Gerald, no I didn’t!! I admit that I would not have known that it was a White Tower. My mother kept always mentioned a White Tower. I would correct her and iterate it was White Castle and we’d go round and round.
Moms are always right!!
I just blew up the picture. Carmen Miranda is on the smaller corner marquee.
Here is an interesting progression of photos take from Time Square in Pawtucket, opposite the Times building.
In the city directory books, the address of the Imperial is listed as (old railroad depot). Here is what the depot looked like in 1872. Note the building behind the depot which is closest in photo.
Now, look at this photo of the Imperial probably taken before the Leroy was built. Look across the street near the electric trolley. No castle for the Leroy!!!
Now take a look at this later photo of the Imperial Theater, the building that showed up in the 1872 photo shows up here. Also note that the Imperial and the building slightly behind it. Same as in the photo of 1872. And as a treat, look across the street. You can make out the castle ornamentation and the sign for the Leroy Theater.
I hope that I can talk with the two gentlemen of this past weekend so I gain more information. I do recall that admission was ten cents. The younger brother Stanley, age 90, told me the location of the New Casino Theater as listed in a late teen’s city directory.
He said it was on the second floor of a building located to the right of present day Landry Hardware, Broad St. Central Falls. As a teen in the mid 60’s, we use to see local rock concerts in the DeNevers building just right to Landry’s Hardware. I do recall that there was a stage and a balcony in that particular room. More to investigate!!
Gerald, these two gents live at the Forand Manor on Washington St. in Central Falls. My mother plays cards there every Saturday with Stanley. They had a Bazaar today and that is how I was able to talk with them. However, I could only speak with them for about 10 minutes due to the social setting of the Bazaar. I may set it up to talk some more with these two wonderful, alert gentlemen. They were as excited to talk about their youth as I was to listen.
Gerald, I am so very excited to tell you this. I actually met two people today that attended that theater when it was the Shea. They recalled all the names of the theater throughout the years.
I had so much fun talking with these gents because……..they were two brothers named Stanley and Matt, age 90 and 91 respectively.
I was able to confirm other information concerning my thoughts about the Imperial Theater across from the Strand in Pawtucket and the location of the Casino Theater in Central Falls.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that both remembered the Mayfair as Shea Theater before it was the Roosevelt.
I can now add the Imperial Theater later this weekend.
Marialivia, the address for the Lafayette Theater was in the low 700’s. I did check it while at the library. The City Hall is 580 so I’m thinking the Casino was on the block directly opposite CF Glass, adjacent to the Lyon Dodge Plymouth dealer on the corner of Central and Broad Sts.
Marialivia, do you recall the theater being directly across from Stanley’s, the hamburger joint?
I came across some information today that states the Bellevue was once located at 470 Dexter St. and was named the Dexter Theater until 1917. This info differs than the 536 Dexter St. address but it could be that the original building was burned and they moved to the 536 Dexter St. address. Perhaps I will dig into this more and see when the address changed.
Gerald, the best I can do concerning the Imperial Theater is to show page copies from Pawtucket City directories that went back to 1915. In 1918 or thereabouts, the words in parentheses (moving pictures) were added.
I would have to scan in those copies and host them on photobucket.com
Is that legal? FWIW, the theater was in operation until 1938 and it stood on the present day site for Social Security building. The building was the original NYNHH Railroad Depot.
I am also showing on my photocopies other theaters in Central Falls that do not appear on Cinema Treasures but do have the words (moving pictures) after their name like New Casino Theater, 472 Broad St. Central Falls. and a different location and name for the Bellevue Theater on Dexter St. in 1918.
Gerald, I am going to look for more info on the Imperial Theater this week. I want to make absolutely sure that is a theater. It is listed as theater per the photo tag but I want to see it in a city directory.
I’ll be headed to the Pawtucket Library this week.
Marialivia, I have a picture of the Strand from 1940 but I am new to this site and I see that the ability to post photos is not enabled right now.
I can look into hosting pictures maybe on my webspace from my ISP.
I have a lot of picture of quite a few theaters.
FWIW, my mother distinctly remembers the Bellevue. She was born 1932 in Valley Falls and going to the theater was the ‘thing’ to do in those days along with the numerous dance halls in Central Falls.
My mothers memory is very, very but sometimes I show her pictures to jog it a bit.
I just returned from the Cumberland Public Library and I came across an interesting tidbit.
In a 1919 Pawtucket City Directory, there is a section at the back of the book titled ‘out of towners’ advertisement.
