Before the building had been converted to a cinema in 1976, it had been vacant a bit after being the Burns Michael Trucking Company for several decades. The Providence City Directory lists 204 South Main Street under that business name way back to the 1930s.
The Columbus Theatre opened on November 1, 1926. Featured were stage comedy, music, and dance. On the screen was King Vidor’s La Boheme, an M.G.M. film with Lillian Gish and John Gilbert. Here is the NEWSPAPER AD announcing that opening day program. It appeared in the Providence Journal the day before. Also in the Journal on October 31 was an article describing the new theatre and showing a photo of the interior.
The last film program at the Empire, judging by ads in the Providence Journal, seems to have been on Sunday, February 29, 1948. It was a typical older double bill of Betrayed, a.k.a. When Strangers Marry (1944) and Western Gold (1937). No ads appeared after that date. On February 27 a Journal article had announced the impending closing and planned demolition: “Herbert M. Copellman, managing director of the theater, explained today that the last showng of movies at the Empire will be either tomorrow night or next Tuesday night.”
The article said too that the the theater auditorium had been admired increasingly during the previous few years by students of the architecture of its period and was praised for its “quaint charm.” The interior boasted attractive moldings, paintings, and decorations. Asked if any attempt would be made to save them, Copellman chuckled, “They can give it to an art museum as far as we’re concerned.”
When the theatre opened as Low’s Opera House on March 4, 1878, a theatrical production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was featured. By the time of its demolition in 1948, the theater was Providence’s then oldest theater: 1878-1948 or exactly 70 years.
On January 16, 1977 there was a short piece in the Providence Journal about Ray Bilodeau, who had recently opened the Cable Car Cinema less than three months before. In it Mr. Bilodeau complains about smallish audiences, losing money on the venture, even going broke, not being able to get films from some of the major distributors because of oppressive guarantees, and other problems.
Told to Shun Baby Doll
In January of 1957, when Elia Kazan/Tennessee Williams Baby Doll was playing at the Majestic, the Most Rev. Russell J. McVinney, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, had told Rhode Island Catholics that they should not see the picture. I myself remember, as a student at LaSalle Academy at the time, that we were told by the principal in a P.A. announcement that the film was off-limits. A Providence Journal article from January 14 reported that Rev. Augustine F. Burns, pastor of Saint Mark’s Church in Jamestown, reminded his parishioners at services that they could not see the picture which was playing in Providence and also in Newport. Here is an ad for the film.
Perhaps someone at Pike Productions could help. They have an office in Newport, R.I. on Clarke Street, adjacent to the Jane Pickens Theatre. This is the Pike Productions website.
In June, 1948 the Providence Police banned the 1941 French film Volpone by Maurice Tourneur, as “indecent and irreligious.” It was scheduled to be shown at the Avon. It had also been condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency (CLOD). I don’t know yet if the decision was ever reversed. The movie, of course, had been based on Ben Jonson’s great comedy. It had played for over five months in New York at the Ambassador Theatre. Bradford F. Swan, author of a June 5th Providence Journal article reporting the ban, wrote, …“If its reputation as a period piece is kept in mind, and if it is taken as a mordant commentary on avarice and evil, ‘Volpone’ seemed hardly the movie to corrupt Providence.
During the World War II years the Avon Theatre generally showed selected revivals of U.S. films. The unavailability of most new European product would have made it difficult to show many European films. There were exceptions. The Avon put in a Russian-made film for the week beginning on January 17, 1943. Entitled Mashenka, it is a love story set during the Russian war with Finland and stars Valentina Karavayeva in the title role. The movie was favorably reviewed in the Providence Journal the following day by Bradford F. Swan who said that it “had its moments of deeply moving emotion.” HERE IS THE NEWSPAPER AD FOR OPENING DAY. The film ran for one week. It seems to have vanished without a trace since then.
The first film to play the Beekman, as shown in Warren’s posted marquee shot, was Never Take No for an Answer, a.k.a. Peppino e Violetta, a British-Italian co-production, about a boy named Peppino who wants to take his ailing donkey Violetta into the crypt of Saint Francis of Assisi. Denied permission, he goes to Rome to appeal to the Pope. The film was shot in Assisi and also in the Vatican, one of the few movies allowed to be filmed there.
