Comments from Ron Newman

Showing 2,926 - 2,950 of 2,958 comments

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Modern Theatre on Feb 4, 2004 at 6:33 am

After it closed as the Mayflower porn movie house, it briefly repoened as the Modern to present live stage shows in the late 1970s – early 1980s. Sun Ra performed there.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about RKO Boston Theatre on Jan 23, 2004 at 8:34 pm

The Keith Memorial/Savoy/Opera House had a corridor on the other side of Mason Street leading to a second entrance (and marquee) on Tremont Street. This was demolished in the 1980s or early 90s to make way for the Parkside condominium building on Tremont.

Today’s Loews Boston Common multiplex cinema now stands on the former site of the Tremont/Astor Theatre.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Paramount Center on Jan 23, 2004 at 8:29 pm

The marquee has been beautifully relit, and brings a welcome touch of neon to a formerly dreary part of Washington Street. But the entrance is still boarded up, and where the marquee should be announcing current and upcoming shows, it instead just says

RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL & TOWERS
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE AWARD WINNER

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Coolidge Corner Theatre on Jan 23, 2004 at 8:18 pm

The Coolidge now has a small video screening room in addition to the two cinema screens.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Exeter Street Theatre on Dec 22, 2003 at 1:48 pm

An article about the theatre, written in its “idealab!” days….

View link

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Zeiterion Performing Arts Theatre on Dec 15, 2003 at 9:35 pm

The correct URL is now http://www.zeiterion.org/

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Berklee Performance Center on Dec 12, 2003 at 8:51 am

This page describes a Captain Beefheart show at the Fenway Theatre in 1972. It must have been one of the last events held there before Berklee bought it and began gutting it for renovation.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Berklee Performance Center on Dec 12, 2003 at 8:43 am

URL is http://www.berkleebpc.com/ . (I thought I had included that when I submitted this theatre yesterday).

http://www.berkleebpc.com/history.html has some history of the theatre, and a couple of old photos.

The interior is now thoroughly modern, as shown in this photo and this one .

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Orpheum Theatre on Dec 11, 2003 at 8:38 am

The web site is now at http://boston.cc.com/orpheum.asp , and includes some history and photos.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Boston Opera House on Dec 11, 2003 at 8:33 am

“The Lion King” reopens this house in July, 2004 (not May).

Until then, the status should be “Restoring”, not “Closed”.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Exeter Street Theatre on Dec 11, 2003 at 8:30 am

There is currently a “Retail Space For Lease” sign on the front door.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cutler Majestic Theatre on Dec 11, 2003 at 8:27 am

Still owned by Emerson College, but now renamed “Cutler Majestic Theatre” after donors Ted and Joan Benard-Cutler.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Dec 1, 2003 at 7:49 pm

The Berkshire Opera Company did not keep the Mahaiwe. They have sold it to the new non-profit Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center organization: http://www.mahaiwe.org/

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Strand Theatre on Dec 1, 2003 at 7:43 pm

The Strand’s web site has moved to

http://www.StrandTheatreBoston.com/

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on Nov 17, 2003 at 10:41 pm

There used to be many other movie theaters in Somerville. This is the only one still operating.

To learn about the others, visit the “Lost Theatres of Somerville” exhibit at the Somerville Museum, or the exhibit’s web site at http://www.losttheatres.org/ .

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Drexel Theatre on Nov 17, 2003 at 10:12 pm

Drexel also runs the Grandview Theatre in the Columbus suburb of Grandview Heights (which someone should add to this site).

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Exeter Street Theatre on Nov 17, 2003 at 9:51 pm

After it closed, it became a Conran’s Furniture store for awhile. When that closed, Waterstone’s moved in. And after Waterstone’s closed, a worthless dot-com called “idealab!” occupied it for awhile. That’s now gone as well, and this beautiful building stands empty, perhaps awaiting a better economy.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Capitol Theatre on Jan 5, 2002 at 8:15 am

A small correction: the Capitol Theater is not in “Arlington’s downtown”, but rather in East Arlington.

Another old theatre, the Regent, is located in the center of town. The Regent presents concerts and Indian cinema.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Alamo Theatre on Dec 30, 2001 at 11:52 am

URL: http://www.oldfilm.org/alamotheatre/index.htm

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about NuWilshire Theatre on Dec 28, 2001 at 6:24 am

Now owned by Landmark and renamed the NuWilshire Theatre: View link

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Nuart Theatre on Dec 28, 2001 at 6:21 am

A Landmark Theatre, the chain’s very first one.

URL: View link and View link

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Dec 28, 2001 at 5:53 am

The Berkshire Opera company’s URL is: http://www.berkshireopera.org/

Their plans are quite ambitious, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they still show some films during the off-season.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Paramount Center on Dec 28, 2001 at 5:48 am

The future of this theater is very much up in the air. The current “renovation” is to the facade only.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cutler Majestic Theatre on Dec 28, 2001 at 5:44 am

The theater’s URL is: http://www.maj.org/

Restoration work is ongoing. The theater will close again for several months next year to facilitate this work.

The Majestic has been so successful that Emerson College is now moving all of its campus to the neighborhood surrounding the theatre.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Boston Opera House on Dec 28, 2001 at 5:36 am

During the time that it was the Sack Savoy Theater, it was divided into two screens. This division was undone when it became the Opera House.

There was originally a corridor leading to a second entrance on Tremont Street, but this was demolished about 10 years ago to make way for condominiums.