In the auction photos of the Regent, there is a shot of the inner foyer which shows a staircase at the end. Since the theater had no balcony, the staircase could have led up to, in addition to the projection booth, perhaps restrooms and lounge ??
Mitch and Moe Mark, who opened the Comique, were not actually from Lynn MA, although they operated an early cinema there. They were from outside New England and were true film pioneers, recognizing the potential of the medium way back in the mid-1890s. Their early cinema ventures were adaptations of existing buildings until into the 1910s when they were involved in new construction. It seems unlikely that the Marks would have purchased a building on Tremont Row, demolished it, and build the Comique as a new structure. If so, what happened to it? It isn’t there in 1930s and 1940s photos. I think only the fancy facade was new.
In the Street View photo above, the entrance to the Uphams Theatre was located approximately at the left part of the one-story building and where the open metal gate is.
In the Street View photo above, the Puritan was located where the 6-story brick building is, to the right of the 2-story corner building with the green awning.
In the Street View photo, the Olympic was located about where the fancy bronze door is on the left side of the ‘Deco phone company building in the left-center of the photo. Just to the right of the double light pole.
In the business news of the Quincy Patriot Ledger yesterday was an item which states that construction work at the Regal in Kingston will begin in September and take 8 months. The cinema will remain open during the work. It will remain a 14-screener.
It’s very difficult to preserve a theater like the Casino when the town administration wants to construct a municipal parking lot on the site! Or otherwise has no interest in the structure.
In the Streetview photo above, the Adams was in the 2-story white building down the street, not in the brown-brick building nearest the camera. There was a marquee there; you walked in and then turned right to face the screen.
In the Google Streetview photo above, the Liberty’s entrance is just beyond the light pole and the blue awning. The decorative filials poking up at the top of the theater facade are original.
In the Google Streetview photo above, the entrance to the Liberty was under the arch. There was a marquee above the doors and in front of the arch. What’s there today behind the entrance?
The Strand in Manchester is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Shea Circuit, run by Shea-Chain Inc & Affiliates of 1540 Broadway, New York City. Other Manchester movie theaters run by Shea at that time were: State, Palace, Crown, Vitaphone.
The Magnet in Claremont is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of Sharby Theatres, Fred Sharby, of Keene NH. Sharby also ran at that time the Tremont Theatre in Claremont.
The Jan.15, 1916 issue of Moving Picture World trade magazine had a short item about the recent opening of the Fenway Th. There was also a facade photo. The building was owned by Colonial Realty and managed by Stanley Summer. The movie screen had “gold fibre” cloth. The organist also served at the Trinity Church. There was also an orchestra and “high class” vocal artistes who performed between films. There were young women ushers. Over 15,000 attended the open house on opening day.
Further to the list of Scenic Temples in eastern New England mentioned in previous posts: there was a Scenic Temple in Portsmouth NH as of 1916 and prior years. It showed both movies and vaudeville and was the former Pierce Hall. It’s not listed in CT.
Mark- OK, thanks. If it was still running in 1931, then it would indeed have been part of Publix/Netoco. And it would have been wired for sound. I knew that it had a street running along its right side.
MarkB- I’m not sure; the Dudley St. Opera House dated from the 1870s, seated around 700-800 in an auditorium upstairs. After 1920 or so, it functioned mostly as a meeting hall and a dance hall, not as a theater. It’s possible the Hibernians met there, or maybe they had their own hall?? I walked by it once about 1960. Didn’t realize what it was. There was a solid double door with a glass transom above it with “Dudley Street Opera House” printed on the glass.
The Boston Herald reported today that the Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved the Berklee College Master Plan for their section of Mass. Avenue. I don’t know what’s in the plan today, but 4 years ago it called for the demolition of this theater, and the construction of a new building containing a new theater.
In the 1942-43 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac, the State in Sanford is listed as part of E.M. Loew Theatres of Boston MA. EML also ran the Capitol Th. in Sanford ME at the time.
I was downtown today and went by the theater’s Washington Street lobby entrance. Set back several inches from the sidewalk just inside the entrance (under the marquee) there is a prison-like wall of heavy metal bars. The wall has a double gate which opens and swings out. This area looks like the entrance to Alcatraz Prison or the Bastille.
Mike L. also says that the nickname for this house was “Joe Mack’s Theatre” (although I have also heard just plain “Joe’s Theatre”).
Moreover, he is adamant that it’s not torn down and is still there. So I went back yesterday and checked— he’s correct. My mistake was in placing it directly across from the front door of the Abington Depot restaurant, when in fact it was down the street aways across from the far end of the restaurant parking spaces. He says that it was all intact,inside and out, until recent years, maybe about 2000 or so. It was used for storage; for example, there were 2 antique popcorn wagons inside. Now it has been totally rehabbed inside into office space and the sidewalk in front rebuilt so that there is even a little lawn in front of it. The address is 82 Railroad St., not “52” as on the 1941 MGM Report.
In the auction photos of the Regent, there is a shot of the inner foyer which shows a staircase at the end. Since the theater had no balcony, the staircase could have led up to, in addition to the projection booth, perhaps restrooms and lounge ??