Lo and behold, there is a Strand Theater listed. No address but states the corner of Broad and Chambers street. That is the exact location of the present day Sovereign Bank where my mother saw movies at the Roosevelt.
Here’s another interesting note. There is a John St. Theater listed at 72 John Street.
John Street is one street parallel to Chambers and also deposits onto Broad St. I drove by the locale and it appears to be property that was once a vacant lot and bought by the house adjacent.
Anyone have any info on this particular theater listed in a 1919 City Directory?
I asked my mother again if she was sure that this theater was known a the Roosevelt Theater when she was a child.
She remembers it distinctly because my grandmother would go to watch the Portuguese movies there. My grandmother is 100% Portugeuse as well as my mother.
My mother attended BF Norton school in the late 40’s and walked pass this theater every day.
She is looking for pictures and believes she does possess one.
Norelco, I suggest going to ppac.org or pbs.org and contacting them for dates. If memory serves me correctly, it is not every year that they do this show at this theater.
WURLITZER LOVERS PAY SPECIAL NOTE!!!!
They have free lunchtime organ concerts coming up. Go to ppac.org and then PPAC Show Calendar for the free organ concert times and dates.
Here was another one of those old time theaters where the screen was an afterthought.
I have attended this theater mostly in my 20’s during the 70’s. It certainly was not a fancy theater but it resided in what could be called the manufacturing district of uptown Attleboro. There was some metals companies in the neighborhood along with Attleboro’s most noted commerce, the jewelry companies and most notably Balfours.
The wife and I go to PPAC about once a year. I have never, ever seen such a glorious, glamorous show of opulence that I do not believe can be duplicated in the present day.
The ornate carvings and red clothed walls with the eye catching gold trimmed woodwork. The organ that sits in its hideway and the ever imposing balcony.
This theater can only be matched by the theater musicals shown in older films. One can only expect Ethel Merman to walk out from the side stage entrance……
If anyone is contemplating visiting Rhode Island to see this theater, I highly recommend that you make the trip. It beats any other theater that I have ever seen including Boston.
FWIW, this theater also holds the Golden Oldies concerts to raise money for the PBS stations…………
I would have to agree with other here and their comments. There is NOTHING in Pawtucket as far as theaters. I’ve been to the Darlton, Fairlawn, Strand and I think another one was Loew’s.
It is really very, very sad that the Leroy was torn down and for NO reason other than simplistic developers greed. It might have been a simple theater but it was beautifully elegant in its simplicity. I loved the Leroy Theater and neighboring Mullen’s Music.
I went to this theater about twice a month as a youngster during the 60’s and saw Woodstock the Movie there.
I also saw some concerts later on including the Monkees, Bread and England Dan and John Ford Cooley or something like that name.
That section of Pawtucket used to be very attractive at one time. Now there is nothing, absolutely nothing to offer.
Nostalgic point here. There use to be a stage theater across the street from the Leroy where they would have plays. I believe the site now holds a Social Security building.
I was born, bred and raised in Central Falls and it aches my heart to see this theater closed. It was very plain, I mean, the interior was your basic screen, stage and sticky floors!!
I frequented this theater just about every weekend when it was the Lafayette. I laughed about the ticketing and concession booth. The ticket window was to the right and the concession stand was to the left. Sometimes, the same person did both jobs!! I recall a very elderly lady working there at the concession booth and would go about with a flashlight making sure all the teenagers were behaving during the movie.
I also recall that they use to raffle off dogs and silver dollars as a means to get people to come to their Saturday and Sunday matinees and not stroll down to the Leroy in Pawtucket or the Strand.
The wife and I frequented this theater about 5-8 times a year. I loved the fact that you could order food while watching the movie and have it delivered to you while you sat down.
It was very, very dark in the theater but the smallish screen added a sense of intimacy with the film. The lat move that I remember seeing there was Sum of All Fears.
The lack of centralized parking killed this theater, not the cozy feeling and limited seating.
My mother was born in Valley Falls in 1932 and she went to that theater as a little girl. However, it was known as the Roosevelt Theater in those days.
Gerald, no I didn’t!! I admit that I would not have known that it was a White Tower. My mother kept always mentioned a White Tower. I would correct her and iterate it was White Castle and we’d go round and round.
Moms are always right!!
I just blew up the picture. Carmen Miranda is on the smaller corner marquee.
I just love this picture of the Majestic. Note the name Don Ameche to the right.
I recall Don Ameche hosting this Circus show and I believe it was on Sunday nights.
View link
Here is an interesting progression of photos take from Time Square in Pawtucket, opposite the Times building.