The film was based on Paul Gallico’s sentimental novella called The Small Miracle. The Small Miracle was also the title of a TV remake of this film. This movie was not typical of the more “sophisticated” ones that were to play the Beekman over the years, but it was indeed an audience pleaser and a likable film. Bosley Crowther gave it a glowing review and even praised the donkey as “a real charmer.”
I used to own a 16mm print and am sorry to have sold it, since it is now so rare. After the Beekman, the film moved over to the Guild 50th where it continued a long succesful engagement.
The Warwick Cinema was showing The Poseidon Adventure in early 1973. That’s not odd, but day-dating the film with the usually art-house Avon Cinema in Providence certainly was. They shared newspaper ads too.
The Avon certainly went fairly mainstream when it was showing The Poseidon Adventure in early 1973, day-dating with the Warwick Cinema on Post Road in Warwick. They shared newspaper ads.
Although, as a shopping place, it’s a tad more characterful that many…if you like ersatz beach architecture. The single-screen Casino Theatre/Pier Cinema, demolished in the early 1970s and located a block from here, was a nicer building. Closing for two weeks? I didn’t know it had been open at all this past summer. Anyhow, I hope the new policy is successful. Rhode Island’s South County needs something with that kind of programming.
An excellent picture article entitled “Mr. Low’s ‘Hall’ Comes Down,” written by Robert L. Wheeler, appeared in The Providence Journal on May 30, 1948 at the time of the demolition of this venerable old theatre. The author traced the history of the place from its opening as Low’s Opera House in 1878 and enumerates many of the illustrious performers who had graced its stage, including Ethel Barrymore, Oscar Wilde (1883), Sophie Tucker, Lillian Russell (1911), Sarah Bernhardt (1881), Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, Fred Allen and others. In one of Wheeler’s concluding sentences, he asserted, “But in 1937 the Empire gave up and settled back to drowse out its twilight years in a coma of shopworn cinemas. Nobody mourned when they caved in the roof a few days ago.”
I was only six years old when this theatre ended its days, and I am certain I never was taken to it, but of all the lost Providence theatres I have read about in my research on the topic in recent years, this is the one I now most regret not having known.
Max, but when did it become an art or repertory house? This thread isn’t about the oldest neighborhood theatres, but specifically about those theatres that have been art/repertory movie theatres for the longest time.
Spanish-language programs appeared at the Art Cinema from 1972 and were run on Saturdays by promoters Raphael Nunes and Virgilio Grullon. A Providence Journal article of February 5, 1973 reported that in an article headlined “Films Please R.I. Latin Americans.” The program continued after that at the Elmwood Theatre.
The Spanish-language programs had appeared earlier at the Art Cinema, and had been run on Saturdays by the same promoters. A Providence Journal article of February 5, 1973 reported that in an article headlined “Films Please R.I. Latin Americans.”
The notorious Deep Throat played at the Johnston Cinema in 1975. A Providence Journal article of April 15 reported that councilman Joseph Falvo complained that the theater’s then current feature was…“the filthiest movie ever shown on the screen.” He promised to call a town council meeting to “decide what action should be taken.” A 1972 Superior Court ruling had restrained the council from interfering in the theater’s operation.
Before the building had been converted to a cinema in 1976, it had been vacant a bit after being the Burns Michael Trucking Company for several decades. The Providence City Directory lists 204 South Main Street under that business name way back to the 1930s.
Life of the Empire Theatre: September 4, 1899 to January 16, 1915 (last program).
The Columbus Theatre opened on November 1, 1926. Featured were stage comedy, music, and dance. On the screen was King Vidor’s La Boheme, an M.G.M. film with Lillian Gish and John Gilbert. Here is the NEWSPAPER AD announcing that opening day program. It appeared in the Providence Journal the day before. Also in the Journal on October 31 was an article describing the new theatre and showing a photo of the interior.
