Roger, I always drive to the location to check. A hardware store called Hardware in the Square is there now at 1911. From the rear you can see that it is a brick building which may have existed at the time of the theatre, or may have been built after. I couldn’t tell. A couple of doors to the right, closer to Broadway, there used to be a Grand Central Market when I gew up, now reduced from its large size (only the front remains) and called the Iglesia Cristiana. When I used to visit the market decades ago, I always thought that at some time it had been a theatre, because of the height of the main large part of the market, an entrance area that suggested a former lobby (now the Iglesia) and what looked like a scenery tower to the rear.
Roger Brett, in his Temples of Illusion, referred to the Edisonia and the Pastime as separate theatres. He wrote, “While impromptu theaters had been popping up like mushrooms after a rain in downtown Providence, the same thing had been going on in that almost autonomous region known as Olneyville Square. Olneyville had the Dimerina in 1907, the Edisonia Theater in 1908 and 1909, the Pastime Theater from 1909 to 1915…”
He says nothing detailed about them, but since the city directories give both the Pastime and Edisonia the same address, 1911 Westminster Street, I am assuming they were the same theatre. “Edisonia” is clearly a place that shows movies, but “Pastime” is an easier name for people to remember and suggests other entertainments as well as movies. Perhaps the name was changed in 1909. This is pure conjecture, but it seems plausible. Further “excavation” may prove otherwise.
Re: Music Hall in Providence. Yes, I would like info. I know it burned down in 1905 and never showed movies, except as a novelty. For example, The Great Train Robbery was shown there.
The Music Hall was at 229 Main, according to a city directory I checked, and Roland is putting it up later today. I found a list of “coming movies” for the Music Hall in February, 1935. There was also a Globe Theatre at 175 Main, listed in 1914. They were sprouting like mushrooms.
In late June of 1976, when the theatre was called Ocean State Theatre, there was a first-run policy initiated with Murder by Death. It wasn’t until it became the Providence Performing Arts Center, however, that this magnificent theatre captured new success.
This theatre was located in a spot (and perhaps the same building) that is now part of the new posh Providence Hotel, whose entrance is on Mathewson Street. At the corner of Mathewson and Westminster is a pleasant little “boutique park” with benches. Behind it, in the hotel, is the fabulous Italian restaurant L'Epicureo. In the same general spot, in the 1980s, was the video porno-theatre, the VIP Luxury Cinema.
This video/porno theatre was located in a building that is now part of the new posh Providence Hotel, whose entrance is on Mathewson Street. At the corner of Mathewson and Westminster is a pleasant little “boutique park” with benches. Behind it, in the hotel, is the fabulous gourmet Italian restaurant, L'Epicureo. In the same general spot, in 1907, was the short-lived movie house, the Lyric Theatre.
In February of 1935, the following film programs were on the Central screen between the 17th and the 23rd: The Gay Bride & White Lies, That’s Gratitude & Redhead, Bright Eyes (Shirley Temple) & Marie Gallant.
And on the 27th and 28th of that same month: Le Chasseur de chez Maxim’s. A number of these French films were distributed by Paramount Pictures, sans sous-titres.
The movies shown on opening day, September 14, 1914, were The Wrath of the Gods, “6 Reel Masterpiece Which Broke All Records at the Strand Theatre, New York,” and Weights and Measures, “Two-Reel Universal Feature.” The ad said that programs would change three times a week and would be continuous between 10:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. Sunday showings of movies and performances of plays were banned at the time.
I answered my own questions by checking the Providence Journal on microfilm. The Park was built in 1924. It was equipped for minor-league vaudeville but generally only showed movies.
This theatre was also called “Pussycat Theater” for a time. An article in the Providence Evening Bulletin of December 29, 1969, discussed the problems the Pussycat had with Pawtucket City Hall and the granting of a license for showing X-rated and other adult films. The theatre had had its license seized by the police on the order of Mayor Robert F. Burns and subsequently revoked by the Pawtucket City Council. It remained closed for seven weeks. On December 29 the theater was finally granted a license to show Les Biches and The Oldest Profession. At the time the theatre had been shut down, it was playing Donna and Lisa and Mail Order Confidential.
