The caption under the ad says: “On May 6, 1921, Peoples Theatre on Nason Street was opened with a license to show moving pictures. In June 1949, the Fine Arts Theatre, a moving picture house on Summer Street, was opened. A few years later, Peoples was closed, and the Fine Arts became the only moving picture theatre in town.”
The FIne Arts advertised itself as ‘Showing Quality American, English and Foreign Films.’ The movies advertised for the “Week of December 31” are Madeleine and Rocking Horse Winner, both ‘English Made’. Madeleine came out in 1950 so I assume this is when the ad ran. Admission was 55 cents, or 25 cents for children accompanied by adults. There are ‘Daily Broadcasts from WKOX Framingham’ but this is not otherwise explained in the ad.
The name of the theatre doesn’t have an apostrophe in this ad.
The caption under the ad says: “On May 6, 1921, Peoples Theatre on Nason Street was opened with a license to show moving pictures. In June 1949, the Fine Arts Theatre, a moving picture house on Summer Street, was opened. A few years later, Peoples was closed, and the Fine Arts became the only moving picture theatre in town.”
The movies advertised for the “Week of December 31” are Dallas with Gary Cooper, Crisis with Cary Grant, and Devil’s Doorway with Robert Taylor. All of these movies came out in 1950 so I assume that’s when the ad ran. Admission was 44 cents, or 16 cents for children before 6:30. There are ‘Daily Broadcasts from WKOX Framingham’ but this is not otherwise explained in the ad.
The Suffolk press office e-mailed me back and confirmed that the open house is from noon to 6 pm on November 5. (Not much good for working people, unfortunately.)
I found the Downtown Crossing newsletter here. I’m e-mailing them (and Suffolk) to ask about the discrepancy.
It also says that the Boston Preservation Alliance will hold its 2010 Preservation Achievement Awards this Thursday, October 21 at 5:30 pm at the “newly restored Modern Theatre”. One of the honorees will be the neighboring Paramount Center. The event is sold out.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Little Art and the New Paris (formelry Parsons) theatre ran very similar advertising in the Columbus Dispatch and the Citizen-Journal. Usually the film advertised in one theatre would show up in the other theatre’s ad the following week. So I assume they were under joint ownership.
Can you also link to the whole book and tell us what page this was on? Thanks.
Where did you find the 1955 date?
The STAR Tech Healing and Learning Center appears to be one of the principal tenants of the Peoples' Theatre Office Building. A good photo of the building, complete with intact (or re-created) marquee, is on STAR Tech’s web page.
Since the sign on top has an apostrophe after PEOPLES' , that’s the name I used here when submitting this theatre.
An advertisement for both the Peoples and Fine Arts theatres is on page 92 of this book:
Maynard: Postcard History Series by Paul Boothroyd
The caption under the ad says: “On May 6, 1921, Peoples Theatre on Nason Street was opened with a license to show moving pictures. In June 1949, the Fine Arts Theatre, a moving picture house on Summer Street, was opened. A few years later, Peoples was closed, and the Fine Arts became the only moving picture theatre in town.”
The FIne Arts advertised itself as ‘Showing Quality American, English and Foreign Films.’ The movies advertised for the “Week of December 31” are Madeleine and Rocking Horse Winner, both ‘English Made’. Madeleine came out in 1950 so I assume this is when the ad ran. Admission was 55 cents, or 25 cents for children accompanied by adults. There are ‘Daily Broadcasts from WKOX Framingham’ but this is not otherwise explained in the ad.
An advertisement for both the Peoples and Fine Arts theatres is on page 92 of this book:
Maynard: Postcard History Series by Paul Boothroyd
The name of the theatre doesn’t have an apostrophe in this ad.
The caption under the ad says: “On May 6, 1921, Peoples Theatre on Nason Street was opened with a license to show moving pictures. In June 1949, the Fine Arts Theatre, a moving picture house on Summer Street, was opened. A few years later, Peoples was closed, and the Fine Arts became the only moving picture theatre in town.”
The movies advertised for the “Week of December 31” are Dallas with Gary Cooper, Crisis with Cary Grant, and Devil’s Doorway with Robert Taylor. All of these movies came out in 1950 so I assume that’s when the ad ran. Admission was 44 cents, or 16 cents for children before 6:30. There are ‘Daily Broadcasts from WKOX Framingham’ but this is not otherwise explained in the ad.
The book Maynard, Massachusetts: A House in the Village, by Jan Voogd, says that the Fine Arts opened in 1949.
The Modern and neighboring Paramount will be used as venues for First Night on New Year’s Eve, according to HubArts.com.
The Paramount and neighboring Modern will be used as venues for First Night on New Year’s Eve, according to HubArts.com.
Is the front-to-back distance longer or shorter in the new theatre?
What are they tearing it down in order to build here?
They don’t give any clue whatsoever as to what criteria they used to compile their list.
Why would someone picket ‘Oh, God’ ?
That film actually got the theatre picketed, if I recall correctly.
Some photos of the fully restored and unveiled façade here:
View link
Notably, the theatre has a brand-new (but old-fashioned looking) vertical sign.
how did it get reduced by half?
say more about that please?
Where did you find the 1935 date?
This page has a photo of the building in its current state as a private home.
The Suffolk press office e-mailed me back and confirmed that the open house is from noon to 6 pm on November 5. (Not much good for working people, unfortunately.)
I found the Downtown Crossing newsletter here. I’m e-mailing them (and Suffolk) to ask about the discrepancy.
It also says that the Boston Preservation Alliance will hold its 2010 Preservation Achievement Awards this Thursday, October 21 at 5:30 pm at the “newly restored Modern Theatre”. One of the honorees will be the neighboring Paramount Center. The event is sold out.
Suffolk University’s press release is also here and says noon to 6 pm. Where can I find the Downtown Crossing Association announcement?
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Little Art and the New Paris (formelry Parsons) theatre ran very similar advertising in the Columbus Dispatch and the Citizen-Journal. Usually the film advertised in one theatre would show up in the other theatre’s ad the following week. So I assume they were under joint ownership.
I added a page here for the Little Art Theatre.
The University Theatre and other OSU-area movie theatres are described on this page: University District History: 100 Years of University District Theatres
The State and other OSU-area movie theatres are described on this page: University District History: 100 Years of University District Theatres