From the Historical Society of Cheshire Contry website:
“Charles C. Baldwin opened his Colonial Theatre on January 29, 1924, and celebrated the event by entertaining 6,000 people free in the new facility. The new theater caught on as a popular meeting place, as the Woman’s Club held their Washington’s Birthday celebration there in February.”
The Empire had served for a time as a rollerskating rink. In 2003 when I saw Freaky Friday here to a packed house of all ages, this place gave me the feeling, lost for so long, of what it had been like going to a local single-screen movie theatre as part of a community. With the almost Draconian restrictions against “development” rightfully promulgated by conservationists, here’s the last place in the world you will ever see a multiplex, and I say whoopee to that!
The “Images of America” volume The Lower Blackstone Valley says that, after the fire of November 10, 1919 had destroyed nearby St. James Church, this theatre and the Bijou were both used for services.
The “Images of America” volume The Lower Blackstone Valley says that, after the fire of November 10, 1919 had destroyed nearby St. James Church, this theatre and the Manville Opera House were both used for services.
The spoof of Ingmar Bergman movies called “The Dove” or “De Düva” in fake Swedish, is utterly hilarious, especially if you’ve seen Bergman films, particularly of the 1950s and 1960s. It is one of the legendary great shorts, and there are lots of comments on IMDb pertaining to it. There is the bit about a cigar referred to a “phällica symbolë” and one particular line I’ve never forgotten in forty years: “I häve a hërnia.”
From 1959, after the Hollywood on Taunton Avenue closed, until around 1965, when the Four Seasons opened, this was East Providence’s only active movie theatre. Today the Patriot Cinemas 10 (formerly Four Seasons) is the only one.
This entry from 1995 volume Historic and Architectural Resources of Jamestown Rhode, Island gives a capsule history of the place. It omits the 1960s name Jamestown Theatre, which I know was used for part of that decade when Mario Votolato ran summer films here. And I am uncertain, as I mentioned above, that it was called the Bomes Theatre, rather than just being a Bomes Theatre like Samuel Bomes' Hollywood in East Providence and Liberty in Providence:
“THE PALACE/BOMES THEATRE/BOMES THEATRE MALL (1922, 1946, 1986): This 1-story, masonry structure, with a commercial façade containing two pairs of double, multi-paned doors at the center, is sited on the sidewalk. It was built as a movie theatre for Jamestowners LeRoy Meredith, Aaron Richardson, and Ferdinand Armbrust by Ralph G.P. Hull. Ambrust conceived the idea for the theatre based on his experience using a movie projector at the Red Cross at Fort Wetherill during World War I. The place was known for some time as the Palace. Samuel Bomes purchased the building in 1946 and gave it his name. The building was used as a theatre for many years, then was closed for a while. In 1979 architect William Burgin directed the restoration of the theater for Jamestown Theater, Inc., to be operated for movies and special events. The venture proved unsuccessful, and in 1986 conversion also changed the exterior: the old brick façade was covered with clapboards laid both diagonally and horizontally, and the false front parapet was eliminated.”
In 1921 Mr. Edward M. Fay bought the McKinley Square Theatre and gave it his name. He was also associated with a group of theatres he owned in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was born. One of them, Fays Theatre, also bore his name and was a famous vaudeville house in that city. He had also managed the National Theatre in Rochester and acquired the Knickerbocker Theatre in Philadelphia. This information comes from a biographical entry for Fay in the volume Rhode Island – Three Centuries of Democracy.
In 1919 Mr. Edward M. Fay bought the Knickerbocker Theatre and gave it his name. He was also associated with a group of theatres he owned in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was born. One of them, Fays Theatre, also bore his name and was a famous vaudeville house in that city. He had also managed the National Theatre in Rochester and acquired the McKinley Square Theater in Manhattan. This information comes from a biographical entry for Fay in the volume Rhode Island – Three Centuries of Democracy.
This thumbnail entry appears in the 1990 volume History and Architectural Resources of Bristol, Rhode Island:
“PASTIME THEATER/BRISTOL CINEMA (1934): A 1-story, flat-roofed, Moderne style building of cast concrete, with its original marquee. It stands on the site of the 1784 Congregational Meetinghouse, which had been converted into a theater. Proprietor Lon Vail built the present structure after a fire destroyed the old meetinghouse/theater in 1934.”
There is a book out dedicated to this theatre: The Music Hall: Portsmouth, by authors Zhana Morris, Trevor F. Bartlett & Friends of the Music Hall. It is published by Arcadia and is part of the “Images of America” series.
About the most obscure film I ever saw at Cinema II was the 1963 Ladybug Ladybug, about a rural school that believes there is a about to be a nuclear attack. It was directed by Frank Perry, of David and Lisa fame, but it bombed at the boxoffice and was hardly seen much again.
