The station you are referring to was on Lawrence St. across the street from the Empire/Warner Theater. The tracks cross the river wher the Central bridge is now and the portion of bridge that went over the north canal is now at Merrimack college. That was part of the Lowell line. The other station was west down Essex St. after the old post office at Essex and Broadway and behind Theater Row. The train there went to Manchester, NH. I’ve heard of the opera house but wasn’t exactly sure where on Essex St. it was. I’ll see if I can find out.
The Strand, later the Astor, was one of the theaters in Theater Row and is the only remaining building. In the 60s and 70s it was housed a business called Mid City Supply and today is a pawn shop
see http://www.pbase.com/jroy/theaterrow
Hi Dave. The picture you posted is the same building as the one that Ron had in the picture from 1950. Obviuosly the marquee is changed and the facede is covered up. The building just to the right is at 130 Central Street, and is visible in Ron’s photo. Jst to the rifgt of that is now the Lowell Academy of Hair school.
Is there anyway to correct the address listed as Warren St to the proper one on Central St?
Hold on, I got that wrong. Should’ve checked my notes before I posted. It was at 128 Central, the other side of the Street. Will have to go back tomorrow for the correct shots.
Ron sent me the photo and I’ve posted it in its own gallery that I will add to as I can. While looking into other thearers today I checked the Lowell business directorys and found the Strand listed at 129 Central St. from 1918 to 1972. It was in the “Strand building” listed at 119 and it appears the at the whole block commening at 111 was built on top of the Pawtucket Canal. I took some shots of the site today which essentially is just a bridge on certral St going over the canal. The last address before the canal is 103 and the first after is 135.
see http://www.pbase.com/jroy/strandlowell
I went to the UMass Lowell History center today and did somemore checking and unfortunately was unable to find anything that suggests that the photo we have of the Crown was in fact the one thought to be on Middlesex St. in Lowell. The pages I added to the gallerry suggests that the building as is was built in around 1916, and the 4 story building to the left at 60-68 Middlesex St. was built around the same time. The photo of the Crown was from 1929 according to the films advertised on the Marquee and the building to the left of that incorrect for Middlesex St.
The building to the right, which was Middlesex Supply is said to have been built around 1971 which doesn’t make sense according to the 1950 photo of the Allen. It may likley have been renovated by then. See the gallery in the link in my former post. I was able at least to get some info regarding another Lowell Theater anyway, The Strand, which Ron mailed me about and will add that entry in a bit.
Prov., I too wonder about the interior shots and the feasability of it beinjg the Allen. From the aerial view it looks about the right shape for a sloping ceiling and screen at the rear of the building. The additional height in the front would be necessary for the balcony. I was unable to go inside today. Might have to try at lunch during the week sometime.
I wanted to also add that according to “The Life of Thelma Todd”, “she was named Miss Massachusetts 1925 at the Empire Theater. A talent scout from Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky Studio was asked by Napoleon Demara, manager of the Empire Theater, to take a look at Thelma. He liked what he saw and offered her a screen test in Boston. She was very photogenic and was offered a chance to go to Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky’s acting school. The Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky Studio was the last of the studios to leave New York and move to Hollywood.”
I believe though that Napoleon DeMara may have actually been the owner of the theater and not the manager. He was the uncle of Fred Demara, the great imposter and was a Lawrence businessman. He, along with three other partners, built and opened the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in the ‘20s at Hampton Beach, NH
I should also add that Fred Demara’s (The Great imposter) dad was a Union projectionist in the the palace and other Lawrence theaters. I never knew him or his dad but was told by the guys that trained me that he/they lived on State St. in Lawrence. Wikipedia said that his uncle Napoleon Louis Demara owned theaters there.
I remember the Warner theater in Lawrence well into the ‘70s. My friend Frank Jones was one of the last projectionists there. I only remember going there a few times though. In 1974 I worked at the Arlington Trust Co. that was diagonally up the street from it on the corner of Lawrence and Essex St. That summer there were a lot of people picketing and protesting the place because they were showing x-rated movies, “The Devil In Miss Jones” and “Deep Throat”. It was the first time in years though they had to open the balcony to accomodate the crowd. It closed not long after that though. Even with sub run movies and bargain nights at $1.00 they couldn’t compete with the likes of Sumner Redstone and the multiplexes. There was just no filling the large houses and even at half the capacities, the mutiplexes had to get smaller later to survive.