In the city directory books, the address of the Imperial is listed as (old railroad depot). Here is what the depot looked like in 1872. Note the building behind the depot which is closest in photo.
View link
Now, look at this photo of the Imperial probably taken before the Leroy was built. Look across the street near the electric trolley. No castle for the Leroy!!!
View link
Now take a look at this later photo of the Imperial Theater, the building that showed up in the 1872 photo shows up here. Also note that the Imperial and the building slightly behind it. Same as in the photo of 1872. And as a treat, look across the street. You can make out the castle ornamentation and the sign for the Leroy Theater.
View link
I hope that I can talk with the two gentlemen of this past weekend so I gain more information. I do recall that admission was ten cents. The younger brother Stanley, age 90, told me the location of the New Casino Theater as listed in a late teen’s city directory.
He said it was on the second floor of a building located to the right of present day Landry Hardware, Broad St. Central Falls. As a teen in the mid 60’s, we use to see local rock concerts in the DeNevers building just right to Landry’s Hardware. I do recall that there was a stage and a balcony in that particular room. More to investigate!!
Gerald, these two gents live at the Forand Manor on Washington St. in Central Falls. My mother plays cards there every Saturday with Stanley. They had a Bazaar today and that is how I was able to talk with them. However, I could only speak with them for about 10 minutes due to the social setting of the Bazaar. I may set it up to talk some more with these two wonderful, alert gentlemen. They were as excited to talk about their youth as I was to listen.
Yes, my error, I did mean the Imperial Theater across from the Leroy, not Strand.
They were also able to confirm the location of the Casino Theater on Broad St. Central Falls.
I am trying to scan a better picture I have of the Imperial Theater that predates the Leroy so the Leroy does NOT appear in the photo.
I will try and get the Imperial Theater added tomorrow.
I find this detective work so very, very exciting. I am so happy I found this website!!
Gerald, I am so very excited to tell you this. I actually met two people today that attended that theater when it was the Shea. They recalled all the names of the theater throughout the years.
I had so much fun talking with these gents because……..they were two brothers named Stanley and Matt, age 90 and 91 respectively.
I was able to confirm other information concerning my thoughts about the Imperial Theater across from the Strand in Pawtucket and the location of the Casino Theater in Central Falls.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that both remembered the Mayfair as Shea Theater before it was the Roosevelt.
I can now add the Imperial Theater later this weekend.
Marialivia, the address for the Lafayette Theater was in the low 700’s. I did check it while at the library. The City Hall is 580 so I’m thinking the Casino was on the block directly opposite CF Glass, adjacent to the Lyon Dodge Plymouth dealer on the corner of Central and Broad Sts.
Marialivia, do you recall the theater being directly across from Stanley’s, the hamburger joint?
I came across some information today that states the Bellevue was once located at 470 Dexter St. and was named the Dexter Theater until 1917. This info differs than the 536 Dexter St. address but it could be that the original building was burned and they moved to the 536 Dexter St. address. Perhaps I will dig into this more and see when the address changed.
Gerald, the best I can do concerning the Imperial Theater is to show page copies from Pawtucket City directories that went back to 1915. In 1918 or thereabouts, the words in parentheses (moving pictures) were added.
I would have to scan in those copies and host them on photobucket.com
Is that legal? FWIW, the theater was in operation until 1938 and it stood on the present day site for Social Security building. The building was the original NYNHH Railroad Depot.
I am also showing on my photocopies other theaters in Central Falls that do not appear on Cinema Treasures but do have the words (moving pictures) after their name like New Casino Theater, 472 Broad St. Central Falls. and a different location and name for the Bellevue Theater on Dexter St. in 1918.
Gerald, I am going to look for more info on the Imperial Theater this week. I want to make absolutely sure that is a theater. It is listed as theater per the photo tag but I want to see it in a city directory.
I’ll be headed to the Pawtucket Library this week.
Here are some more interesting photos of the Albee.
View link
View link
View link
You’ll need to lighten up the photo a bit, but on the left hand side, you can see the sign for the Leroy Theater.
The theater directly across the street is the Imperial Theater. I am seaching for info on this theater also. It ran from 1920-1935
View link
Here is an exterior picture of the Strand in 1940.
View link
Marialivia, I have a picture of the Strand from 1940 but I am new to this site and I see that the ability to post photos is not enabled right now.
I can look into hosting pictures maybe on my webspace from my ISP.
I have a lot of picture of quite a few theaters.