Roland, why don’t you put it up? I’ll add what little I know in the form of comments. I definitely know that movies were shown there, since I found a list of coming films in February of 1935.
Marialivia, thanks. You and Roland Lavallee have provided plenty of information about Pawtucket to whet my appetite. Having grown up in Johnston, my knowledge of the Pawtucket theatres is very indirect. I visited the Strand once, saw the closed Capitol or whatever it was called in the late 1950s and wondered about it, saw the exterior of the Broadway, visited the Fairlawn a couple of times, the Leroy a few times, and the Darlton many times. I paid $32 for Temples of Illusion. It is out of print now, but you could check from time to time with www.abebooks.com to see if more used copies become available.
The theatre’s life went from 1899 to 1915. Excerpts from Roger Brett’s Temples of Illusion and the building of the Empire follow:
“The Empire Theater stood on the same side of Westminster Street as the Westminster Theatre and Music Hall and just a few yards from them. Its minuscule entrance was built next to the store which had housed the short-lived Nickelodeon two years before. Empire Street, named for the theater [!!!], now climbs the hill from Westminster toward Weybosset Street where the theater once stood….
“Spitz and Nathanson built their Empire in four hectic months. Work started in May [1899]. (…)
“A short article in the Providence Sunday Journal of August 2th said,
‘There is no longer any doubt as to the date of the opening of the Empire Theater. It will be Monday, September 4th….The interior is finished in Nile green, cream, and yellow, with ornamentation in gold.’ (The carpeting was dark red.) ‘There are reproductions of mythological scenes, and the fibrous plaster work around the boxes and on the proscenium arch is a feature.’ (…)
“In seating capacity it placed somewhere behind Keith’s, and very close to the Providence [Opera House], ahead of the Westminster and far ahead of their own Olympic [Nickel].(…)
“The proper word to use in descrbing the interior of the house is ‘nice.’ Neither extravagant nor drab, it was not too large for the most intimate of plays, not too small for the biggest of musicals. The house was divided into orchestra or parquette, balcony or family circle, and gallery….
“On the morning of opening day, board fencing still blocked the Westmnster Street entrance and seats were still being placed…. At five in the afternoon, the last seat was bolted to the floor. When the Empire opened that evening of Labor Day, 1899, with Johnstone Bennett in A Female Drummer, Abe Spitz became the first Providence showman to have two theaters running simultaneously.”
In addition to City Lights , my favorites are The Kid, The Gold Rush and Modern Times. When Modern Times was re-issued in 1959, I went to Boston to see it at the old Capri (Copley) and I later bought a copy of the soundtrack, which I still have and which is now rare. I also love many of his later films. Limelight with Claire Bloom knocks me out. I now have most of them on video.
Good for you. There was a Music Hall on Westminster Street in Providence too, destroyed by a fire in 1905, as was Infantry Hall in 1942. That link is a direct link to what it takes several clicks to get on the PPL site. But it is what I was referring to. Great pics there. The Albee ones are fabulous.
Yes, I saw that Pastime photo on the Images of R.I. section of the Providence Public Library’s electronic resources. Check it out at www.provlib.org . The picture of the Crown I got from the Images of America book on Pawtucket, so I presume that the theatre was in Pawtucket on North Main. North Main, I understand, is now called Roosevelt.
Roger, I always drive to the location to check. A hardware store called Hardware in the Square is there now at 1911. From the rear you can see that it is a brick building which may have existed at the time of the theatre, or may have been built after. I couldn’t tell. A couple of doors to the right, closer to Broadway, there used to be a Grand Central Market when I gew up, now reduced from its large size (only the front remains) and called the Iglesia Cristiana. When I used to visit the market decades ago, I always thought that at some time it had been a theatre, because of the height of the main large part of the market, an entrance area that suggested a former lobby (now the Iglesia) and what looked like a scenery tower to the rear.