The last film program at the Empire, judging by ads in the Providence Journal, seems to have been on Sunday, February 29, 1948. It was a typical older double bill of Betrayed, a.k.a. When Strangers Marry (1944) and Western Gold (1937). No ads appeared after that date. On February 27 a Journal article had announced the impending closing and planned demolition: “Herbert M. Copellman, managing director of the theater, explained today that the last showng of movies at the Empire will be either tomorrow night or next Tuesday night.”
The article said too that the the theater auditorium had been admired increasingly during the previous few years by students of the architecture of its period and was praised for its “quaint charm.” The interior boasted attractive moldings, paintings, and decorations. Asked if any attempt would be made to save them, Copellman chuckled, “They can give it to an art museum as far as we’re concerned.”
When the theatre opened as Low’s Opera House on March 4, 1878, a theatrical production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin was featured. By the time of its demolition in 1948, the theater was Providence’s then oldest theater: 1878-1948 or exactly 70 years.
On January 16, 1977 there was a short piece in the Providence Journal about Ray Bilodeau, who had recently opened the Cable Car Cinema less than three months before. In it Mr. Bilodeau complains about smallish audiences, losing money on the venture, even going broke, not being able to get films from some of the major distributors because of oppressive guarantees, and other problems.
It wasn’t until well into the 1980s, under the ownership of his brother Al Bilodeau and subsequent management by Al’s son and Ray’s nephew Eric Bilodeau that the cinema began enjoying some apparent success, due in no small measure to the enormously profitable café portion of the cinema, which is open all day, even outside of film screening times and caters to the abundant number of students from RISD, which abuts the cinema-café. The café generates interest in the films; the films bring money to the café. In some ways this is not a cinema with a café but a café with a cinema. Which is just fine.
Told to Shun Baby Doll
In January of 1957, when Elia Kazan/Tennessee Williams Baby Doll was playing at the Majestic, the Most Rev. Russell J. McVinney, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, had told Rhode Island Catholics that they should not see the picture. I myself remember, as a student at LaSalle Academy at the time, that we were told by the principal in a P.A. announcement that the film was off-limits. A Providence Journal article from January 14 reported that Rev. Augustine F. Burns, pastor of Saint Mark’s Church in Jamestown, reminded his parishioners at services that they could not see the picture which was playing in Providence and also in Newport. Here is an ad for the film.
Perhaps someone at Pike Productions could help. They have an office in Newport, R.I. on Clarke Street, adjacent to the Jane Pickens Theatre. This is the Pike Productions website.
In June, 1948 the Providence Police banned the 1941 French film Volpone by Maurice Tourneur, as “indecent and irreligious.” It was scheduled to be shown at the Avon. It had also been condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency (CLOD). I don’t know yet if the decision was ever reversed. The movie, of course, had been based on Ben Jonson’s great comedy. It had played for over five months in New York at the Ambassador Theatre. Bradford F. Swan, author of a June 5th Providence Journal article reporting the ban, wrote, …“If its reputation as a period piece is kept in mind, and if it is taken as a mordant commentary on avarice and evil, ‘Volpone’ seemed hardly the movie to corrupt Providence.
During the World War II years the Avon Theatre generally showed selected revivals of U.S. films. The unavailability of most new European product would have made it difficult to show many European films. There were exceptions. The Avon put in a Russian-made film for the week beginning on January 17, 1943. Entitled Mashenka, it is a love story set during the Russian war with Finland and stars Valentina Karavayeva in the title role. The movie was favorably reviewed in the Providence Journal the following day by Bradford F. Swan who said that it “had its moments of deeply moving emotion.”
HERE IS THE NEWSPAPER AD FOR OPENING DAY. The film ran for one week. It seems to have vanished without a trace since then.
The first film to play the Beekman, as shown in Warren’s posted marquee shot, was Never Take No for an Answer, a.k.a. Peppino e Violetta, a British-Italian co-production, about a boy named Peppino who wants to take his ailing donkey Violetta into the crypt of Saint Francis of Assisi. Denied permission, he goes to Rome to appeal to the Pope. The film was shot in Assisi and also in the Vatican, one of the few movies allowed to be filmed there.
