Actually, I read that the studio (Paramount) had built that theater and I don’t belive it was built before the mid 20s. At the time Haverhill also had the Colonial, the Lafayette and the Strand. Mayer had left Haverhill by 1916 and as of 1920 the Colonial, Majestic, Strand, Orpheum and Academy of Music. Those I believe may have been the five he had owned there, with the Orpheum being his first.
Here is another photo, albiet poor quality, of the Paramount in Haverhill. Wanda, Mayer wasn’t originally from Haverhill but he got his start there in the industry in 1907.
According to Images of America: Methuen, Massachusetts:
“The Century Movie House or Methuen Movie House was located in Railroad Square across Pelham Street from the First United Methodist Church. Built about 1918, it could seat around 250-300 people. The Dead End Kids appeared there in the 1930s. The basement contained a bowling alley. The second floor was used by many different community groups. In the 1930s, the Methuen Brownie Club used the second floor as a meeting place. The Brownie Club was a social organization known for the minstrel shows they produced and held in the Central School auditorium. The Brownies also fielded several neighborhood sports teams. In the 1940s, the Civil Defense, Draft Board and Police School, among others, used the second floor for their meetings. The theater was torn down to create an entrance to the Massachusetts Electric Power Station.”
Hi Mike, cool story.
Yeah most people don’t know about changeovers, or cue marks. I used to hate telling them abbout cue mark. Once you see notice them and know they’re there, you always see them. We used to have a little tool for enhancing them or making our own that would just remove the emulsion in a small ring. To be honest, what with the popularity of automation, I’m not sure if they still put them on the reels. I haven’t been in a booth in 25 years.
Just another note, I believe the Strand started life as the Imperial Theater at the same addess in 1916 though the business directory lists it at South Broadway. That I believe is a mistake since there was little on the south side of the river then and that location is actually an old fire station.
Hi Patsy. Someone else commented about it on another theater wher I also posted a thumbnail and link. I missed that in the comment policy unfortunately. Thank you though for also bringinf it to my attention.
If I remember correctly, it was located in the town center on Essex St behind the Memorial Library and today the site is occupied by an expansion in the rear of the library.
You’re right Chuck, I missed that. I posted the link and embedded the thumbnial. Didn’t see the comment policy till you just mentioned it.
Sorry, Thanks for pointing it out.
Hmm, I didn’t see this entry and added this theater again. I have it operational as late as 1967. I remember seeing the movie “Is Paris Burning?” there as a kid.
That’s interesting Ron. The earliset entry I found in the business directories was for 1956. It must’ve been constructed years before that then. Thanks
I’ve got more than a few pictures now courtesy of the Lawrence Public Library and the Immigrant City Archives of Theater Row in addition to some pix of the current location put up here now.
[url]http://www.pbase.com/jroy/theaterrow[/url]
I’m still working on some of the other individual ones in the city.
Here’s a recent photo
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/image/122541960
Actually, I read that the studio (Paramount) had built that theater and I don’t belive it was built before the mid 20s. At the time Haverhill also had the Colonial, the Lafayette and the Strand. Mayer had left Haverhill by 1916 and as of 1920 the Colonial, Majestic, Strand, Orpheum and Academy of Music. Those I believe may have been the five he had owned there, with the Orpheum being his first.
Here is another photo, albiet poor quality, of the Paramount in Haverhill. Wanda, Mayer wasn’t originally from Haverhill but he got his start there in the industry in 1907.
http://www.pbase.com/image/122986992
This sounds great. I will make every effort to attend.
I added the Lawrence Opera House to CT. Thanks for your help with this Ron
/theaters/32201/
see also http://www.pbase.com/jroy/operahouse
Here’s a photo of the current state
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/image/122957270
According to Images of America: Methuen, Massachusetts:
“The Century Movie House or Methuen Movie House was located in Railroad Square across Pelham Street from the First United Methodist Church. Built about 1918, it could seat around 250-300 people. The Dead End Kids appeared there in the 1930s. The basement contained a bowling alley. The second floor was used by many different community groups. In the 1930s, the Methuen Brownie Club used the second floor as a meeting place. The Brownie Club was a social organization known for the minstrel shows they produced and held in the Central School auditorium. The Brownies also fielded several neighborhood sports teams. In the 1940s, the Civil Defense, Draft Board and Police School, among others, used the second floor for their meetings. The theater was torn down to create an entrance to the Massachusetts Electric Power Station.”
http://www.pbase.com/image/122956419
The Pastime theater was located in the “Truell Building” on Essex St.
Hi Mike, cool story.
Yeah most people don’t know about changeovers, or cue marks. I used to hate telling them abbout cue mark. Once you see notice them and know they’re there, you always see them. We used to have a little tool for enhancing them or making our own that would just remove the emulsion in a small ring. To be honest, what with the popularity of automation, I’m not sure if they still put them on the reels. I haven’t been in a booth in 25 years.
I’ve assembled and added a couple of pictures of the Modern in a gallery here http://www.pbase.com/jroy/modern I’ll add more there as I get them.
Just another note, I believe the Strand started life as the Imperial Theater at the same addess in 1916 though the business directory lists it at South Broadway. That I believe is a mistake since there was little on the south side of the river then and that location is actually an old fire station.
I’ve assmebled and added a few pictures of the Strand and Astor in a gallery here http://www.pbase.com/jroy/strand
I’ve assembled and added a few pix of the Broadway to this gallery if you’re interested.
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/broadway
Hi Patsy. Someone else commented about it on another theater wher I also posted a thumbnail and link. I missed that in the comment policy unfortunately. Thank you though for also bringinf it to my attention.
If I remember correctly, it was located in the town center on Essex St behind the Memorial Library and today the site is occupied by an expansion in the rear of the library.
You’re right Chuck, I missed that. I posted the link and embedded the thumbnial. Didn’t see the comment policy till you just mentioned it.
Sorry, Thanks for pointing it out.
The Victoria
Hmm, I didn’t see this entry and added this theater again. I have it operational as late as 1967. I remember seeing the movie “Is Paris Burning?” there as a kid.
That’s interesting Ron. The earliset entry I found in the business directories was for 1956. It must’ve been constructed years before that then. Thanks
The Merrimack Park closed around 1985. I worked there as a projectionist filling in on occasion in 1982 and 83.
[url]http://www.pbase.com/jroy/image/122827792[/url]
Sorry, that should be A.A. Kellerman
I’ve got more than a few pictures now courtesy of the Lawrence Public Library and the Immigrant City Archives of Theater Row in addition to some pix of the current location put up here now.
[url]http://www.pbase.com/jroy/theaterrow[/url]
I’m still working on some of the other individual ones in the city.
I added an entry for the Nickel theater which was the theater on the site prior to the Empire/Warner. see CinemaTreasures.org ID: 32127
Correction, the reference in the first paragraph should read “according to Lawrence, Massachusetts: Images of America Vol. II by Ken Skulski.”
Here is a photo of the Star Theater, courtesy the Lawrence Public Library
see http://www.pbase.com/image/122518333