Olympia Theatre
883 Purchase Street,
New Bedford,
MA
02740
883 Purchase Street,
New Bedford,
MA
02740
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A July 1, 1916, article in The Moving Picture World reported on the Olympia Theatre and noted that it was the first theater ever designed by architect W. L. Mowll.
From the 1940s a postcard view of Purchase Street along with the Olympia Theatre in New Bedford.
The Olympia is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 2300 seats and open daily.
Photos of the Olympia and other New Bedford theatres can be seen in this great set:
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In the October 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice Magazine, an ad was run showing how many mainstream theatres were showing Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a subtitled Italian movie. This theatre was one of those. Link to ad, then expand:
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The Theatre Historical Society listing for the Olympia in New Bedford, compiled by CT and THS member Barry Goodkin, states that the house opened on April 2, 1916 and was designed by Wm. Mowll of Mowll & Rand architects. It had at least 2300 seats.
Here is a 1920s era photo showing Vertical and street scene:
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CORRECTION. “Down To The Sea In Ships” had its Nationwide release in February 1923. The World Premiere was held at The Olympia New Bedford on September 25, 1922.
The silent classic “Down To The Sea In Ships” was shot in New Bedford, and The World Premiere held at the Olympia in February 1923.
In 1950, Stage Manager, Walter Seaman showed me 8x10 sepia photos of the Premiere. They came from an old 4-drawer file stored in one of the six downstairs Dressing Rooms.The file was packed with records and photos from the Vaudeville days.Was this file salvaged before Zeitz demolished the theatre? I also interviewed Tillie Bourne of 245 Walnut St. Clara Bow lived with her while shooting the movie. Tillie was 80 in 1950..Had no photos, but great stories, and a program book from the night she attended the “Star-Studded” Premiere.
Thanks for the quotes from Carmen Maiocco’s booklet. Just to set the record straight; The long time Manager was Morris(not Maurice) Simms who came to New Bedford from Brocton Mass. The Saturday Morning Kiddie Revue was not his idea. It was a live radio show that used the theatre as a venue. I can’t recall the station call letters, but the managers name was Ed Bogoshian. If there was ever a ‘dish night’ at the Olympia, it had to be in the 40’s not the 50’s. And Ushers were never allowed to accept ‘tips’ from patrons. The Baylies Bros. built the theatre and Theodore Baylies was its first Manager.The original pit orchestra was led by A.Karstein.The huge stage measured 94'wide,36'deep and 64'high
From the 1990s booklet The Center – Downtown New Bedford in the 1950s by Carmen Maiocco:
“Another downtown landmark that bit the dust was the Olympia Theater at 833 [other sources give 883] Purchase Street. When the Olympia was demolished people all over New Bedford fell silent when they heard the news, remembering the good times they had known in the old theater. Folks still reminisce about the Saturday Morning Kiddie Shows. When Olympia manager Maurice Simms inaugurated the special Saturday morning matinee in the mid -1940s, he had no idea the event would become so popular. Thosands of screaming kids jammed the theater watching cartoons and serials and live acts and feature films. They consumed more popcorn and juggiebeans and soda than can ever possibly be recorded. Regular shows were offered in the afternoon. Movie theaters in the 1940s and 1950s were much more elaborate than the utilitarian, shoebox mall movie theaters we know today. These were entertainment palaces with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and plush padded seats. At the Olympia uniformed doormen took your tickets, and ushers with flashlights led you to your seat. (They expected a tip, of course.) Wednesday was Dish Day, a promotional device that attracted armies of old ladies all jostling for that coveted teacup or creamer that would complete the set. The Olympia Theater was built in 1916 and thereafter dispensed live entertainment and flickering magic for almost 60 years. One of the first stars to perform there was Will Rogers in 1921. The Zeitz family purchased the Olympia in 1962. At the time they already owned two Center movie houses, the Empire and the State, as well as the Capitol in the North End. As a last hurrah of sorts a national touring company came to the Olympia in 1966 and staged the Neil Simon/Mike Nichols smash comedy hit Barefoot in the Park. Every one of the 2,300 seats was occupied for the show. That’s how the Olympia should be remembered – filled with laughing happy people. The Olympia shut the lights for the last time in 1971. The theater was knocked down the following year.”
When Mullin & Pinanski split their M&P Theatres The Olympia became a New England Theatres Corp house under Martin Mullin. TV was taking its toll, so Mullin installed Cinemascope, 3-D (remember “Bwana Devil”) and even live shows like “The London Opera Co”, “Brigadoon” “Don Juan In Hell”, “Jose Greco” and even midnight horror shows like “Dr. Silkini & His Asylum of Horrors”. The Olympia had been a first class Vaudeville house in the 20’s. When George “Honey Boy” Evans played there; he loved it so much he built a Diner behind the theatre. (Is Evans Diner still there?). The theatre entrance was flanked by Louis Eisner’s tiny luncheonette, and The Olympia Jewelers. And a current 24 sheet was always posted on Empire Street.
I stand corrected. Apparently the Olympia Theatre was the largest theatre in New Bedford; and the State Theatre, later the Zeiterion, became the largest theatre after the Olympia’s demolition.
The Olympia Theatre was demolished much later than 1959. I graduated from New Bedford High School in 1966 and our commencement ceremonies were held in the Olympia Theatre which was still operating as a movie house at that time. I believe that the State Theatre, which became the Zeiterion Theatre, was the largest theatre in New Bedford and that the Olympia was the second largest.
Here are two pictures of the Olympia.
FIRST PICTURE – nice old postcard
SECOND PICTURE – poor quality image from 1941, as described by Ron Salters above.
Here is an old postcard showing a trolley, cars and pedestrians on Purchase Street, Merchants National Bank, and, in the distance, the Olympia Theatre with its vertical marquee.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Olympia has a facade photo taken in May 1941. The theatre had a wide entrance, an impressive marquee and a verical sign. Movies playing are “The Bad Man' and "Roar of the Press”. To the right of the entrance was the Olympia Luncheonette. The Report states that the address was 883 Purchase St., that the house had been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it was over 15 years old; that it was in Fair condition; and had 1284 orchestra seats and 1188 balcony seats, total: 2472 seats. Was this the largest theatre in New Bedford?
The Olympia Theatre was built in 1916 and originally had a seating capacity of 2,800. It was equipped with a Hutchings 4Manual theatre pipe organ which was sold to a private party and removed from the theatre just prior to demolition in 1959.
Read a reflection on the lost Olympia and words about the still-existing Orpheum in this article .
Shown as operating in Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have (years 1941 – 1950), it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary Mullins & Pinanski.