I remember going to the Palace as a kid. We used to stand in line outside in front waiting to get in and I remember seeing the stills to James Bond’s Dr No and Goldfinger in the poster displays. Louis Pearls was where we all bought our popcorn and if I remember correctly remained there for sometime long after the the thearerst were shut up. I saw a lot of the Disney films there like “Flubber” and “Son of Flubber” and remember having to go in to pull my sister out of “A Hard Days Night.” I remember also going there for some event where Major Mudd (a local television celebrity) made a special appearance. The last thing I saw there was a double feature of “It!” starring Roddy McDowell and “The Frozen Dead” in 1967.
I remember the Star Theater on Broadway north of Cross St. on the right hand side. I almost want to say they eventually built a KFC there. I don’t remember ever being in it but was in the IA Union local 256 with Nick Boscetti (see Frank’s posts above), though I only met him a couple of times. Nick worked the Starlite drivein in No Reading in the early 80s and I took it over when he left.
I worked there as a projectionist in the early 1980s (82/83?) while also working as a projectionist at the Showcase Cinemas in Lawrence. It was owned at the time by Sumner Redstone (National Amusements). At that time we were still usig old simplex projectors with Carbon Arc lamphouses, 20 minute reels with manual changeovers. I replaced Nick Boscetti who was the projectionist there for years and who formerly owned and operated the Star Theater in Lawrence. They used to charge $2 per person or $5 per carload to get in. I believe the car wash just capitalised on the name since there was no connection between the businesses. As mentioned, it was located on Rt 28 on the left heading south just after the intersection of Rt 62. In fact the rear exit to the drive in was on Rt. 62 (Winter St.).
Ok, a few updates. The building that is the Electrical distributors is in fact the building that housed the Crown and Allen theater. The 1916 business directory for the city (year ending January 1917) had no listing for the Crown in thay year but did list a Colonial Theater at 84 Middlesex St. in the building adjacent and to the right in the photo of it. The first entry for a Crown theater if 1917 at 70 Middlesex St (same property likely 70-74 Middlesex St., the property to the left in the photo(s) is 68).
The last entry for a Crown Theater in the City directory id 1949 and lists it at 72 Middlessex st. and the manager as Joseph Lennon. The folowwing year is the only first and last entry for the Allen Theater (same address) and the manager is Arthur J. Stein. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the Colonial Theater entries while I was accessing the directories so didn’t pursue any research regarding them. To answer another question Ron asked, Yes, there were street car tracks on Middlesex St. in that era, from 1896 to at least the mid/late 1930s when street car service ceased in the city. More and all pictures can be found here, to which I’ll add as I get them. http://www.pbase.com/jroy/crown
I’m in that vicinity a lot and walked into it a month or so ago. The building I believe to have been the theater is now a company called Elcetrical Distributors Inc. (EDI) at 74 Middlesex St. The interior is/was virtually gutted. What would have been an auditorium to the the back wall is now full of rows of tall shelving. I didn’t find anyone available to talk to and didn’t want to just go browsing further unannounced.
Here are a few captures from live maps and google
The Park Theater was opened (1921) as one of the largest motion -picture houses in Cleveland. Joseph Laronge selected the site at 10211 Euclid Ave, and Thomas W. Lamb built the theater for the Loew interests. The first audiences were deeply impressed by the golden silk-velour walls, the ivory-and-gold decorations, the murals, and the majestic proscenium arch. The spacious promenade and lobby also contributed to make the theater one of Loews three most important playhouses in the nation at the time of the opening. An excellent orchestra contributed to the programs.
excerpt from “Cleveland: The Making Of A City” by William Ganson Rose
I added another photo today, check that link above again
several pictures can be viewed here
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/sc1_4
Here are a couple of photos and some of the site today. I hope to find and post better ones at some later time
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/warner
The station you are referring to was on Lawrence St. across the street from the Empire/Warner Theater. The tracks cross the river wher the Central bridge is now and the portion of bridge that went over the north canal is now at Merrimack college. That was part of the Lowell line. The other station was west down Essex St. after the old post office at Essex and Broadway and behind Theater Row. The train there went to Manchester, NH. I’ve heard of the opera house but wasn’t exactly sure where on Essex St. it was. I’ll see if I can find out.
