Showplace Theater
409 North Street,
Pittsfield,
MA
01201
409 North Street,
Pittsfield,
MA
01201
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Grand opening ad from 1967 posted. It was renamed Showplace in 1971 to avoid confusion with the Showcase Cinemas in Springfield. It closed in 1987.
Reopened as Showcase on February 15th, 1967
Opened as Kameo on February 11th, 1929. Grand opening ad from the 9th posted.
Incorrect photoand address are posted on this site. The theater opened in 1929 as the Kameo then in 1948 as the State then in 1967 as the Showcase and shortly thereafter was renamed the Showplace. It was across from the location in the photo at 424 North St. The Showplace was the last of the free standing downtown theaters to close and that was in 1987. It was razed in 1997 and is now a parking lot. The address on the photo is of the former Strand Theater.
As the Kameo Theatre, the Showplace was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. There is an exterior photo dated 1941. The narrow entrance was in the center of a one-story building with a fancy roof cornice. “Kameo” was printed in large letters on the front of the marquee. The front corners of the marquee were supported by posts rising up from the curb. The Report states that the Kameo is on North St., that it hs been a MGM customer for 15 years; that it was built in 1905, is in Good condition; and has 775 seats on the main floor and 225 in the balcony, total: 1000 seats. The Report includes 2 more photos taken in June 1950 after the Kameo’s name had been changed to State Theatre. The old marquee with its support columns appears to have been updated with the new name and new panels. Attractions are: “Kiss the Blood Off My Hands” and “Bowery Buckaroos”. The store to the right is Leonard’s Candy shop. The 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac states that the Kameo was being operated by Charles Morse theatres.
If my memory serves me correctly, the Showplace was the last of the North Street theatres to close. The Capitol closed first, in the early 80’s, followed by the Palace then the Showplace. The trio were owned and operated by the infamous Western Massachusettes Theatres chain.
I remember the Showplace being far less ornate than the other North Street movie palaces. Almost plain, the exterior was a non descript white box and the interior had 60s/70s decore (I seem to recall a red and/or gold color sceme). Also, unlike it’s sister North Street theatres, the auditorium was somewhat narrow and long in dimensions. I do remember watching “ET”, with a sold out audience, at the Showplace, but this was probably the theatre’s “last hurrah”. If memory serves me it closed a few years before the Capital and Palace; both of which had been struggling even when the Showplace was still pulling in an audience. I believe the roof had collapsed prior to it being demolished.
The Showplace was also known as the Kameo at one time. I saw a few films here as they presented more upscale fare than at the Cinema Center 11, which was Pittsfield’s first run multiplex at the time (now closed and vacant). The theatre was in much better condition than its siblings, the Capitol and Palace, but still had a very musty odor and was pretty run down.