The new ArcLight cinema is located in a new building directly in front of the newer version of North Station which originally was right on Causeway Street for decades and now is located in back, to the north. The cinema is on the footprint of the original station, and its arena above. (The new arena is above the new station, to the rear.) I believe that this is ArcLight’s first cinema in the Boston area.
Construction has started on a large new theater very close to the Regal Fenway. It’s the “MGM Music Hall”; will be operated by Live Nation and is very close to the Fenway Park Red Sox stadium. They give a capacity of “5400” but I don’t know if that’s 5400 seats or a combination of seats in the two large balconies plus standing spaces on the main floor. Live Nation also has the big new Oakdale Theatre on the outskirts of Wallingford CT.
This cinema is the subject of the “Whatever Happened to…” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Nov. 13, 2019. There is a night exterior photo from 1966. The copy says that it opened as a twin on Nov. 16, 1966. About 1,000 people attended. Movies: “The Liquidator” and Tony Curtis in “Not With My Wife You Don’t”. There were 25 sets of young twins present. Run by General Cinemas, later by AMC. Closed in 1993 when a new AMC cinema opened across Granite Street. The building became a Circuit City electronics store, and is now a Dave & Buster’s. The article implies that the building was not demolished and still exists.
The Garden was recently sold by the partners who owned it to a husband & wife team. (He worked in the Garden as a student). They plan some refurbishment, but will continue operation as before.
The Wollaston Theatre was the subject of the “Whatever happened to…?” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Oct. 30. The text mentions that when the theatre was sold to Arthur & Yvonne Chandler in 1979 it had been owned by the Edward Sears family for 50 years. There is an undated photo of the entrance and marquee listing the movie “Grease” Wed thru Tuesday; the movie “Fluffy” at 2PM Sat and Sunday; and a stage show at 730PM on Sunday. The text mentions that although it was demolished several years ago, there is still nothing on the site today, but there are plans for condos.
Acording to news reports debris from the collapse of the new building in the next lot fell onto the theatre roof; the theatre was closed and the show playing there had to vacate. I don’t know what the current status is.
At an undetermined date, the Patriot Cinemas at Hanover Mall will close, to be sold to the Hanover Company, which whill construct four 4-story apartment buildngs on the site. The Hanover Mall itself (a classic indoor mall) is to be demolished and replaced with an outdoor mall, “Hanover Crossing”. Among the new tenants will be Showcase Cinemas which will feature 10 screens, 1,000 seats and a bar in a 42,500 square-foot complex. Opening sometime after 2021. This news was reported today in the Quincy Patriot Ledger.
This cinema was located on Memorial Parkway which is the location of Randolph High School. On the site of the cinema today is a retail store and a bank branch, but it’s unclear if they are within the former cinema building, or if the cinema was demolished and a new building constructed.
I know nothing about this cinema and never went there. But it was profiled in the “Whatever Happened to ?” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of August 7, 2019. There is an exterior photo taken on the last day of operation, 9/11/1988. The final movie was “Clean and Sober” with 20+ patrons attending. The article states that Patriot Cinemas had trouble obtaining product for this cinema in a timely manner and that films sometimes played there after they had been released on video.
St. Jeans is listed under Webster MA in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook. No seating capacity is given. Two other theaters in Webster at the time were Coster Theatre and Steinburgs.
There is a Park Theatre listed under Philadelphia in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. This guide does not have street addresses. The capacity of the theatre, which was on the ground floor, was 1,952 on the orchestra floor and 2 balconies. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide X 32 feet high, and the stage was 47 feet deep. There were 10 members of the house orchestra. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. William J. Gilmore was Mgr. There was both gas and electric illumination.
More details about the possible reopening: the present owner paid only $60K for the building. He has let the prospective buyers into the theatre many times for planning purposes and cleaning up. There are 2 storefront tenants on the ground floor and these will be retained. An elevator will be installed in the lobby to reach the upper floors. A semi-circular forestage or apron will be built at the front of the stage. New stage equipment will be installed. For now, they seem to be using the old name “Olympia”.
