Well, I finally made it back to Somerville on vacation in May. By brother Bob (who still lives in the area) and I met with Ian Judge on May 19th for a tour of the theatres and building. I had not seen the theatre since 1975. Wow! What a difference.
We visited for almost 2 ½ hours, me telling Ian how it was back in the 50’s and early 60’s when I worked there and Ian showing us all the updates that have been made since then. I thought I knew where every door was in and around the main theatre. Ian showed us places I never knew existed. The stage and back stage area have been completely updated with a new screen, curtains, lights, dressing rooms etc. Maynardina60 left a post a while back asking about the piano in the orchestra pit. I can assure you that it is still there and will probably remain there forever. I thought the floor tile in the loby was the original. Ian told us that it was replaced and they had found tile that matched the original tile.
It looks great.
I’m glad that the original Men’s Room is no longer in use. When I worked as a usher I spent a lot of time down there with mop and bucket in hand when the toilet or urinals overflowed.
On Sundays when the show was continuous from 1PM to 11PM, the manager would go home for dinner around 5PM for about 1 hour. One of the ushers would take tickets during that time. Ian and I had a few laughs about that duty.
I thought the small theatre (used for rental purposes) is a great idea. We also visited the “Museum of Bad Art” Very interesting indeed.
After we left the thratre we visited Davis Square, the old bowling alley and had lunch at the RoseBud. It brought back many good memories.
Thanks Ian for a great day. I appreciate the time you spent with us and look forward to the 100 year celebration in 2014. I certainly plan to be back again before then. I still have many questions that I did not ask while with you. I thought about them after I left. Can’t wait to see the new projection booth in the main theatre when it is completed.
David & Ron – Thanks for the comments. It will probably be next year before we get to visit back home. Have lived in the Houston Texas area since 1975. I did sip a few at the Rosebud back then. Is the Uptown Cafe on Holland Street still there? One of my English teachers in high school frequented that establishment. I was on a bowling league at Bowl-Haven back then (I think it had a different name at the time, not sure about that). I also bowled at the alleys in the basement of the Hobbs building. I think there were 6 or maybe 8 alleys there. If you were in the theater, on a quiet day, one could hear the bowling ball hit the pins. You guys have a healthy and happy New Year.
Talk about the freight trains, before the train gates were controled from the building between Holland St. and College Ave. the gates were operated manually. There was a very small enclosure in the Pine Tree Diner area that housed the gentleman that operated the gates.
When a train was due he would walk over the the manual gate cranks (located next to the sidewalk on Holland St.)and manually crank the gates up and down. The time frame that I remember was in the late 40’s. The train engines at the time were steam with a coal tender behind it. The worst part of the old trains, besides the smoke, were the open cattle cars at the end of the train, usually 3 or 4. One could smell them comming and long after the train passed.
Can’t wait to get back to Mass. and see the Theatre. Haven’t seen it since 1975
I wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
I was watching a movie last night on TV and it reminded me of when I worked at the Somerville Theatre back in the 50’s. The movie was “Strategic Air Command” with James Stewart. The movie played at the Somerville and was held over for two weeks. The 1st weekend was a sellout I believe. For the 1st weekend showing we had 2 search lights positioned in front of the theatre lighting up the sky. Back in those days it was a fun thing to get in the car and “follow the search lights” to see where they originated.
The U.S.Air Force had a display at the second floor entrance to the balcony with all types of Air Force equipment being displayed and explained by Air Force personnel. The Somerville Theatre was the 1st theatre to get the print after it finished it’s run at the downtown Boston theatres.
This is just one of the many fond memories I have while working at the theatre.
Ken MacLeod
In one of my earlier comments, I made reference to the McGoff family working many years at the theatre. I apologize for mispelling their names. The correct spelling is McGoff not MacGoff. I’m so use to typing Mac that my brain did not stay in sync with my fingers.
Again, Happy New Year to all.
In reference to the Railside Pub, North of the theatre, back in the 50’s it was the Pine Tree Diner. Looked similar to the Rose Bud at the other end of Davis Sq. We would go there after the evening movie and have coffee and a hamburger, usually on Friday night.