FWIW, my mother distinctly remembers the Bellevue. She was born 1932 in Valley Falls and going to the theater was the ‘thing’ to do in those days along with the numerous dance halls in Central Falls.
My mothers memory is very, very but sometimes I show her pictures to jog it a bit.
I just returned from the Cumberland Public Library and I came across an interesting tidbit.
In a 1919 Pawtucket City Directory, there is a section at the back of the book titled ‘out of towners’ advertisement.
Lo and behold, there is a Strand Theater listed. No address but states the corner of Broad and Chambers street. That is the exact location of the present day Sovereign Bank where my mother saw movies at the Roosevelt.
Here’s another interesting note. There is a John St. Theater listed at 72 John Street.
John Street is one street parallel to Chambers and also deposits onto Broad St. I drove by the locale and it appears to be property that was once a vacant lot and bought by the house adjacent.
Anyone have any info on this particular theater listed in a 1919 City Directory?
I asked my mother again if she was sure that this theater was known a the Roosevelt Theater when she was a child.
She remembers it distinctly because my grandmother would go to watch the Portuguese movies there. My grandmother is 100% Portugeuse as well as my mother.
My mother attended BF Norton school in the late 40’s and walked pass this theater every day.
She is looking for pictures and believes she does possess one.
Norelco, I suggest going to ppac.org or pbs.org and contacting them for dates. If memory serves me correctly, it is not every year that they do this show at this theater.
WURLITZER LOVERS PAY SPECIAL NOTE!!!!
They have free lunchtime organ concerts coming up. Go to ppac.org and then PPAC Show Calendar for the free organ concert times and dates.
Here was another one of those old time theaters where the screen was an afterthought.
I have attended this theater mostly in my 20’s during the 70’s. It certainly was not a fancy theater but it resided in what could be called the manufacturing district of uptown Attleboro. There was some metals companies in the neighborhood along with Attleboro’s most noted commerce, the jewelry companies and most notably Balfours.
The wife and I go to PPAC about once a year. I have never, ever seen such a glorious, glamorous show of opulence that I do not believe can be duplicated in the present day.
The ornate carvings and red clothed walls with the eye catching gold trimmed woodwork. The organ that sits in its hideway and the ever imposing balcony.
This theater can only be matched by the theater musicals shown in older films. One can only expect Ethel Merman to walk out from the side stage entrance……
If anyone is contemplating visiting Rhode Island to see this theater, I highly recommend that you make the trip. It beats any other theater that I have ever seen including Boston.
FWIW, this theater also holds the Golden Oldies concerts to raise money for the PBS stations…………
I would have to agree with other here and their comments. There is NOTHING in Pawtucket as far as theaters. I’ve been to the Darlton, Fairlawn, Strand and I think another one was Loew’s.
It is really very, very sad that the Leroy was torn down and for NO reason other than simplistic developers greed. It might have been a simple theater but it was beautifully elegant in its simplicity. I loved the Leroy Theater and neighboring Mullen’s Music.
I went to this theater about twice a month as a youngster during the 60’s and saw Woodstock the Movie there.
I also saw some concerts later on including the Monkees, Bread and England Dan and John Ford Cooley or something like that name.
That section of Pawtucket used to be very attractive at one time. Now there is nothing, absolutely nothing to offer.
Nostalgic point here. There use to be a stage theater across the street from the Leroy where they would have plays. I believe the site now holds a Social Security building.
I was born, bred and raised in Central Falls and it aches my heart to see this theater closed. It was very plain, I mean, the interior was your basic screen, stage and sticky floors!!
I frequented this theater just about every weekend when it was the Lafayette. I laughed about the ticketing and concession booth. The ticket window was to the right and the concession stand was to the left. Sometimes, the same person did both jobs!! I recall a very elderly lady working there at the concession booth and would go about with a flashlight making sure all the teenagers were behaving during the movie.
I also recall that they use to raffle off dogs and silver dollars as a means to get people to come to their Saturday and Sunday matinees and not stroll down to the Leroy in Pawtucket or the Strand.
I miss the Lafayette Theater.
The wife and I frequented this theater about 5-8 times a year. I loved the fact that you could order food while watching the movie and have it delivered to you while you sat down.
It was very, very dark in the theater but the smallish screen added a sense of intimacy with the film. The lat move that I remember seeing there was Sum of All Fears.
The lack of centralized parking killed this theater, not the cozy feeling and limited seating.
There is a bank at that location.
My mother was born in Valley Falls in 1932 and she went to that theater as a little girl. However, it was known as the Roosevelt Theater in those days.