This theatre may be reopened. (it was never gutted out inside).There are 2 people who are negotiating to purchase it. They want to rehab it, build a forestage, and operate it as a music hall, with a bar & grill on the main floor and live music acts on weekends.
The Quincy Patriot Ledger on June 5 once again presented its “Whatever Happened to —” feature, this time about the Capitol Theatre. There is a photo of the big sign on the rear stage wall. This photo looks much better in the on-line edition than it does in the print edition. The sign reads “Quincy Theatre / First Class Vaudeville / Feature Pictures / Matinee 10 cents, 20 cents / Evening 25 cents, 35 cents”. This sign was easily visible right up until demolition in 1962. Visible in the photo are two single doors in the rear stage wall – both have no steps under them so there is a fall to the ground of 5 or 6 feet. The article correctly states that the Capitol had no a.c. so it closed summers. They say it closed for the season in 1952 and never reopened, but I believe it closed at the begining of the 1950 summer.
This building was scheduled to be open yesterday,May 11, as part of the “Doors Open Lowell” project. The blurb says “This High Victorian Gothic-style structure (1876) was originally built as a train depot but is more commonly known locally as the former Rialto Theatre up until 1960 when it was converted into a bowling alley. Discover how it has recently been spectacularly rehabilitated by Middlesex Community College and is now home to the Richard & Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center.” www.doorsopenlowell.org
The Jobson Opera House is listed under Macon MO in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. H.E. Logan was Mgr. 800 seats, theatre on ground floor. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 18 feet high; the stage was 27 feet deep. There were 3 weekly newspapers; and 3 hotels for show folk. Railroads: Wabash, and CB&Q. The 1897 population was 6,000.
This theatre has rented out its “naming rights” recently and is now the “Citizens Bank Opera House” or “Citizens Bank Boston Opera House” (I’ve seen both names.) I realize that naming is a source of serious revenue to these facilities, but it rubs a tradtionalist the wrong way: what’s next ?: Google Opera House, Toyota Opera House, Fox News Opera House, Trump Foundation Opera House, Yamaha Opera House, Jet Blue Opera House ??
In the list of theatres in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, under Bridgewater Mass., there is a Princess Theatre, open 6 days per week, and having 425 seats.
In the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide there is a “Whitehead’s Opera House” listed for Passaic. Unfortunately, there are no street addresses in this Guide, so I don’t know if it’s this theater or not. It was run by W. Whitehead, had 900 seats and was on the first floor.
The Lincoln Theatre was the subject of the occasional “Whatever Happened to —–” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Jan 30, 2019. There is a demolition photo somewhat similar to the one posted here. The copy says that it opened in the WW I era as the Casino Theatre. It was run for over 20 years by J. Alcide “Al” Beaumier, owner of the American Anodizing Corp. in Quincy. A fire led to a renovation and re- opening in 1935. It had a new a.c. system, a system for the hearing-impaired, a mammoth chandelier, and nearly 1,000 seats. Various live events were presented. At one rally during WW 2, $ 151,000 worth of War Bonds were sold. In April 1951, an electrical fire in the bowling alley forced 40 bowlers and 100 movie goers to the street. Al Beaumier was killed in an auto accident in Quebec in 1956. The Lincoln closed in the mid-1970s and was demolished in 1980. A commercial building is on the site today.
The Grand Opera House in St. Catherines in listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. T.D. Lalor was Mgr; there were 1,196 seats, tickets 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 30 feet wide X 26 feet high; the stage was 31 feet deep. There was gas illumination; the house was on the ground floor and there were 7 in the house orchestra. There were 3 daily newspapers, and 3 hotels for show folk. The 1897 population was 20,000.
Back in the 1970s, the Golden Age of porno movies in cinemas (before the advent of VHS tapes for home use), there were a number of small XXX-rated cinemas like this one set up in storefronts, much like the “Nickelodeons” back in the early days of movies. I, very snobbishly, never considered them to be “real theatres” so I didn’t pay much attention to them back then. I have only a very vague memory of this one.
The new ArcLight cinema is located in a new building directly in front of the newer version of North Station which originally was right on Causeway Street for decades and now is located in back, to the north. The cinema is on the footprint of the original station, and its arena above. (The new arena is above the new station, to the rear.) I believe that this is ArcLight’s first cinema in the Boston area.
