The Dorchester Theatre was named such until about the very late 60’s when it closed for renovations and reopened as The Park. The outside overhead marquee had been removed as well as the old fashioned box office. Inside renovations were a redesigned lobby/snack bar and re-upholstered theatre seats as well as a 75 cents admission. I believe they also went to a 1 movie format at that time giving the usual less for more. I don’t remember when they went twin nor do I think I ever attended. I do remember peeking inside once when it was being used as a furniture store and the theatre now a sales floor was still slanted ! JOL
I went to “the show” almost every weekend in the early to the late 60’s. For 20 to 35 cents you got a whole afternoon. Coming attractions,cartoons,newsreel,a movie,serial,race,& another movie. Jap(Godzilla,Mothra,etc.)sci-fi,John Wayne,Elvis,Beach Party,or horror movies. You saved your different colored cards with the race numbers from week to week & tried to match them to the win. The snack bar had flat-topped ice cream cones. Kids sometimes lay in the aisles when it was really crowded. The ushers would shine a flashlight at you & make you “take your feet down” off the back of the chair. An older kid from my neighborhood(Kimball St.)named Billy Butts was an usher for a while. I saw “Night of the Living Dead” there when it came out in 67 or 68. Also Lucky Strikes bowling nearby. John O
The Dorchester Theatre was named such until about the very late 60’s when it closed for renovations and reopened as The Park. The outside overhead marquee had been removed as well as the old fashioned box office. Inside renovations were a redesigned lobby/snack bar and re-upholstered theatre seats as well as a 75 cents admission. I believe they also went to a 1 movie format at that time giving the usual less for more. I don’t remember when they went twin nor do I think I ever attended. I do remember peeking inside once when it was being used as a furniture store and the theatre now a sales floor was still slanted ! JOL
I went to “the show” almost every weekend in the early to the late 60’s. For 20 to 35 cents you got a whole afternoon. Coming attractions,cartoons,newsreel,a movie,serial,race,& another movie. Jap(Godzilla,Mothra,etc.)sci-fi,John Wayne,Elvis,Beach Party,or horror movies. You saved your different colored cards with the race numbers from week to week & tried to match them to the win. The snack bar had flat-topped ice cream cones. Kids sometimes lay in the aisles when it was really crowded. The ushers would shine a flashlight at you & make you “take your feet down” off the back of the chair. An older kid from my neighborhood(Kimball St.)named Billy Butts was an usher for a while. I saw “Night of the Living Dead” there when it came out in 67 or 68. Also Lucky Strikes bowling nearby. John O