Hollywood Theatre

164 Taunton Avenue,
East Providence, RI 02914

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Showing 1 - 25 of 36 comments

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.]

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 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 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 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 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Summer Stock at the Hollywood Theatre…Boxoffice Magazine, September 3, 1949:

“Loretta Price and Doug Martin are at the Hollywood Theatre, East Providence, in "Claudia.”…So successful has summer stock been at the Hollywood…that the management plans to continue this twice-weekly feature this fall."

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 12, 2010 at 5:34 pm

“Both the Liberty here [Providence] and the Hollywood, East Providence, were shuttered recently. The latter situation is being used as the site of several oldtime auction sales. Both are Bomes' houses."
-Boxoffice Magazine, June 15, 1957

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 12, 2010 at 4:36 pm

from Boxoffice Magazine, March 30, 1957:
The Hollywood, neighborhood house, presented a rock and roll stage show, topped by Bennie Woods, Jo-Jo Jones and Toni Lee. All seats were sold for $1. Attendance was almost capacity.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on August 17, 2008 at 10:03 am

Yes, of course. Thanks. Sometimes it pays to check what you write for factual errors.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on August 17, 2008 at 9:46 am

1933 newspaper ad for the Hollywood Theatre. Torch Singer with Joan Crawford and a Zane Grey western To the Last Man. Note that later that week “3 BIG TIME VAUDEVILLE ACTS” would alternate with the film program. The Hollywood Theatre, built by Samuel Bomes in the 1920s, was a popular neigborhood theatre until not much after 1960. True to its name, it generally presented popular recent Hollywood films for the whole family as a second-run area theatre, though much of what it showed was first-run for East Providence. It was razed in August 2008.

mp775
mp775 on August 13, 2008 at 1:21 pm

I was wondering why you hadn’t shared those photos yet…

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on August 13, 2008 at 12:48 pm

My blog on the Hollywood Theatre after its demise.

mp775
mp775 on August 13, 2008 at 12:22 pm

August 1 story from ABC 6 when pieces fell off the building (with a comment from Milton Bomes' son Stanley)

August 5 story & video of the demolition from ABC 6.

WPRI 12 video with closeup view of structural problems at the corner of the building.

East Bay Newspapers article

mopar
mopar on August 7, 2008 at 9:13 pm

It’s really a shame.
Mike (mopar6871)

gina4390
gina4390 on August 7, 2008 at 6:27 pm

Watching the HOllYWOOD THEATRE brought down brick by brick brought back so many wonderful memories of the theatre when i was a teenager..I along with friends looked forward to going to the Hollywood..Sitting there i took many visual journeys via the film we viewed and remember so well..my Mom being excited on Tuesday evenings when she would return home with a dish..;–)..I watched “The Wild One” so many times that i still remember some vital scenes and dialouge..Remember the newsreel prior to the showing of the main feature?…Its too bad that the bldg. couldn’t have been restored with a small theatre so we all could once again enjoy at the Hollywood..Like the iconic Pink Elephant..The Hollywood will never be forgotten…as both hold memories that the younger generations will never have the pleasure of experiencing..Like an old friend the Hollywood for many of us will hold memories ..differnt for all of us and never forgotten…For some reason I do not recall ever being in the Balcony..;–)))

Louise Rendine McNamara

ANYART
ANYART on July 4, 2008 at 2:35 pm

My husband and I grew up in East Prov and attended many Sat. afternoon matinees at the Hollywood theatre. They showed 2 films with cartoons and a serial. Each child received a comic book with the frount page cut in half . They had dish night when free dishes were given away.We had ushers and candy was sold in the isles. They changed movies twice a week before t v was popular. Mr.Joey Jarvis was general manager and was always there. A very nice man. We have wonderful memories of the Hollywood…the balcony was a popular spot. Joyce and Ray Kenney

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 29, 2008 at 10:45 am

My guess is that it would cost upwards of $15 million to restore and open that theatre. Too bad the city of East Providence couldn’t purchase it, set up a foundation, and somehow get funds to slowly re-vitalize it. I’d love to see this happen. Look at the Stadium in Woonsocket…it happened there! The Park in Cranston is being re-constructed. Perhaps the United in Westerly. East Providence needs to have something like that as well with the Hollywood Theatre. It should not be destroyed. It is not a nuisance as some seem to think but a unique opportunity.

eastsidaz
eastsidaz on June 29, 2008 at 10:30 am

i think it would be sweet if we could get to gether and open this theatre again donate money to fix it up and open for a musem or as a theatre again east providence would be know for that theater and would draw in more torist i would be willin to donate my time and effort to help get this place back on it’s feet!

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on November 1, 2007 at 2:52 pm

A Christmas Day newspaper ad in 1960 listed the films High Time and Young Jesse James with the reminder: “Attention, kids, there will be a matinee Monday.”

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on July 23, 2007 at 8:37 am

This article appeared in the Providence Journal after a meeting at the East Providence city hall where possible plans for the future of the theatre and surrounding area were discussed. The idea of actually restoring the Hollywood as a theatre did not seem to be the priority, sad to say.