Comments from Ron Newman

Showing 326 - 350 of 2,958 comments

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Pearson's Perfect Pictures on Dec 12, 2010 at 7:39 am

According to David Guss, this theatre changed its name to Winter Hill Theatre in 1922 before finally closing in 1927. It is not to be confused with an earlier Winter Hill Theatre nearby.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Winter Hill Theatre on Dec 12, 2010 at 6:55 am

Probably refers to Pearson’s Perfect Pictures theatre, whose name was changed to Winter Hill in 1922 before it closed in 1927. See David Guss’s photo essay here.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on Dec 10, 2010 at 11:23 am

According to John Roderick, who provided the Facebook photo sets, the rail line through Davis occasionally saw passenger trains when the Fitchburg main line was closed due to flooding or construction.

Some small commercial buildings that used to be attached to the railroad side of the theatre were demolished for the Red Line. One of them contained a Mexican restaurant called La Pinata.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on Dec 9, 2010 at 10:30 pm

If you can log in to Facebook, you will find more photos of old Davis Square (including the theatre and the railroad tracks) here and here.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cinema City at MarketPlace on Dec 9, 2010 at 7:55 pm

Presumably so that you spend 2 hours shopping in the flea market before you go to a movie.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on Dec 9, 2010 at 11:42 am

The track ran across Holland Street right where the Red Line entrance is now, through what’s now the plaza in the middle of Davis Square, and across College Ave. right where that Red Line entrance is now (then down what’s now the busway and Community Path going east).

Here are a 1956 photo and a 1976 photo for comparison — note that the attached jewelry shop (now demolished) is in both photos.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about West End Pussycat Cinema on Dec 7, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Why was the architect’s name of this theatre changed to Funk & Wilcox? I don’t see anything in any of the comments saying that the Lancaster was designed by them.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about West End Pussycat Cinema on Dec 6, 2010 at 6:27 pm

Up until some time in the 1980s there was a very strange ‘North Station Cinema’ triplex, with two screens on one street and the third on a parallel street. (I think Friend and Portland streets?) All of the screens were porn theatres by the late 1970s, and I doubt they ever were anything else, but I could be wrong.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about West End Pussycat Cinema on Dec 6, 2010 at 9:20 am

Ian, where was it in the old North Station, and what was it used for by the time the station (and Boston Garden) were demolished?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Strand Theatre on Dec 5, 2010 at 7:17 am

I don’t know why the Strand Theatre’s web address keeps changing, but now it’s http://strandboston.com/ .

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Ohio Theatre on Dec 4, 2010 at 4:34 pm

Is the excavation to build the State House Annex?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about RKO Grand Theatre on Dec 4, 2010 at 4:33 pm

Is that excavation for the State House Annex?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Variety Arts Center on Dec 4, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Don, are these two theatres in use now?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Tremont Temple on Nov 29, 2010 at 4:40 am

For the first time I can remember, Black Nativity will not be performed at Tremont Temple this December. Instead of twelve shows at Tremont Temple, there will be only four at Northeastern University. I don’t know why.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Charles Cinema on Nov 28, 2010 at 6:55 pm

Bill, this was a triplex pretty much from the beginning. The two small cinemas downstairs were not subdivided from the main screen above.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Orpheum Theatre on Nov 27, 2010 at 2:26 pm

Several sources online say that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers had a 70mm re-release starting in 1968, but I can’t find any reference to a 70mm release of The Girl Can’t Help It

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Academy Theater at Lighthouse International on Nov 21, 2010 at 2:34 pm

Are any screenings here open to the general public?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Somerville Theatre on Nov 19, 2010 at 4:16 am

Wow – congratulations, Ian!

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Grandview Theater and Drafthouse on Nov 18, 2010 at 6:50 pm

Where did the old seats go?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Clinton Theatre on Nov 18, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Should the status be changed to Demolished yet?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Grandview Theater and Drafthouse on Nov 17, 2010 at 2:54 pm

The official link is broken — should be just http://grandviewtheatre.net .

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Grandview Theater and Drafthouse on Nov 17, 2010 at 2:41 pm

fixed as in ‘not broken’ or as in ‘not moveable chairs’ ?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cinema City at MarketPlace on Nov 15, 2010 at 6:46 pm

That’s not encouraging. I was thinking of taking my nephew here to see Toy Story 3 when I’m in Columbus next week (hard to beat $1.50 admission), but maybe that’s not such a good idea.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Cinema City at MarketPlace on Nov 15, 2010 at 2:25 pm

Not sure how to parse that sentence. All 8 of the theatres are dirty and have broken seats?

Ron Newman
Ron Newman commented about Paris Cinema on Nov 15, 2010 at 10:58 am

Still sitting empty when I biked by it last night. Were all the theatres called ‘Paris’ (in Boston, Worcester, NYC, and elsewhere) once linked together in a chain?