Some local folks have started publishing a semi-annual magazine called Growing Up in North Cambridge. One issue of this mentions that the Porter Square theatre was later renamed the Eliot before it closed. So I’ll ask CinemaTreasures to update this entry.
Before it closed entirely, the Eliot became a ballroom, as you can see from an ad at the lower-right corner of this page from MIT’s student newspaper, dated September 26, 1962.
A home-furnishings shop called Grand has opened on the ground floor. Brian Healy Architects occupy the second floor. The Function should be changed to Retail and Offices, and the description changed appropriately.
The line between first- and second-run is getting very blurred lately. If a movie opens here a few weeks into its first run elsewhere (which I think is the case here), is that a first run or a second?
And a couple more old Boston cinemas now used exclusively as concert halls. It has been so long since they showed movies that I tend to forget them: Berklee Performance Center – unrecognizably modernized inside Orpheum Theatre – used primary for rock concerts
Still operating as single screen movie theatres: Brattle Theatre, Cambridge – art & repertory Loring Hall, Hingham – first run Studio Cinema, Belmont – second-run Cabot Street Cinema, Beverly – second-run, program changes at least weekly; also used by a resident magic show on Sundays Newburyport Screening Room – very small second-run art-house in a charming small city center
Other cinemas now used as live stages: Strand Theatre, Dorchester – closed for renovation last year but should reopen soon. Owned by the city of Boston Regent Theatre, Arlington (special movie showings still show up here occasionally) Orpheum Theatre, Foxboro – has occasionally shown movies as well
For an area as proud of its history as ours, this isn’t a lot.
I have no idea who Donald Fox is, and I still do not understand why you put that link in your comment, since it doesn’t say anything about Fox theatres.
I’m going to suggest changing the status of this to “Closed/Demolished”, since people agree that this part of the South Station building no longer stands.
I’m not sure the Chinese qualifies as ‘single-screen’ even though it was not subdivided when the adjoining multiplex was added. If this is allowed, I would have also mentioned the Somerville Theatre.
Rosebud is still here. I think the Uptown Cafe is now Johnny D’s. The basement of the Hobbs building now contains two of the newer small cinemas, as Ian Judge mentioned above.
I did not know it was possible for me to edit an existing theatre page. How do I do this?
(Also, shouldn’t movie and book names be in italics, rather than quotes?)
Some local folks have started publishing a semi-annual magazine called Growing Up in North Cambridge. One issue of this mentions that the Porter Square theatre was later renamed the Eliot before it closed. So I’ll ask CinemaTreasures to update this entry.
Before it closed entirely, the Eliot became a ballroom, as you can see from an ad at the lower-right corner of this page from MIT’s student newspaper, dated September 26, 1962.
What will its name be after Landmark takes it over?
If it is going to be “meeting/event space” does that mean it will no longer be a movie theatre, or that it will have fewer screens in the future?
I’m very sorry to hear this. Who would be the alternative — Landmark?
A home-furnishings shop called Grand has opened on the ground floor. Brian Healy Architects occupy the second floor. The Function should be changed to Retail and Offices, and the description changed appropriately.
Why did the theatre have this name?
In what town?
Looks closed and abandoned. Did the gym fail?
The line between first- and second-run is getting very blurred lately. If a movie opens here a few weeks into its first run elsewhere (which I think is the case here), is that a first run or a second?
And a couple more old Boston cinemas now used exclusively as concert halls. It has been so long since they showed movies that I tend to forget them:
Berklee Performance Center – unrecognizably modernized inside
Orpheum Theatre – used primary for rock concerts
Oops, left out one other old Boston theatre, which went from stage to movies then back to stage:
Boston University Theatre
In the Boston area:
Still operating as single screen movie theatres:
Brattle Theatre, Cambridge – art & repertory
Loring Hall, Hingham – first run
Studio Cinema, Belmont – second-run
Cabot Street Cinema, Beverly – second-run, program changes at least weekly; also used by a resident magic show on Sundays
Newburyport Screening Room – very small second-run art-house in a charming small city center
Downtown Boston ‘palaces’ converted (or re-converted) to live stages:
Wang Theatre
Opera House
Cutler Majestic
Other cinemas now used as live stages:
Strand Theatre, Dorchester – closed for renovation last year but should reopen soon. Owned by the city of Boston
Regent Theatre, Arlington (special movie showings still show up here occasionally)
Orpheum Theatre, Foxboro – has occasionally shown movies as well
For an area as proud of its history as ours, this isn’t a lot.
I have no idea who Donald Fox is, and I still do not understand why you put that link in your comment, since it doesn’t say anything about Fox theatres.
Fox is of course William Fox (née Fuchs) who founded a studio that eventually became 20th Century Fox. I think you need to learn some Hollywood history.
I don’t see anything about Fox theatres at that link.
Does this mean that the interior has been demolished?
I’m going to suggest changing the status of this to “Closed/Demolished”, since people agree that this part of the South Station building no longer stands.
Can you give us a more exact street address? Centre is a very long street. What is on this site now?
To answer that, you’ll first have to provide some definition of ‘palace’.
I’m not sure the Chinese qualifies as ‘single-screen’ even though it was not subdivided when the adjoining multiplex was added. If this is allowed, I would have also mentioned the Somerville Theatre.
In the Boston area, the only one I know of is Loring Hall in Hingham.
Los Angeles still has a whole bunch – the Crest, Bruin, Village, Regent, Royal come to mind, and there are probably others I’ve forgotten.
I think it’s now part of La Groceria restaurant.
Seems very doubtful to me that there would have been two different theatres with this name.
Rosebud is still here. I think the Uptown Cafe is now Johnny D’s. The basement of the Hobbs building now contains two of the newer small cinemas, as Ian Judge mentioned above.
Might be worth a letter to the editor of the local newspaper as well (probably the MetroWest Daily News)