And if you’re visiting before the end of April, try to stop by Sacco’s Bowl-Haven on Day Street. It will soon be sold and converted to other uses, though the buyer says she wants to keep some of the bowling lanes.
The Star Market grocery that replaced this theatre will close on January 26, 2008, according to an article published in the Somerville Journal on November 21. No idea what will replace the Star Market.
Another Central Square Theater (this time spelled “-er”) will open next spring at 450 Massachusetts Avenue. It will be home to the Nora Theatre Company and the Underground Railway Theater company.
This one is for live performance, not movies, and it’s on the opposite side of Mass. Ave. from the previous two Central Square theatres. But it will be nice to see the name ‘Central Square’ used once again for a theater.
Federal Realty’s plans for future Assembly Square development include a movie theatre. Federal’s land is between the current strip-mall and the Mystic River, and does not include the land occupied by this former cinema and its parking lot.
The nearest multiplex to Somerville is actually not in Fresh Pond. It’s the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, which has 5 screens. There’s also the Capitol Theatre in East Arlington, with 6 screens, and the AMC-Loews Harvard Square, with 5 screens.
The marquee has room for 12 movies, and has the numbers 1 through 10 on it. How many screens are here now? Are they planning to add more to match the sign?
The address on this entry should be changed to something more specific. The former theatre building is now occupied by Quest Diagnostics (originally “Bioran”), a medical lab whose address is 415 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge 02139.
If you have a chance to return, it might be neat to take photos of the big two-sided sign above the adjacent office building. This sign used to list all 12 movies being shown, for the benefit of drivers on I-93. Probably hard to get a good camera angle for it, though.
This 1930 map shows the “CENTRAL SQ. THEATRE”. Look near the left edge of the map, on the right (east) side of Massachusetts Avenue, just above (north of) Norfolk Street.
The building is still standing and still empty. All of the signs still look exactly as I reported above on March 3.
When I walked by it three days ago, I was able to open the front glass door! There appeared to be no security whatsoever. Had I not been on my way somewhere else, I could probably have wandered in and walked around in there for hours.
The Boston Sunday Globe’s South zoned section ran an article today on the closing of the Stoughton Cinema Pub. This afternoon’s live performance of “A Christmas Carol”, by Little Theatre of Stoughton, was the last scheduled event at this theatre.
It opened on December 8, 1927 as the State Theatre, which means it is closing just six days short of its 80th birthday. The first film ever shown here was “Smile, Brother, Smile,” starring Jack Mulhall and Dorothy Mackaill. (Despite what the Globe article says, I highly doubt that this or any other 1927 film was shown on a “wide screen”.)
Some local folks are trying to start a campaign to save it, but for the time being, we’ll have to change the Status of this theatre to “Closed”.
I am the person who added this theatre page to CinemaTreasures. Unfortunately I do not know anything more about the theatre, besides what I posted above from the Loew’s 1965 corporate annual report. Here is a link to page 7 of that report. You will need to rotate it 90 degrees in order to read it. I do not know whether the printed annual report was in color; this copy is in black-and-white.
The page has an artist’s drawing (not a photo) of the new theatre, which appears to me to be a non-descript modernist building with blank sidewalls but a lot of glass windows in the entry lobby. There is no marquee, but instead a free-standing sign outside the entrance. The drawing’s caption reads:
“Loew’s new Theatre in the heart of St. Petersburg, Florida, adjoins one of Florida’s largest and most successful shopping center complexes. Opens Dec. 25, 1965.”
Also on the same page is this text:
“Loew’s Theatres growth program is proceeding according to plan, with a minimum of twenty new theatres projected during the next two years. Before leasing arrangements are consummated, each theatre location is carefully researched as to immediate and future potential. The majority of these acquisitions will be located in important shopping centers situated in fast-growing suburban communities. Each theatre will provide extremely large parking facilities, be equipped to project all modern screen sizes, including 70 millimeter films, be seated with rocking-chair seats and be colorful in decor. Capacities will range from 1,200 to 1,400.”
He famously performed at the Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge in 1974, opening for Bonnie Raitt. After Jon Landau of Cambridge’s weekly The Real Paper saw him there, he wrote “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”, Unfortunately, the Harvard Square has since been multiplexed and is no longer a suitable venue for live performances.
In 2003, Springsteen performed two benefit concerts for DoubleTake magazine at the Somerville Theatre, about a mile and a half from Harvard Square. The Somerville was and remains today a very active and successful venue for both movies and live concerts. Sadly, the concerts did not ultimately save DoubleTake, which folded soon afterwards.
And if you’re visiting before the end of April, try to stop by Sacco’s Bowl-Haven on Day Street. It will soon be sold and converted to other uses, though the buyer says she wants to keep some of the bowling lanes.
If you have not seen Davis Square or the theatre since 1975, you are in for quite a surprise!
The Star Market grocery that replaced this theatre will close on January 26, 2008, according to an article published in the Somerville Journal on November 21. No idea what will replace the Star Market.