In the early 50’s I was an usher at the theatre. I remember one Saturday Matinee during the feature, (It was either a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film) the screen went white. Usually this happened if the film broke, but that was not the case this time. The screen stayed white for at least 5 minutes. The kids were stomping their feet as usual if something went wrong. I looked back to the projection booth at the rear of the balcony and saw the projectionist sitting in his chair sound asleep. At that time the booth was located behind the rear wall of the balcony. I knocked on the porthole glass and finally woke him up. He had missed the change over from one projector to the other one. In those days two projectors were used. Each reel of film lasted aprox 15 to 20 minutes max. A 80 minute movie would have about 5 reels of film. It was very easy to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the projectors clicking away. I’m sure other projectionists will agree. By the way, the operator (projectionist) was a part time operator NOT George Peterson the regular operator at the theatre.
Hope everyone has a Healthy New Year.
Jim,
Thanks for your comments. That could have been me up in the window at the other end of the rope waiting for the “CANS” to arrive. That was where the projection booth was located. Yes, those were fun days and good times are back with all the updates going on at the theatre. I can’t wait to see pictures of the completed project. Remember the one-hour of cartoons at the Sat. Matinee? That’s the only time the kids were quiet. They sang very good during the “follow the bouncing ball” cartoon. ha ha
Are you, by any chance, related to the Callahan Family that lived on Paulina St?
David,
Regarding your old bedroom on the third floor. Before it became an apartment it was a dance studio. “Helen Nichlos Dance Studio” (At least Helen was there in the 50’s and early 60’s.) The studio started at the arched windows and went left at least 3 windows.
On Saturdays her dance classes, aprox 15 kids for each class, would go on all day. TAP DANCING at that! I felt sorry for the office space below the studio on the second floor. I was one of the projectionists at the theatre at that time. The only apartment of the 3rd floor was in the left corner of the building next to the dance studio. It was ocupied by the building maintenance man (at that time he was called a “janitor”) and his family. The window you looked out to watch the T being constructed was used to get the film cans up to the projection booth. We would put a pully out the window, throw the rope to the ground and a theatre employee would attach the rope to the film can and pull it up. That was a lot easier than carrying them up 3 floors to the booth.
Well, I finally made it back to Somerville on vacation in May. By brother Bob (who still lives in the area) and I met with Ian Judge on May 19th for a tour of the theatres and building. I had not seen the theatre since 1975. Wow! What a difference.
We visited for almost 2 ½ hours, me telling Ian how it was back in the 50’s and early 60’s when I worked there and Ian showing us all the updates that have been made since then. I thought I knew where every door was in and around the main theatre. Ian showed us places I never knew existed. The stage and back stage area have been completely updated with a new screen, curtains, lights, dressing rooms etc. Maynardina60 left a post a while back asking about the piano in the orchestra pit. I can assure you that it is still there and will probably remain there forever. I thought the floor tile in the loby was the original. Ian told us that it was replaced and they had found tile that matched the original tile.
It looks great.
I’m glad that the original Men’s Room is no longer in use. When I worked as a usher I spent a lot of time down there with mop and bucket in hand when the toilet or urinals overflowed.
On Sundays when the show was continuous from 1PM to 11PM, the manager would go home for dinner around 5PM for about 1 hour. One of the ushers would take tickets during that time. Ian and I had a few laughs about that duty.
I thought the small theatre (used for rental purposes) is a great idea. We also visited the “Museum of Bad Art” Very interesting indeed.
After we left the thratre we visited Davis Square, the old bowling alley and had lunch at the RoseBud. It brought back many good memories.
Thanks Ian for a great day. I appreciate the time you spent with us and look forward to the 100 year celebration in 2014. I certainly plan to be back again before then. I still have many questions that I did not ask while with you. I thought about them after I left. Can’t wait to see the new projection booth in the main theatre when it is completed.
Ken MacLeod
Kingwood, TX
Great Picture!
I look forward to visiting the theatre in May when we visit family in the area.
Ken MacLeod
Kingwood, TX
David & Ron – Thanks for the comments. It will probably be next year before we get to visit back home. Have lived in the Houston Texas area since 1975. I did sip a few at the Rosebud back then. Is the Uptown Cafe on Holland Street still there? One of my English teachers in high school frequented that establishment. I was on a bowling league at Bowl-Haven back then (I think it had a different name at the time, not sure about that). I also bowled at the alleys in the basement of the Hobbs building. I think there were 6 or maybe 8 alleys there. If you were in the theater, on a quiet day, one could hear the bowling ball hit the pins. You guys have a healthy and happy New Year.