From the website “History of the State of R.I. – History of Burrillville.”:
“Granite Lodge, No. 33, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Pascoag, was instituted Jan. 2, 1874, with fifteen charter members. First officers were: N. G., William Nugent; V. G., M. Wood; R. S., H. A. Potter; Treas., A. C. Sayles. The first meetings were held in the Old Hotel hall. The building at present occupied by the order was erected in 1875, at an expense of $10,000. It is a three-story building, about 40 x 70 feet. Upon the first, or ground floor, are three fine and commodious stores, — the first occupied by S. E. Miller as a drug-store and post-office; the second is occupied by D. S. Salisbury as a dry goods and clothing house; the third is occupied by a news-room and barber-shop; the second story is used for a public hall, known as Music Hall. Here are held all public gatherings, and the citizens manifest a considerable degree of interest in this fine and commodious hall. The third story is occupied by the members of the order. It is elegantly furnished with appropriate lodge-furnishings, and both officers and members feel a just pride in their worthy institution.”
In the third photo note that the poster showing the Fritz Lang movie Fury with Spencer Tracy clearly verifies that the Music Hall was a movie theatre.
Later years.
The theatre eventually closed and the Star Theatre took over the function as the main village theatre. The Music Hall building became Berk’s Department Store. Then it remained vacant for 10 years until the 2002 fire destroyed it. In 2003 Jake A. LaFleur pleaded no-contest to a charge of arson for having set fire to the building. Plans are currently under way to construct a memorial to the Music Hall at the same site.
Here is a photo of the Star Theatre dating to around 1943, judging by the film Buckskin Frontier. The Photo was taken because of the fire in progress. I have the feeling it was brought under control and that the theatre continued in operation for another decade or two. The truncated film title on the left side of the marquee could be “Ann Sothern and Eddie Cantor in Kid Millions.” But that was a 1934 film…a revival perhaps, or is it something else? Many thanks to the Burrillville Historical Society for making available this historic photo.
From the Historical Society of Cheshire Contry website:
“Charles C. Baldwin opened his Colonial Theatre on January 29, 1924, and celebrated the event by entertaining 6,000 people free in the new facility. The new theater caught on as a popular meeting place, as the Woman’s Club held their Washington’s Birthday celebration there in February.”
The Empire had served for a time as a rollerskating rink. In 2003 when I saw Freaky Friday here to a packed house of all ages, this place gave me the feeling, lost for so long, of what it had been like going to a local single-screen movie theatre as part of a community. With the almost Draconian restrictions against “development” rightfully promulgated by conservationists, here’s the last place in the world you will ever see a multiplex, and I say whoopee to that!
The “Images of America” volume The Lower Blackstone Valley says that, after the fire of November 10, 1919 had destroyed nearby St. James Church, this theatre and the Bijou were both used for services.
The “Images of America” volume The Lower Blackstone Valley says that, after the fire of November 10, 1919 had destroyed nearby St. James Church, this theatre and the Manville Opera House were both used for services.
The spoof of Ingmar Bergman movies called “The Dove” or “De Düva” in fake Swedish, is utterly hilarious, especially if you’ve seen Bergman films, particularly of the 1950s and 1960s. It is one of the legendary great shorts, and there are lots of comments on IMDb pertaining to it. There is the bit about a cigar referred to a “phällica symbolë” and one particular line I’ve never forgotten in forty years: “I häve a hërnia.”
In 1901 singer/actor Nelson Eddy was born in this neighborhood of Olneyville.
In 1901 singer/actor Nelson Eddy was born in this neighborhood of Olneyville.
In 1901 singer/actor Nelson Eddy was born in this neighborhood of Olneyville.
In 1901 singer/actor Nelson Eddy was born in this neighborhood of Olneyville.
From 1959, after the Hollywood on Taunton Avenue closed, until around 1965, when the Four Seasons opened, this was East Providence’s only active movie theatre. Today the Patriot Cinemas 10 (formerly Four Seasons) is the only one.
Here is a 1926 photo of Huntington Avenue with the Strand Theatre evident.
I saw a 1938 photo of a Playhouse Theatre in Montpelier. Was that used for films at all?
I saw a 1938 reference to a Playhouse Theatre in Montpelier. Was that used for films at all?
Was there a theatre in Keene named the Scenic?
Patsy’s Hall is a large brick building with some Colonial Revival details. It is also the largest building in the village area.
