. Good condition. It had a nice marquee with “Adams” in a semi-circle above. Movies posted are “Arizona” and “Meet the Missus”. The 1941 population of Adams was 12,600. Even knowing that there were errors on these MGM reports, some of the info does not jibe with info posted above.
This should be listed as the Topia Arts Center now.
Dave, I must’ve just missed you! I was up in Berkshire County on Saturday August 4 photographing theatres. What day were you up there? I got pics of this one and two others in Adams as well as many others around the region.
Did you stop at the old Summer Street Theatre in Adams?
Yep. Biked by the other day on a trip. Posting pix now.
Good news folks. Films are back at the Adams Theatere! the theatere is being run by the Topia Arts Center http://www.topiaarts.org/ seeting is limited to 100 persons, but I’m told all the movies are in high def. right now the showings are free and the movies classic! I’m going to see Silent Running(1972) tonight
It would appear that the old Adams Theatre is being renovated for multi-purpose performance use as the Topia Arts Center.
This YouTube video shows Adams residents recalling the theater’s glory days, as well as footage inside showing some of the early work. The interior has been gutted and is being completely redone.
The Adams opened on January 14, 1938. Closed 1967.
In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, there are no less than 4 movie venues listed for Adams MA: the Atlas Theatre with 700 seats, open 7 days per week; the Photoplay with 650 seats, open 7 days per week; the Recreation Hall with 400 seats, and the Summer St. with 400 seats. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Adams is listed as being run by Charles Morse Theatres of Boston. Morse also ran the Park Theatre in Adams at that time.
Please disregard this message, I meant it for East Milton Cinema.
I saw this theatre last week. There was no Subway restaurant but there was a coffeehouse and 2 other stores open with one vacancy. You can see the auditorium behind it if you walk. There’s a drive-thru bank on the left and a neighborhood directly behind it. It’s in a weird part of town because there are a few I-93 ramps and lots of traffic.
Film Daily Yearbooks;1941 and 1943 editions list the New Adams Theatre with 609 seats. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. lists the Adams Theatre with 960 seats. It looks to me that numbers have been crossed over here, unless a balcony was constructed in later years?