Wollaston Theatre
14 Beale Street,
Quincy,
MA
02170
14 Beale Street,
Quincy,
MA
02170
13 people
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Showing 76 - 100 of 165 comments
Here’s an article about the whole issue:
http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x792858604
It’s been a well publicized issue with City Hall for decades.
If a relative of mine passed away, I’d hate to see such comments blogged anywhere on the Internet!
Anybody who wants to see the theater reopened is free to directly lobby government authorities to see if they can make an offer.
Blogging about someone’s loss of her husband….once the news was posted, really seems cruel.
I think the real question is whether she’s going to want to deal with this issue at all.
The Chandlers seemed to have a nice life together. It’s going to be tough for her to soldier on alone.
My apologies. I did not intend to be a ‘circling vulture’ in any way. Just trying to get some idea what the next chapter of this theatre’s history is likely to be.
Sometime in the recent past, probably the 1980s, the owner of the Wollaston Theater (perhaps Mr. Chandler) stated, in effect, “Ratings be damned!” and announced that henceforth he would not enforce the policy that prohibited persons under 18 (or whatever the age is) from viewing “R” rated films. I think there was a notice to that effect posted outside the theater. It caused something of a tempest in the local teapot, although the owner was only stating outright what many other theater owners had been doing tacitly. If it was in fact Mr Chandler, then I admire him for his bold assault on the latter-day Puritanism of the rating system, and it should be remembered as part of his legacy. Perhaps someone else knows more about this, and can confirm, deny, or elucidate the story.
Howard, I totally agree. This circling of vultures is unseemly.
And, if she’s reading this page? The lady just became a widow and now she has to read that?
Let’s be considerate and hold off talking about the owner’s death, inheritance, and so forth, for a little while.
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I googled on “Arthur Chandler Quincy”
Yvonne Chandler is 79. It appears they did not have any children. I spoke to her about 5 years ago – she seemed to think she know me. I was left the impression that her memory was not very good. In fact she said something about her memory not being what it used to be.
Can you link to the obit, or is it only in the paper edition? How old is Yvonne?
Arthur Chandler’s widow Yvonne is the co-owner of the Wollaston Th. According to the obit in the Patriot Ledger, they have no children.
Does he have children? Who does the ownership of the theatre revert to now?
The owner-operator of the Wollaston Th., Arthur Chandler, passed away in Quincy on April 23rd, age 77.
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?
In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. Dec 15 2007, there is an article “Can Theater Make a Comeback?” by John P. Kelly which mentions Quincy Mayor-elect Tom Koch’s campaign pledge to restore the Wollaston Theatre (the “Wolly”) into a local performing arts theatre. An obstacle to this plan is “the theater’s biggest devotee: owner Arthur Chandler”. Chandler, 79, is quoted as saying “I plan to do things my way until I retire”. He has applied for Federal grants to repair the building. The reporter made a tour of the theatre and found a notice on the ticket office which seems to indicate that “Catch Me if You Can” was the last movie to play there, in March 2003. He found a heap of popcorn still in the popper, plus mice-chewed Raisenet packages. Also, no heat, crumbling plaster, worn carpeting, fallen ceiling tiles. He says that the screen measures 18' X 39". Mr. Chandler has received a letter from Mayor-elect Koch but has not yet replied to it, but said that he would meet with Koch “when the time comes”. The article also has a large photo of the Wolly’s marquee with the title of the article cleverly posted on it. The sub-head of the article reads “Koch’s vision of a restored ‘Wolly’ as a cultural center holds nostalgic appeal for many, but its owner has other ideas.” That about sums the situation up.
This is 3rd-hand hearsay, but I was told that during the fall campaign he stated, or wrote, that he favored the theatre becoming a local performing-arts facility.
What does he plan to do to make this happen?
A new mayor, Koch, was elected on Nov. 6th. I understand that he is also supportive of the reopening of the Wollaston Th.
Does the theater’s entry on the Historic Register protect it from destruction as a theater?
I spoke with the Mayor recently about preservation and he was at least sympathetic about the cause. I’m in favor of some sort of community intervention to force the issue to preserve this gem for Wollaston and the greater Quincy and Boston communities.
That’s so sad to see. Is there any news about this theatre, or any signs posted on or around it by the owner?
Saw “Jurassic Park” here as a kid, more than likely 3rd or 4th run. Not particularly impressive – could be nice if restored, it seems. But I gather this odds are firmly stacked against that right now?
It’s a shame that the theater is closed. I blogged about it here.
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My blog post was picked up by Universal Hub here.
http://www.universalhub.com/node/7956
shoeshoe14 was correct in his observations- there is no balcony in the Wollaston Th. There is an orchestra pit, with a small organ console in it. The projection booth is high up on the rear wall. While I don’t think I saw “Spartacus” at the Wollaston, I did see other movies there in the 1940s-50s and the theatre was very well patronized and popular.
My friends and I lived for Sat mornings to call the answering machine at the “New"Wollaston theatre
to find out what was playing for the matinee,I sent my brother a photo from a link on this site and he immediately remembered this – The film "Spartacus is showing and during the scene where the Romans ask the assembled slaves "Which one is Spartacus”? the whole theatre of preadolescent (mostly) boys stood as one and shouted “I am Spartacus”,,“I am Spartacus”…good times…!
The owner may have been in another room and planning on leaving by the exit found propped open, or maybe had stepped out for a coffee and wanted to come back via the side door. Either way, thanks for relaying the imformation on the condition inside. Someday, somone will buy the place and convert it to a restaurant, or something similar.