State Theatre
617 Washington Street,
Boston,
MA
02111
617 Washington Street,
Boston,
MA
02111
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I posted this comment regarding the theatre when it was known as the Trans-Lux in a separate Trans-Lux posting (which probably should be removed.)
I never went to the Trans-Lux in the 1950s. I was a young child and lived in Providence. But I remember looking at newspaper ads of the theatre and it suggested to me a world of the forbidden. Memory plays tricks sometimes, but I seem to recall that Julien Duvivier’s film “Deadlier than the Male” played here. It starred Jean Gabin and Danièle Delorme. I don’t think I had yet actually ever seen one, but French films of the time seemed to have an aura of the forbidden, enough to educe from me many a prepubescent blush, often just from the titles of the films. I associated the names of many of the stars of that era with a special privileged adult world that was closed to us little ones: names like Gérard Philipe, Françoise Arnoul, Danielle Darrieux and many others. I believe the Trans-Lux may also have done second-run art-house fare (again preferring the racier entries) that had already played other venues such as the Beacon Hill, Kenmore, or Exeter. I would really like to hear additional information from those who may have clearer recollections concerning ambience and programming at the Trans-Lux.
In the late 70’s I was able to get interiors of this Theatre
by sneaking up to the balcony and-using high speed film-taking
around 5 minute time exposures of the auditorium using reflected light off the screen. The place smelled like a toilet then especially
at the balcony top on the far side of the booth.
This time exposure thing works good if the seat armrests are flat to place a camera for long periods.
From the Boston Athenaeum library’s theatre collection:
The State Theatre on Washington Street was one of the last two surviving Boston theaters from the 19th century (the other being Tremont Theatre). Originally called the Park Theatre, it was erected by the successful actress Lotta Crabtree, who reputedly became the city’s largest tax payer. The wealthy Ms. Crabtree opened the theater in La Cigale on April 14, 1879. Apart from Ms. Crabtree herself, prominent actors at the Park included Madame Janauschek, Edwin Booth and Richard Mansfield.
At her death in 1924, Crabtree left more than $4 million to various charities which still are administered in Boston by the Crabtree Trust.
The theatre was remodelled by architect Clarence Blackall in 1903. Blackall designed more than a dozen Boston theatres of that period.
In the early 1930s, the Minsky brother acquired ownership of the Park Theatre. It became “Minsky’s Park Burlesque” where Gypsy Rose Lee did her striptease act. Later, the theatre was converted to a movie house and became known as the “Hub” and later as the “Trans-Lux”.
The Ritz-Carlton Towers complex now occupies the former site of this theatre.
The address in a 1963 newspaper ad was given as 617 Washington Street.
I believe it was known as the Trans-Lux in the 1950’s where it indeed specialized in the racier foreign films that contained subject matter not generaly allowed in American movies.