I was the last manager of the Suffolk, just before it closed forever in September 1968. The last film to play here was Disney’s"Bullwhip Griffin.“ At that time the Suffolk operated Friday evenings and continuous all day Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the week it was closed. The theatre was still doing an excellent weekend business, especially on Sunday afternoons, albeit attracting a rather rough crowd. One of the most significant factors in its demise was that the theatre had to close from Memorial Day thru Labor each year, after the air conditioning plant quit some years earlier. Sam Goldstein (Western Mass Theatres, Inc.) who was operating the theatre at that time refused to spend the money to repair it.
In the early thru mid 60s, the Suffolk regularly sold out on Sunday matinees (main floor and balcony) with double feature programs of action, horror (mainly Hammer and A.I.P.)and low-budget science-fiction, along with occasional second-run double bills of “A pictures” which previously had been shown first run at either the Victory or the Strand.
At this time, matinee prices were 50 cents for adults and 20 cents for kids under 12. Popcorn could be had for 10 cents a bag or 15 cents a box (plain, no butter) at the refreshment counter. Candy was a nickel on the bottom shelf and a dime on the top shelf of the display case There was a vending machine in the inner lobby at which soft drinks could be purchased for a dime a cup.
For a time in the mid 60s, the Suffolk’s screen had a bed sheet in its middle, patching a large hole caused by an “enthusiastic” audience member throwing an empty Coke bottle thru it! Sam Goldstein did rectify this glaring defect ultimately; however it was well over a year before this was done.
All-in-all, a rather ignominious final chapter for a once beautiful little house, which had been the first-run showcase for United Artists, Columbia and Universal product during the 1930s and 1940s. Everything from “lost Horizon”, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “His Girl Friday” premiered there, along with the first-runs of the Universal horror classics of the 30s and 40s.
I was the last manager of the Suffolk, just before it closed forever in September 1968. The last film to play here was Disney’s"Bullwhip Griffin.“ At that time the Suffolk operated Friday evenings and continuous all day Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the week it was closed. The theatre was still doing an excellent weekend business, especially on Sunday afternoons, albeit attracting a rather rough crowd. One of the most significant factors in its demise was that the theatre had to close from Memorial Day thru Labor each year, after the air conditioning plant quit some years earlier. Sam Goldstein (Western Mass Theatres, Inc.) who was operating the theatre at that time refused to spend the money to repair it.
In the early thru mid 60s, the Suffolk regularly sold out on Sunday matinees (main floor and balcony) with double feature programs of action, horror (mainly Hammer and A.I.P.)and low-budget science-fiction, along with occasional second-run double bills of “A pictures” which previously had been shown first run at either the Victory or the Strand.
At this time, matinee prices were 50 cents for adults and 20 cents for kids under 12. Popcorn could be had for 10 cents a bag or 15 cents a box (plain, no butter) at the refreshment counter. Candy was a nickel on the bottom shelf and a dime on the top shelf of the display case There was a vending machine in the inner lobby at which soft drinks could be purchased for a dime a cup.
For a time in the mid 60s, the Suffolk’s screen had a bed sheet in its middle, patching a large hole caused by an “enthusiastic” audience member throwing an empty Coke bottle thru it! Sam Goldstein did rectify this glaring defect ultimately; however it was well over a year before this was done.
All-in-all, a rather ignominious final chapter for a once beautiful little house, which had been the first-run showcase for United Artists, Columbia and Universal product during the 1930s and 1940s. Everything from “lost Horizon”, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “His Girl Friday” premiered there, along with the first-runs of the Universal horror classics of the 30s and 40s.