Construction has started on a large new theater very close to the Regal Fenway. It’s the “MGM Music Hall”; will be operated by Live Nation and is very close to the Fenway Park Red Sox stadium. They give a capacity of “5400” but I don’t know if that’s 5400 seats or a combination of seats in the two large balconies plus standing spaces on the main floor. Live Nation also has the big new Oakdale Theatre on the outskirts of Wallingford CT.
This cinema is the subject of the “Whatever Happened to…” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Nov. 13, 2019. There is a night exterior photo from 1966. The copy says that it opened as a twin on Nov. 16, 1966. About 1,000 people attended. Movies: “The Liquidator” and Tony Curtis in “Not With My Wife You Don’t”. There were 25 sets of young twins present. Run by General Cinemas, later by AMC. Closed in 1993 when a new AMC cinema opened across Granite Street. The building became a Circuit City electronics store, and is now a Dave & Buster’s. The article implies that the building was not demolished and still exists.
The Garden was recently sold by the partners who owned it to a husband & wife team. (He worked in the Garden as a student). They plan some refurbishment, but will continue operation as before.
The Wollaston Theatre was the subject of the “Whatever happened to…?” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Oct. 30. The text mentions that when the theatre was sold to Arthur & Yvonne Chandler in 1979 it had been owned by the Edward Sears family for 50 years. There is an undated photo of the entrance and marquee listing the movie “Grease” Wed thru Tuesday; the movie “Fluffy” at 2PM Sat and Sunday; and a stage show at 730PM on Sunday. The text mentions that although it was demolished several years ago, there is still nothing on the site today, but there are plans for condos.
Acording to news reports debris from the collapse of the new building in the next lot fell onto the theatre roof; the theatre was closed and the show playing there had to vacate. I don’t know what the current status is.
The more venues in this data-base, the better, as far as I’m concerned.
At an undetermined date, the Patriot Cinemas at Hanover Mall will close, to be sold to the Hanover Company, which whill construct four 4-story apartment buildngs on the site. The Hanover Mall itself (a classic indoor mall) is to be demolished and replaced with an outdoor mall, “Hanover Crossing”. Among the new tenants will be Showcase Cinemas which will feature 10 screens, 1,000 seats and a bar in a 42,500 square-foot complex. Opening sometime after 2021. This news was reported today in the Quincy Patriot Ledger.
This cinema was located on Memorial Parkway which is the location of Randolph High School. On the site of the cinema today is a retail store and a bank branch, but it’s unclear if they are within the former cinema building, or if the cinema was demolished and a new building constructed.
I know nothing about this cinema and never went there. But it was profiled in the “Whatever Happened to ?” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of August 7, 2019. There is an exterior photo taken on the last day of operation, 9/11/1988. The final movie was “Clean and Sober” with 20+ patrons attending. The article states that Patriot Cinemas had trouble obtaining product for this cinema in a timely manner and that films sometimes played there after they had been released on video.
St. Jeans is listed under Webster MA in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook. No seating capacity is given. Two other theaters in Webster at the time were Coster Theatre and Steinburgs.
There is a Park Theatre listed under Philadelphia in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. This guide does not have street addresses. The capacity of the theatre, which was on the ground floor, was 1,952 on the orchestra floor and 2 balconies. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide X 32 feet high, and the stage was 47 feet deep. There were 10 members of the house orchestra. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. William J. Gilmore was Mgr. There was both gas and electric illumination.
More details about the possible reopening: the present owner paid only $60K for the building. He has let the prospective buyers into the theatre many times for planning purposes and cleaning up. There are 2 storefront tenants on the ground floor and these will be retained. An elevator will be installed in the lobby to reach the upper floors. A semi-circular forestage or apron will be built at the front of the stage. New stage equipment will be installed. For now, they seem to be using the old name “Olympia”.
This theatre may be reopened. (it was never gutted out inside).There are 2 people who are negotiating to purchase it. They want to rehab it, build a forestage, and operate it as a music hall, with a bar & grill on the main floor and live music acts on weekends.
