Olneyville Times (March 30, 1917): “The United Importers System, which now operates several stores in Providence, has leased the old Gem Theatre next to Banspach’s and will open a fine store there.” —This almost certainly marked the end of the Edisonia/Pastime/Gem Theatre.
Blurbs found in The Olneyville Times: “The Pastime Olneyville is giving some excellent shows and is vey well patronized.” (11-27-1908)“Messrs. Steere and Brophy of this place (Georgiaville, RI) have purchased the Pastime Theatre in Olneyville,” (12-25-1908) “The Pastime Theatre closed for the season last Saturday.”(7-9-1909) “Extensive repairs are being made to the Pastime Theatre building.” (6-16-1916) “Two stores are to be made at the Pastime Theatre location.” (6-23-1916)
This has often been referred to as the old Star Theatre in Westerly (RI) but it was actually located a few yards across the city line/state line in the village of Pawcatuck in Stonington, Connecticut.
I never saw the actual interior of this theatre, since it was shuttered before I was born. I do remember being dropped off by the crosstown city bus from La Salle Academy on the Plainfield Street side of the long-closed theatre to await my Thornton or Hughesdale bus to get to my home in Johnston after school in 1956-1957 and perhaps later. Students from Mount Pleasant High School would also be waiting here to transfer to another bus. Even earlier however, before and after 1952, I remember walking with my mother into the former lobby of the Royal, which was then being used by a fruit and vegetable vendor. I would help her carry her purchases. I also remember the doors to the auditorium. They were on the left, perhaps after two or three steps. Looking back, I wish I had had a camera to photograph that portion of the interior. For some reason this theatre, more than any other lost theatre of Providence, has haunted my memories. Strange.
The collected records of the Royal Theatre, dating from 1914 to about 1935, are available for study purposes at the Brown University Library in Providence.
https://brown.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/328
The CNN documentary “Dreamland: the Burning of Black Wall Street” recounts quite powerfully the events of the 1921 Greenwood massacre and has numerous references to the theatre and a recurring image of the place.
Olneyville Times (March 30, 1917): “The United Importers System, which now operates several stores in Providence, has leased the old Gem Theatre next to Banspach’s and will open a fine store there.” —This almost certainly marked the end of the Edisonia/Pastime/Gem Theatre.
Blurbs found in The Olneyville Times: “The Pastime Olneyville is giving some excellent shows and is vey well patronized.” (11-27-1908)“Messrs. Steere and Brophy of this place (Georgiaville, RI) have purchased the Pastime Theatre in Olneyville,” (12-25-1908) “The Pastime Theatre closed for the season last Saturday.”(7-9-1909) “Extensive repairs are being made to the Pastime Theatre building.” (6-16-1916) “Two stores are to be made at the Pastime Theatre location.” (6-23-1916)
In “The Olneyville Times.”
2021 or so, not 2011.
Original title: “Europa ‘51”.
For shame!
Love marquee banners like that!
In 2005.
United Theatre returns to life: https://rifoundation.org/stories/a-cultural-icon-of-the-arts-comes-back-to-life
In 1953.
More likely 1947 or so, since the reel also contains a Boston area theatre showing “Johnny O'Clock.”
More likely 1947 or so, since the reel also contains a Boston area theatre showing “Johnny O'Clock.”
“Willowdale" is described as “a play of country life in three acts.” It was written by Arthur Lewis Tubbs.
In 2015.
STOLEN PROJECTOR! https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/projector-stolen-from-shuttered-union-theater-in-attleboro/article_bdfe57f0-bbba-50d4-8ef7-d2859b0f53b6.html
During St. Rocco’s Church Feast procession in August. The church was diagonally across from the theatre building.
Circa 1906.
This has often been referred to as the old Star Theatre in Westerly (RI) but it was actually located a few yards across the city line/state line in the village of Pawcatuck in Stonington, Connecticut.
PERMANENTLY CLOSED! (According to Block Island websites.)
“Rice Girl” was a very good Italian film with Elsa Martinelli. It was a spinoff of the more famous “Bitter Rice.”
I never saw the actual interior of this theatre, since it was shuttered before I was born. I do remember being dropped off by the crosstown city bus from La Salle Academy on the Plainfield Street side of the long-closed theatre to await my Thornton or Hughesdale bus to get to my home in Johnston after school in 1956-1957 and perhaps later. Students from Mount Pleasant High School would also be waiting here to transfer to another bus. Even earlier however, before and after 1952, I remember walking with my mother into the former lobby of the Royal, which was then being used by a fruit and vegetable vendor. I would help her carry her purchases. I also remember the doors to the auditorium. They were on the left, perhaps after two or three steps. Looking back, I wish I had had a camera to photograph that portion of the interior. For some reason this theatre, more than any other lost theatre of Providence, has haunted my memories. Strange.
The collected records of the Royal Theatre, dating from 1914 to about 1935, are available for study purposes at the Brown University Library in Providence. https://brown.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/328
This theatre first opened one hundred years ago in March 1921 as the Liberty.
1958 or thereabouts.
The CNN documentary “Dreamland: the Burning of Black Wall Street” recounts quite powerfully the events of the 1921 Greenwood massacre and has numerous references to the theatre and a recurring image of the place.