The film was based on Paul Gallico’s sentimental novella called The Small Miracle. The Small Miracle was also the title of a TV remake of this film. This movie was not typical of the more “sophisticated” ones that were to play the Beekman over the years, but it was indeed an audience pleaser and a likable film. Bosley Crowther gave it a glowing review and even praised the donkey as “a real charmer.”
HERE IS AN AD publicizing this film at the Beekman.
I used to own a 16mm print and am sorry to have sold it, since it is now so rare. After the Beekman, the film moved over to the Guild 50th where it continued a long succesful engagement.
The Warwick Cinema was showing The Poseidon Adventure in early 1973. That’s not odd, but day-dating the film with the usually art-house Avon Cinema in Providence certainly was. They shared newspaper ads too.
The Avon certainly went fairly mainstream when it was showing The Poseidon Adventure in early 1973, day-dating with the Warwick Cinema on Post Road in Warwick. They shared newspaper ads.
Ad ad from December 8, 1978 asserts that Robert Altman’s film A Wedding was then in its “10th Unbelievable Week.”
The Stadium Theatre and the Palace Theatre in West Warwick shared ads for porno movie programs, in 1974 and 1975 at least.
The Palace Theatre and the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket shared ads for porno movies in 1974 and 1975 at least.
Although, as a shopping place, it’s a tad more characterful that many…if you like ersatz beach architecture. The single-screen Casino Theatre/Pier Cinema, demolished in the early 1970s and located a block from here, was a nicer building. Closing for two weeks? I didn’t know it had been open at all this past summer. Anyhow, I hope the new policy is successful. Rhode Island’s South County needs something with that kind of programming.
A photo of the Caine Lyric can be found in one of the links on the page of Logan’s Utah Theatre.
Here is a newspaper ad for the opening day of the Garden City Cinema on December 22, 1967. It includes a small photo of the theatre front.
The theatre was twinned in the fall of 1972 with auditoriums seating about 500 each.
An excellent picture article entitled “Mr. Low’s ‘Hall’ Comes Down,” written by Robert L. Wheeler, appeared in The Providence Journal on May 30, 1948 at the time of the demolition of this venerable old theatre. The author traced the history of the place from its opening as Low’s Opera House in 1878 and enumerates many of the illustrious performers who had graced its stage, including Ethel Barrymore, Oscar Wilde (1883), Sophie Tucker, Lillian Russell (1911), Sarah Bernhardt (1881), Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, Fred Allen and others. In one of Wheeler’s concluding sentences, he asserted, “But in 1937 the Empire gave up and settled back to drowse out its twilight years in a coma of shopworn cinemas. Nobody mourned when they caved in the roof a few days ago.”
I was only six years old when this theatre ended its days, and I am certain I never was taken to it, but of all the lost Providence theatres I have read about in my research on the topic in recent years, this is the one I now most regret not having known.
Max, but when did it become an art or repertory house? This thread isn’t about the oldest neighborhood theatres, but specifically about those theatres that have been art/repertory movie theatres for the longest time.
Spanish-language programs appeared at the Art Cinema from 1972 and were run on Saturdays by promoters Raphael Nunes and Virgilio Grullon. A Providence Journal article of February 5, 1973 reported that in an article headlined “Films Please R.I. Latin Americans.” The program continued after that at the Elmwood Theatre.
The Spanish-language programs had appeared earlier at the Art Cinema, and had been run on Saturdays by the same promoters. A Providence Journal article of February 5, 1973 reported that in an article headlined “Films Please R.I. Latin Americans.”
A 1979 ad for the theatre calls it “Hartford Showplace” and touts “Adult film and live exotic dancers.”
The notorious Deep Throat played at the Johnston Cinema in 1975. A Providence Journal article of April 15 reported that councilman Joseph Falvo complained that the theater’s then current feature was…“the filthiest movie ever shown on the screen.” He promised to call a town council meeting to “decide what action should be taken.” A 1972 Superior Court ruling had restrained the council from interfering in the theater’s operation.