Roger Brett, in his Temples of Illusion, referred to the Edisonia and the Pastime as separate theatres. He wrote, “While impromptu theaters had been popping up like mushrooms after a rain in downtown Providence, the same thing had been going on in that almost autonomous region known as Olneyville Square. Olneyville had the Dimerina in 1907, the Edisonia Theater in 1908 and 1909, the Pastime Theater from 1909 to 1915…”
He says nothing detailed about them, but since the city directories give both the Pastime and Edisonia the same address, 1911 Westminster Street, I am assuming they were the same theatre. “Edisonia” is clearly a place that shows movies, but “Pastime” is an easier name for people to remember and suggests other entertainments as well as movies. Perhaps the name was changed in 1909. This is pure conjecture, but it seems plausible. Further “excavation” may prove otherwise.
Re: Music Hall in Providence. Yes, I would like info. I know it burned down in 1905 and never showed movies, except as a novelty. For example, The Great Train Robbery was shown there.
The Music Hall was at 229 Main, according to a city directory I checked, and Roland is putting it up later today. I found a list of “coming movies” for the Music Hall in February, 1935. There was also a Globe Theatre at 175 Main, listed in 1914. They were sprouting like mushrooms.
In late June of 1976, when the theatre was called Ocean State Theatre, there was a first-run policy initiated with Murder by Death. It wasn’t until it became the Providence Performing Arts Center, however, that this magnificent theatre captured new success.
Appropriately enough, the E. M. Loew’s was showing the film Drive-In at the beginning of July, 1976. The second feature was The Lords of Flatbush.
The address for the Paris Cinema(s) was 291 Weybosset Street.
This theatre was located in a spot (and perhaps the same building) that is now part of the new posh Providence Hotel, whose entrance is on Mathewson Street. At the corner of Mathewson and Westminster is a pleasant little “boutique park” with benches. Behind it, in the hotel, is the fabulous Italian restaurant L'Epicureo. In the same general spot, in the 1980s, was the video porno-theatre, the VIP Luxury Cinema.
This video/porno theatre was located in a building that is now part of the new posh Providence Hotel, whose entrance is on Mathewson Street. At the corner of Mathewson and Westminster is a pleasant little “boutique park” with benches. Behind it, in the hotel, is the fabulous gourmet Italian restaurant, L'Epicureo. In the same general spot, in 1907, was the short-lived movie house, the Lyric Theatre.
Finally, I found the actual street address of the Bijou. It was 164 Westminster Street.
In February of 1935, the following film programs were on the Central screen between the 17th and the 23rd: The Gay Bride & White Lies, That’s Gratitude & Redhead, Bright Eyes (Shirley Temple) & Marie Gallant.
And on the 27th and 28th of that same month: Le Chasseur de chez Maxim’s. A number of these French films were distributed by Paramount Pictures, sans sous-titres.
Beginning February 24, 1935, the United’s programs for the week would be: Sun.-Wed., David Copperfield, Thurs.-Sat., Rumba & That’s Gratitude.
Beginning February 24, 1935, the Central’s programs for the week would be: Bordertown & Women Must Dress, Murder in the Clouds & Men of the Night.
The movies shown on opening day, September 14, 1914, were The Wrath of the Gods, “6 Reel Masterpiece Which Broke All Records at the Strand Theatre, New York,” and Weights and Measures, “Two-Reel Universal Feature.” The ad said that programs would change three times a week and would be continuous between 10:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. Sunday showings of movies and performances of plays were banned at the time.
Sounds good. I found city directory references (i.e. 1914) to a Globe Theatre at 175 Main Street. Any info on that?
I answered my own questions by checking the Providence Journal on microfilm. The Park was built in 1924. It was equipped for minor-league vaudeville but generally only showed movies.