Another Central Square Theater (this time spelled “-er”) will open next spring at 450 Massachusetts Avenue. It will be home to the Nora Theatre Company and the Underground Railway Theater company.
This one is for live performance, not movies, and it’s on the opposite side of Mass. Ave. from the previous two Central Square theatres. But it will be nice to see the name ‘Central Square’ used once again for a theater.
Thanks, Ron. Here’s a link to the article.
One question not asked: Is the building’s condition now so poor that the city could justify taking it by eminent domain?
Federal Realty’s plans for future Assembly Square development include a movie theatre. Federal’s land is between the current strip-mall and the Mystic River, and does not include the land occupied by this former cinema and its parking lot.
The nearest multiplex to Somerville is actually not in Fresh Pond. It’s the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, which has 5 screens. There’s also the Capitol Theatre in East Arlington, with 6 screens, and the AMC-Loews Harvard Square, with 5 screens.
The marquee has room for 12 movies, and has the numbers 1 through 10 on it. How many screens are here now? Are they planning to add more to match the sign?
The address on this entry should be changed to something more specific. The former theatre building is now occupied by Quest Diagnostics (originally “Bioran”), a medical lab whose address is 415 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge 02139.
If you have a chance to return, it might be neat to take photos of the big two-sided sign above the adjacent office building. This sign used to list all 12 movies being shown, for the benefit of drivers on I-93. Probably hard to get a good camera angle for it, though.
Was the left door still openable when you took these photos? Did you open it and go in?
If you know of a theatre that is missing from this site, please add it.
Where does the name ‘Hanover’ come from?
This 1930 map shows the “CENTRAL SQ. THEATRE”. Look near the left edge of the map, on the right (east) side of Massachusetts Avenue, just above (north of) Norfolk Street.
Have there been any movies that destroy Chicago instead?
The building is still standing and still empty. All of the signs still look exactly as I reported above on March 3.
When I walked by it three days ago, I was able to open the front glass door! There appeared to be no security whatsoever. Had I not been on my way somewhere else, I could probably have wandered in and walked around in there for hours.
I’m not sure which one you mean, but if you have information about any other theatres in Chelsea, please add them to this site (as separate entries).
The Boston Sunday Globe’s South zoned section ran an article today on the closing of the Stoughton Cinema Pub. This afternoon’s live performance of “A Christmas Carol”, by Little Theatre of Stoughton, was the last scheduled event at this theatre.
It opened on December 8, 1927 as the State Theatre, which means it is closing just six days short of its 80th birthday. The first film ever shown here was “Smile, Brother, Smile,” starring Jack Mulhall and Dorothy Mackaill. (Despite what the Globe article says, I highly doubt that this or any other 1927 film was shown on a “wide screen”.)
Some local folks are trying to start a campaign to save it, but for the time being, we’ll have to change the Status of this theatre to “Closed”.
What does “Real D” mean, and what does a house have to do to be able to project 3D?
Will you please quit spamming every theatre page with this advertisement?
Is that really important enough for you to post as a comment to many different theatres?
I am the person who added this theatre page to CinemaTreasures. Unfortunately I do not know anything more about the theatre, besides what I posted above from the Loew’s 1965 corporate annual report. Here is a link to page 7 of that report. You will need to rotate it 90 degrees in order to read it. I do not know whether the printed annual report was in color; this copy is in black-and-white.
The page has an artist’s drawing (not a photo) of the new theatre, which appears to me to be a non-descript modernist building with blank sidewalls but a lot of glass windows in the entry lobby. There is no marquee, but instead a free-standing sign outside the entrance. The drawing’s caption reads:
“Loew’s new Theatre in the heart of St. Petersburg, Florida, adjoins one of Florida’s largest and most successful shopping center complexes. Opens Dec. 25, 1965.”
Also on the same page is this text:
“Loew’s Theatres growth program is proceeding according to plan, with a minimum of twenty new theatres projected during the next two years. Before leasing arrangements are consummated, each theatre location is carefully researched as to immediate and future potential. The majority of these acquisitions will be located in important shopping centers situated in fast-growing suburban communities. Each theatre will provide extremely large parking facilities, be equipped to project all modern screen sizes, including 70 millimeter films, be seated with rocking-chair seats and be colorful in decor. Capacities will range from 1,200 to 1,400.”
He famously performed at the Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge in 1974, opening for Bonnie Raitt. After Jon Landau of Cambridge’s weekly The Real Paper saw him there, he wrote “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”, Unfortunately, the Harvard Square has since been multiplexed and is no longer a suitable venue for live performances.
In 2003, Springsteen performed two benefit concerts for DoubleTake magazine at the Somerville Theatre, about a mile and a half from Harvard Square. The Somerville was and remains today a very active and successful venue for both movies and live concerts. Sadly, the concerts did not ultimately save DoubleTake, which folded soon afterwards.
Which is now the Doubletree hotel. Does it actually occupy the same site as the former theatre?
So, why was it demolished if not to make way for new construction?
What was the last film shown at the Astor, and what day was it shown?