The Strand, later the Astor, was one of the theaters in Theater Row and is the only remaining building. In the 60s and 70s it was housed a business called Mid City Supply and today is a pawn shop
see http://www.pbase.com/jroy/theaterrow
Hi Dave. The picture you posted is the same building as the one that Ron had in the picture from 1950. Obviuosly the marquee is changed and the facede is covered up. The building just to the right is at 130 Central Street, and is visible in Ron’s photo. Jst to the rifgt of that is now the Lowell Academy of Hair school.
Is there anyway to correct the address listed as Warren St to the proper one on Central St?
Hold on, I got that wrong. Should’ve checked my notes before I posted. It was at 128 Central, the other side of the Street. Will have to go back tomorrow for the correct shots.
Ron sent me the photo and I’ve posted it in its own gallery that I will add to as I can. While looking into other thearers today I checked the Lowell business directorys and found the Strand listed at 129 Central St. from 1918 to 1972. It was in the “Strand building” listed at 119 and it appears the at the whole block commening at 111 was built on top of the Pawtucket Canal. I took some shots of the site today which essentially is just a bridge on certral St going over the canal. The last address before the canal is 103 and the first after is 135.
see http://www.pbase.com/jroy/strandlowell
I went to the UMass Lowell History center today and did somemore checking and unfortunately was unable to find anything that suggests that the photo we have of the Crown was in fact the one thought to be on Middlesex St. in Lowell. The pages I added to the gallerry suggests that the building as is was built in around 1916, and the 4 story building to the left at 60-68 Middlesex St. was built around the same time. The photo of the Crown was from 1929 according to the films advertised on the Marquee and the building to the left of that incorrect for Middlesex St.
The building to the right, which was Middlesex Supply is said to have been built around 1971 which doesn’t make sense according to the 1950 photo of the Allen. It may likley have been renovated by then. See the gallery in the link in my former post. I was able at least to get some info regarding another Lowell Theater anyway, The Strand, which Ron mailed me about and will add that entry in a bit.
Prov., I too wonder about the interior shots and the feasability of it beinjg the Allen. From the aerial view it looks about the right shape for a sloping ceiling and screen at the rear of the building. The additional height in the front would be necessary for the balcony. I was unable to go inside today. Might have to try at lunch during the week sometime.
Here is a very short clip I posted on youtube that I shot in 1983 of a manual changeover in the booth at the Starlite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ7VYU5h4w4
I wanted to also add that according to “The Life of Thelma Todd”, “she was named Miss Massachusetts 1925 at the Empire Theater. A talent scout from Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky Studio was asked by Napoleon Demara, manager of the Empire Theater, to take a look at Thelma. He liked what he saw and offered her a screen test in Boston. She was very photogenic and was offered a chance to go to Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky’s acting school. The Paramount and Famous Players-Lasky Studio was the last of the studios to leave New York and move to Hollywood.”
I believe though that Napoleon DeMara may have actually been the owner of the theater and not the manager. He was the uncle of Fred Demara, the great imposter and was a Lawrence businessman. He, along with three other partners, built and opened the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in the ‘20s at Hampton Beach, NH
I should also add that Fred Demara’s (The Great imposter) dad was a Union projectionist in the the palace and other Lawrence theaters. I never knew him or his dad but was told by the guys that trained me that he/they lived on State St. in Lawrence. Wikipedia said that his uncle Napoleon Louis Demara owned theaters there.
I remember the Warner theater in Lawrence well into the ‘70s. My friend Frank Jones was one of the last projectionists there. I only remember going there a few times though. In 1974 I worked at the Arlington Trust Co. that was diagonally up the street from it on the corner of Lawrence and Essex St. That summer there were a lot of people picketing and protesting the place because they were showing x-rated movies, “The Devil In Miss Jones” and “Deep Throat”. It was the first time in years though they had to open the balcony to accomodate the crowd. It closed not long after that though. Even with sub run movies and bargain nights at $1.00 they couldn’t compete with the likes of Sumner Redstone and the multiplexes. There was just no filling the large houses and even at half the capacities, the mutiplexes had to get smaller later to survive.