This theatre was also called “Pussycat Theater” for a time. An article in the Providence Evening Bulletin of December 29, 1969, discussed the problems the Pussycat had with Pawtucket City Hall and the granting of a license for showing X-rated and other adult films. The theatre had had its license seized by the police on the order of Mayor Robert F. Burns and subsequently revoked by the Pawtucket City Council. It remained closed for seven weeks. On December 29 the theater was finally granted a license to show Les Biches and The Oldest Profession. At the time the theatre had been shut down, it was playing Donna and Lisa and Mail Order Confidential.
The architectural firm that built the Majestic was William R. Walker & Son, according to a plaque that is next to the current Trinity Rep entrance.
Roland, why don’t you put it up? I’ll add what little I know in the form of comments. I definitely know that movies were shown there, since I found a list of coming films in February of 1935.
Marialivia, thanks. You and Roland Lavallee have provided plenty of information about Pawtucket to whet my appetite. Having grown up in Johnston, my knowledge of the Pawtucket theatres is very indirect. I visited the Strand once, saw the closed Capitol or whatever it was called in the late 1950s and wondered about it, saw the exterior of the Broadway, visited the Fairlawn a couple of times, the Leroy a few times, and the Darlton many times. I paid $32 for Temples of Illusion. It is out of print now, but you could check from time to time with www.abebooks.com to see if more used copies become available.
The theatre’s life went from 1899 to 1915. Excerpts from Roger Brett’s Temples of Illusion and the building of the Empire follow:
“The Empire Theater stood on the same side of Westminster Street as the Westminster Theatre and Music Hall and just a few yards from them. Its minuscule entrance was built next to the store which had housed the short-lived Nickelodeon two years before. Empire Street, named for the theater [!!!], now climbs the hill from Westminster toward Weybosset Street where the theater once stood….
“Spitz and Nathanson built their Empire in four hectic months. Work started in May [1899]. (…)
“A short article in the Providence Sunday Journal of August 2th said,
‘There is no longer any doubt as to the date of the opening of the Empire Theater. It will be Monday, September 4th….The interior is finished in Nile green, cream, and yellow, with ornamentation in gold.’ (The carpeting was dark red.) ‘There are reproductions of mythological scenes, and the fibrous plaster work around the boxes and on the proscenium arch is a feature.’ (…)
“In seating capacity it placed somewhere behind Keith’s, and very close to the Providence [Opera House], ahead of the Westminster and far ahead of their own Olympic [Nickel].(…)
“The proper word to use in descrbing the interior of the house is ‘nice.’ Neither extravagant nor drab, it was not too large for the most intimate of plays, not too small for the biggest of musicals. The house was divided into orchestra or parquette, balcony or family circle, and gallery….
“On the morning of opening day, board fencing still blocked the Westmnster Street entrance and seats were still being placed…. At five in the afternoon, the last seat was bolted to the floor. When the Empire opened that evening of Labor Day, 1899, with Johnstone Bennett in A Female Drummer, Abe Spitz became the first Providence showman to have two theaters running simultaneously.”
In addition to City Lights , my favorites are The Kid, The Gold Rush and Modern Times. When Modern Times was re-issued in 1959, I went to Boston to see it at the old Capri (Copley) and I later bought a copy of the soundtrack, which I still have and which is now rare. I also love many of his later films. Limelight with Claire Bloom knocks me out. I now have most of them on video.
Good for you. There was a Music Hall on Westminster Street in Providence too, destroyed by a fire in 1905, as was Infantry Hall in 1942. That link is a direct link to what it takes several clicks to get on the PPL site. But it is what I was referring to. Great pics there. The Albee ones are fabulous.
Yes, I saw that Pastime photo on the Images of R.I. section of the Providence Public Library’s electronic resources. Check it out at www.provlib.org . The picture of the Crown I got from the Images of America book on Pawtucket, so I presume that the theatre was in Pawtucket on North Main. North Main, I understand, is now called Roosevelt.
Sic transit gloria Beekmani!
Dave, great shots! I took similar photos a couple of weeks ago and was going to post mine. You saved me the need.