This entry from 1995 volume Historic and Architectural Resources of Jamestown Rhode, Island gives a capsule history of the place. It omits the 1960s name Jamestown Theatre, which I know was used for part of that decade when Mario Votolato ran summer films here. And I am uncertain, as I mentioned above, that it was called the Bomes Theatre, rather than just being a Bomes Theatre like Samuel Bomes' Hollywood in East Providence and Liberty in Providence:
“THE PALACE/BOMES THEATRE/BOMES THEATRE MALL (1922, 1946, 1986): This 1-story, masonry structure, with a commercial façade containing two pairs of double, multi-paned doors at the center, is sited on the sidewalk. It was built as a movie theatre for Jamestowners LeRoy Meredith, Aaron Richardson, and Ferdinand Armbrust by Ralph G.P. Hull. Ambrust conceived the idea for the theatre based on his experience using a movie projector at the Red Cross at Fort Wetherill during World War I. The place was known for some time as the Palace. Samuel Bomes purchased the building in 1946 and gave it his name. The building was used as a theatre for many years, then was closed for a while. In 1979 architect William Burgin directed the restoration of the theater for Jamestown Theater, Inc., to be operated for movies and special events. The venture proved unsuccessful, and in 1986 conversion also changed the exterior: the old brick façade was covered with clapboards laid both diagonally and horizontally, and the false front parapet was eliminated.”
In 1921 Mr. Edward M. Fay bought the McKinley Square Theatre and gave it his name. He was also associated with a group of theatres he owned in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was born. One of them, Fays Theatre, also bore his name and was a famous vaudeville house in that city. He had also managed the National Theatre in Rochester and acquired the Knickerbocker Theatre in Philadelphia. This information comes from a biographical entry for Fay in the volume Rhode Island – Three Centuries of Democracy.
In 1919 Mr. Edward M. Fay bought the Knickerbocker Theatre and gave it his name. He was also associated with a group of theatres he owned in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was born. One of them, Fays Theatre, also bore his name and was a famous vaudeville house in that city. He had also managed the National Theatre in Rochester and acquired the McKinley Square Theater in Manhattan. This information comes from a biographical entry for Fay in the volume Rhode Island – Three Centuries of Democracy.
This thumbnail entry appears in the 1990 volume History and Architectural Resources of Bristol, Rhode Island:
“PASTIME THEATER/BRISTOL CINEMA (1934): A 1-story, flat-roofed, Moderne style building of cast concrete, with its original marquee. It stands on the site of the 1784 Congregational Meetinghouse, which had been converted into a theater. Proprietor Lon Vail built the present structure after a fire destroyed the old meetinghouse/theater in 1934.”
There is a book out dedicated to this theatre: The Music Hall: Portsmouth, by authors Zhana Morris, Trevor F. Bartlett & Friends of the Music Hall. It is published by Arcadia and is part of the “Images of America” series.
About the most obscure film I ever saw at Cinema II was the 1963 Ladybug Ladybug, about a rural school that believes there is a about to be a nuclear attack. It was directed by Frank Perry, of David and Lisa fame, but it bombed at the boxoffice and was hardly seen much again.
Here is a winter scene of the Harrisville Dam with the Assembly Theatre beyond it.
The Music Hall, Pascoag’s other lost movie theatre (and social hall) is now posted. Click here.
Origins of the Music Hall.
From the website “History of the State of R.I. – History of Burrillville.”:
“Granite Lodge, No. 33, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Pascoag, was instituted Jan. 2, 1874, with fifteen charter members. First officers were: N. G., William Nugent; V. G., M. Wood; R. S., H. A. Potter; Treas., A. C. Sayles. The first meetings were held in the Old Hotel hall. The building at present occupied by the order was erected in 1875, at an expense of $10,000. It is a three-story building, about 40 x 70 feet. Upon the first, or ground floor, are three fine and commodious stores, — the first occupied by S. E. Miller as a drug-store and post-office; the second is occupied by D. S. Salisbury as a dry goods and clothing house; the third is occupied by a news-room and barber-shop; the second story is used for a public hall, known as Music Hall. Here are held all public gatherings, and the citizens manifest a considerable degree of interest in this fine and commodious hall. The third story is occupied by the members of the order. It is elegantly furnished with appropriate lodge-furnishings, and both officers and members feel a just pride in their worthy institution.”
Three photos.
Early 20th Century postcard showing Music Hall.
18th Century view of Main Street, Music Hall on left.
1936 photo of entrance during Tercentenary.
In the third photo note that the poster showing the Fritz Lang movie Fury with Spencer Tracy clearly verifies that the Music Hall was a movie theatre.
Later years.
The theatre eventually closed and the Star Theatre took over the function as the main village theatre. The Music Hall building became Berk’s Department Store. Then it remained vacant for 10 years until the 2002 fire destroyed it. In 2003 Jake A. LaFleur pleaded no-contest to a charge of arson for having set fire to the building. Plans are currently under way to construct a memorial to the Music Hall at the same site.
Here is a photo of the Star Theatre dating to around 1943, judging by the film Buckskin Frontier. The Photo was taken because of the fire in progress. I have the feeling it was brought under control and that the theatre continued in operation for another decade or two. The truncated film title on the left side of the marquee could be “Ann Sothern and Eddie Cantor in Kid Millions.” But that was a 1934 film…a revival perhaps, or is it something else? Many thanks to the Burrillville Historical Society for making available this historic photo.