Thompson Square Theatre

179 Main Street,
Charlestown, MA 02129

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: E.M. Loew's Theaters Inc.

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Thompson Square Theatre

A former E.M. Loew’s theatre next to the elevated train tracks in Charlestown. Built around 1915, in 1928 a Marr & Colton 2 manual 5 ranks organ was installed. It was still open in 1957 but had since been closed and demolished, to be replaced by the public library branch now on the site.

Contributed by Ron Newman

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on February 14, 2006 at 10:18 am

Some relevant comments and links are posted here. I thought the original poster planned to add this theatre, but he didn’t, so I did.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 14, 2006 at 10:25 am

The late Donald King, author of a recent history of Boston theatres, was an employee of the E.M.Loew theatre circuit from the late-1930s to the early 1950s. He told me that he occasionally went to the Thompson Square Theatre in Charlestown to get supplies and equipment because the circuit utilized space upstairs as a supply and storage room. Among the employees, that space was referred to as “E.M.’s attic.”

phaskl
phaskl on February 15, 2006 at 12:16 pm

My original post asking for information about this theatre was in relation to the Marr & Colton pipe organ from the theatre, which I am now attempting to install in my home. I have a built a web site which discusses the organ’s history with some photos, but I have not yet found photos of the theatre interior. Enjoy!
www.suscom-maine/net~phaskell

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 4, 2007 at 4:39 pm

Fire escape hits little boy in 1920. Little boy wins:
http://tinyurl.com/yx6bu4

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 9, 2010 at 12:48 pm

The Thompson Square Theatre in Charlestown is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1100 seats and open daily.

phaskl
phaskl on November 14, 2010 at 8:37 pm

The theatre has been described to me as nothing fancy, basically a rectangular box, with a balcony, There was no pit for orchestra or the organ, and the stage was raised above floor level. The organ was designed for a single chamber, which was probably up by the proscenium.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 7, 2011 at 2:12 pm

In a 1918 Boston street directory, the Thompson Square Theatre is listed at 179 Main St. in Charlestown, near Wood Street.

EdwardFindlay
EdwardFindlay on August 27, 2011 at 3:35 pm

A shot of it in the background… http://billnoonanfirefotos.smugmug.com/Historicphotos/Classic-black/17770084_pwfQXh#1357223494_MwfCWn7-O-LB

Mvjason1
Mvjason1 on January 10, 2014 at 6:06 pm

I live in the house that you can see in the far left of the picture. I love libraries. But I wish the building were still a theatre..

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