I recall seeing the classic (and infamous) horror/slice-and-dice film “Last House On The left” there in late 1976…I guess the place was not long for this world by that point, and had fallen on pretty hard times.
I remember this theater with great affection from my undergraduate days at Tufts, 1977-1981, before they (tragically) chopped the place up into little boxes. The film schedule was printed up some three months in advance, and you could get it from street hawkers or the Phoenix. Many was the time I cut classes, smuggled in a soda and a great sandwich from Elsie’s (another landmark sadly gone) and spend an afternoon happily ensconced in that big gritty old auditorium watching a matinee double bill for $2.50 in the company of fellow college slackers and various marginal types. Ah, memories.
On reflection,I seem to remember that they had a single screen on Friend Street and two on Portland. I’m not sure, but I think after a time the single screen closed. It’s possible that the one on Friend showed gay films; I only remember that the two on Portland were straight when I was there.
I confess to having seen a couple porn films in the North Station Cinema, circa 1977. At that time I believe they had an entrance on Portland street, where there was a single screen, and another on Friend street where there were two screens. (Or the other way around, I can’t recall.) At this time it showed straight films only, but I believe it changed over to a gay genre a couple years later.
It’s time for some dedicated folks to get out onto the site in shifts and physically prevent demolition. Dramatic confrontations like that get big news coverage and might result in some kind of compromise with the developer. There might be a few arrests, but I doubt there would be any prosecutions.
Well, I guess that isn’t going to happen, is it? I just had to make the suggestion, though.
What a saga!!! And the irony of an attorney for a strip club taking up the cudgel to save the marvelous old Gaiety!! As an attorney myself I despair of the ultimate result, yet there is still hope. Also, a good dose of civil disobedience mught be in order should the bulldozers actually roll. I await continuing developments with great interest. This case has all the earmarks of a death penalty case, which actually is quite appropriate. God willing, our client will prevail.
Does anyone know the current status of the fight to save the Gayety? I sent an e-mail to the gaietyboston.com site a while back but received no reply. I am very interested in the outcome and would really like to know how things are progressing.
If you go to the gaietyboston.com site and click on “Photos,” in the upper left corner is a postcard picture depicting the theater district in the 1930’s. In the far left background you can just make out the vertical sign reading “Olympia,” so this must have been the name prior to its becoming the Pilgrim. Note also that you can make out the Park in the lower right foreground, before it became the Trans-Lux.
I have the sad distinction of having visited the theatre when it was more or less in its “death throes” and showing X-rated films. I can recall seeing that masterpiece of theatrical work “The Stewardesses” in 3-D, yet!!! Must have been circa 1976. It would be wonderful to see the old girl rise above that sad era and again show some first-run films. My parents went there several times back in its heyday…the 1940’s. Let us hope that someone will see the light and rejuvenate the place, along with the Publix (aka Gayety).
Great site, Lee; though apparently it is still in the process of construction. I can remember going to the Publix in the late ‘70’s, when it was in sorry disrepair, but I recall looking up at all the boxes and balconies and thinking how sad it was that such a beautiful theatre had fallen on such hard times. Keep up the good work!!!
I recall seeing the classic (and infamous) horror/slice-and-dice film “Last House On The left” there in late 1976…I guess the place was not long for this world by that point, and had fallen on pretty hard times.
I remember this theater with great affection from my undergraduate days at Tufts, 1977-1981, before they (tragically) chopped the place up into little boxes. The film schedule was printed up some three months in advance, and you could get it from street hawkers or the Phoenix. Many was the time I cut classes, smuggled in a soda and a great sandwich from Elsie’s (another landmark sadly gone) and spend an afternoon happily ensconced in that big gritty old auditorium watching a matinee double bill for $2.50 in the company of fellow college slackers and various marginal types. Ah, memories.
On reflection,I seem to remember that they had a single screen on Friend Street and two on Portland. I’m not sure, but I think after a time the single screen closed. It’s possible that the one on Friend showed gay films; I only remember that the two on Portland were straight when I was there.
I confess to having seen a couple porn films in the North Station Cinema, circa 1977. At that time I believe they had an entrance on Portland street, where there was a single screen, and another on Friend street where there were two screens. (Or the other way around, I can’t recall.) At this time it showed straight films only, but I believe it changed over to a gay genre a couple years later.
It’s time for some dedicated folks to get out onto the site in shifts and physically prevent demolition. Dramatic confrontations like that get big news coverage and might result in some kind of compromise with the developer. There might be a few arrests, but I doubt there would be any prosecutions.
Well, I guess that isn’t going to happen, is it? I just had to make the suggestion, though.
What a saga!!! And the irony of an attorney for a strip club taking up the cudgel to save the marvelous old Gaiety!! As an attorney myself I despair of the ultimate result, yet there is still hope. Also, a good dose of civil disobedience mught be in order should the bulldozers actually roll. I await continuing developments with great interest. This case has all the earmarks of a death penalty case, which actually is quite appropriate. God willing, our client will prevail.
Advocate
Does anyone know the current status of the fight to save the Gayety? I sent an e-mail to the gaietyboston.com site a while back but received no reply. I am very interested in the outcome and would really like to know how things are progressing.
If you go to the gaietyboston.com site and click on “Photos,” in the upper left corner is a postcard picture depicting the theater district in the 1930’s. In the far left background you can just make out the vertical sign reading “Olympia,” so this must have been the name prior to its becoming the Pilgrim. Note also that you can make out the Park in the lower right foreground, before it became the Trans-Lux.
I have the sad distinction of having visited the theatre when it was more or less in its “death throes” and showing X-rated films. I can recall seeing that masterpiece of theatrical work “The Stewardesses” in 3-D, yet!!! Must have been circa 1976. It would be wonderful to see the old girl rise above that sad era and again show some first-run films. My parents went there several times back in its heyday…the 1940’s. Let us hope that someone will see the light and rejuvenate the place, along with the Publix (aka Gayety).
Coyote
Great site, Lee; though apparently it is still in the process of construction. I can remember going to the Publix in the late ‘70’s, when it was in sorry disrepair, but I recall looking up at all the boxes and balconies and thinking how sad it was that such a beautiful theatre had fallen on such hard times. Keep up the good work!!!