Talk about the freight trains, before the train gates were controled from the building between Holland St. and College Ave. the gates were operated manually. There was a very small enclosure in the Pine Tree Diner area that housed the gentleman that operated the gates.
When a train was due he would walk over the the manual gate cranks (located next to the sidewalk on Holland St.)and manually crank the gates up and down. The time frame that I remember was in the late 40’s. The train engines at the time were steam with a coal tender behind it. The worst part of the old trains, besides the smoke, were the open cattle cars at the end of the train, usually 3 or 4. One could smell them comming and long after the train passed.
Can’t wait to get back to Mass. and see the Theatre. Haven’t seen it since 1975
I wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
I was watching a movie last night on TV and it reminded me of when I worked at the Somerville Theatre back in the 50’s. The movie was “Strategic Air Command” with James Stewart. The movie played at the Somerville and was held over for two weeks. The 1st weekend was a sellout I believe. For the 1st weekend showing we had 2 search lights positioned in front of the theatre lighting up the sky. Back in those days it was a fun thing to get in the car and “follow the search lights” to see where they originated.
The U.S.Air Force had a display at the second floor entrance to the balcony with all types of Air Force equipment being displayed and explained by Air Force personnel. The Somerville Theatre was the 1st theatre to get the print after it finished it’s run at the downtown Boston theatres.
This is just one of the many fond memories I have while working at the theatre.
Ken MacLeod
In one of my earlier comments, I made reference to the McGoff family working many years at the theatre. I apologize for mispelling their names. The correct spelling is McGoff not MacGoff. I’m so use to typing Mac that my brain did not stay in sync with my fingers.
Again, Happy New Year to all.
In reference to the Railside Pub, North of the theatre, back in the 50’s it was the Pine Tree Diner. Looked similar to the Rose Bud at the other end of Davis Sq. We would go there after the evening movie and have coffee and a hamburger, usually on Friday night.
In the early 50’s I was an usher at the theatre. I remember one Saturday Matinee during the feature, (It was either a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film) the screen went white. Usually this happened if the film broke, but that was not the case this time. The screen stayed white for at least 5 minutes. The kids were stomping their feet as usual if something went wrong. I looked back to the projection booth at the rear of the balcony and saw the projectionist sitting in his chair sound asleep. At that time the booth was located behind the rear wall of the balcony. I knocked on the porthole glass and finally woke him up. He had missed the change over from one projector to the other one. In those days two projectors were used. Each reel of film lasted aprox 15 to 20 minutes max. A 80 minute movie would have about 5 reels of film. It was very easy to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the projectors clicking away. I’m sure other projectionists will agree. By the way, the operator (projectionist) was a part time operator NOT George Peterson the regular operator at the theatre.
Hope everyone has a Healthy New Year.
HI Jim,
Thanks for the info. You are correct, Arthur and Bob Viano would be proud!
Take care,
Ken
Jim,
Thanks for your comments. That could have been me up in the window at the other end of the rope waiting for the “CANS” to arrive. That was where the projection booth was located. Yes, those were fun days and good times are back with all the updates going on at the theatre. I can’t wait to see pictures of the completed project. Remember the one-hour of cartoons at the Sat. Matinee? That’s the only time the kids were quiet. They sang very good during the “follow the bouncing ball” cartoon. ha ha
Are you, by any chance, related to the Callahan Family that lived on Paulina St?
David,
Regarding your old bedroom on the third floor. Before it became an apartment it was a dance studio. “Helen Nichlos Dance Studio” (At least Helen was there in the 50’s and early 60’s.) The studio started at the arched windows and went left at least 3 windows.
On Saturdays her dance classes, aprox 15 kids for each class, would go on all day. TAP DANCING at that! I felt sorry for the office space below the studio on the second floor. I was one of the projectionists at the theatre at that time. The only apartment of the 3rd floor was in the left corner of the building next to the dance studio. It was ocupied by the building maintenance man (at that time he was called a “janitor”) and his family. The window you looked out to watch the T being constructed was used to get the film cans up to the projection booth. We would put a pully out the window, throw the rope to the ground and a theatre employee would attach the rope to the film can and pull it up. That was a lot easier than carrying them up 3 floors to the booth.