Mitch and Moe Mark, who opened the Comique, were not actually from Lynn MA, although they operated an early cinema there. They were from outside New England and were true film pioneers, recognizing the potential of the medium way back in the mid-1890s. Their early cinema ventures were adaptations of existing buildings until into the 1910s when they were involved in new construction. It seems unlikely that the Marks would have purchased a building on Tremont Row, demolished it, and build the Comique as a new structure. If so, what happened to it? It isn’t there in 1930s and 1940s photos. I think only the fancy facade was new.
In the Street View photo above, the entrance to the Uphams Theatre was located approximately at the left part of the one-story building and where the open metal gate is.
In the Google Street View photo above, the bank building with the green trim and the clock on the facade is the location of Winthrop Hall Theatre.
In the Street View photo, the Stand was located in the parking lot on the right side of the street, behind the hedges and fence.
In the Street View photo above, the Puritan was located where the 6-story brick building is, to the right of the 2-story corner building with the green awning.
In the Street View photo, the Olympic was located about where the fancy bronze door is on the left side of the ‘Deco phone company building in the left-center of the photo. Just to the right of the double light pole.
In the business news of the Quincy Patriot Ledger yesterday was an item which states that construction work at the Regal in Kingston will begin in September and take 8 months. The cinema will remain open during the work. It will remain a 14-screener.
It’s very difficult to preserve a theater like the Casino when the town administration wants to construct a municipal parking lot on the site! Or otherwise has no interest in the structure.
In the Streetview photo above, the Adams was in the 2-story white building down the street, not in the brown-brick building nearest the camera. There was a marquee there; you walked in and then turned right to face the screen.
In the Google Streetview photo above, the Liberty’s entrance is just beyond the light pole and the blue awning. The decorative filials poking up at the top of the theater facade are original.
In the Google Streetview photo above, the entrance to the Liberty was under the arch. There was a marquee above the doors and in front of the arch. What’s there today behind the entrance?
Yes, it was located at about the far-right north end of the Center Plaza building.
The Strand in Manchester is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Shea Circuit, run by Shea-Chain Inc & Affiliates of 1540 Broadway, New York City. Other Manchester movie theaters run by Shea at that time were: State, Palace, Crown, Vitaphone.
The Magnet in Claremont is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of Sharby Theatres, Fred Sharby, of Keene NH. Sharby also ran at that time the Tremont Theatre in Claremont.
I’ve heard that the Stuart St. Playhouse closed about a month ago. Anyone know details?
The Jan.15, 1916 issue of Moving Picture World trade magazine had a short item about the recent opening of the Fenway Th. There was also a facade photo. The building was owned by Colonial Realty and managed by Stanley Summer. The movie screen had “gold fibre” cloth. The organist also served at the Trinity Church. There was also an orchestra and “high class” vocal artistes who performed between films. There were young women ushers. Over 15,000 attended the open house on opening day.
Further to the list of Scenic Temples in eastern New England mentioned in previous posts: there was a Scenic Temple in Portsmouth NH as of 1916 and prior years. It showed both movies and vaudeville and was the former Pierce Hall. It’s not listed in CT.
Mark- OK, thanks. If it was still running in 1931, then it would indeed have been part of Publix/Netoco. And it would have been wired for sound. I knew that it had a street running along its right side.
MarkB- I’m not sure; the Dudley St. Opera House dated from the 1870s, seated around 700-800 in an auditorium upstairs. After 1920 or so, it functioned mostly as a meeting hall and a dance hall, not as a theater. It’s possible the Hibernians met there, or maybe they had their own hall?? I walked by it once about 1960. Didn’t realize what it was. There was a solid double door with a glass transom above it with “Dudley Street Opera House” printed on the glass.
The Boston Herald reported today that the Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved the Berklee College Master Plan for their section of Mass. Avenue. I don’t know what’s in the plan today, but 4 years ago it called for the demolition of this theater, and the construction of a new building containing a new theater.
In the 1942-43 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac, the State in Sanford is listed as part of E.M. Loew Theatres of Boston MA. EML also ran the Capitol Th. in Sanford ME at the time.
I was downtown today and went by the theater’s Washington Street lobby entrance. Set back several inches from the sidewalk just inside the entrance (under the marquee) there is a prison-like wall of heavy metal bars. The wall has a double gate which opens and swings out. This area looks like the entrance to Alcatraz Prison or the Bastille.
Which Bijou? in Chelsea?
Mike L. also says that the nickname for this house was “Joe Mack’s Theatre” (although I have also heard just plain “Joe’s Theatre”).
Moreover, he is adamant that it’s not torn down and is still there. So I went back yesterday and checked— he’s correct. My mistake was in placing it directly across from the front door of the Abington Depot restaurant, when in fact it was down the street aways across from the far end of the restaurant parking spaces. He says that it was all intact,inside and out, until recent years, maybe about 2000 or so. It was used for storage; for example, there were 2 antique popcorn wagons inside. Now it has been totally rehabbed inside into office space and the sidewalk in front rebuilt so that there is even a little lawn in front of it. The address is 82 Railroad St., not “52” as on the 1941 MGM Report.