I remember going to the Palace as a kid. We used to stand in line outside in front waiting to get in and I remember seeing the stills to James Bond’s Dr No and Goldfinger in the poster displays. Louis Pearls was where we all bought our popcorn and if I remember correctly remained there for sometime long after the the thearerst were shut up. I saw a lot of the Disney films there like “Flubber” and “Son of Flubber” and remember having to go in to pull my sister out of “A Hard Days Night.” I remember also going there for some event where Major Mudd (a local television celebrity) made a special appearance. The last thing I saw there was a double feature of “It!” starring Roddy McDowell and “The Frozen Dead” in 1967.
I remember the Star Theater on Broadway north of Cross St. on the right hand side. I almost want to say they eventually built a KFC there. I don’t remember ever being in it but was in the IA Union local 256 with Nick Boscetti (see Frank’s posts above), though I only met him a couple of times. Nick worked the Starlite drivein in No Reading in the early 80s and I took it over when he left.
I worked there as a projectionist in the early 1980s (82/83?) while also working as a projectionist at the Showcase Cinemas in Lawrence. It was owned at the time by Sumner Redstone (National Amusements). At that time we were still usig old simplex projectors with Carbon Arc lamphouses, 20 minute reels with manual changeovers. I replaced Nick Boscetti who was the projectionist there for years and who formerly owned and operated the Star Theater in Lawrence. They used to charge $2 per person or $5 per carload to get in. I believe the car wash just capitalised on the name since there was no connection between the businesses. As mentioned, it was located on Rt 28 on the left heading south just after the intersection of Rt 62. In fact the rear exit to the drive in was on Rt. 62 (Winter St.).
Ok, a few updates. The building that is the Electrical distributors is in fact the building that housed the Crown and Allen theater. The 1916 business directory for the city (year ending January 1917) had no listing for the Crown in thay year but did list a Colonial Theater at 84 Middlesex St. in the building adjacent and to the right in the photo of it. The first entry for a Crown theater if 1917 at 70 Middlesex St (same property likely 70-74 Middlesex St., the property to the left in the photo(s) is 68).
The last entry for a Crown Theater in the City directory id 1949 and lists it at 72 Middlessex st. and the manager as Joseph Lennon. The folowwing year is the only first and last entry for the Allen Theater (same address) and the manager is Arthur J. Stein. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the Colonial Theater entries while I was accessing the directories so didn’t pursue any research regarding them. To answer another question Ron asked, Yes, there were street car tracks on Middlesex St. in that era, from 1896 to at least the mid/late 1930s when street car service ceased in the city. More and all pictures can be found here, to which I’ll add as I get them.
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/crown
One of the guys I work with swung by at lunch yesterday and took this quick shot.
http://www.pbase.com/image/121850094
Thanks Ron, email sent
Is there any chance of seeing the photos that Ron is talking about so we can compare?
I’m in that vicinity a lot and walked into it a month or so ago. The building I believe to have been the theater is now a company called Elcetrical Distributors Inc. (EDI) at 74 Middlesex St. The interior is/was virtually gutted. What would have been an auditorium to the the back wall is now full of rows of tall shelving. I didn’t find anyone available to talk to and didn’t want to just go browsing further unannounced.
Here are a few captures from live maps and google
http://www.pbase.com/image/121677958
http://www.pbase.com/image/121678182
The Park Theater was opened (1921) as one of the largest motion -picture houses in Cleveland. Joseph Laronge selected the site at 10211 Euclid Ave, and Thomas W. Lamb built the theater for the Loew interests. The first audiences were deeply impressed by the golden silk-velour walls, the ivory-and-gold decorations, the murals, and the majestic proscenium arch. The spacious promenade and lobby also contributed to make the theater one of Loews three most important playhouses in the nation at the time of the opening. An excellent orchestra contributed to the programs.
excerpt from “Cleveland: The Making Of A City” by William Ganson Rose
Did anyone happen to save the photos of the Circle posted by Jim Somich? Do you know of any others?