The Quincy Patriot Ledger on June 5 once again presented its “Whatever Happened to —” feature, this time about the Capitol Theatre. There is a photo of the big sign on the rear stage wall. This photo looks much better in the on-line edition than it does in the print edition. The sign reads “Quincy Theatre / First Class Vaudeville / Feature Pictures / Matinee 10 cents, 20 cents / Evening 25 cents, 35 cents”. This sign was easily visible right up until demolition in 1962. Visible in the photo are two single doors in the rear stage wall – both have no steps under them so there is a fall to the ground of 5 or 6 feet. The article correctly states that the Capitol had no a.c. so it closed summers. They say it closed for the season in 1952 and never reopened, but I believe it closed at the begining of the 1950 summer.
This building was scheduled to be open yesterday,May 11, as part of the “Doors Open Lowell” project. The blurb says “This High Victorian Gothic-style structure (1876) was originally built as a train depot but is more commonly known locally as the former Rialto Theatre up until 1960 when it was converted into a bowling alley. Discover how it has recently been spectacularly rehabilitated by Middlesex Community College and is now home to the Richard & Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center.” www.doorsopenlowell.org
The Jobson Opera House is listed under Macon MO in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. H.E. Logan was Mgr. 800 seats, theatre on ground floor. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 18 feet high; the stage was 27 feet deep. There were 3 weekly newspapers; and 3 hotels for show folk. Railroads: Wabash, and CB&Q. The 1897 population was 6,000.
The seating capacity listed in the 1927 FDY, 425, is very close to that listed on the 1941 MGM Theatre Report: 328 + 84 = 412.
This theatre has rented out its “naming rights” recently and is now the “Citizens Bank Opera House” or “Citizens Bank Boston Opera House” (I’ve seen both names.) I realize that naming is a source of serious revenue to these facilities, but it rubs a tradtionalist the wrong way: what’s next ?: Google Opera House, Toyota Opera House, Fox News Opera House, Trump Foundation Opera House, Yamaha Opera House, Jet Blue Opera House ??
In the list of theatres in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, under Bridgewater Mass., there is a Princess Theatre, open 6 days per week, and having 425 seats.
In the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide there is a “Whitehead’s Opera House” listed for Passaic. Unfortunately, there are no street addresses in this Guide, so I don’t know if it’s this theater or not. It was run by W. Whitehead, had 900 seats and was on the first floor.
The Lincoln Theatre was the subject of the occasional “Whatever Happened to —–” feature in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Jan 30, 2019. There is a demolition photo somewhat similar to the one posted here. The copy says that it opened in the WW I era as the Casino Theatre. It was run for over 20 years by J. Alcide “Al” Beaumier, owner of the American Anodizing Corp. in Quincy. A fire led to a renovation and re- opening in 1935. It had a new a.c. system, a system for the hearing-impaired, a mammoth chandelier, and nearly 1,000 seats. Various live events were presented. At one rally during WW 2, $ 151,000 worth of War Bonds were sold. In April 1951, an electrical fire in the bowling alley forced 40 bowlers and 100 movie goers to the street. Al Beaumier was killed in an auto accident in Quebec in 1956. The Lincoln closed in the mid-1970s and was demolished in 1980. A commercial building is on the site today.
The Grand Opera House in St. Catherines in listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. T.D. Lalor was Mgr; there were 1,196 seats, tickets 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 30 feet wide X 26 feet high; the stage was 31 feet deep. There was gas illumination; the house was on the ground floor and there were 7 in the house orchestra. There were 3 daily newspapers, and 3 hotels for show folk. The 1897 population was 20,000.
This little Capri downtown is not to be confused with the Capri theaters run by Sack Theatres in two locations on Huntington Ave.
Back in the 1970s, the Golden Age of porno movies in cinemas (before the advent of VHS tapes for home use), there were a number of small XXX-rated cinemas like this one set up in storefronts, much like the “Nickelodeons” back in the early days of movies. I, very snobbishly, never considered them to be “real theatres” so I didn’t pay much attention to them back then. I have only a very vague memory of this one.